The Sporting News was still going strong with headquarters in the St. Louis area when it sponsored a reception at a swank Century City (L.A.) hotel during the 1990 National Association of Black Journalists convention.
NFL Hall of Fame member and civil rights activist Jim Brown was speaker, and he asked during his presentation if attendees would rather be called “black” or “African -American.” While most people answered, the response was, at best, muted.
Brown chastised us as he asked again. I shouted, “Black!”
I introduced myself later that evening, and he told me, “That’s how it needs to be said.” It’s one of my proudest moments.
Like millions of black Americans, I have tremendous respect for Jim Brown. I did not lose any this week, but I sure am disappointed in his attitude about players sitting or kneeling during the national anthem.
“I want to be in (Colin Kaepernick’s) corner, and I do think, ‘God bless him,’” Brown said during an interview.
“I’m going to give you the real deal: I’m an American. I don’t desecrate my flag and my national anthem. I’m not gonna do anything against the flag and national anthem. I’m going to work within those situations. But this is my country, and I’ll work out the problems, but I’ll do it in an intelligent manner.”
Brown is suggesting that the simple act of refusing to stand for the national anthem is unintelligent. Give me a break. This is the most absurd sentence uttered by Brown since his hilarious role in “I’m Gonna Git You Sucka.”
He went on to say, “If you have a cause, I think you should organize it, present it in a manner where it’s not only you standing or sitting on one knee, but a lot of people that is gonna get behind each other and do something about it.”
As I proposed two weeks ago, the kneeling/sitting discussion would be entirely different if all – or at least a majority – of black NFL players didn’t stand for the national anthem. Brown would have been better served by orchestrating that effort rather than saying those that choose to protest are doing something “unintelligent.”
If sitting or kneeling in protest is unintelligent, what is blocking a street or highway in civil disobedience?
Naturally, FOX News was eager to report Brown’s remarks. The nation was also reminded us that Brown met with President-elect Donald Trump shortly after his election. I wonder if he now regrets that move.
I’m not alone in being critical of Brown’s comments.
“It’s disappointing because all it takes is one big-name person of color to really almost throw a wet blanket over the fire that’s being sparked with what Colin Kaepernick and others with the Black Lives Matter movement (are doing) — the positive people who are trying to change and have an impact,” said Shannon Sharpe on the FOX Sports show “Undisputed.
“You’re talking about Jim Brown, a guy who was a huge part of the 1967 (black athlete) sports summit, saying that Colin Kaepernick went about this wrong. That gives them all the credibility they need. That hurts the most, and it’s so disappointing. I’m so, so disappointed in him. … I wholeheartedly disagree with everything he said.”
The summit that Sharpe refers to led to Lew Alcindor and other top athletes boycotting the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City and the famed black power salute on the medal stand by sprinters John Carlos and Tommie Smith.
These acts were considered un-American and unintelligent by many people.
Meanwhile, Jim, Kaepernick is still unemployed and obviously being blackballed. We’re eagerly awaiting you to tell us what should be done for him that is, as you say, “intelligent.”
Blasting Burroughs
Mac Engel, a sports columnist for the Fort-Worth Star Telegram, wrote last week that Ezekiel Elliott’s off-field problems can be traced back to before he was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys or played at Ohio State.
Engel said the reckless behavior began “in a wealthy, predominately white, private high school in a western suburb of St. Louis. In the St. Louis suburb of Ladue is John Burroughs School; actor Jon Hamm and actress Ellie Kemper are distinguished John Burroughs alums, as is Zeke.”
“If you are serious about wanting to know how Zeke is on the fringe of blowing it, start there.”
Engel reports that a former classmate who attended school with Elliott from seventh grade through Burroughs graduation used the terms “free pass” and “sheltered” to describe Elliott’s high school career.
The source also “begged” to remain anonymous.
If this is true, it certainly isn’t unique. There are other Catholic, private and public schools that somehow keep star players eligible, off the suspension list and on the field when their off-field and/or academic performance call for action.
Engel did not include a response from Burroughs – and he also didn’t say if he tried to contact the school. The story has been out for a week now and, as of Tuesday morning, I could not find a rebuttal of any kind from the school.
Elliott’s father, Stacy, has been quite vocal in support of his son. Elliott’s appeal was scheduled for Tuesday. Maybe the Elliott’s are waiting to respond until after the hearing is complete.
My guess is that the NFL upholds the six-game suspension Elliott faces for allegedly roughing up his former girlfriend. The legal challenges will then begin and Elliott’s behavior at Burroughs will be overshadowed.
But it’s worth Burroughs’ while to defend itself, former head coach Gus Frerotte and administrators. Otherwise, we’re almost forced to take the source’s word and accept the fact Elliott was given a “free pass” and “sheltered” during his years at the school.
Cowboys on KFNS
During the summer of 2016, I contacted a representative of the Dallas Cowboys radio network to suggest that the team’s games should air on a St. Louis-area radio station.
The L.A. Rams had split town, and this lifelong Cowboys fans saw an opportunity to listen to games on radio that would not be aired on a national television outlet.
I didn’t keep the email I received in response, but there was genuine interest. I offered him contact numbers at several local stations, including 590 The Fan.
I’m not taking credit – or shame – but if you want to give it to me, that’s fine.
While we won’t get the radio network Cowboys coverage that features Brad Sham and Babe Laufenberg, KFNS will carry Compass Media Networks’ presentation of Cowboys games. Former Cowboys quarterback Danny White joins play-by-play host Kevin Ray and studio host Jerry Recco.
For those of you – like me – who tune in to parts of the Boomer & Carton sports talk radio program that airs on the CBS Sports Network weekday mornings, you’ll recognize Recco as the in-studio sports news update guy.
Alvin A. Reid is a panelist on the Nine Network program, Donnybrook and appears on ABC’s The Allman Report and several sports radio shows, including Frank Cusumano’s “The Press Box” on KFNS. His Twitter handle is @aareid1.
