“Out of Bounds,” the autobiography of Jim Brown, MVP running back for the Cleveland Browns in the 1950s and 60s, keeps nothing in bounds while talking about everything from racial issues to sports, women and Hollywood. Even while most people know him as one of the greatest football players of all time, he was also an activist, entrepreneur and actor. He quit playing professionally at the age of 29, the year after winning the MVP, to pursue his acting career while at all times living life the way he wanted to live it.
This book has been out for over 20 years, but it is one that should be read, in my opinion, by all sports fans. The most amazing thing about this book is the way Jim Brown speaks with such honesty. He tells you exactly what he thinks at all times throughout the book which has become a trait that seems to be lacking in today’s society.
Stories of his sexually free mentality fill the pages, including accounts of many parties with celebrities such as Muhammad Ali, Hugh Hefner, and Wilt Chamberlain. He also gives the reader a great account of what the NFL was like before it became a multi-billion dollar business and what it was like playing against players who were not all prima donnas and were not raking in a million dollars for a 60-minute football game. The sport seemed to be a lot more about winning in those days than about individual accomplishments that would help for the next signing bonus.
“Out of Bounds” is about so much more than sports and focuses on religion and being a black celebrity in the 60s and 70s, when racial tension was still at an extreme high.
Jim Brown certainly has an amazing look on life and seems to be a solid judge of character. He seemed to surround himself with people that were wholesome and all-around pretty good people.
The greatest thing about this book is the fact that you can open it to any page and enjoy every word. If stories of good fun and an honest outlook on life in the mind of a professional athlete aren’t interesting to you, then this might not be for you, but if you are looking for an honest portrayal of life in the spotlight during the 60s, then pick this one up and give it a try.