Brandon Jackson at a Muir practice last July
I was making my football rounds last summer when I stopped by Muir High School. I walked on the field, greeted Coach Ken Howard and asked him if I could talk to him in a few minutes after I snapped some shots.
I wanted to get some pictures of the guys I’d been hearing about. Guys like Cameron Palmer, Shawn Wilcox and Robert Morales who anchored that big front line, and guys like Karl Holmes and Tairen Owens – skill position guys who have speed to burn. I wanted a few shots of quarterback Jeff Davis and receiver Kevon Seymour who were going to make the high powered offense go.
I got most of my pictures and was about to get a few more when suddenly one of the players walked up to me.
“Hey how are you doing? Why don’t you take a picture of me?” said the kid with a big smile on his face.
Some of the players continued with their drills while others smiled or posed for the camera while I walked around to different stations during the July workout. But none of them approached me; nobody except this one kid- this effervescent grinning kid.
My first thought was anybody that works that hard for a picture deserves one.
“Ok what’s your name?” I said.
“Brandon Jackson,” he replied proudly, standing tall, shoulders upright, in his Muir Football shirt.
“What position do you play?” I asked.
“I play linebacker and special teams. Make sure you put that in your story.” Jackson said confidently, the grin still covering his face.
And then I snapped the picture. Jackson stood straight in front of me. He was still smiling, maybe not as big as before, but he also had a look of confidence, of self worth, a look that showed he was honored and proud to be playing football for the Muir Mustangs.
“Thank you,” he said and hustled back to his drills.
Jackson went on to have a solid junior year – he was the starting linebacker. But he was looking forward to an even better senior season.
When I asked Howard about him later that day and told him how Jackson came up to me he smiled and said “Oh yeah that’s Brandon. He’s a special kid. He’s going to really step up for us next year when a lot of the seniors graduate.”
Jackson was a kid that made an impression. That’s the best way to describe him. I met him once – for about five minutes – and left with a lasting impression. I don’t think I saw him without a smile on his face the entire hour I was there.
When the guys back at the office asked me about my trip to Muir I couldn’t help but mention Jackson. “Oh yeah they have a big line and yes they have great skill position players. But they also have this kid named Brandon Jackson. Keep an eye on him. He’s special.”
With a personality that shined like a spotlight and an air of confidence, Jackson was a kid with a bright future – on or off the playing field.
But last Saturday night that spotlight was turned off. The lamp was snuffed out. Last Saturday night Brandon Jackson was killed in an apparent drive by shooting in Altadena His life was unnecessarily cut short by gang violence that continues to plague our cities.
Who knows why? Wrong place, wrong time? Does it matter? What matters is another one of our young men has been wrongfully, criminally sent to an early grave.
Jackson was 18 years old, with an entire lifetime in his sights; a lifetime filled with dreams and goals and wonderful moments that will now all go unfulfilled because of a nonsensical, ruthless act.
Howard talked this week about Jackson’s smile, his involvement in school sports and his drive and determination that saw him improve a 1.0 grade point average to 2.7.
Brandon Jackson made a difference. Brandon Jackson lit up a room…and a practice field. Brandon Jackson made an impression.
That’s my principle.
Anyone interested in donating to Brandon Jackson’s memorial fund can contact Deanna Howard at dhoward746@pusd.us.
Tim can be reached at tim@midvalleysports.com.
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