The new Barry Sanders documentary has brought out the love. And some hate

Barry Sanders is one of the greatest players to ever step onto a football field, so when he abruptly retired following the 1998, season it left everyone stunned. One individual who calls Sanders the GOAT RB is Grammy award-winning rapper Eminem. Growing up around Detroit during the Sanders era of dominance in the NFL, Slim Shady’s fandom was on display in “Bye Bye Barry ‘’ on Prime Video. The Hall of Fame running back was so moved that he took to social media to express his gratitude.

Many hip-hop artists were once athletes and entered the music industry with that same competitive fire. Eminem entered as a battle rapper, first gaining prominence on the underground scene in the mid-1990s. At this time, Sanders was the most exciting player in the NFL. Although it was frequently debated about who was better, Sanders or Emmitt Smith, nobody got opposing fans to jump out of their seats the way Sanders could.

Playing for an underdog franchise like the Lions, Sanders didn’t do a lot of winning, but what he won from the start was the hearts of football fans. No matter who you rooted for, everyone wanted to see what spectacular play Sanders unleashed against his opponents each week. Eminem was similar in that once he hit the mainstream and showed the masses he wasn’t just a gimmick (Vanilla Ice), you couldn’t deny his talent.

Both Sanders and Eminem were underdogs in Detroit attempting to put the city on the map. Despite never winning a Super Bowl or many playoff games, the Lions became must-see TV when Sanders played. Those who didn’t live near Detroit began looking forward to watching the Lions on Thanksgiving because they’d get to watch Sanders live. It was much harder to watch games outside of your region back then. So, Turkey Day may have been the only chance many folks got to see Sanders live.

Em was lucky as he lived there and saw a lot of Sanders as he climbed the rap ladder. While basketball is the sport hip hop is most closely connected to, hearing him praise, Sanders shows rap cats aren’t only drawn to hoopers. Sanders responding to Slim via social media is one for the ages, especially since we don’t hear from Sanders much aside from the Heisman House commercials. Maybe we’ll get a collaboration with Em and Barry soon. That would be the most awesomely awkward musical collab ever.

While most of us are excited about the new Sanders documentary, one of his former teammates isn’t on that boat. Former Lions quarterback Scott Mitchell is upset about it and went off on everyone for making him the “scapegoat” for Sanders’ career.

“I am so tired of hearing how I was the reason that Barry Sanders never won a Super Bowl,” Mitchell wrote on Facebook. “I’m so tired of hearing how I was not a good QB. My only response is F___K YOU ALL!!!!! That includes Eminem [and] Jeff Daniels.”

Mitchell essentially went off on anyone that had anything to do with the documentary. Apparently, Mitchell’s four years playing with Sanders didn’t turn into some lifelong friendship off the field. It’s funny how Mitchell wasn’t the only Lions QB of Sanders’ career, but he’s the one most people remember handing him the ball. It sounds like Mr. Mitchell needs a hug this holiday season.