Most people pass off Jim Brown’s shortcomings — and there are several — as nothing more than the inevitable streaks of humanism. Everyone makes mistakes, after all.

But Brown — who turned himself from man into tall tale through his legendary football career at Syracuse and later through his Hall-of-Fame career with the Cleveland Browns — warrants (and sometimes even asks for) a higher standard.

When applied to his own principles, Brown often falls short.

He preaches to gang members about ceasing violence, yet he’s been charged with abusing women five times in the last four decades.

He hinges the struggles of black culture on the lack of competent fathers, yet his children now criticize him for rarely being around during their youths.

He calls for others to seize ultimate control of their lives, but, too often, he shows a lack of restraint in his own.

To his credit, the brutal honesty of his opinions rivals only the brutality he played with as a stiff-arming, fist-throwing running back. The problem is that he’s still pushing away some realities about himself.

“I have reached a lot of goals, and now I am in a place of peace,” said Brown, who returned to Syracuse on Sunday for a screening of Spike Lee’s documentary about the former Orangeman. “My only goal now is to influence change through relationships.”

Brown’s succeeded to influence for the most part. That became increasingly obvious after a large audience at Goldstein Auditorium — one which had just sat through 130 minutes of “Jim Brown: All American” — took part in a question-and-answer session with Brown and film director Lee.

One after another, the audience members lobbed softballs at Brown. And who can blame them? Even as Brown sat placidly in an armchair, he still exuded the undercurrent of anger that’s become his trademark.

“He’s extraordinarily complex and intimidating,” said Sports Illustrated’s Don Yaeger, who interviewed Brown from his jail cell earlier this year while Brown served time for smashing his wife’s car window with a shovel. “He’s more thoughtful, more volatile, more aware of issues than any athlete I’ve ever dealt with.”

If anything, Brown’s 180-day jail sentence only hardened his iconoclastic opinions, which he unloaded freely on Sunday.

(BULLET) On culture: “The system decided to idolize the black athlete and said to everyone, ‘Be like Mike.’ Every African-American wanted to be like Mike. At the same time, all other cultures were emphasizing getting an education.”

(BULLET) On the prison system: “When they build those prisons, it is economic development. California builds a lot of prisons, and when the jail is not full, the order goes out — you’ve got to put some bodies in here.”

(BULLET) On perception: “Perception is not a part of my dialogue. Image is not a part of my dialogue. Being a role model is ridiculous. I don’t really worry about the thought of the public because I don’t think popularity means greatness. In fact, greatness is usually not popular until later on when people can understand it. Now I’m not saying I’m great …”

But so much of him is great. Even with his down-turned mustache — one which frames his mouth with a constant scowl — and chiseled physique, Brown’s managed to gain adoration for his football and acting careers.

Highlights from his finest tackle-breaking touchdown runs make him look like a tractor plowing through hay. Cuts from his Hollywood action movies combine the old-time gun fights and Casanova love scenes.

“Jim is living a great — honestly a (ITALICS) great (ITALICS) — American life,” Lee said. “He’s an American success story.”

But that’s where people are wrong.

One of Brown’s sons, Kevin (now in his 40s and a recovering drug addict), mentions that he can only recall a single hug from his father. In 1968, Brown allegedly pushed girlfriend Eva Bohn-Chin off a second-floor balcony during an argument — something that Brown denies.

“I have been approached in a negative way all of my life,” Brown said. “From being associated with violence, being considered anti-white, being considered just a brute.”

Many of those topics, however, are afterthoughts in the HBO documentary. And perhaps that’s where Brown wishes they’d remain.

In place of unflattering incidents, Brown provides unfettered opinions on the judicial system, today’s social structure and modern athletes. And a lot of his points ring with clarity and truth.

That is, until you hold those standards up against the man who’s giving them.

Chico Harlan is staff writer at The Daily Orange, where his columns appear every Tuesday. E-mail him at apharlan@syr.edu.

Published on October 7, 2002 at 12:00 pm