Former Braves, Falcons star has story to share with students

Students at Bernd Elementary School had a special visitor Thursday, as former professional baseball and football player Brian Jordan came to the school to read to them.

Jordan, who played for both the Atlanta Braves and Falcons, among other teams, was there to read his book “I Told You I Can Play!” It tells a story from his childhood, when a young Brian is kept from playing with his older brother and sister because he’s smaller than they are.

“I can’t tell you how many people doubted me, but I had a dream I was focused on,” Jordan told the students.

In the book, little Brian gets his chance to play football with his brother and other older boys and even scores a touchdown, but getting tackled during the play hurts. Jordan said he hoped the students would learn how to keep trying even during painful experiences.

“Because if you don’t, you might never get that chance again,” he said.

That message stuck with 6-year-old Tyress Smith, a first-grader. Tyress said his “super favorite” sport was football, which made the book appropriate for him.

“It was awesome, super awesome,” he said.

Also a fan of baseball, Tyress said he was ready to get out and play after hearing the book.

“It taught me everything, how to play sports now.”

Bibb County school Superintendent Curtis Jones attended the event, calling it a “unique experience” for the students. He wanted them to take away a larger lesson than just how to play sports.

“I think that students at this age understand what dreams are, but they don’t know how dreams become reality,” he said.

The Falcons drafted Jordan in the seventh round of the 1989 NFL draft out of the University of Richmond. He went on to record five career interceptions and made the Pro Bowl once as an alternate during a three-year NFL career.

During a 14-year baseball career with the St. Louis Cardinals, Braves, Dodgers and Rangers, Jordan amassed a .282 batting average with 184 home runs and 821 RBIs. He was named an All-Star for the Braves in 1999, when he hit .283 with 23 home runs and a career-high 115 RBIs.

Since finishing his athletic career in 2006, he’s become a broadcaster and pursued other endeavors, largely because he made sure to finish his degree at Richmond.

“Because of my education, I’m able to do things outside of sports,” he said.

Bernd Principal Chad Thompson is a native of Thomaston, so he and the other adults knew all about Jordan’s exploits on the baseball and football fields. As a result, he said it wasn’t a difficult decision whether he wanted to have Jordan come read to his students as part of a visit for the United Way of Central Georgia’s annual meeting.

Students also got a copy of Jordan’s book to keep.

“It’s awesome,” Thompson said. “When we were told about the opportunity, it was like, ‘Of course, yes, we want him here.’”

This story was originally published August 25, 2016 at 4:04 PM with the headline "Former Braves, Falcons star has story to share with students."