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Showing Original Post only (View all)I stopped liking Bill Cosby 25 years ago. Here's the story. [View all]
In 1989, Cosby was invited to Notre Dame to speak to a group of about 50 black graduates. While speaking with the students, Cosby asked All-American tackle Dean Brown what his GPA was. When Brown told him it was a 2.5, Cosby proceeded to humiliate him in front of the other students and parents:
"What do you think of a 2.5 average?" Cosby asked.
"I think it's decent," replied Brown, who was recently drafted by pro football's Indianapolis Colts.
Cosby snarled back: "2.5 is OK if you have a mental disorder. You should be ashamed of yourself. You should have worked harder."
Tears streamed down the 290-lbs. Brown's face as he tried to defend himself: "I worked hard. I did my best..."
But Cosby cut him short. "You didn't do enough."
"I think it's decent," replied Brown, who was recently drafted by pro football's Indianapolis Colts.
Cosby snarled back: "2.5 is OK if you have a mental disorder. You should be ashamed of yourself. You should have worked harder."
Tears streamed down the 290-lbs. Brown's face as he tried to defend himself: "I worked hard. I did my best..."
But Cosby cut him short. "You didn't do enough."
http://deadspin.com/bill-cosby-once-publicly-bullied-a-notre-dame-football-1661325778
About Dean Brown:
Saw your piece on Cosby and Dean Brown. Just wanted to send you a little more detail on Dean and the impact of Cosby words on him. It stayed with him for years.
You're right that Dean was a good guy. His nickname on campus was "Big Happy." He also had some serious difficulties growing up. He watched his mother coughing up blood as she had a stroke in front of him when he was 4. His dad had already left by then. She couldn't work for years and was left with a permanent limp. He had no money. He hustled food stamps at 10. He'd collect the food stamps from people in the neighborhood, buy 25 cents of candy, give the food stamp recipient back 75 cents of change, that money was then spent at the liquor store. Dean would resell the candy at school at a marked up price And his favorite show growing up? Fat Albert. That isn't some nice revisionist detail. He actually wrote that on a media guide questionnaire before his junior year. He was also very candid in saying he benefitted the most of any of his teammates by being at Notre Dame. So he starts on a national title team and then he's set to graduate a year later, a pretty monumental deal for him and Cosby berates him. When I spoke to Dean in 2012 for my book he said this: "I went a lot of years feeling like I was a failure, one because I didn't think I played long enough in the pros," Brown said. "And, there were times that anytime I heard Bill Cosby's name it wasn't a cringe, but it was a heavy uneasiness about what had transpired."
You're right that Dean was a good guy. His nickname on campus was "Big Happy." He also had some serious difficulties growing up. He watched his mother coughing up blood as she had a stroke in front of him when he was 4. His dad had already left by then. She couldn't work for years and was left with a permanent limp. He had no money. He hustled food stamps at 10. He'd collect the food stamps from people in the neighborhood, buy 25 cents of candy, give the food stamp recipient back 75 cents of change, that money was then spent at the liquor store. Dean would resell the candy at school at a marked up price And his favorite show growing up? Fat Albert. That isn't some nice revisionist detail. He actually wrote that on a media guide questionnaire before his junior year. He was also very candid in saying he benefitted the most of any of his teammates by being at Notre Dame. So he starts on a national title team and then he's set to graduate a year later, a pretty monumental deal for him and Cosby berates him. When I spoke to Dean in 2012 for my book he said this: "I went a lot of years feeling like I was a failure, one because I didn't think I played long enough in the pros," Brown said. "And, there were times that anytime I heard Bill Cosby's name it wasn't a cringe, but it was a heavy uneasiness about what had transpired."
http://deadspin.com/bill-cosby-once-publicly-bullied-a-notre-dame-football-1661325778
.........................................
I never liked Cosby again.
What he did to this kid was uncalled for and just plain mean. Cosby knew nothing about this kid. He probably worked his ass off for a 2.5. Brown had made it out and was going to graduate. That should have been applauded.
Humiliating this kid in front of others was beyond cruel. After I read this story, I never looked at Cosby the same way again. There was another side to him that was darker and different. How you treat people who can't 'fight back' is telling.
I'm sure the Cosby apologists will be out in force.
I always liked Cosby. He was a part of my life when I consider how long he was in my conscious. I loved I Spy, his albums, and the toons. I have no glee in the way I feel now. He ceased being funny to me.
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I stopped liking Bill Cosby 25 years ago. Here's the story. [View all]
Are_grits_groceries
Jan 2015
OP
I have felt for a long time that Cosby's preachiness was arrogant and condescending
yellowcanine
Jan 2015
#1
Yep. And it pretty clearly was masking some underlying fucked-upedness.
