Even if u don't like the man you've GOT TO respect this about him...

[The Gambler1981]

That was a good story. Thank you

[Doctor_Tenma]

Not ashamed to admit, I almost cried when I watched Leonard take that beating against Norris, and mind you I didn't see that live. So I know how bad he felt. Anyway, great great story, I'd probably react in the same manner if I came across Pernell Whitaker.

[ICEMAN JOHN SCULLY]

I was at Leonard-Norris...for me, Ray NEVER should have came all the way down to 15 again....

[Walt Liquor]

As always, much appreciation.

[Castor_Troy]

[I][B]
Im telling you now, though, I would've rather had that happen then to have flown on Superman's back.

As everybody who knew their boxing history. Muhammad Ali Dominated Superman the way Lewis did to Mike Tyson.



Great Story.

[IIG]

Very engaging read. There will never be anyone in all of sports that will come close to touching Ali's all around greatness.

[ICEMAN JOHN SCULLY]

"all around greatness" I think is a very accurate term...even after his in ring skills had faded he maintained his greatness out of the ring...

[ICEMAN JOHN SCULLY]

Not ashamed to admit, I almost cried when I watched Leonard take that beating against Norris, and mind you I didn't see that live. So I know how bad he felt. Anyway, great great story, I'd probably react in the same manner if I came across Pernell Whitaker.

I met Pea a couple times...honestly wasnt the greatest experiences of my life...

[Wan Long Pong]

Why's that, John?

[kadyo's]

Indeed a very touching story john. Let me share to another touching story of his encounter with a pinoy fan during the thrilla in manila.


THE HEART IN MUHAMMAD ALI

BY: ATTY. ROMULO B. MACALINTAL *

In his book, The Greatest – My Own Story, Muhammad Ali said that his October 1, 1975 Thrilla in Manila fight with Smokin’ Joe Frazier was “the hardest fight I’ve ever had in my life – the deadliest and the most vicious.” Ali said he was surprised by Frazier’s stamina and relentlessness that Ali felt that “the butterfly has to stop floating so the bee can sting.”

But behind Ali’s power and speed inside the ring, his former wife, Lonnie, said that he has a “heart purer than any I’ve ever known”. And this I want to confirm.

Thirty five (35) years ago, or on September 22, 1975 to be exact, when I was barely in my second year in the study of law, I had a two-hour personal encounter with him at the presidential suite of then Hilton Hotel, now Waterfront Casino Hotel where he was billeted for the Thrilla in Manila. My only pass was an old scrapbook containing news clippings about him when he was still known as Cassius Clay and 1960 Rome Olympics heavyweight champion.

“In other countries, they only make album or news clippings when they know I’m coming. But yours is authentic”, Ali said as he shook my hand.

When I asked for his autograph on the cover page of my scrapbook, he immediately obliged. He signed about seven pages with his picture and for each he would say “I look pretty here, ain’t I? May I also sign it?”

“Of course”, I said, (and why should I say no) as I sat beside him on a couch practically bewitched and “floating like a butterfly” to borrow his famous words. “I’m sure, this is the only one of its kind in the Philippines and perhaps in the world. And perhaps the first time for a personal encounter with Ali just because of an old scrapbook”, I kept telling myself.

But the great experience I had with the ‘greatest’ did not end there.

Since it was only about three o’clock in the afternoon and my class would still be at six o’clock, he invited me to see a movie with him. At that time, betamax, VHS nor CD players were still unknown. He set up a film projector with his 8mm film on Lee Marvin Series, “The Lawbreaker.” We watched four episodes of the said movie while both of us were merely sitting on the carpet of his suite.

And once in a while, Ali would stand up and would get juice and biscuits and offer them for me to drink and eat. And we drank and ate together. Just Ali and I sitting on the carpet watching a movie.

Wow! For some, just to have a glimpse of Ali’s car or Ali waiving even from a distant far, was already an incredible experience. But here I am having movie with him and Ali himself serving me with juice and biscuits. I was practically “floating like a butterfly”, in disbelief. But it was for real. I was with him for two solid hours.

When it was parting time and Ali learned I did not bring a camera, he asked: “Why didn’t you bring your camera, we should have our picture together.”

I said, “sir, I never expected to see you personally.”

Immediately, he called his aide, a certain Atty. Albert Griffin and instructed him to see to it that I see him the following day at the Folk Arts Theatre (FAT) where he would have his daily training for the Frazier encounter. And true enough, my second encounter with Ali happened the following day at his dressing quarters at the FAT when we had our photo taken together by Atty. Griffin.

I have told hundreds of my friends about this personal experience I had with Muhammad Ali. And one of them was no less than the reigning world champion, our very own Manny ‘Pacman’ Pacquiao who saw my scrapbook on Ali.

“Matanda pa sa ‘kin, ito ah”, he said. Pacquiao is only 32 years old while my scrapbook is 35 years old already.

And just like the others who had seen my scrapbook, Pacquiao was just as excited and amazed. I never get tired describing to them how I was attended to by Ali without any appointment and when he did not even know me from Adam. I was not yet even a lawyer and never had any inkling I would be an election lawyer of known personalities in the future.

But the way Ali accommodated and treated me was a perfect realization of what his former wife, Lonnie, said that he is truly “gentle and caring with a heart purer than any I’ve ever known.”

My face to face meeting with him for two (2) hours is indeed one of its kind. I don’t know if anyone with similar scrapbook had the chance to meet Ali for such a long period of time. But one thing I’m sure though. Ali touched the hearts of those he met and saw.

Ali may just remain as a legend for this new generation and the generations to come. But for me, he will remain for real as I could always feel his compassion and humility everytime I recall how he welcomed me with open arms and with widely opened heart.

The last time I saw Ali was on CCN television when he attended the inauguration of U. S. President Barack Obama last year. And my heart was pricked as I saw the once powerful hands of Ali now shaking due to Parkinsons disease. I could only say a silent sincere prayer for Ali as he continues his fight against this disease. But then, I still look forward to seeing him again. And to shake — even his ‘shaking’ hand.