I was proud enough, I guess, about the program cover and that awesome photo of Bo and a lady fan, and definitely the rare photos of him sightseeing. But it was all technically on the Internet before we found it, even if in hard to reach corners.
But this—THIS is Bo in Japan stuff you hope you can provide for people when you have a website featuring what we would technically refer to as a separate blog devoted entirely to Bo Jackson: Never-bef0re-seen photos of Bo at the 1986 Ricoh Japan Bowl scanned just for you by Carolyn Yano, the wife of the Japan Bowl’s travel coordinator.
Bo’s 171 yards and three touchdowns, including the game winner, a 57-yard run in the 4th quarter, was enough to beat the West team (31-14), earn him MVP honors, set a Japan Bowl rushing record (previously 85 yards), and land the cover of the program for 1987 game.
“Bo was very popular with the Japanese,” Yano says. “Not only his reputation and skills, but his dignity, was well respected.”
She says Bo was, however, camera shy. Which is maybe for the best, Bo—I’m not sure TWER could have handled it if you’d been one of the players to try Sumo during the fun night.
Lord, does anyone recognize these studs? These are seriously the most 1985 College Football Stars Visiting Japan photos ever taken, or that ever could have been taken. (There’s a movie waiting to be made here. Probably a sequel, too.)
Oh, and here’s a shot of Mr. Yano with another Auburn player on the roster (anyone?), and some other dudes.
Domo AU-rigato, Mrs. Yano.
Related: Bo Jackson’s 1991 Super Nintendo Pepsi commercial.
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A couple of those look like the pictures I took…I have action game pictures I took of Bo from the sidelines in that game. I was there with 4 players I was representing.
I know who the two guys are in the ‘Sumo’ outfits. They are myself and Dwight Garner (my roommate for the Japan Bowl week). We decided to enter the talent contest as ‘Booty Wrestlers’ rather than Sumo. We used our interpreter to be the ‘referee’. When he started the ‘match’ Dwight and I dropped our kimonos and stomped the mat with each foot. Then we circled each other before we turned and began pushing against each other with our, yes, you guessed it, our booties. As scripted, I eventually was ‘pinned’ and lost the match. We won second place behind Bo Jackson’s wife/girlfriend who sang a lovely song for us.
I was at the Japan bowl too! What an amazing couple weeks we had!!! I was one of the six University of Illinois cheerleaders invited to cheer for the East team (thanks to our coach Mike White) and I also have some great photos- would love to share if you’re interested! Wendy Marconi Rosman (wmrosman@comcast.net)