Bo Jackson is getting tired of all the attention. Tired enough to start thinking about the day he finally calls it quits.
He made that confession Thursday after going 1 for 4 with a run scored and an RBI in his first game since having an artificial hip implanted last April.
For more than two weeks Jackson has been surrounded by mobs of reporters, usually different ones every day asking the same questions their colleagues asked the day before.
Asked about the clamor on Thursday, Jackson said: “It’s not appealing at all. To be honest with you, this is a pain.”
Looking through the crowd of reporters around his locker, Jackson spotted teammate Joey Cora, a popular but quiet backup second baseman.
“I wish I could be Joey Cora-somebody normal-so I can come to my locker, get dressed and go home,” said Jackson. “I’m looking forward to the day when I am finished with professional sports altogether.”
That might be difficult for some people to understand. But follow Jackson for a couple hours and it becomes all too easy.
Jackson will have a chance to be away from most reporters Friday. He will stay in Sox camp at Sarasota when the team travels to Lakeland for a game against Detroit. “I’ll rest him and he’ll play first base on Saturday,” said manager Gene Lamont.
MVP: Nobody had a bigger day Thursday than trainer Herm Schneider, unless it was GM Ron Schueler. Schneider has worked six days a week for months with Jackson and Ozzie Guillen to get them back from their injuries. And he and his assistant, Mark Anderson, have worked aggressively with outfielder Ellis Burks and pitcher Dave Stieb since they signed this winter. After all four players made sterling debuts in the exhibition opener Thursday, Guillen pointed to Schneider and said: “He’s the MVP today.”
Showdown: The Pope and Bo battled it out in one of the most watched Ping-Pong matches in the White Sox clubhouse this spring. Pitcher Donn Paul, nicknamed the Pope, was the crowd favorite, drawing a raucous ovation from his teammates after a particularly fierce 10-second rally against Bo Jackson, who pretended to be stunned at the reaction. Jackson got his revenge, though. Playing with his paddle in the palm of his hand and his fingers wrapped around the edges, Jackson beat Pall 21-17. That puts him into the quarterfinals of the team tournament. Stay tuned for more results.