Saturday, June 4, 2016

HE WAS THE GREATEST !!!!

' IF YOU CAN DO IT, IT AIN'T BRAGGING !!'



Muhammad Ali’s death has put my “memory tape” into fast rewind. It is incorrect to call me an on-going boxing fan; however, I am a Muhammad Ali fan. Here is why:

Growing up in Southern Indiana in the ‘50s sports on the three TV channels we received was limited---very limited. However, on Saturday afternoon a live amateur boxing show was broadcast on a Louisville, KY station. The show was prophetically called “Tomorrow’s Champions”. The amateur boxing program was part of the Louisville Police Department’s work with city youth.

I was mesmerized by a 16 year old fighter called Cassius Clay--- later to become Muhammad Ali. It was probably because this young phenome was 16, same as me; because he seemed to always win; but mainly it was because his hands and feet were lightning fast. The cameramen sometimes had trouble following him as he danced around the ring!

Later, my interest in the 1960 Olympics in Rome was turned up to high beam because a fellow Purdue University student---Terry Dischinger--- was on the USA basketball team, as well as the future world heavyweight boxing champion---Cassius Clay. The results are now part of Olympic history.

After Rome, he turned professional and encountered Howard Cosell, an ABC Wide World of Sports announcer. The friendly, unfriendly interviews they had made for great TV, invigorated boxing and helped propel the careers of each.

His classic wins over the likes of Sonny Liston, Joe Frazier, and George Foreman are likely to never be duplicated. While Ali’s stance on the Vietnam War was contradictory to mine, I respected his right as an American to hold and act upon such beliefs.

It has been said that at one time he had the most recognized face in the entire world. But for me and millions upon millions of others he will forever be recognized as The Champ!
GLENN <><
JUST WEST OF YESTERDAY


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