My Thoughts While Mowing the Lawn

[H2O Man]

17. Exactly!

Well said! Thank you.

When I was preparing to enter the ring against a dangerous opponent, I needed to be 100% focused on that fight. I avoided the chance of encountering any distraction -- especially if it was from my opponent's camp. For example, Sonny Liston thought that Cassius Clay was a giggle. I used to talk to Rubin about this. Cassius called Sonny the Big Ugly Bear, and since Rubin beat a half-dozen of Clay's sparring partners, Cassius called him the Ugly Little Bear.

Sonny, unlike Rubin, thought that was funny. He really liked Cassius. Thus, he let Cassius visit his training camp as they prepared for their fight. Clay's antics drew a wider media, which is always good for ticket sales. The two had even done an act previously, in a casino, all in good fun unless one believed the media and those in the casino.

But then late one night, Cassius drove his van "Big Red" (named after Malcolm) and caused a neighborhood scene. This was too far. Liston was furious. He raced out onto his lawn, hoping to engage in a street fight. Though Ali became the greatest heavyweight champion, no one could fight Sonny without rules. Years before, he had broken an arm of a cop trying to arrest him, and stuffed the guy upside down in a garbage can.

But Cassius had gotten into Sonny's head. Liston was distracted. Had he simply called the police while he stayed inside, he could have gotten into Clay's head.

That's my long way of saying I agree with you. We are in a real fight, a tough fight. We need to be our best selves.