Hey everyone, today I wanna talk about Barry Sanders and his dad, William Sanders. I got really into this after watching the “Bye Bye Barry” documentary on Amazon. It’s all about Barry, the awesome Detroit Lions running back, but it also got me thinking about his dad.
So, I started digging around. William, Barry’s dad, he passed away in 2011. He was 74 and had been battling lymphoma. Man, reading about him, it sounds like he was a real character, very different from Barry, who’s known for being super humble and quiet.
- First thing I did: I watched that documentary, “Bye Bye Barry.” It’s mostly about Barry’s career and why he retired so suddenly. But it mentioned his dad, and that got me curious.
- Then: I started Googling William Sanders. Found out he died in 2011. Also read that he was a roofer and carpenter in Wichita, Kansas, where Barry grew up. Seems like a hardworking guy.
I found this quote from Barry about his dad, saying he was the reason Barry never celebrated touchdowns. Barry said, “He was the reason I never spiked the football. I remember Tony Dorsett scored a touchdown on Monday Night Football and he did some kind of celebration.” It’s wild that William had such a big influence on Barry, even in little things like that. It sounds like William had very high expectations, and Barry always wanted to live up to them. No wonder they say Barry attributed his fame to his dad’s expectation.
Then, there are articles about how different they were. Barry’s all quiet and reserved, and his dad was, well, not. One article even called William a stark contrast to Barry. They say opposites attract, right? Maybe that’s why they had such a strong bond. William was born in 1941, while Barry was born in 1968. Different generations, different personalities, but still, that father-son connection was obviously there. They lived in Wichita, Kansas, and Barry was one of eleven kids! Can you imagine that household?
It’s just fascinating to me how someone’s dad can have such a huge impact on their life, even if they’re famous like Barry Sanders. I mean, Barry was a superstar, but he still looked up to his dad, a roofer and carpenter from Kansas. Makes you think about your own parents and how they’ve shaped who you are, you know?
Anyway, that’s what I’ve been looking into lately. It’s not just about football; it’s about family and how those relationships can shape us in big ways. Maybe there is something in the documentary Barry said, “I don’t dream football, I dream the American dream – two cars in a garage, be a happy father.”
That’s it for now, folks. Just wanted to share my thoughts.
