Brilliant interview with Muhammed Ali

[jmbar2]

I have mad respect for him after watching this interview. His genius is simply off the charts.

[cbabe]

1. Thanks for this. So refreshing to hear someone speak with clarity and

intelligence and humor.

Side note: did you notice in the film Hidden Figures, all the white male engineers had white coffee mugs and her mug was brown?

[jmbar2]

3. I'm still gobsmacked by this interview

For one, his verbal fluency, stream of consciousness metaphor-creation. I suppose that is part of black culture, demonstrated by later rap artists, and some jazz folks like Gil Scott-Heron. I'm just starting to see these cultural threads connecting over time. I wasn't exposed to it growing up vanilla white. It's a thing of beauty.

The other thing is the way that he destroys the smug superiority of the interviewer, and white-dominated frames of reference using facts, humor, and just force of personality, without destroying the person. He just leaves them humbled, not obliterated.

If I were teaching history of slavery, this would be a major part of my lesson. Of course, I wouldn't be teaching for long if I did that. But what an amazing teacher he is!

[H2O Man]

6. Right.

90%-plus of this is the Champ repeating the lessons of Malcom X, which were inspired by Elijah's teachings. The conflict between Malcolm and Elijah placed Ali in the middle. Years after this, when Ali had grown in his Islamic faith beyond Elijah's NOI, Ali would recognize that Malcolm had been correct.

[malaise]

18. Ali was a genius

He had a hell of a sense of humor, smiled while destroying stupidity and ignorance and damn he looked good.

There are tons of great interviews on line

I don’t think Americans will ever understand how we loved Ali in the Caribbean. Ali actually attended a test cricket match at Lords in 1966 in England to meet the great Barbadian Garfield Sobers.
https://www.facebook.com/englandcricket/posts/these-images-of-muhammad-ali-at-lords-in-1966-are-being-shown-on-the-big-screen-/10153440837640194/

[Silent Type]

2. GOAT, and not just for boxing. Hadn't seen this, but it's great thanks. "Even Tarzan was a white man going oaaahashh."

[H2O Man]

4. Recommended.

Ali changed America.

[Silent Type]

8. Changed me too.

[H2O Man]

9. One of my

best memories is from sitting ringside with my brother for the second Ali vs Frazier fight.

[Silent Type]

10. Wow. I did see it closed-circuit, but that ain't the same.

[H2O Man]

12. Right!

I saw their first and third fights on the big screen.

Ken Norton was staying across the hall in the hotel from us, and so we got to talk with him quite a bit the day before the fight. And Senator Ted Kennedy & family were in our row at the fight, a few seats away. Quite an experience for two hay seeds from rural upstate New York!

[malaise]

5. My brother and I obsessed over Ali

One of the great human beings of all time.
He walked the walk, gave millions a sense of self and was the definition of authentic.

[H2O Man]

7. Yes!

Upstairs here I have an original copy of his LP "I am the Greatest!" On a nearby book shelf, are scrapbooks from well before he won the heavyweight title, changing his name to Cassius X and then Muhammad Ali. The Champ was an essential supporter of my late friend Rubin. My brother would stay in Ali's training camp later in the Champ's historic career. Ali was, of course, much bigger than boxing.

[jmbar2]

11. I am ready to do the deep dive into his life and influences

He is SOOOO much more than boxing. How did I live this long to not be more exposed to him as a philosopher/messenger? I guess it's the limitations of growing up in a mostly white environment.

[H2O Man]

13. I'd recommend

getting a copy of the book "Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life's Journey," by his daughter Hana. It contains stories that Ali was telling her, that he considered important. My impression is that each of his children knew him in a unique manner, and Hana really captured such an important side of the Champ. (Back in 2004 when it came out, it made a great holiday present for my nephews!)

[jmbar2]

16. Thanks for the rec - I'm on it.

Also want to learn more about Malcom X. I saw the movie about him years ago, and it's time for a revisit.

[H2O Man]

20. There are numerous

speeches and debates featuring Malcolm on youtube. He was amazing. I can recommend the best books about him, too, obviously starting with his autobiography.

You've got me thinking back on the "old days"! Back long ago, Rubin -- who was friends with Malcolm and knew Martin -- and the then-Cassius were not friends. Rubin trained with Sonny Liston, and fought about seven guys from Cassius's FL training camp. Cassius called Sonny the "big ugly bear," and Rubin the "little ugly bear." Rubin strongly disliked him, and found it curious that Sonny really liked Cassius, and thought he wa hilarious ..... up unti Cassius visited his home late at night, and caused a scene.

I'll have to go through some of the Hurricane's letters, from when Ali was visiting him at Rahway. Especially leading up to the Foreman fight. I suppose that means I wont get much work done outside today!

[malaise]

15. You will love it

Believe me

[malaise]

14. Years ago we had a Christmas get together in Miami

One of the channels had 24 hour Ali coverage on December 26 When we heard this my brother and I told everyone to count us out of all the plans for December 26. We laughed and laughed and let the rest of them go shopping.😀

[H2O Man]

17. It is a given

that any & every DU:GD post about Ali will have responses from you and I!!!!

My brother became friends with Bundini in Ali's training camp. They set up a daily routine when the camp was open to the public. Ali would look down from the ring before sparring, and focus on my brother who would be seated in the front row. Ali would accuse my brother of being a spy for whatever opponent he was preparing for, and threaten to attack him ..... but Angelo would hold Ali back! The crowds loved it.

I've got photos from quieter times, with Ali holding my niece. He was a remarkable human being.

[malaise]

19. Yes indeed

😀

[malaise]

21. Another good one