Ali near death (Ali has died at 74)

[frankbmd]

It's a bit of a stretch to say I knew Ali, but I knew him when I saw him.

In the early eighties during the "fitness" phase of my life, while jogging on Wilshire Blvd in Los Angeles not far from where Ali lived at the time, a convertible with the top down passed, a man in the back seat stood up and pointed in my direction and shouted "I want you", as if I was a fighter training to fight him. I waved and kept running. The man was definitely Ali.

Even in the best shape of my life, I was never able to float like a butterfly and sting like a bee.

[Exhibitman]

Ok forget all the bs stuff. The pre 1967 Ali was the most graceful, beautiful heavyweight I have ever seen. He was as light on his feet as a welterweight and had hand speed like a lightweight but hit with decent heavyweight power. Maybe the best ever (personally I'd go with Louis at his best) but you could toss a coin between him and Louis and I'd not seriously quarrel with any result.

[clydepepper]

Originally Posted by frankbmd

It's a bit of a stretch to say I knew Ali, but I knew him when I saw him.

In the early eighties during the "fitness" phase of my life, while jogging on Wilshire Blvd in Los Angeles not far from where Ali lived at the time, a convertible with the top down passed, a man in the back seat stood up and pointed in my direction and shouted "I want you", as if I was a fighter training to fight him. I waved and kept running. The man was definitely Ali.

Even in the best shape of my life, I was never able to float like a butterfly and sting like a bee.

I think most of us can say that we are now jealous of Mr. Burkett. What a great story!



In a similar vein, I once was in a crowd (not on the golf course) that Arnold Palmer waved to...does that count?
How about spotting John Wayne's silhouette while he was filming 'The Green Berets' here in Columbus and at Fort Benning?


.

[Bored5000]

Originally Posted by frankbmd

It's a bit of a stretch to say I knew Ali, but I knew him when I saw him.

In the early eighties during the "fitness" phase of my life, while jogging on Wilshire Blvd in Los Angeles not far from where Ali lived at the time, a convertible with the top down passed, a man in the back seat stood up and pointed in my direction and shouted "I want you", as if I was a fighter training to fight him. I waved and kept running. The man was definitely Ali.

Even in the best shape of my life, I was never able to float like a butterfly and sting like a bee.

If Ali was unable to resist Don King's suitcase full of $50,000, no way would he have been able to turn down a suitcase full of 50,000 Frank bucks.