| |
| |
|
|
| |
"I
tend to look at Muhammad in personal terms, rather
than in a political way. And as a person, I don't
think he's changed much from the young man I knew in
Miami in 1960. We all learn about life as we grow
older, but his core is still the same. And it's like
he's always been family to everyone. When you see
him coming, you feel good all over."
"I'll tell you a story about what I mean. Late in
Muhammad's career, I went to Deer Lake for Sports
Illustrated, and I took my son Sean along. Sean
was maybe fourteen years old. We stopped for the
night at a small motel near Deer Lake. We were
planning to go to camp the next morning. Sean and I
were in the dining room. He was facing the door; my
back was to the door. And all of a sudden this look
came over his face. I'd never seen it before; I've
never seen it since. It was a look of total awe and
reverence. And I knew immediately what had happened;
that Muhammad Ali had walked into the room. He'd
snuck out of training camp for some ice cream, and
was like a little kid, saying, 'Don't tell anybody
about this. I shouldn't be here.' But I'll never
forget the look that came over my son's face. I even
got a little jealous that someone else could have
that effect on him, although I enjoyed it at the
same time." |
|
| |
Sports Journalist - Pat Putnam
from
Muhammad Ali: His Life and Times
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
