Jim Brown a catalyst for social change
Todd Hansen
Issue date: 12/1/09 Section: Opinion
During his day he was a 6-foot-2 230 pound steam roller. He has been called the greatest football player of all time and still holds records for yards per attempt and yards per game. But, over the last 50 years, Jim Brown has also been a lightning rod for social change.
His recent comments about Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan have Brown in the spotlight once again. In an interview with HBO's Bryant Gumbel, he said this about Woods, "This cat is a mama-jama, he is a killer. He'll run over you, he'll kick your ass, but as an individual for social change, or any of that kind of [stuff]...terrible, terrible, because he can get away with teaching kids to play golf, and that's his contribution. And in the real world, man, I can't teach no kids to play golf and that's my contribution, if I got that kind of power."
Michael Jordan was inducted into the Pro Basketball Hall of Fame this year and he was also not spared criticism from Brown. Brown once asked him to endorse a Democratic politician. Jordan politely refused, saying, "I'm sorry, but Republicans buy Nike shoes, too."
In addition, Brown has come out against company ad slogans such as Nike's "Be like Mike" campaign. In a speech at Williams College less than a month ago, he said, "Ever since that ad came out all of the black kids want to play basketball. I don't want 100,000 basketball players. I want college presidents and Williams College graduates."
When Brown was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 1956, the atmosphere in America was much different than it is now. Racism and inequality was very much a factor in Brown's heyday. This is probably why he chooses to speak his mind. In an interview with the Syracuse Herald Journal, he said, "The modern black athletes are the most embarrassing collection of individuals I've ever seen."
Wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, Brown sat down with journalist Graham Bensinger and clarified this statement. "There's too much buffoonery, the things we fought to get away from, now guys are voluntarily playing the yes-boss slave, yeah, it's embarrassing to me."
His recent comments about Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan have Brown in the spotlight once again. In an interview with HBO's Bryant Gumbel, he said this about Woods, "This cat is a mama-jama, he is a killer. He'll run over you, he'll kick your ass, but as an individual for social change, or any of that kind of [stuff]...terrible, terrible, because he can get away with teaching kids to play golf, and that's his contribution. And in the real world, man, I can't teach no kids to play golf and that's my contribution, if I got that kind of power."
Michael Jordan was inducted into the Pro Basketball Hall of Fame this year and he was also not spared criticism from Brown. Brown once asked him to endorse a Democratic politician. Jordan politely refused, saying, "I'm sorry, but Republicans buy Nike shoes, too."
In addition, Brown has come out against company ad slogans such as Nike's "Be like Mike" campaign. In a speech at Williams College less than a month ago, he said, "Ever since that ad came out all of the black kids want to play basketball. I don't want 100,000 basketball players. I want college presidents and Williams College graduates."
When Brown was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 1956, the atmosphere in America was much different than it is now. Racism and inequality was very much a factor in Brown's heyday. This is probably why he chooses to speak his mind. In an interview with the Syracuse Herald Journal, he said, "The modern black athletes are the most embarrassing collection of individuals I've ever seen."
Wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, Brown sat down with journalist Graham Bensinger and clarified this statement. "There's too much buffoonery, the things we fought to get away from, now guys are voluntarily playing the yes-boss slave, yeah, it's embarrassing to me."
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
coursework help
posted 12/04/09 @ 10:09 PM CST
Brown's social activism in black and underprivileged communities showes him as a person who care about other people.
Terry Carter
posted 12/13/09 @ 10:35 AM CST
Jiimy Brown was one of those who led the way for black athletes to become men rather than just studs for hire without a place in society. It's too bad so many today don't appreciate what has been done for them by those who went before. (Continued…)
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