DEION SANDERS VS PILAR SANDERS: CHILD CUSTODY TRIAL DAY 1

The jury trial has begun in the custody phase of the contentious divorce between former NFL football player Deion Sanders and his model wife Pilar Sanders.

Opening statements began on March 5, 2013, at the Collin County (TX) courthouse; and the jury were charged with determining who will have primary (residential) custody of the couples'  three minor children, ages 9 -13.  Deion has two older children with his first wife, Carolyn Sanders.

According to Dallasnews.com, in his opening statement, Rick Robertson, who is representing Deion Sanders, stated that “Deion is worried that Pilar is not going to stay in this area” if granted primary custody of their children.

During his opening statement, [Pilar Sanders' attorney], Luke Gunnstaks, "called the [former professional] football player 'a playtime dad, a Disneyland dad[,]'  [and] a manipulative man who wants his children to reflect well on him, and if they don’t, they know they’re in trouble.”

Deion, who was the one that imitated the divorce after rumors of him having an affair with a 19-year old college student had surfaced on  a popular gossip blog, was first to take the stand and testified that he is unable to communicate with his estranged wife.

"Jurors were shown Deion Sanders’ Hall of Fame speech from 2011, which was right in the middle of what the former Dallas Cowboy called the “drama summer.”
He said Pilar Sanders and his daughter from his previous marriage were bickering during his speech. He called the accomplishment the second most important after first signing with the Atlanta Falcons in 1989.
After watching the video in the courtroom, the athlete cried and needed a minute to compose himself. His attorney asked him how his wife, Pilar, acted during the important day. He said “she caused drama.”

Here is the video of Deion's Hall of Fame speech that caused him to cry on the stand after viewing it.  At about 10:06, he thanks his beautiful wife Pilar for putting her dreams and ambitions on hold so he could achieve his dreams.  He also thanks her for putting up with him because he isn't easy to deal with.