There isn't much more that can be said that hasn't already been said about the star athlete. While growing up on Long Island, Brown earned 13 letters while playing football, lacrosse, baseball, basketball, and running track. When he got to Syracuse University, he stuck with lacrosse and the sport that made his career, football.
He was drafted by the Browns, 6th overall in the 1957 NFL draft. He played nine years in the N FL, playing in 118 games. He won an NFL title in 1964. Brown carried the ball 2,359 times for 12,312 rushing yards and 106 touchdowns, which were all records when he retired. Brown won rookie of the year in 1957, was a three time league MVP, the only non quarterback to win three MVP's. Brown was a nine time all pro and an eight time pro bowler. He's had his number 32 retired by the Browns and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971. He finished with 100 or more yards in a game 58 times out of the 118 games he played which was an eye popping number.
This man has gone down, and will go down in the books as one of the very best to ever touch a football. He set a standard for what other great backs strive to be. Emmitt Smith, Barry Sanders, Curtis Martin, Jerome Bettis all have Jim Brown's talent and skills to live up to. We could talk about his athletic skills till the cows come home. He was more than just a great athlete. He was a leader.
What we mean is, Jim Brown was a strong voice, and a highly respected one at that, in the community in regards to equal rights. Brown was one of the few athletes, and among the most prominent African Americans, to speak out on racial issues as the civil rights movement was growing in the 1950s. He participated in the Cleveland Summit after Muhammad Ali faced imprisonment for refusing to enter the draft for the Vietnam War. The summit is considered an important turning point for activism by athletes.
The sports world morns the loss of one of the greatest athletes, and people, to ever step foot on a field.
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