LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) - Former NFL running back Jim Brown visited the 'Arsenio Hall' show earlier this week and was asked what he thought about Kobe Bryant and his return from a ruptured Achilles tendon.
While Brown said he thinks Kobe is a tremendous athlete, he also said he thinks Kobe threw Shaq under the bus when they played together with the Lakers.
Then Brown began his criticism.
"He is, somewhat confused about culture because he was brought up in another country, so it doesn't quite fit what's happening in America," said Brown. "In the days when we had a summit and we called the top black athletes together to talk to Muhammad Ali about his status with the armed forces, there were some athletes we didn't call. If I had to call that summit all over, there would be some athletes I wouldn't call. Kobe would be one of them."
No surprise, Kobe had something to say about that.
On his twitter account he wrote:
He also spoke to the media on the matter after Thursday's practice.
"It surprised me in the sense that it just came out of left field. I've never even met him," Bryant said of Brown. "I do think it's a great opportunity to have these conversations, to have this discussion. No matter where you come from, either you come from Italy, Inglewood or London, it doesn't matter. We have different perceptions and beliefs, clearly. What I try to do is to educate our youth no matter what color you are. It's a sensitive topic for everybody but I think the best thing to do is not dance around it."
Kobe Bryant Responds To Jim Brown's Comments
/ CBS LA
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) - Former NFL running back Jim Brown visited the 'Arsenio Hall' show earlier this week and was asked what he thought about Kobe Bryant and his return from a ruptured Achilles tendon.
While Brown said he thinks Kobe is a tremendous athlete, he also said he thinks Kobe threw Shaq under the bus when they played together with the Lakers.
Then Brown began his criticism.
"He is, somewhat confused about culture because he was brought up in another country, so it doesn't quite fit what's happening in America," said Brown. "In the days when we had a summit and we called the top black athletes together to talk to Muhammad Ali about his status with the armed forces, there were some athletes we didn't call. If I had to call that summit all over, there would be some athletes I wouldn't call. Kobe would be one of them."
No surprise, Kobe had something to say about that.
On his twitter account he wrote:
He also spoke to the media on the matter after Thursday's practice.
"It surprised me in the sense that it just came out of left field. I've never even met him," Bryant said of Brown. "I do think it's a great opportunity to have these conversations, to have this discussion. No matter where you come from, either you come from Italy, Inglewood or London, it doesn't matter. We have different perceptions and beliefs, clearly. What I try to do is to educate our youth no matter what color you are. It's a sensitive topic for everybody but I think the best thing to do is not dance around it."
In:
Featured Local Savings
CBS News Los Angeles
Montgomery, Antonacci and Meidroth homer in 6-run 6th as White Sox top Dodgers 6-4
Yoshinobu Yamamoto carries no-hit bid into 9th as Dodgers beat White Sox 7-1
23-year-old man fatally shot outside South Gate bar; Los Angeles County deputies investigating
Tigers place Jack Flaherty on IL just as team gets ace Tarik Skubal back
Tigers fall to Guardians 3-1; Detroit's Skubal throws 80 pitches in return
Cape Verde president visits Atlanta before historic World Cup match
Aldon Smith, former All-Pro San Francisco 49ers linebacker, dies at 36
The world's cultures shine at Aurora Fest 2026