NEW YORK, NY – The world has changed so suddenly to the point where having a personality is a thing of the past. It was Mae West who said, “You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” With that quote the legendary Muhammad Ali comes to my mind.
On June 3rd it will be ten years since we lost The Greatest, and the world could certainly use a portion of his aura and swag among the duds that are supposed to entertain us.
Entertainers today are so stuck on being politically correct that they’re scared of being themselves. They keep distant from the fan base that feeds them, they sound like AI figures during interviews and they’re scared to have fun, cause of the fear of being labeled.
Ali was all about the people. He adored his fan base and was a human quote machine to the press. His buildup to his fights was sometimes more entertaining than the fight itself. While in, what was then called, Zaire, Africa for his Rumble in the Jungle match against George Foreman, Ali refused to be cooped up in his hotel room. He wanted to be with his people, and the hundreds of photos showing him walking the roads with his fans are legendary.
I had the honor of meeting The Greatest at a Macy’s promotional event back in the late 90’s. It was supposed to be a “meet and greet” which turned into a “froze and pose.” We were all instructed to stand next to Ali, do not talk to him or make eye contact, watch the flash of the camera go off, and move on. All that changed when it was my turn to step near Ali.
CLICK THIS to see a vintage Ali playing with a toddler in the ring.
I handed my own camera to the guy next in line, and told him to keep snapping photos as I approached, The Greatest. Ali looked at me and I went into a fighting stance daring him to knock me out. He bit his lip and started shuffling his feet, while putting his hands up. The place erupted in laughter, and after that the whole room got comfortable. He would have the rest of the fans mock a punch at him, or rest one on his cheekbone.
I left the event feeling sorry for the first dozen fans who were in line, who followed the orders and posed like zombies. Sports figures of today need to show their true colors, and stop acting like delusional images.
On the 10th anniversary of The People’s Champion’s death, I smile at the memory when me and him squared up in a department store across the street from The Garden.
