Found this little story fascinating

I must admit, I always got the feeling both Frazier and Ali weren't quite on the ball enough to understand each other.

Ali's name calling and clowning seemed to be just build up and showmanship to him, never meaning to be taken totally seriously. He seemed oblivious to the fact that Frazier took everything at face value and was extremely offended.

By the same token, Frazier didn't seem to have any sense of humour and took everything Ali said as his word, not really getting the joking about.

Two very different men who didn't mesh well.

I have a friend who's very similar. We share similar interests and get on ok but where I can laugh about some things, he sees no humour in them and gets seriously pissed off with me.

 

Ali very definitely had a mean streak though, and while I agree it's sometimes difficult to seperate the playfull, teasing side that Ali showed against Joe to the more serious, dark stuff, he should have at the least known better, and I think he did.

Calling a black guy an Uncle Tom back then in those racially charged times was just something you just didn't do. That was asking for trouble.

I can't imagine Ali taking it too well if Joe had said the same to him.

 

that is fascinating. During the dinner Joe and Ali keep squaring up to each other and Larry plays peacemaker.