August 1965, 'WILL PLAY ROLE OF HERO SLAVE' World Heavyweight Champion, Muhammad Ali (Cassius Clay), who nearly always gives the impression of being on 'stage', will play the role of a strapping slave, who leads a successful bloody revolt in an upcoming $1,500,000 film, 'MUTINY'. Ali, fresh from a 5-week boxing exhibition tour of Europe, British Honduras, the Virgin Islands, as well as Puerto Rico, during which he staged 21-bouts and was mobbed by thousand of fans, black and white. 'I looked over the script very carefully', Ali boasted, 'I checked it with the leader Elijah Muhammad, and suggested some changes, finally signed the contract to do it. I don't ever want to portray a role where I look like an Uncle Tom, or bring discredit to my religion (Black Muslim) or to the Negro people.' In the film, to be made in Spain, Ali is one of a group of slaves to be sold to 'white traders' by black Africans. Bound and thrown into the dank, and vermin ridden, foul-air hold of the ship, Ali manages to free himself and in turn, frees other slaves. They slip up to the deck, and under the cover of darkness, attack and kill all members of the 'white crew'. 'We had to save a few whites to pilot the ship, because naturally', Ali said with a wicked twinkle in his eye, 'we slaves didn't know how to pilot a ship.' 'But the whites trick us. Instead of heading back toward Africa, they sail toward the coast of U.S., and when we see boats containing other 'white' slave traders heading our way, we behead the other white crew members.'
August 1965 'MUHAMMAD ALI (Cassius Clay) BUYS HARLEM SPOT' Heavyweight Champion, Muhammad Ali went to New York, to negotiate the purchase of a steak house, next door the the Apollo Theatre in Harlem. The young champion took time off, before his bout with Floyd Patterson in Las Vegas next month, to look over the establishment. 'To help bring in business', the Champion said, 'he would participate in boxing exhibitions at the Apollo Theatre on a regular basis'. Muhammad Ali also stated, 'a proper Champion of the World must be successful in the business community too, like Jack Dempsey and Rocky Marciano. I don't want to end up like Joe Louis, owing the government back taxes.' Asked, what exactly did he know about the restaraunt business, Ali quipped, 'nothing, other than the food is good and I know a few people who need jobs'. by Art Sears, Jr.
McG, Could you just see Muhammad Ali in a 'Spaghetti Western', in a Sergio Leone film. 'A Fistful of Ali' Plot; A black Sheriff rides into a corrupt town, and beats up all the white land owners with his fists. Then rides off into the sunset with the beautiful Claudia Cardinale.
For a guy that was battling the U.S. Selective Service Department, and trying to avoid Military Service (a cake position), the guy was sure busy. A wife, girlfreinds, a movie role a restaraunt an apartment building a home in Miami a Chicago publicity office playing polo in Miami Beach travelling all over the world where was all the suffering..???
February 1966 'OPINION MAKERS NIX SPECIAL OFFERS TO ATHLETES" Dick Gregory; 'With the white man's impression of the Muslims (which Ali is an avowed member), I don't see why they want to place one close to all that ammunition - and teach him how to fight too! Damn, according to 'whitey', Muslims are mean enough without being drafted to fight.' Ossie Davis; 'Although I'm against the current American policy in Vietnam, if there is a draft, it should be made to operate fairly with no exceptions.' Julius Adderly; 'I think that certain people, like Cassius Clay, should be given special consideration. Because if he is drafted, then it puts the entire boxing industry in limbo. Certainly there are many desirous of doing just that to boxing. I resent Clay being singled out when he earlier apparently did not meet minimal standards for the draft.' Bob Sylvester; 'Maybe Cassius Clay is sore because they didn't classify him 1X.
August 1967 'ALI'S MARRIAGE SOLEMNIZED BY BAPTIST MINISTER' Muslim Muhammad Ali, dethroned World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, and Belinda X Boyd, 17, were married by a Baptist Minister in Ali's Chicago home. Unable to reach the honeymooners, who reportedly went to Honolulu, we questioned Herbert Muhammad, Ali's boxing manager. Mr. Muhammad stated, 'that this marriage was not a Muslim ceremony, but a civil one. This marriage should satisfy the Army, and release Muhammad Ali from his obligations to serve in the military.' Selective Service officials said the marriage will not affect Muhammad Ali's 1-A classification. When made aware of the ruling. Herbert Muhammad stated, 'this is not good for our orginization, as Mr. Ali is now a married man and husband, and an important voice in our membership. There are many people who depend on Muhammad Ali, and the Selective Service officials should change their ruling on Mr. Ali.'
