FROM THE ICEMAN DIARIES; MEETING MUHAMMAD ALI: "I wanted to show him that I was a boxer, too. It was like I was at an audition to me. I wanted him to see that I was a real boxer, too, and I specifically remember giving him a feint and when he kind of flinched at it I ducked down and snapped a straight and sharp left jab into his belly. Then, the greatest thing happened. I am so glad that I was quick witted enough to catch it and reply properly. After I caught him with the jab he put his hands down a little, bit his lip and widened his eyes like he does and said loudly "What? You called me ******???" Now, when he used to pull that bit on Cosell back in the day when I wasn't even born yet. (I was born the year he went into exile, 1967) They had a little routine where he would say that to Cosell and Cosell would act all scared and nervous and, after some tense moments, Ali would say "Man, you musta' said Trigger." I had seen the films and read enough books to know the routine. So, I think I shocked Ali and everybody in that room with my reply: "No, No, I said Trigger." Everybody in the room, especially the man himself, got a kick out of that one!! I have several great pictures from that day and one of them is of Ali doubled over in laughter after I said that."
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