Pro Football: Look at Me, Man!

• Share

(10 of 10)

Last year Brown was deluged by criticism when he spoke out on behalf of the Black Muslims ("the more commotion the better")—although he does not share their separatist beliefs. Cleveland Sportscaster John Fitzgerald advised him on the air to pipe down and stick to football. Later, buttonholing Brown in the Cleveland dressing room, he explained to him: "I've always admired you as a football player, Jim. I've never looked on you as a Negro." "That's ridiculous!" Brown snapped. "You have to look at me as a Negro. Look at me, man! I'm black!"

Everybody's looking. At least until 1967. His $65,000-a-year contract with Cleveland runs out after next season, and Jimmy has been doing a lot of talking lately about retiring. And what then? Brown has already made one movie (Rio Conchos) for 20th Century-Fox; he has a contract for three more (at $37,000 per flick). He has his own daily radio show in Cleveland, a side job as a marketing executive with Pepsi-Cola, another as a commentator on theater telecasts of boxing matches. What's more, remember how close Cleveland came to electing a Negro mayor last month? That suggestion has been aired around the Brown household, too.