N O V E M B E R 26, 1965
MUHAMMAD SPEAKS
JLH^iLJL
23
J U L .
(Even the most casual sports f a n acknowledges that the greatest football player of a l l time, the living legend i n the violent "sport" that has become America's greatest a t t r a c t i o n — i s one Jim Brown of Cleveland, Yet, despite unprecedented adulation and the wealth he has wrested from the grips of the People I n Power, Brown has maintained a thoughtful, feet-on-the-ground identity with the r e a l - l i f e struggles of his own people. H i s pride and prowess is proverbial. H e is the same athlete who recently, i n a national magazine not only refused to disclaim the positive impact of the Honorable E l i j a h Muhammad, but pointed out that i n his opinion most black people i n America shared many of the Messenger's views. An avalanche of criticism and denunciations descended upon him—but he refused to back down. What kind of man is this? The following portraits present some aspect of this remarkable black gladiator.) (Special to Muhammad Speaks)
black f u l l b a c k , w h o also B u t h e continued t o play t h e played with t h e Cleveland rest o ft h e season. Browns—Marion Motley. ~* T h e headline-making powTHOUGH Murphy has a " M o t 1e y h a d g r e a t v a r i e t y o f sophisticated er that drives J i m B r o w n , one o ft h e highest paid ath- strength i nt h e upper part o f e q u i p m e n t t o treat aches l e t e s i n t h e n a t i o n , i s e n -h i s b o d y . W h e n t h e d e f e n s e a n d p a i n s , h e s e l d o m s e e s cased i na physique that ap- converged, h e just lowered Brown. pears t o have been h e w n o u t his shoulder a n d smashed "After a game, h e just of d a r k m a r b l e . H e i s6 feet, t h r o u g h . J i m h a s t r e m e n - cuts h i s tape o f fa n d that's 2 inches tall a n d weighs a dously s t r o n g legs. T a c k l e r s i t , " says M u r p h y . solid 228 pounds. B u t w h a t just can't s e e m t o p i n h i s The team d e n t i s t says makes J i mB r o w n remark- legs." B r o w n h a s a l l h i s t e e t h — able i s that though h i s shoulAfter m o r e t h a n seven sea- w i t h a c a p o n o n e f r o n t ders a r e large enough f o ra size 48 coat, h i s w a i s t t a - sons o frough-tough p r o foot- tooth. Unlike most hard-driving pers t o32inches. ( M o s t m e n ball. B r o w n appears r e of h i s weight have waist- m a r k a b l y u n m a r k e d — o n t h e backs. B r o w n i s light i n t h e departl i n e s b e t w e e n 3 6 a n d 3 8o u t s i d e . H i s l e f t e l b o w " i s p e r s o n a l e q u i p m e n t bad," h e admits. " I t might ment, s a y s Morrie Kono, inches.) have a little water o n i t . " equipment manager f o r the B r o w n uses h i selbow as a Cleveland B r o w n s . H E R E C O M E S N O . 32! The flesh-and-bone juggernaut of the H E H A S A N excellent pair H e w e a r s n o h i p p a d s . H i s gridiron, Brown already has chalked up more than 1,000 yard? of eyes, equipped w i t h great w e a p o n a n d t o balance. H e b e e n this season, the seventh time in his nine-year record-studded peripheral vision, enabling likes t ocarry t h e ball tucked thigh b o a r d s have h i m t o p i c k o u t n a r r o w o p - i n t o t h e c r o o k o f t h e e l b o w , s h a v e d t o t h e s h e l l , e l i m i n a t - career. enings i nt h e opposition's de- permitting h i m t o swing i t ing t h e f o a m rubber around the edges. H e wears n o r m a l f e n s e a n d k e e p t a b s o n h i sf r e e l y . c o l l e g e s e a s o n s , i t w a ss e l v e s . I f y o u ' r e n o t c a r e f u l , plastic shoulder pads a n d o w n blockers. pointed out, including t h ea l l - y o u r u n o u t o f gas." H I S H A N D S a r e r o u g h a n d his p a n t s a r el i g h t i n w e i g h t . s t a r g a m e , five e x h i b i t i o n s "One thing a loto f young I F Y O U ' V E ever seen J i m s h a k e backs d o i s close their eyes scarred. " I can't "HE H A S T H E lightest a n d 14league g a m e s . h a n d s t i g h t l y o r c l o s e h a r d B r o w n going back t o t h e w h e n they h i t , " B r o w n says. (equipment) b a g o n t h e "Players and c o a c h e s ' T d i d this i n t h e early on a door handle." t e a m , " K o n o declares. must learn t o pace them(Continued on page 26) His right a r mis scratched stages w h e n I first c a m e i n . " What a b o u t equipment H e l e a r n e d n o tt o d o that a n d r o u g h - s k i n n e d f r o m hit- w e a r ? H e goes t h r o u g h s i x ting a n d falling. any more. game jerseys i n a season, ment Opportunity commisJob Bias Complaints H i s left t o ei ssore. " I h a d c o m p a r e d t o t w o f o r m o s t A n o t h e r source o fh i s bulls ion, charging employment R I C H M O N D , V a . — S o m e dozing p o w e r i s i n h i s tre- it X - r a y e d , b u tt h e X - r a y s players. B r o w n gets a n e w b i a s w i t h i n t h e s t ate, i t w a s 4 5 c o m p l a i n t s h a v e b e e n s h o w n o t h i n g , " h e s a y s . " I t pair o f shoes every four mendously-developed thighs. g a m e s ( a t $24 a p a i r ) . M o s t filed w i t h t h e E q u a l E m p l o y - disclosed. H e drives f o r w a r d o n pis- m i g h t b ea r t h r i t i c . " t o n - p u m p i n g legs, s q u i r m i n g B u t despite these afflic- players m a k e a single pair ' a n d t w i s t i n g f o r w a r d a s a t i o n s . B r o w n — a s p r o foot-1 l a s t a s e a s o n . half-ton o f defensive m a n - bailers go — h a s been r e Cleveland Browns owner. power tries t opull h i m down. m a r k a b l y injury-free. H e r e - Art Modell, points o u t that "He has g r e a t develop- ceived h i s only serious i n - the o n e thing that a m a z e s m e n t o fh i s h a m s t r i n g s (ten- j u r y i n 1962—a b r o k e n right e v e r y b o d y i s h i s d u r a b i l i t y . " dons back o f t h e knees)," wrist early i n t h e season. A season is equivalent t o t w o said B r o w n ' s trainer, L e o SHABAZZ I M P O R T - E X P O R T M u r p h y , " i nt h e back a n d BUY AND S€Ll Specializing In: his quadriceps (extensor WITH SHABAZZ REALTY AFRICAN WOODCRAFT, PARISIAN At 6 : 3 0 P.M. on muscles i nfront o fthighs) i n ; PERFUKEST NOVELTIES and ARTIFACTS front." 7 3 W e s t 116th Street Radio Station 34 W . 116th St., N.Y.C. N e w Y o r k , N.Y. TEL.: B 3 1 - B B 4 2 A W R I T E R compared J i m 876-5882 W B N X Also Business Consultation B r o w n with another great
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