MUST WATCH: Muhammad Ali saves man from suicide jump
Please watch this Terry Drinkwater report from Walter Cronkite’s CBS Evening News, 1981.
Muhammad Ali was far from perfect, but Muhammad Ali was a great man. Athletes today spend their time tweeting and hoping you buy their sneakers.
“I’m your brother. I want to help you.” - Muhammad Ali
We’re all brothers. We should all help each other.
The Greatest of All Time, Muhammad Ali, is 70 years old today.
“I always bring out the best in men I fight, but Joe Frazier, I’ll tell the world right now, brings out the best in me. I’m gonna tell ya, that’s one helluva man, and God bless him.”
- Muhammad Ali
Madison Square Garden, 1971: Smokin’ Joe Frazier knocks down Muhammad Ali, wins by unanimous decision. The loss is Ali’s first. [watch]
From Jerry Izenberg:
Now we were standing outside a deli not far from the Joe Frazier Gym in North Philadelphia and these three kids, maybe 9 years old each, were running toward us shouting:
“Joe Frazier … Joe Frazier … Joe Frazier.”
And the smile on Joe’s face as they came nearer and nearer seemed to light up the tired, gray neighborhood. As they danced around him, Joe sent an aide back to his Rolls-Royce for autographed pictures. He gave one to each and Joe told them: “Now y’all stay in school. Don’t make me have to find you.”
Two of them laughed, but the third one said: “My daddy says Muhammad Ali was drugged,”
In that instant a cold, cold mask seemed to slide across the champion’s face.
“Yeah … yeah,” Joe said, “I drugged him with a left hook.”
“I’m going, going, back, back to Würzburg, Würzburg…” (Biggie Voice)
The Big Volkswagen hit the streets of Deutschland to celebrate his 2011 NBA Championship and Finals MVP, then gave an interview to Der Spiegel, the weekly German news magazine.
Choice excerpts below:
SPIEGEL: You are now a German-American idol.
Nowitzki: To be honest, I slowly have the feeling that I’m not cut out for such moments.SPIEGEL: What do you mean?
Nowitzki: Well, at the very least I don’t behave terribly competently. I feel ashamed when the entire focus is on me. I think people can see that. In public appearances, I am stiff as a board.
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SPIEGEL: You have long been reserved when it comes to sponsoring gigs. Is that going to change in the future?
Nowitzki: There certainly isn’t a shortage of offers. You wouldn’t believe how many watch manufacturers have sent me their models. Just like that. I give them all away. I am satisfied with what I have. How crazy do you have to be when you can afford everything but still clutter up your life with all sorts of advertising appointments? No thanks.
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Nowitzki: …do you know what made me the happiest?
SPIEGEL: What?
Nowitzki: Muhammad Ali sent me a package.
SPIEGEL: What was in it?
Nowitzki: A boxing glove with the inscription: “You are the greatest.” Please don’t ask me immediately about the political meaning of the gift. I was simply happy and sent Ali a golden basketball with a similar inscription.
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SPIEGEL: You have a long season behind you. How are you going to get fit before the European championships?
Nowitzki: I plan to occupy myself with things other than basketball, like drums, for example.
Read the full article here.
