Jim Brown, one of the greatest athletes in all of sports, died on May 18 at the age of 87. Even though I am far too young to have had the fortune of seeing him play, I, along with many other Browns fans, only need to hear his name, and we instantly know what he meant to our team.
As soon as I hear the words "Jim Brown" my mind immediately pictures a big, strong running back either spinning out of the tackles of some helpless defenders, or punishing anyone who was stupid enough to get in his way with a bone-crunching hit. And then he'd just keep on rolling like a freight train!
He played for the Browns from 1957-1965. Even though he only played for nine seasons before deciding to retire from football at 29 years old in order to pursue acting, it's absolutely mind boggling all that he accomplished during his time in the NFL.
His accomplishments speak for themselves. He was selected to the Pro Bowl every year he was in the league, was league MVP three times (1957, 1958, 1965), led the NFL in rushing yards in every season he played but one, and led the Browns to the 1964 NFL Championship.
Not only that, but he finished his career 11th on the all-time rushing list with 12,312 rushing yards and 106 career touchdowns. His skills as a running back were unmatched, and led to his induction into both the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971, and the College Football Hall of Fame in 1995 as a member of the Syracuse Orange from 1954-1956.
But when we look at the life he lived, he stood for so much more than just excellence on the football field, even if that may be what he's most famous for. Jim Brown was also very passionate about truly practicing what he preached when it came to social justice. He was vocal about it following his retirement in 1965, saying "I want to have a hand in the struggle that is taking place in our country, and I have the opportunity to do that now. I might not a year from now."
In 1965, he founded the Black Economic Union, which is an organization focused on helping aspiring Black business owners pursue their economic dreams. In 1967, Jim Brown was one of many famous athletes and celebrities who stood by Muhammad Ali as he refused induction into the draft for the Vietnam War. Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Jim Brown's Cleveland teammates Bobby Mitchell and John Wooten, also stood in solidarity with Ali.
He was one of many Black athletes during his time who was right in the middle of pushing for true equality during the Civil Rights Movement. In today's highly politicized landscape, there are so many virtue signalers, and not many people who truly care about true social justice enough to walk the walk. Jim Brown was one of those people. And he helped at-risk kids and gang members in both Cleveland and Los Angeles turn their lives around through his Amer-I-Can foundation decades later.
Everyone will have a different answer when they are asked what the meaning of life is. But I believe that of the signs of a truly meaningful life, is leaving the world a better place than when we first came into it by being selfless toward other people, and helping them in any way we can.
Even though he was a flawed person like the rest of us, and his embarrassing/bad moments are certainly well-documented, it certainly looks like selflessness toward others was one of the driving forces behind the life Jim Brown lived. And now hopefully, somewhere upstairs, he is receiving his just reward.
My sincere prayers and condolences go to his family and friends. Our team, the rest of the league, and the rest of the world has lost a truly special person. Rest in Peace, Jim Brown. The greatest Cleveland Brown of all time!
Source: clevelandbrowns.com
Picture Credit: Cleveland Browns Facebook Page
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