What happened to Jim Brown at Syracuse University is a lesson to all

by Frank Fear

When somebody excels in life to become one of the best of the best, it’s easy to assume that they glided to the top. Sometimes that happens, but not always. There are times when those with greatness need support from associates and an opportunity to show what they can do. An example is NFL football great Jim Brown, who passed away last week. Brown will be remembered as one of the best pro football players ever. In a 9-year career with the Cleveland Browns (195765), Brown rushed for nearly 12,500 yards and scored over 100 touchdowns. He was NFL Rookie of the Year, an eight-time first-team NFL All-Pro, a nine-time NFL Pro Bowler, and a three-time Pro Bowl MVP. In addition, he was named NFL Player of the Year four times and led the league in rushing eight times.

Those numbers are why Jim Brown is in the NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame.

I’m old enough to have seen Jim Brown play college ball at Syracuse University, in the city where I was born. Brown played prep ball at Manhasset (Long Island) High, where he was a multisport star. He wanted to play college ball at Syracuse University, but there was a hitch--no scholarship offer came. So, Ken Malloy, a SU alum and a Manhasset attorney, intervened on Brown’s behalf. When SU didn’t make a scholarship offer, Malloy dipped into his pocket and paid for Brown’s first year.

Malloy and other local leaders even traveled to Central New York to plead Brown’s case, urging Ben Schwartzwalder, SU’s head football coach, to put him on the team. Schwartzwalder relented, but there was a second hitch: because of Brown’s size, 6’2” and 235 pounds, he’d play defensive end. As fate would have it,

Crestwood Softball

an injury to SU’s halfback paved the way for Brown to play in the offensive backfield. He delivered, too, gaining over 2200 yards in a three-year career, averaging six yards-a-carry, scoring 21 touchdowns, and being named to the All-America team. And oh, by the way, Brown was the team’s placekicker, too. Brown ran with power and acceleration, and he may be the most graceful running back ever. His athleticism was unbelievable—not only in football but in other varsity sports. Brown started on the Orange basketball team for two years, averaging 13 points a game. Then, during his senior year, Brown supplemented an All-America football season by achieving All-America status as a member of SU’s undefeated lacrosse team. Brown was an offensive juggernaut, finishing #2 nationally in scoring. How good was he at lacrosse? Consider this: Jim Brown was inducted into the Lacrosse Hall of Fame twelve years before he was named to the College

West Scranton eliminates

Lady Comets in softball quarters

Amelia Noll had a double and two triples, scored three runs and drove in one to lead #3 West Scranton to a 10-1 win over #6 Crestwood in the District 2-4 Class 5A subregional softball quarterfinals on Monday.

Mia Keenan had a double and a triple, a run and an RBI in the Lady Invaders’ 14-hit assault, and winning pitcher Mia Butka (8 strikeouts) homered and drove in two. Jayla Lomerson doubled for Crestwood.

West Scranton moved on

Football Hall of Fame. Analysts still rank Jim Brown among the game’s best all-time players.

The moral of this story is clear. To become the best we can be, even the best of us needs a boost from others and an opportunity to show what we can do.

Crestwood Boys Lacrosse

Crestwood boys fall in district lacrosse semis

Fourth-seeded Scranton Prep scored five times in the first quarter and went on to defeat number 3 seed Crestwood 10-6 last week in the District 2 Class 2A boys’ lacrosse semifinals, at Crestwood.

Brady Holmes and Will McGrath each scored three goals for Scranton Prep (14-3). Will McPartland added a pair of goals, and Liam Barrett had a goal and an assist for the Cavaliers. Holmes, Grady Toolan and Quinn Lynett each had two assists, and Aiden Jordan made 10 saves. to play Abington Heights in the semifinal round. Also on Monday, Crestwood’s baseball team lost to Selinsgrove 12-2 in their District 2-4 Class 5A subregional quarterfinal.

Brendan Dennis scored twice for Crestwood, which ended its season with a 15-4 record. Osten Griggs, Frank Usavage, Justin McCune and Noah Shultz added solo goals. Ethan Zabroski made 13 saves in goal for the Comets.