Sorry for this brief egotistical foray, but when you hook up with a true legend and the greatest running back in Pro Football history, well, the rest is history.
The great one himself, my friend, Jim Brown at "Monaghan's in Oakland." 4-8-10
(photo, courtesy Sheldon Baker)
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Great event at Monaghan's to honor Jim Brown. Several legends of the sports world were in Oakland last night thanks to Rich Lieberman.
ReplyDeleteHe assembled quite a line-up where I think a good time was had by all and a lot of money was raised for Amer-I-Can.
That's a neat photo, Rich. Sorry I could not attend; sounds like it was a big hit.
ReplyDeleteCaught the broadcast of Chronicle Live last night from Monaghan's. Brown, while being interviewed by Greg Papa and Monte Poole mentioned several times how much respect he has for men, and how a man needs to act like a man, be a man, and he respects men that are.
ReplyDeleteOf course, given Brown's history of domestic abuse spanning decades, what was telling was whom he never mentioned respecting- women.
DD: I was waiting for the first knock.
ReplyDeleteBrown's transgressions are well-known and he makes mention of it several times. He isn't perfect in any sense of the word and he knows it.
That doesn't make up for his "bad acts" --he knows that. I do too.
But I believe in atonement. He's trying. Maybe a bit too late, but his work with Amer-I-Can and devotion to a most worthy foundation is his attempt to make good.
I'm good with that.
Rich,
ReplyDeleteMake no mistake- I'm glad he's doing so much good. Unlike most pro athletes, he seems to want to make a difference, and not just cash in.
The problem I have with Brown is that his "bad acts" are not the singular "act". They've happened multiple times, over decades. Not once, or even twice, in a short period; Multiple times, multiple women.
How does that fit in with his attempt to make "men" out of those who are disadvantaged? Real men do not verbally threaten or physically assault the women in their life; a real man does not have a girlfriend or wife who is afraid of him- ever!
Greatest running back of all time? Yes! Greatest football player of all time? Probably, although it's comparing apples to oranges. Great role model? No.
Rich, it would have been great to have been there last night. You put together a great cast of luminaries. Sounds like a lot of fun, and the money went to a good cause. I hope on that we can agree. ;)
No person is one layer so it is always strange to me whenever some one is trying to do something positive that we say "yeah but, they did this or that." If every time you did something good at work or in your personal life and people said "yeah but", you would be racking up the yeah-buts also. The same people who are so critical of a man who has admitted his past transgressions and continues to work in his community are the same people who will be watching the Masters this week to see what Tiger does. Hmm.
ReplyDeleteMy father was a teammate of Mr Brown's and I grew up hearing all the stories of Jim and a lot of former teammates who were at the event last night. Regardless of someone's past or things that they do that they are not particularly proud of, my definition of a man is someone who can admit past mistakes and learn from them while also contributing to making the world, his community and himself better. Mr Lieberman I disagree that it is ever too late. You can only get started at the point you are called to do so. Kudos for a great event and please contact me by email, thanks.
ReplyDeleteAnon 1:43pm:
ReplyDeleteLet's look at Jim Brown's good works and the "yeah, buts".
-He is probably the greatest football player yet to live.
-He is doing some good with his Amer-I-Can organization.
Yeah, but:
1965- Charged with rape and battery of an 18 y.o.
1968- Charged with throwing his fiancee off of a balcony.
1968- Charged with resisting arrest.
1969- Charged with beating up a man after a traffic accident.
1978- Charged with battery for allegedly choking a golf partner.
1985- Charged with rape.
1985- Charged with sexual battery.
1985- Charged with assault.
1986- Charged with domestic violence.
1991- Charged with making death threats for allegedly threatening to snap his wife's neck.
1999- Charged with vandalism for breaking his wife's car windows with a shovel.
And guess what? Contrary to your post, Jim Brown does not admit to most of his past transgressions. And his "yeah, buts" are not the garden variety "he drinks too much sometimes", or "he cheats on his wife" or "he gambles too much". His "yeah, buts" are that he beats up and/or threatens to hurt people, usually women.
Don't write b.s. like "no person is one layer."
And please don't play the race card and how he is a victim because he is a strong, outspoken black man. So is his contemporary, Bill Russell, and he doesn't have a rap sheet like that. Nor do other black contemporaries of Brown's like Willie Mays, Wilt, Bob Gibson, Curt Flood, Frank Robinson, Rafer Johnson, etc.