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For years people have always grumbled about the lack of activism and community leadership by professional athletes, particularly by our most successful athletes, like Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Tiger Woods. In a recent interview with HBO's Real Sports, former NFL great Jim Brown went off on the lack of activism shown by both Woods and Jordan in recent years."There are one or two individuals in this country that are black that have been put in front of us as an example," Brown told Real Sports host Bryant Gumbel. "But they're basically under a system that says, 'Hey, they're not gonna do a certain thing.' Yes, that disappoints me because I know they both know better. You know what's so interesting about Tiger to me? If it was just a matter of me looking at an individual that's a monster competitor, this cat is a mama-jama, he is a killer. He'll run over you, he'll kick your ass, but as an individual for social change, or any of that kind of (stuff)...terrible, terrible. Because he can get away with teaching kids to play golf, and that's his contribution. And in the real world, man, I can't teach no kids to play golf and that's my contribution, if I got that kind of power."
For most of his life after football, Brown has been in the streets trying to curtail violence and promote education in the 'hood. The new episode of Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel will air on HBO this week and will also feature basketball great Bill Russell.
Comments: (35)
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By: Paula Hicks on 7/16/2009 5:18PM
Michael and Tiger ARE examples. They work very hard for a living, they take care of their families, and they are good citizens. No need for any other big show.
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By: sharkchops on 7/21/2009 11:07AM
Screw Jim Brown!! Who is he to tell anyone how to act? We're all human and have different levels of commitment to any and everything in out lives. Yes, it would be nice if they gave more to activism but just because you're black doesn't mean you have the type of personality to go out and be an activist. Donating money and sponsoring events in one thing but to go out and be a part of something in a high profile way is something different all-together. Also Tiger Woods doesn't consider himself black but multi-racial or ethnic. Don't forget he's asian too and that's as diverse an ethnicity as african. That's his decision and black folks shouldn't be out there trying to prosecute him because they want to live through him. Obviously he's not that great of a role model for blacks so why jump all over him? We get so we think every person with a drop of black blood who does something great owes us something and should have to come out and represent us. Nice as that sounds, plenty of those "blacks" really don't want to be associated or reminded of their black roots and heritage while others just want to count their money. Wrong or not, it's their decision, not Jim Brown's. You wanna show your distaste or withdraw your support? Stop watching their games or movies. Of course, no matter how much you complain about them, as soon as one of them gets arrested for a crime against someone white, ya'll be out there holding signs and protesting like you did for MJ and OJ when they were on trial. So why is it ok to molest or pee on minors or kill women and we support them no matter what but not ok if someone's only crime is not showing enough love for their heritage?
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By: Bi on 8/12/2009 8:58AM
First of all speaking for all my young people as I am one myself there are young teens out here that are hungry for our elders to give us the knowledge they have so we do make the right decisions in this world....so my point is don't critisize the young generation because there are good teenagers in this generation it's just very few but we are still apart of the generation....
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By: nadine on 8/13/2009 8:20PM
Tiger Woods didn't listen to his own Daddy when the two discuss being black in America. Tiger labels himself whatever to avoid being called a black man, as he been told growing up by his white childhood classmates, "you're black and the "N" word. Tiger embraces other cultures except black folks. Why you think he married a blonde ghost? And that's not being ugly, his wife has no color, she can't even tan! Tiger Woods has features of a black man, he can always bleach his skin.
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By: AndreJohnson83 on 8/18/2009 9:58AM
As a ISS teacher in a high school where most of the vistors are young black men. I know that young black men if talked to with respect and some comradery will listen to what you say in the light that you mean to say it, if they feel you can relate to them. How ever there must be some level of respect for you from them. You must show that you are not playing and that it is serious business which you speak. Once you have that they will come to you with there problems seeking your advice.
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