This story broke last year, but I was reminded about it watching ESPN do a follow-up on it and wanted to share this with you all. I tear up every time watching the video.
Before you watch the video, allow me to give you background on what happened.
The boy in the video was being bullied relentlessly at school. They would call him awful names, beat him up and steal his shoes and shirts right off of his back, forcing him to sometimes walk home barefoot and shirtless.
The low-point was when six or seven older and bigger kids roughed him up pretty good and put the video on Youtube.
Once the video hit Youtube, it became very popular and caught national attention. The boy was asked to appear on The View. They found out his sports idol was Desean Jackson and contacted him. When Desean Jackson found out and saw the video, it touched him deeply and agreed to come on the show and surprise him.
After the show, most athletes would simply vanish and never talk to the kid again. Not Jackson. He gave him his cell phone number and has kept in contact with him throughout, even taking him as his personal guest to the ESPY's.
Desean Jackson was so touched by his story, he now goes across the country speaking out against bullying.
Say what you want about Desean Jackson, but the man is all class.
Here is the video. The look on the kid's face when he hears Desean Jackson is there and when he tears up is something I will always remember. And when Jackson gives him the jersey off his back---there are just no words to describe it.
Enjoy.