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Jim Brown: Running Towards Canton

Jim Brown

Friday May 18, 2023. The clouds hung over the Long Island skyline in front of Manhasset Secondary School. A somberness engulfed the air as the rain fell. For many, the significance of this high school is minimal but today in North Shore, New York it’s held in the hearts of generations of football fans across the globe. Their motto “Excellence through Effort” is perhaps the perfect phrase to describe their greatest alum, Jim Brown.

James Nathaniel Brown left this world last week at the age of 87. To encapsulate the unparalleled life in a few paragraphs would do the fallen no justice. That speaks more to the legacy that is of this larger than life individual. Before he donned the iconic brown & orange of Cleveland’s football club; he was the son of Swinton and Theresa Brown. Born February 17, 1936, his youth was spent with his grandmother in St. Simons Island, Georgia. He relocated to Long Island at the age of 8. Along with football, he showcased his athleticism in track, baseball, basketball, and his favorite; lacrosse. 13 letters in high school athletics, including most points per game in Long Island with an average of 38, a record whose shelf life was minimal after being broken by future baseball hall of famer Carl Yastremzki. Soon, Brown’s greatness would be on display for a larger audience.

Jim Brown: Running Towards Canton

A Star Shining in Syracuse

Brown chose Syracuse University to pursue his amateur career. At the time, Syracuse was reluctant in admitting a black athlete. Fortunately, Syracuse Alum and future NYS Supreme Court Justice Kenneth Molloy provided relief. Molloy stuck his neck out to help the freshman Brown after the school failed to honor their scholarship commitment to Jim. Molloy successfully raised the funds to pay for Brown’s tuition that season. Factor in the discrimination & bigotry he was subjected to as the only black player on the team, It was never an easy moment for Brown. Yet that would not stop his determination for greatness.

Brown’s Senior year in 1956 was the defining moment of tenure in Syracuse. He finished his senior year with 986 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns through 8 games. His final regular season game was a spectacle. 6 touchdowns and 197 rushing yards, in addition to 7 extra point field goals led to a 61-7 win against Colgate. With a record of 7-1, Syracuse earned a matchup with the 14th ranked TCU in the 1957 Cotton Bowl. The game resulted in a 28-27 loss for the Orangemen. Brown ended his collegiate career with a stellar performance with 3 touchdowns on 132 rushing yards & 3 extra point FG’s kicked. He became a legend in college, however his career would be far from over.

Mr. Brown Goes to Cleveland

Soon, Jim Brown embarked on the next chapter by taking on professional football. The Cleveland Browns franchise committed themselves to the All American tailback with the 6th overall pick in the 1957 draft. He needed little time to introduce himself to the passionate fanbase when he set the record for most rushing yards in a single in the 9th game of his career. (237 yards vs the Rams) Finishing his season with 942 yards and 10 total touchdowns, he won both Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player. What followed was a sophomore campaign for the ages. In 1958, Brown finished the 12 game season with 1,527 rushing yards on 257 carries & 17 touchdowns on his way to capturing his second consecutive MVP award. The city of Cleveland praised Jim for filling the void of a star after the retirement of HOF QB Otto Graham.

Change In Leadership

While Jim continued to succeed individually, the team failed to win in the postseason. The rift between Head Coach Paul Brown and new owner Art Modell was suffocating the franchise. The rivalry ended in 1963 when Modell fired the longtime coach & replaced him with Blanton Collier. After failing to reach at least 1,000 rushing yards in 1962 for the first time since his rookie year, Jim Brown responded with authority in 1963. The running back finished the season with a staggering 1,863 rushing yards on 291 carries. An average of 133 yards per game & once again leading the league in rushing touchdowns. The next year, Cleveland won their 1st league championship with Jim Brown defeating the Baltimore Colts in a 27-0 blowout. Jim Brown made his presence known with 151 yards of total offense. Cleveland attempted to repeat the following season, but fell to the Packers in the championship game 23-12. The year was fruitful for Jim however as he ended the year with 1,544 rushing yards while averaging 110.3 yards per game and an auspicious 17 rushing touchdowns to capture his 3rd MVP.

Lights… Camera… Retirement

Jim Brown had a tremendous career with less than a decade of play. When he turned 30, his aspirations were veering off the gridiron & in front of a movie camera. Brown was in London shooting scenes for his second film “The Dirty Dozen” with hopes to return to Cleveland before training camp for one final season. Weather delays force production to be pushed back & Art Modell wasn’t happy. Modell even went as far as to publicly admit he’d fine the star running back for missing training camp. Modell’s threats made Brown’s decision to walk away from the game easier. Thus, the three time MVP and eight time league rushing yards leader announced his retirement in July 1966.

Now with more free time and the critical & commercial success of “The Dirty Dozen”, his value as a film star was on the rise. 2 years later, Brown appeared in his first leading role in “The Split”. Featuring a star studded cast including Diahann Carroll and Oscar winning actors Ernest Borgnine and Gene Hackman. Brown starred in the Western “100 Rifles” in 1969. The film had historical significance for featuring the first interracial love scene between himself & costar Raquel Welch. Brown’s filmography would span throughout the rest of his days, including films like “I’m Gonna Git You Sucka” in 1988 and “Any Given Sunday” in 1999.

Civil Rights Movement and Giving Back to the Community

While becoming a star both on the field and on camera, Jim Brown made sure to use his platform for good. Brown became a vocal supporter for equality during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. When Muhammad Ali refused to be drafted into the Vietnam War, Brown was one of Ali’s most outspoken supporters. Brown was joined by fellow athletes like Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Bill Russell, Bobby Mitchell, & Willie Davis to support Muhammad at the Cleveland Summit. Upon retirement, Brown created the Black Economic Union, an organization to help promote minority owned businesses. Brown became a proud advocate for black capitalism & economic independence.

Last stop: Canton, Ohio

Of all the accolades one can achieve in professional sports, few can compare to the Professional Football Hall of Fame. The fellowship immortalizes the best the sport has to offer in Canton, Ohio. 5 years after his retirement, Jim Brown was welcomed to it’s sacred halls in 1971. His 2,359 carries over 118 games resulted in a record 12,312 rushing yards, averaging 104.3 yards per game. (A record that still stands today.) He also collected 126 total career touchdowns while leading the league in rushing yards eight times & rushing touchdowns five times. In nine seasons, he helped to revolutionize the game and leave an impact that shall forever be undeniable. A game changer. A movie star. An advocate. He was… Jim Brown.

Main Photo: Ed Balint – USA Today Sports

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