My trip to Louisville

While I was waiting to use the bathroom, Mike Grant was behind me in line.

I say "Mr. Grant, thank you for your contribution to boxing, and your scarifies in the ring..... Can I ask you something? Who was your toughest fi--"

"Lennox"

 

When I walked out of the bathroom, there was practically nobody in the area.

All of a sudden Lennox walks in. He had the aura of a world champ.

But then guys...

Mike Tyson walks by. And my god...I don't know if you guys have seen Tyson recently, but that man is a ****ing monster. He felt "bigger" than Lennox. The man is in shape, and looked like an absolute killer. I immediately understood what it meant to see Dempsey in the flesh back in the day.

Tyson walked by, swaying his head back and forth, walking towards the ceremony. And he yells out this "Awwww man, here we go."

He was distraught. But during the actual ceremony him and Lennox seemed to be in incredible spirits.

 

The strangest thing was David Beckham holding the curtain so my family could walk through.

That was surreal.


As I took my seat, two gentlemen were sitting right in front of me having a conversation. One of them was Chubby Checker. Gene Kilroy walks up to say hi to Checker. The guy sitting next to Checker said something inaudible to Gene. Gene walks away, turns to me, and says "****ing ******* has one coffee with Ali, and thinks he can write a book."

I just sat there like "What the hell is going on"

 

Was the ceremony broadcasted on TV?

I've never seen so many cameras in one place. Hundreds upon hundreds of cameras.

As soon as the ceremony started, all star power diminished in the room. Everybody in that arena sat there as equals, to pay their respects to the GOAT.

The panel was a diverse mix of religious leaders who all were close to Ali. Two reverends, two Muslim preachers, two Rabbis, two Native Americans, two buddhists. Each with their own story about how Ali had stood up for them when nobody else would. They all had their own unique messages of solidarity, inclusiveness, common ground, faith, trust, and friendship. It was pretty amazing to see all these religious leaders coming together under the same cause.


At times the moment felt religious. Towards the end, there was a moment of silence. After a minute, somebody from the back of the room yelled "I'm the greatest!" Somebody from the other side of the arena yelled "Float like a butterfly and sting like a bee!"

All of a sudden Ali quotes were being shouted from every direction until they had to settle us down.

 

At the reception I got a chance to meet Bernard Hopkins! I told him "Mr. Hopkins, thank you so much for what you've done for boxing, and the entertainment you've given us over the years. He adjusted my lapel, straightened my suit out, and said "You look sharp! Let's do a handshake for the photo!" He put in an effort to make that moment memorable for me, even though he had no idea who I was. I will always respect him for that.


Then I met Larry Holmes! Larry ****ing Holmes. One of the greatest of all times in the flesh. I asked him for a photo, and he said "If you don't mind me holding a chicken skewer and a coke!" I said something like "A world champ like you can do what he wants!" Larry still looks like a tough SOB. He is sharp given all the wards he's been in.


I also saw Shannon Briggs. He had the biggest fist that I saw. Maybe I didn't notice the other boxers fists, but his stuck out to me. In the photo, his fist is almost bigger than my head, I swear to god. And I'm 6'1 170lb or so.

 

Sorry for the rambling posts guys, just trying to get everything out.

I had you all in the back of my mind the whole time. You guys would have been proud of the occasion. It was all respect, and all class.

 

My pops worked with him from 1980 till around 2000 almost on a daily basis. They were good friends.