Men You Wish You Were: Jim Brown

Every month Primer is recognizing a different individual for their accomplishments, cultural significance, and general awesomeness. Since February is Black History Month we decided to step up the honors for the month recognizing a new subject once every week. This week: Jim Brown.

“I loved the game.  We played because we loved it.” -Jim Brown

Jim Brown was the greatest running back ever to lace up in the NFL.  If you don’t agree, then you’re wrong.

You can compare Brown’s stats to anyone you please, he always comes out ahead.  Sanders, Payton, E. Smith, Sayers; Brown went to the pro bowl at least two more times than any of them.  He was a better average yard per carry (5.2) than any running back with at least 2,000 yards.  He’s a three time MVP.  He is the only running back to average 100 yards per game over his career.

He broke 1,200 yards rushing seven of the nine years he played and three of those seasons were only 12 games long (the others were 14).  He is the only player ever to lead the league in all-purpose yards five times.  To top it off, all of this was done in only 118 games.

I could go on (really I could) but you get the idea.  And while all of this is very impressive, you don’t simply get the envy of Primer Magazine by being one of the greatest Football players ever, oh no, you’ve got to do better than that.  And Jim Brown does.

Not just a great football player, Brown was a tremendous all-around athlete.  He lettered in four different sports in college (lacrosse, football, basketball, and track).  While at Syracuse, the track coach negotiated with the lacrosse coach to let Brown compete in the long jump in an upcoming meet.  When the lacrosse coach came to the meet to watch Brown compete he found that Brown had already came in first place in three other events.

Still not enough?  Consider this…

“Considered by many to be the greatest to ever play the game…” That’s what it says about Jim Brown on the website of the Hall of Fame…of Lacrosse. Brown was arguably the greatest athlete of all time in two different sports.  Now that will get our attention.

Read more about Jim Brown’s amazing accomplishments here

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BrowJi00.htm

http://www.sportsplacement.com/brownbio.htm

Oh yeah, and he was in The Dirty Dozen, Mars Attacks!, and Any Given Sunday.

Kevin MacLean

Kevin H. MacLean currently resides in Brooklyn, NY where he enjoys people watching, writing, and dominating all comers in four-square. You can keep tabs on him at his blog http://ratedwrong.com/.