Ravens' tackle tells harrowing Sept. 11 story

Fox Sports ^ | 11/19/2004 | Jay Glazer

[FreepEverything]

The Baltimore Ravens are once again enjoying a typical season — vicious defense, big plays off of turnovers and special teams and a run-oriented offense that does enough not to lose. Stories are aplenty within that Ravens locker room. Ray Lewis, Prime Time, Ed Reed, they got 'em all — personalities after personalities.

But perhaps the man with the most unbelievable tale goes to the behemoth known as "Zeus" — the massive 6-7, 365-pound Orlando Brown. While John Kerry and President George Bush recently focused much of their campaigns around the effects of terrorism since 9-11, neither were actually at Ground Zero to live through it. Orlando Brown, unfortunately, could give the pair a first-hand account of the horrific events of that day.

[FreepEverything]

Never forget.

[7.62 x 51mm]

I never will. I watch the films every evening, and the tears still roll down my face.

[sandalwood]

Thanks for the poignant reminder.

Sometimes, it seems so surreal - I'm a native NYer (living in Pittsburgh), and I still can't believe the towers are gone...

[dmz]

I live in MD, my daughter goes to school in CT. Whenever I drive up there, I stop someplace to check out the skyline. Still gives me chills. Oh, and somehow I never fail to utter the following words: "f%^&ing b^&*ards".

[Ignatius J Reilly]

WOW - Incredible story

[PleaseNoMore]

Thanks for this...Wow.

[Blueflag]

Great read.

Can't help but notice it was published AFTER the elections. Sorry, cynicsm never dies.

BTTT

[JennysCool]

"I was just sitting there counting. I couldn't believe it. It's like a movie, this ain't happening. I was counting them. I just couldn't believe...I counted like 20 or more from that front side. At first I just couldn't relate. I said that's not a body. You always hear if you jump from that high up you will pass out in the air. Nah, some of those people were alive ‘til they hit that ground. "You could see it. You could see it."

Never forget, indeed.

[b4its2late]

Horrible Day, and the terrorists will pay. I'll Never Forget.

[OldFriend]

Nothing admirable about his behaviour that day.

[MarineBrat]

I'm not so sure I'd be proud of myself to have this story about me posted. Basically it goes like this..

1) Big guy witnesses events from a hotel across the street.
2) When the second plane hits he's so scared that he runs half naked out of his hotel room and physically overpowers an unwilling cab driver and commandeers his cab, essentially kidnapping the driver in the process. (Steals it for a while, basically)
3) Runs like hell... :)

I'm not saying I'd be any better.... just that if it were me I'd not be particularly proud of myself, at least in the light that this story paints.

[sandalwood]

I don't think he was proud of his actions or even told the story to sound like a hero.

Look, the guy's nowhere near perfect, but at least he's honest. Could have changed the story to sound like a hero, you know, but didn't.

Not every story has to sound like Hollywood, folks. Truth now and again reminds us of how rare the *REAL HEROS* are.

[MoralSense]

b

[frog_jerk_2004]

Its more of a story of an experience of survival than anything else. He never touts himself at all and just tells the truth. I don't see anything wrong with that. He commandeered the cab and told a lady to get in with him because he just wanted to get away from downtown and was panicked, just like most everyone downtown that day. I'm sure everyone in the cab was panicked also...

[TheForceOfOne]

Sadly lost within the 9/11 tragedy and this story is the story that Baltimore's former team the (real) Colts lost Johnny Unitas that same day due to a heart attack in his doctors office. I miss Johnny Unitas. As for 9/11 I have tape of it that still makes me cry when I watch it. It makes me angry and makes me want revenge.

[Churchillspirit]

"Nothing admirable about his behavior that day."

True. We'd all like to think we'd be heroes if the time came but who knows.

My respects to all of you who have been put to the test and not found wanting.

[MarineBrat]

>>Sadly lost within the 9/11 tragedy and this story is the story that Baltimore's former team the (real) Colts lost Johnny Unitas

I didn't realize that. I always liked him. My mom used to go ice skating with his big brother when they were kids, and used to tell me stories about how Johnny would tag along, and how she considered him a pest. :) Rest in peace Johnny Unitas!

[MarineBrat]

I didn't mean to badmouth the guy. I guess I was just expecting a story that was at least morally neutral, and was disappointed at the commandeering of the cab.

I've been with NFL linemen before and they're extraordinarily physically intimidating individuals. This is not speaking of their personalities at all, just at their physical presence. If one wanted my cab I'd probably let him have it too.

[mel]

Yeah that's what I thought also.

[My Favorite Headache]

Amazing story.