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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