Peterson's Parents Lay Groundwork For Success

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) _ Adrian Peterson's parents laid the groundwork for their son's success -- albeit in vastly different ways. <br/><br/>Bonita Jackson brought the speed. As a high schooler,

Monday, April 30th 2007, 2:29 pm

By: News On 6

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) _ Adrian Peterson's parents laid the groundwork for their son's success -- albeit in vastly different ways.

Bonita Jackson brought the speed. As a high schooler, she ran the 100 meters in a blazing 11.3 seconds and represented the United States on the Junior Olympic team in Seoul, South Korea, in 1982.

Nelson Peterson's most significant work began 12 years after the birth of the former Oklahoma and future Minnesota Vikings running back, when he was sent to prison for eight years for laundering drug money.

The mother taught the son how to run. The father taught him about personal responsibility. Together, the parents helped Adrian Peterson deal with tragedy and heartbreak.

Sunday, a day after being chosen seventh overall by the Vikings in the NFL draft, Peterson was flanked by his mother on his left and his father on his right as he spoke about fulfilling a lifelong dream that could've been derailed so many times along the way.