Prisoner Of Conscience

Brown: I don't compare myself with anyone. Let me tell you about someone I do admire. Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots has contributed more to the work I surround myself with than any black athlete in modern times—financially, intellectually, every way. He's been in the prisons with me. He's met gang members in my home; he's met gang members in Cleveland [where Belichick coached the Browns from 1991 to '95]. He's put up money. He's opened up areas of education for us very quietly and very strongly. Imagine what would happen if Michael Jordan did the same thing.

Now if you're talking about comparing someone to me on the field, you take Emmitt Smith of Dallas. I saw him play hurt, and I saw the championship heart he had. But that was on the field. My life has never been on the field. It has always been [about what I've done] on multiple levels off it.

SI: What about Tiger?

Brown: Tiger's involved in a mission that his father set for him, and he's doing a great job of it. As an individual, through his golf, he's demonstrating some great things. But that's it. He's focused on golf.

SI: But he has that foundation that brings golfing opportunities to disadvantaged kids....

Brown: Can I tell you something? Everybody does good things, but I'm talking about making major changes in the educational system that would impact an entire race. I'm talking about stopping these young gang members from killing one another. I'm talking about keeping prisons from overflowing. I'm not talking about teaching black kids to golf and get to country clubs. Come on! That's wonderful to do, but Tiger makes enough money that he could change many more things that are important to black kids than learning to golf.

SI: When you say that to young black athletes, how do they react?

Brown: I don't talk to very many of them. I give them their space because they have a right to do what they want to do in this country. Most of them already feel they know more than I know. They make more money, and they've got more power. They're relevant today because they create profits for owners. That's it. Michael Jordan brings millions of dollars when he shows up in an arena. Since money is how we judge people, he's very valuable. But while that's happening, Rome is burning within the black community.

In the '60s, when I called the athletes to come and talk to Ali, they didn't bring their agents, managers and lawyers. They came because they thought it was worthwhile. When we started the Black Economic Union to develop black businesses, those athletes participated. We athletes were just like normal citizens in those days, fighting for our rights. We didn't put our sport before our manhood.

SI: Why do you talk about black athletes, and not others, as potential leaders in the black community?