Jim Brown, All American Birthday

Jim Brown was born on Feb. 17, 1936. He went on to become an above-average athlete and someone who was unwilling to let his amazing athletic career define him. Here is a shot of Jim Brown in the 1957 Cotton Bowl as a member of Syracuse Orangemen. According to OrangeHoops dot com, Brown was "A victim of racial attitudes of the times, Brown came to Syracuse in the fall of 1953 without a scholarship in hand and was the only black player on the freshman football team."

Why was he on Orange Hoops? He was a Syracuse basketball player, as well.

OK. He didn't start for the Orange. Why? From Orange Hoops:

He played basketball his sophomore and junior years at Syracuse, averaging 13.1 points per game. He was a ferocious rebounder, and the best athlete on the floor. He would scored 33 points against Sampson Air Force Base his sophomore season, in a game he did not even start. Brown would not return for his senior season however, because he was not permitted to be a starter. An unwritten rule at Syracuse prohibited the team starting three black athletes in basketball, and Syracuse had Vinnie Cohen and Manny Breland also on the team. Cohen believed Syracuse would have won the national title in basketball in 1957 if Brown had played with them; as it was, they lost in the elite eight.

He went on to have a pretty good NFL career. Here is his worse season, 1962:

Rourth in rushing attempts - 230

Jim Taylor led NFL - 272

Fourth in rushing yards - 996

Jim Taylor - 1474

third in rushing TDs - 13

Jim Taylor 19

Ninth in yards per attempt 4.3

Amos Marsh 5.6 led NFL

Jim Taylor 5.4

Fourth in yards rushing per game - 71.1

Jim Taylor - 105.3

(prorated to 16 games, Brown would gain 1137 yards)

Second in Overall TDs - 18

Taylor 19

Seventh in All-purpose yards - 1513

Timmy Brown led NFL - 2306

Taylor sixth - 1580

Uncle pk Announces for Illinois Lieutenant Governor

Paul Kelly (Uncle pk … pau1ke11y.blogspot.com) formally announced today that he is throwing his Reds Cubs/White Sox cap into the ring to be named by Governor Pat Quinn as the newest Illinois Lt. Governor, replacing Sheila Simon. “I urge Gov. Quinn to do what’s best for me by naming me as Lt. Governor of the great state of Illinois,” Uncle pk said. “I can’t play the banjo, but I sure do like banjo music. And the salary of the Lt. Governor will help ensure that I am able to bring certainty to my budget.”

My "campaign" slogan Paul Kelly for Illinois Lt. Governor 2013 - Remember ... It Could Be Worse.

I Hear that Motor Wagon Getting Ready to Ride - ASN

I Hear That Motor Wagon Gettin' Ready to Ride

Ravens Broncos Playoffs 2012-01-12 ASN

 One of my favorite songs of all time ... "Almost Saturday Night." Fogerty. ASN.

Ain't no plays like big plays ... first Trindon Holliday of the Broncos returns a punt 90 yards. Ravens answer with a Joe Flacco to Torrey Smith for a 59-yard bomb. Corey Graham 40-yard interception return for a TD. Good stuff.

Holliday demonstrated his sprinting ability in the 100-meter dash at the 2007 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, where he recorded 10.07 seconds in the final – ahead of Walter Dix and second only to Tyson Gay. We call that Uncle PK speed.

Of course, this game will be remembered as the matchup between Ray Lewis, playing in perhaps his final game, against Peyton Manning, playing in his first? as a Bronco. Here they are as high schoolers:

Peyton is the one on top.

Eddie Lacy of Alabama declared for the NFL draft. He is ranked as the No. 1 back by CBS Sports Scouts, Inc. at ESPN has him at No. 6). The No. 1 back in 2011 was Mark Ingram and in 2012 was Trent Richardson, both of Alabama. Pretty impressive to have three straight backs ranked so highly.