Before Tina Turner passed away, another icon died, named Jim Brown. Brown was a legendary football running back for the Cleveland Browns and was arguably one of the best who ever played that position.
But, he was far more than that. He retired early to become an actor and was in a few dozen films. Most notably, he was in one of my favorite films called "The Dirty Dozen," but more on that later.
What he should be also remembered for is he was an outspoken civil rights advocate and worked closely with Martin Luther King. Brown and three other legendary black athletes, Muhammad Ali, Bill Russell of the Boston Celtics, and Kareem Abdul Jabbar (then known as Lew Alcindor) of the UCLA Bruins all jointly spoke out for the rights of blacks. Brown was the centerpiece spokesperson.
Their outspokenness differs from the relative silence of Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan and their contemporaries who did not want to risk their endorsements. It is good to see current athletes like Lebron James and Colin Kaepernick speak out risking their careers. Kaepernick's career has been ruined because of the backlash against his efforts.
Brown led the way with the other three stars of his day. He was not perfect and there are stories of domestic abuse. If true, this is a awful and a severe indictment of the man. It shows that notoriety does not mean they can do no wrong. Yet, to not mention his sins and crimes would be an unfair rendering of his life.
Let me close with a positive story from a boy who loved "The Dirty Dozen." Brown's character was sadly killed after a heroic scene in the movie. It was befitting his heroic nature as a football star, but was sad to see. Maybe it is a good reflection on sports heroes in general. They are very good at their craft and can use their platform for good. But, that does not mean they are perfect. And, they should be held accountable for bad behavior just like all of us would.
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