I was supposed to have been contacted by UAA soon after, because camps were going to be taking place in February and March 1969, with training camp opening in June and July. I wanted to know how my contract with the Rams was coming, when was the next time we could meet, when and where I needed to report, everything. But I heard nothing. Finally, I called the UAA office in Los Angeles-I remember sitting in my kitchen on North 11th Street and making the call-and got Jim Brown on the phone. He was very vague. He did say what I had done in Mexico City had made everything null and void. He also asked for his $2,000 back.
Here I was, 24 years old, without a job, without a degree yet, with a wife and an eight-month-old son, trying to finish school and get some sort of career started, and he asked for his money back. The great Jim Brown. I was very hurt, and I let him know how hurt I was and how disenchanted I was, and that what he had done and what he said was uncalled for, and I hung up on him. Denise called him back and kind of apologized to him, and told him his money would be in the mail the next day. It was, thankfully, because I hadn't spent it, and I paid it all back. But we needed that money.
I don't know if he got pressure from somebody, maybe the Rams, maybe the National football League, He never talked to me about it. I've met him a couple of times at different functions, particularly in southern California when I was at Santa Monica College. One time I remember very clearly was at a big fundraiser in Los Angeles. A number of big sports celebrities like Tom Lasorda had been invited. Jim Brown was at the head table, and he was introduced during the event, and he stood and waved. I was sitting in the back, and when it was over, he walked through the ballroom, and there I was in front of him in broad daylight. I put hand out to shake his hand, and he said to me, "Hey man," and walked off.
