What is Jim Brown?
1.
Jim Brown (James Nathaniel Brown), noun.
(NFL, American Football History, African American/Black Living Legend; Sports History, Syracuse University History).
Jim Brown born February 17, 1936 on St. Simons Island near the southern coast of Georgia:
Today on November 12, 2005 (Sat.) in Syracuse, New York around 3:10 P.M. -- E.S.T.; and six others retired the number 44 from Syracuse University's football program's number lineup.
Along with Floyd Little, Thomas Stephens, William Schoonover,
The # 44 is the first to be retired from the Syracuse Orangemen's football program.
Twenty Five men wore the #44, before its retirement today on November 12, 2005.
The first man to wear the #44 was Gifford Zimmerman in 1921 and Robert Konrad being the last in 1998.
Jim Brown was the first to make the #44 famous at Syracuse University's football program.
Jim Brown was a four sport star at Syracuse University as a senior in 1956; excelling in football, basketball, lacrosse, and track.
Jim Brown rushed for 2,091 yards on 361 carries and scored 24 touchdowns for the Syracuse Univeristy's Football Team averaging 5.8 yards per carry. Brown, also, had eight interceptions while playing defense with Syracuse.
Jim Brown was an unanimous All-American as a senior in 1956 and fifth in the
Jim Brown was the sixth annual overall pick in the 1957
Jim Brown is the only player enshirned in the College Football, Pro Football, and Lacrosse Halls of Fame.
Ben Schwartzwalder, head Syracuse University football coach welcomed Ernie Davis in 1958 to wear the #44 after Jim Brown's feats.
Davis picked Syracuse Univerisity over South Bend, Indiana's Univeristy of Notre Dame's football program to wear the #44.
Ernie Davis who inherited the number from Jim Brown and led Syracuse University to the 1959 national championship as a sophomore and became the first African American/Black to win the
Today's 11/12/2005 ceremony coincided on the 44 th. anniversary that Ernie Davis received the Heisman Trophy.
Ernie Davis died at age 23 in 1963 of leukemia before he could join Jim Brown with the Cleveland Browns.
After leaving Syracuse University, Jim Brown, was awarded NFL Rookie of the Year in 1957. As well, Brown was a two time league MVP and was selected to play in nine Pro-Bowls.
Jim Brown retired from the Cleveland Browns at the age of of 29 in 1966.
The first African American/Black Athletic Director, Dr. Daryl Gross, for Syracuse University was picked by Dr. Nancy Cantor, the First Women Chancellor of Syracuse Univeristy, in Dececmber of 2004.
Retiring the #44 was the brainchild of athletic director Dr. Daryl Gross.
Floyd Little decided to accept Syracuse Univeristy's scholarship the day Ernie Davis died in the Spring of 1963.
Davies, whom never played for the Cleveland Browns had his number 45 retired along with Jim Brown's #44 of the Cleveland Browns.
Jim Brown left the game before the 1966 season at age 30 is the only NFL player to run 12,312 yards and score more than 126 touchdowns and rushing touchdowns numbering 106.
Jim Brown accomplished this feat when the defenses were set against the run first and the pass second.
Jim Brown at the end of his football career and beginnning of his film career has starred or co-starred in over 40 major motion pictures.
In the movie "100 Rifles," directed by Tom Gries -- Brown was one of the first African American/Black men to engage in an interracial love scene with
Brown today at the age of 69 years of age and standing at 6 feet 2 inches has been a trail blazer as a Playgirl magazine centerfold in the December of 1974 issue; the second famous African American/Black model after Fred Williamson who posed first for Playgirl magazine in October of 1973 as the first famous African American/Black model.
Playgirl magazine started in June of 1973 and hit the stands in May of 1973 being one of the first and controversial magazines for women at that time.
The magazine is still in publication with Jim Brown being one of its first "trail markers".
Jim Brown is also the founder of Amer - I - Can program started in 1988 that helps Los Angeles youth in gangs and prisons to start a new life.
Mr. Brown was also instrumental in helping the R & B music group Earth, Wind and Fire become a world entertaining force in the early 1970's.
Jim Brown at Manhasset High School on Long Island, New York earned 13 letters playing baseball, basketball, football, lacrosse, and track.
Mr. Brown has never looked back.
As he was an explosive fullback of great power and speed with the Cleveland Browns, Jim Brown continues to set records as an innovator and motivator.
Jim Brown 's number 44 today was retired and hangs in the midst of the Carrier Dome's ceiling as a 20 feet by 16 feet shirt in white with blue letters bordered by the color orange.
Jim Brown and the number 44, you are saluted.
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