Warren DeMontague
Jan 2015
#98
Pretty much my evolution with Bill Cosby. He was a 'hero' I was surprised to learn had feet of clay
marble falls
Jan 2015
#2
A comic who'd gotten tired of Cosby's holier-than-thou lectures made a crack onstage
pnwmom
Jan 2015
#61
Sexual harassment and rape are crimes that leave the victim with a sense of shame and the fear
JDPriestly
Jan 2015
#96
Sometimes courage needs to be prompted. And your questioning makes it clear why these women didn't
WinkyDink
Jan 2015
#107
That was my impression. I had heard first-hand stories from people who worked on sets with him.
DanTex
Jan 2015
#16
"I'm sure the Cosby apologists will be out in force." This is a horrible story, and my
ScreamingMeemie
Jan 2015
#12
Another reason I'm glad I've consciously attempted to separate the art from the artist.
LanternWaste
Jan 2015
#13
Art? Maybe, maybe not-- I s'pose it's a diaphanous definition in the eye of the beholder.
LanternWaste
Jan 2015
#84
Bill Cosby was very well paid to come to a fund raiser for an Ohio organization ...
Botany
Jan 2015
#17
Always thought it was strange his "credentials" appeared in the credits of The Cosby Show. nt
eppur_se_muova
Jan 2015
#46
I thought the degree was "Ed. D." Thats' what the credits say on the "Cosby Show" and
muntrv
Jan 2015
#58
The Cosby Rape Apologist brigade won't dispute this, since the victim and the witnesses were men nt
geek tragedy
Jan 2015
#20
there are people who refer to the victims collectively as "party groupies"
geek tragedy
Jan 2015
#31
Bill Cosby is a D-Bag for sure but I am sure there are many on these boards who secretly agree with
dilby
Jan 2015
#25
I was one who wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt; I knew nothing of him except...
Hekate
Jan 2015
#122
He was a skillful and very successful predator for most of his life. He had the rest of us...
Hekate
Jan 2015
#128
I agree, just people wanting to see evidence and don't take the word of people who want big money
uponit7771
Jan 2015
#66
I've been thinking that for some time now. When only one member of a family is the odd man out...
Hekate
Jan 2015
#129
My former profession was at CBS. I had heard a few stories about Cosby but didn't think much..
BlueJazz
Jan 2015
#32
Ah Yes.I think? he was offered an extension of his contract with Mash but wanted to do other things.
BlueJazz
Jan 2015
#50
i'm not surprised by your opinion of andrews, being as she was best friends with
ND-Dem
Jan 2015
#71
For blacks, that's almost true... I looked at that episode in that context... without a degree
uponit7771
Jan 2015
#68
He was instrumental in changing American society. Is saying that fact being "an apologist"?
KittyWampus
Jan 2015
#43
Why drug women and rape them? Because he's a sociopath, pretty clearly.
Spider Jerusalem
Jan 2015
#70
So, at this point in time, I am now very curious about your impression of American society.
Major Hogwash
Jan 2015
#130
WOW!!! WTF!?! I thought the GPA question was a leading joke... he was SERIOUS!? Cosby is fucked up
uponit7771
Jan 2015
#65
A lot of negativity here. Here's a heart-warming story in cartoon form about someone nice
TlalocW
Jan 2015
#82
Most people with a 4.0 average couldn't find words as eloquent, classy and deeply felt as Mr. Brown's...
Demoiselle
Jan 2015
#85
So because he had higher standards when it came to grades that's a bad thing?
craigmatic
Jan 2015
#89
this had nothing to do with academic standards, it was him treating someone like they are worthless
JI7
Jan 2015
#94
I agree totally. This story shows what a worthless person he really is. no text.
Stuart G
Jan 2015
#100
I was done with Cosby in the mid-80's at the height of 'Cosby Show' popularity.
tenderfoot
Jan 2015
#92
He always gave me the creeps- like in his comedy bit where he smirks about beating his kids.
Warren DeMontague
Jan 2015
#97
For some reason I have always associated Cosby with the song "I'm Black and I'm Proud"
Voice for Peace
Jan 2015
#104
I remember. I started high school in 1968 and it was my first integrated experience.
deurbano
Jan 2015
#120
off topic from the OP, but this is a clip about the effect of that song
Voice for Peace
Jan 2015
#119
I can't say anything good about him as a person with all of the stories coming out, but
goldent
Jan 2015
#117
Never heard about this cruel, ignorant act. I hope Dean has put this bullying behind him.
freshwest
Jan 2015
#121