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I hope you can assist me with my research into my Great-Uncle, Cliff Watson, and his meeting with Muhammad Ali.
Cliff was a Rugby League player with St. Helens, Great Britain and Cronulla Sutherland Sharks during the 1960's and early 1970's. In 1966, his team won all 4 major trophies they competed in and in late May won the coveted Challenge Cup - the holy grail of Rugby League trophies; the pinnacle of most player's careers.
The day after winning the trophy, the team were invited into the BBC's London studios to watch the Eamonn Andrews show - where they even received a mention. Also on the show that day was; Mr. Muhammad Ali (formerly Cassius Marcellus Clay Junior) Esq.
When Watson published his autobiography in 2016, it contained the following quote:
"Muhammad Ali was also on the show, and in the corridor before the show started Ali began winding us up wanting to prove how tough we really are. I thought 'I'm not having all this s***', so I threw a rugby ball down the corridor to him and asked him to run it back at me. I told him we would see how tough he was after a short arm tackle. Last saw I saw of him was when his minders ushered him away to safety."
Various other, reliable teammates have recited that story to me.
In that quote he mentions 'minders'. Did Ali have an entourage like Rlvis Presley had the 'Memphis Mafia' and the likes of Red West, Joe Espoito and Billy Smith? Did Ali have a team of bodyguards/'watch-overs'?
If so, would some one be able to inform me who would be accompanying Ali around in 1966, please?
I hope you are able to assist.
Kind regards,
Davis Watson
Cliff was a Rugby League player with St. Helens, Great Britain and Cronulla Sutherland Sharks during the 1960's and early 1970's. In 1966, his team won all 4 major trophies they competed in and in late May won the coveted Challenge Cup - the holy grail of Rugby League trophies; the pinnacle of most player's careers.
The day after winning the trophy, the team were invited into the BBC's London studios to watch the Eamonn Andrews show - where they even received a mention. Also on the show that day was; Mr. Muhammad Ali (formerly Cassius Marcellus Clay Junior) Esq.
When Watson published his autobiography in 2016, it contained the following quote:
"Muhammad Ali was also on the show, and in the corridor before the show started Ali began winding us up wanting to prove how tough we really are. I thought 'I'm not having all this s***', so I threw a rugby ball down the corridor to him and asked him to run it back at me. I told him we would see how tough he was after a short arm tackle. Last saw I saw of him was when his minders ushered him away to safety."
Various other, reliable teammates have recited that story to me.
In that quote he mentions 'minders'. Did Ali have an entourage like Rlvis Presley had the 'Memphis Mafia' and the likes of Red West, Joe Espoito and Billy Smith? Did Ali have a team of bodyguards/'watch-overs'?
If so, would some one be able to inform me who would be accompanying Ali around in 1966, please?
I hope you are able to assist.
Kind regards,
Davis Watson
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