Jesse James reflects on the football career that never was — and the decisions that derailed it before it had a chance to begin. As a high school athlete, James had the physical tools scouts dream of: size, speed, and raw talent. Standing 6’3” and clocking a 4.65-second 40-yard dash, he received scholarship offers from nearly every Division I program in the country. But while his future on the field looked promising, trouble was brewing off it. Alongside a group of friends, James began stealing IROC Camaros directly from dealership lots — a risky, fast-paced scheme that escalated quickly. The operation came to a halt when police surrounded his home, catching him red-handed. Waiting in the front yard was his father — who refused to intervene on his son’s behalf. James was arrested and sent to jail, effectively ending his prospects as a college athlete. Coaches stopped calling. The opportunity disappeared overnight. Looking back, James believes that moment, as painful as it was, might ha...