NEW YORK: Two icons of Cleveland sports shared a stage again Monday night in the name of greatness and Muhammad Ali.
LeBron James was honored as Sports Illustrated’s Sportsperson of the Year on the same night Jim Brown received the Muhammad Ali Legacy Award at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor also received the Rising Star award.
James was honored by Sports Illustrated for rallying the Cavaliers from a 3-1 deficit in the NBA Finals and delivering Cleveland its first championship in 52 years. Hip-hop artist Jay-Z, who introduced James on Monday, praised James for his work with the youth of Northeast Ohio.
“I’m not really supposed to be up here. This award is not for me,” James said in his speech, mentioning people such as his wife, mother, in-laws and the 2,300 kids in his foundation, along with fellow award winners Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Brown and Bill Russell. “It wasn’t about you guys. The four most dominant athletes at that time didn’t care what happened to them. They sacrificed everything that could’ve happened to them, could’ve been stripped of everything they accomplished to that point.
“Their call and reasoning was for a night like tonight, that in 2016 in Brooklyn we all can sit up here as African-Americans, white Americans, as Mexicans, people from the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. We can all sit in one room and say, ‘Wow, this is an unbelievable night.’ ”
James has long been an admirer of both Brown and Ali. Hours before James was honored, his SpringHill Entertainment company announced a multi-part documentary on Ali’s life that will air on HBO. James credited Ali’s wife, Lonnie, for her full participation in the project that will include archived footage of Ali and cinematic re-creations. James also recently donated $2.5 million to the Ali exhibit at the Smithsonian.
“We know about how great of a champion he was inside the ring, but what he represented out of the ring was much more powerful, and that’s why he is the people’s champ,” James said before the awards ceremony. “It’s just an honor. It’s seriously an honor.”
Brown founded the Black Economic Union after his retirement to promote economic development in black communities and the Amer-I-Can program, which teaches life skills to underprivileged children. He has also dedicated his life to combating violence and gang culture in inner cities.
Brown has long been an admirer of James for his social work. James bowed before Brown prior to a Cavs playoff game and also shared the stage with him at the Cavs’ championship parade as the two men held the trophy together. Brown has long been touched by James including him in such efforts.
“You cannot buy that. This guy is a champion, I’m an old guy that’s showing up at a game watching him play and he’s recognizing me.
“I think LeBron is a unique champion. I approve in all of the things that he does and I marvel at the ability to think about how to be a great team player,” Brown said. “How to use your money and your fame in the correct way by helping others, by being a good family man. He represents what it’s all about, in my opinion. I really applaud him for it and it’s God-given because the selfishness that goes on today should’ve touched him, but he is certainly unselfish.”
As Jay-Z introduced James, he cited Knicks President Phil Jackson’s recent “posse” comment that infuriated both James and his associates such as Maverick Carter, Rich Paul and Randy Mims.
“Only difference between us and someone with an MBA from Wharton or Sloan is opportunity,” Jay-Z said. “LeBron James has provided his friends with that opportunity. Very few, very few businessmen are better than Maverick Carter, Rich Paul, Randy Mims and the rest of his posse.”
Lindor, 23, was honored after already winning a Gold Glove and bringing the Indians within one win of a World Series championship. Retiring Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz introduced Lindor, who joked Ortiz should now consider going into umpiring school or becoming a Sports Illustrated model.
Lindor does not know James, but was excited to meet him Monday.
“The way you guys got behind us and the city got behind us was unreal,” Lindor told James as part of his acceptance speech. “I never would’ve guessed how fun it could be to play in Cleveland.”