LOS ANGELES - Flashing a clenched fist salute to his friends and family, former football hero Jim Brown was led away to begin a six-month jail sentence for vandalizing his wife's car. <br>
<br>
Brown, who was ordered to jail after he refused to undergo court-ordered counseling and community service, arrived in court Wednesday with his wife, Monique. <br>
<br>
``Love you, man,'' several friends shouted as the former Cleveland Browns star was led away by deputies.<br>
<br>
Brown, who will serve his sentence in neighboring Ventura County, is being segregated from other prisoners because of his celebrity. <br>
<br>
``It's a professional courtesy, and it happens on a regular basis,'' said sheriff's spokesman Eric Nishimoto. <br>
<br>
Attorney Milton Grimes said he would continue to appeal the Hall of Famer's jail sentence. <br>
<br>
``I believe that the court abused their discretion. The incarceration of Mr. Brown is vindictive,'' he said Wednesday. <br>
<br>
Judge Dale S. Fischer initially sentenced Brown to a year of domestic violence counseling. She also ordered the former running back to spend 40 days on a work crew cleaning up streets or put in 400 hours of community service, pay $1,800 in fines and serve three years probation. <br>
<br>
When Brown refused the counseling and community service orders, the judge imposed the jail term. <br>
<br>
Brown, 66, was convicted of misdemeanor vandalism. Jurors acquitted him of the more serious charge of making a terrorist threat during a June 15, 1999, argument with his wife. <br>
<br>
Grimes said that although Brown's wife called police she didn't want him arrested and the former player did nothing more than destroy his own property. <br>
<br>
One of the greatest running backs in football history, Brown was No. 6 on The Associated Press list of top athletes of the 20th century.
