Bomani Jones slams Jim Brown's 'ultimate disappointment' - "Could not take accountability"

Jim Brown had a remarkable career as a football player, actor, and human rights activist, but sports journalist Bomani Jones did not hesitate to address his flaws.

During a recent episode of The Right Time podcast, Jones discussed Brown's troubling history with women and his failure to take accountability for his actions.

“With death, he threatened women. That threat, right? He could face down all those things but could not face down the truth. He could take on all those responsibilities but could not take that accountability."

Jones got more frustrated when the greatest running back of all time did not own up to his mistakes. He said:

“And he had six decades to do it, six decades to just say, I did some terrible things. He ain't even necessarily had to get into the nitty gritty about it all just ‘I messed up’ and never had the strength to do that. That is the ultimate disappointment. When it comes to a man who did legitimately heroic things.”

Jim Brown passed away on on May 18, 2023, at 87, and countless tributes poured in to recognize his football career, including his three NFL MVP awards and his remarkable average of over 100 yards per game throughout his career.

Additionally, he was lauded for his activism, such as organizing the Cleveland Summit to support Muhammad Ali's stance against the Vietnam War draft and his efforts to broker peace and guide gangs towards better lives.

Jim Brown’s complicated history with women

For all his accolades with the Cleveland Browns and in Hollywood, he was arrested at least seven times for assault against women. During a time when prominent men were not commonly criticized for such offenses, Brown managed to evade severe consequences.

In 1965, he was arrested in his hotel room on battery and assault charges filed by 18-year-old Brenda Ayres. He was found not guilty of these charges and denied allegations that he fathered Ayres' child.

Three years later, in 1968, Brown faced assault with intent to murder charges after Eva Bohn-Chin was discovered under the balcony of his apartment. However, the charges were dismissed as Bohn-Chin refused to cooperate with the authorities.

In 1985, two decades after his final NFL season, Brown was accused of raping a 33-year-old woman, but the charges were later dropped. The following year, his then-fiancée Debra Clark accused him of assault, resulting in his arrest. However, Clark ultimately chose not to press charges.

At the age of 63, Brown was arrested for threatening his wife, Monique, and was charged with vandalism for damaging her car with a shovel. He received a three-year probation sentence, one year of domestic violence counseling, 400 hours of community service, and a $1,800 fine as punishment.

Jim Brown’s rage wasn’t limited to women. In 1975, he was found guilty of battery after choking and beating his golf partner, Frank Snow. He received a one-day jail sentence, two years probation, and a $500 fine.