We have a 1997 ford sport that the drivers door will not open from outside

The rod from your out side door handle may have gotten unclipped or the rod is still clipped but has been bent and needs to be re bent straight. When you pull on the door handle, the rod connected to it moves down and pushed a leaver on the door lock. If the leaver was bent, the travel distance is shortened and does not push the leaver on the door luck to release it from the striker. Your going to have to remove the door panel and get to the out side door handle from the inside of the door and see if the rod has become unclipped or has been bent so you need to straighten it so it will move the door luck release leaver enough to work properly. If it is bent you don't have to remove it from the door handle, you should have enough room to do it with your fingers. Just take you time and note make sure your window is rolled up and take the ignition keys out of the ignition. Don't need to be listening to the radio and losing a finger. Good luck and keep me posted, if there is a Auto Zone, buy some extra door panel fasteners and they will also have the step by step to removing the door panel if you not sure how to do it and it's free.