Arrived in Louisville today. The city is incredible. Lots of amazing artwork, laid back people, and authentic culture. On the way here, my dad was telling us some great stories with him and the champ. One that stuck out was about Buster Douglas! When Douglas won the belt from Tyson, he wanted to meet Muhammad Ali. So the dinner is set up, my dad and Muhammad arrive. Buster Douglas manager was there when they got there. Buster wasn't there. After 20 minutes, he had arrived late. And his manager just began chewing his ass out in public for 5 minutes. Saying things like "You may be champion, but this is THE champion. Don't ever make him wait like that again." It was a scene. The whole time it was happening, Ali didn't even care. He didn't feel insulted, he was just having a good time as usual. But nevertheless, Douglas manager yelled at him for being late to dinner with Ali. And Douglas was the world champ. Never heard anything like that. When we got into Louisville my brother and I went to a local bar. I forgot my wallet at the hotel, so I asked the door man if I can just go in. He told me if I knew Muhammad Ali's first opponent, he would let me in. I got it right! My boxing knowledge won me entry into the bar! The buzz in the city is electric. Every sign is about Muhammad Ali. Every person is wearing an Ali shirt. It's all anybody can talk about. I'm looking forward to the service tomorrow, and the reception afterwords. So far, the champ is getting his proper due in his hometown. I will be back with updates. Until then, stay classy East Side!
Brilliant, wrong side of the pond for me. My eyes will be glued to my iPod later on. I just hope that the funeral isn't too Islamified.....
Thats awesome! Although I don't know you personally, I know that from this forum and your youtube channel that you have a deep liking for Ali.
Haha awesome nuggets there Reznick :good. I'm over the other side of the pond too - but very poignant day - my little Ali anecdote dates back to April fools day 1991 when I was 14 and at school - some of my pals were saying, Ali's in Nottingham today! (my local city) and I was like yeah yeah April fool whatever, and they were going, no seriously he's coming to Nottingham today! If you don't beleive me them go and ring the Dillon's Bookstore up at dinner so a few of us sneaked out of school at dinner (before the days of mobiles) and went down the road to a phone box and I rang this bookstore and said is Ali coming in today and the lady says well as a matter of fact he is! That was it the phone went down straight away and I was straight on the phone to my mum to let my dad know and my mum rings me back at the phone box and says your dad says he leaving work early and has told me categorically not to go back to school! And to head for Notts on the next bus! This was my dad who was generally the most us rebellious unrisktaking gentle guy you could wish to meet (Ali was his absolute hero but he was very much more like Floyd Patterson in his own manner) so basically I queue for about 4 hours there's about 5000 people there and my dad arrives late and cuts in the queue at the front!! he would NEVER have done that normally and we go in and meet him - had a little play fight with him and he said you're better the Joe Frazier! Haha I was terrified as he was HUGE!! When I shook his hand it pretty much enveloped my whole forearm haha! My dad wept when he was introduced and they embraced and my dad had some words in his ear when they hugged - it's one of my favourite memories of my dad too as in the years since my dad was diagnosed initially with Parkinson's aswell (later rediagnosed as Lewy Body Syndrome) - but I think possibly my dad knew at that stage unbeknown to me - which I think made it all the more emotional for him to see Ali affected in what I imagine was the way he was trying to mentally prepare for himself - I lost my dad a few years ago to it so Ali having gone now aswell took me back a bit - I suppose millions have got their own emotional stories connected with him but that was my one - wish I could been there to be honest :hi:
Tunney Hunsaker, Ali's first opponent, was from my home state of West Virginia. He eventually became chief of police in a town here. When he retired in 1992, Ali came here for the ceremony. Now this wasn't a huge event with loads of media coverage. This was a small ceremony in a small rural town. That he took the time to make such a gesture impressed me quite a bit. Pretty decent man to me.
Amazing story. Guys, today was indescribable. I need to get my wind back before I can recap my day. But wow. I learned so much more about Ali the character today. I will leave you off with one of the best stories I heard. It was told by James Ramsey, the president of the University of Louisville. He was one of the eulogy speakers. He told a story of him and Ali traveling to the olympics. Ali asked Ramsey to take him to a boxing match. As soon as they arrive, there is a big commotion for Ali. They enjoyed the match, and as soon as it was done, they both entered the ring to congratulate the winner. It was a great moment. The winner was showered with flowers, the cameras were all over him, and the commotion was all around the winner. Amongst the fuss, Ali leans into Ramseys ear and says "Wheres the loser?". Ramsey was puzzled. "The loser? Well Muhammad..he's probably in his locker room." Ali says "Lets go see him!" They enter the locker room of the loser, in an environment Ramsey described as "The lowest of lows." The loser sat in the corner dejected. The only person there was his trainer. Ramsey said it looked like the saddest scene you could imagine. All of a sudden Ali walks in, and the kids eyes lit up "Muhammad Ali!" Ali immeditaly walked over to him and starts throwing jabs and hooks. The kid gets up from his stool and start blocking an dodging. Then, Ali hugged him, and told him "Kid you looked really good out there! Keep working hard, you could be a champ!" And Ramsey, holding back tears, described how Ali had lifted this kids spirits from rock bottom, to sky high, in the matter of one minute. And that nobody, not a single person at the event, had the wherewithal to think about the loser. Only Ali. Aw man...there is too much to talk about.
That is absolutely incredible. Thank you so much for sharing that. I believe that no other human being in history met more people than Muhammad Ali.