Q: What would you like people to think about you when your gone?
Muhammad Ali: He took a few cups of love. He took one table spoon of patience. One table spoon, tea-spoon of generosity. He took a few cups of love. He took one table spoon of patience. One table spoon, tea-spoon of generosity. One pint of kindness. He took one quart of laughter. One pinch of concern. And then he mixed willingness with happiness. He added lots of faith. And he stirred it up well. Then he spread it over a span of a lifetime. And he served it to each and every deserving person he met.
Smooth. Couldn’t have said it better myself.
A little over 47 years ago to the day, Muhammad Ali got off the canvas to wax England’s Henry Cooper. In his next fight, he would defeat Sonny Liston for The World Heavyweight Title in Ring Magazine’s 1964 Fight of the Year. Boxing, and the World, would never be the same.
Boxing legend Muhammad Ali made a sentimental journey Tuesday to discover his Irish roots, and met distant relatives during celebrations at the local town hall and a nearby castle.
Thousands lined the streets of Ennis, western Ireland, to cheer the motorcade carrying Ali as the three-time world heavyweight champion visited the home of his great-grandfather Abe Grady.
Fans adorned streets with red, white and blue USA bunting and flags, while shop windows competed to display the most impressive posters honoring Ali — including one tongue-in-cheek portrait of him appearing ready to knock out an unpopular Irish politician.
Ali, who is 67 and battling Parkinson’s disease, offered a few playful jabs to cameras but made no public comments and steered clear of throngs of autograph-seekers, among them hundreds of kids whose schools closed early for the event. Police blocked off roads and kept crowds in line with railings.
Ali Rap
Grady settled in Kentucky in the 1860s and married a freed slave. One of their grandchildren, Odessa Lee Grady Clay, gave birth to Ali — then Cassius Clay — in 1942.
Genealogists pinpointed Ali’s Irish links in 2002, but Ali had never visited Ennis before.
His visit to Ennis Town Hall was broadcast live on big-screen televisions outside, where locals also took in a live concert by Irish traditional musicians, including best-selling accordionist Sharon Shannon.
Ali’s wife, Yolanda, said her husband’s Irish blood might help explain his legendary ability to bludgeon his opponents with blarney as well as punches. She stayed close at Ali’s side throughout the public events, talking to him and steadying him as they walked arm in arm.
“When you look at Muhammad’s pugilistic skills and his loquacious ways, I am sure if his great-grandfather was alive, he would swear it came from him. If he were alive today I bet he would be in every pub talking about it too,” she said.
Michael Porfirio Mason
AKA The Peoples Champ
AKA GFK, Jr.
AKA The Sly, Slick and the Wicked
AKA The Voodoo Child
The Guide to Getting More out of Life
http://www.thegmanifesto.com
Get Used To Me – Ali Rap Music Video featuring Chuck D
