Deion Sanders is the only athlete to play in the World Series and the Super Bowl. He has played in seven Pro Bowls. He once played in a major-league playoff game and an NFL game on the same day.
With that kind of resume, one would think Sanders had to take a deep breath and swallow hard when he agreed to report to Syracuse to play minor-league baseball for the Triple-A SkyChiefs. But Sanders swears that's not the case.
"You have to understand," Sanders said. "I was humbled by God four years ago when I came to the Lord, all suicidal and everything.
"This is way down on the totem pole, after everything else I've been through," he added. "There's nothing wrong with Syracuse, New York. It's all right to me."
Sanders, who joined the SkyChiefs Friday, found God about four years ago, after he contemplated committing suicide because he was unhappy with his wild "Neon Deion" lifestyle. He said he's looking at his stint in Syracuse as a way to touch the lives of people he otherwise would have never met.
And the way to do that? Just by being himself and spreading the word of God.
"That's not something I try to do, it's something that happens," Sanders said. "And it always happens.
"Many could say you were very unsuccessful in Cincinnati, but I bet if you go inside that locker room, everyone will tell you how successful I was," he said.
Sanders batted .173 in 32 games for Cincinnati before the Reds released him last week. Earlier this week, the Toronto Blue Jays signed the outfielder to a minor-league contract with no guarantees he'll eventually be promoted to the majors. Sanders said he received no other baseball offers.
Sanders batted leadoff as the SkyChiefs' designated hitter in Friday night's game against the Durham Bulls at P&C Stadium. Greeted by mostly cheers and a few boos before his first at-bat, Sanders grounded out to Durham third baseman Dustin Carr. He finished 0-for-4.
Sanders, who turns 34 in August, is allowed to leave the SkyChiefs if another major-league team wants to sign him and the Blue Jays don't promote him to Toronto. If he's not with the Blue Jays or on another major-league team's 40-man roster by the end of July, the cornerback must report to his current NFL team, the Washington Redskins, or forfeit about $7 million of his $8 million signing bonus from Washington.
Published reports have indicated Sanders wants out of Washington. So he does have motivation to play in Syracuse and show the Blue Jays or another major-league team he can still play in the big leagues.
Sanders politely refused Friday to talk about his football contract and how it impacts his baseball career.
"Football is the last thing on my mind," Sanders said. "Football questions in baseball uniforms are not fair to baseball organizations."
Sanders, who has spent parts of nine years in the major leagues, said he's in Syracuse simply because he wants to play baseball. He certainly doesn't need the money that another big-league stint would provide.
"I just like to go out there and play," Sanders said. "I got more at-bats in BP (batting practice) today than I did the last couple of months (in Cincinnati).
"That's what it's more about to me," he continued. "If I don't get another hit, if I don't intercept another pass or make another dollar, I've been so blessed, man, that I cannot complain."