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Post by franko on Jan 18, 2007 7:02:52 GMT -5
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Post by CentreHice on Jan 18, 2007 12:33:08 GMT -5
A couple of great Ali stories from Stephen Brunt on Bob Macown's show last evening on the Fan 590.
Story 1
Ali did very poorly on the Armed Forces IQ test and it's why he wasn't originally drafted. But the States needed more soliders.....so they lowered the bar. And his name came up. Regardless of the fact that he wouldn't have seen action (except in boxing exhibitions), he refused to go, based on Muslim beliefs. (And the fact that he didn't want to die, Brunt says) And so he gave up 3 years of boxing....lost his license.....stripped of his title....all the money.
Story 2
Back in the 80s, Brunt and his young family were driving back from Chicago....and going through Michigan. Brunt had always heard that the Ali's would actually let visitors come onto their property in Berrien Springs and visit with the champ.
So, they drove up to the gate...pushed the button. A voice came on and asked them what they wanted. Brunt explained who he was and that it would be a pleasure to meet Ali. "Come on up." The gate opened.
They went right into the house....Lonnie, Ali's wife at the time, was making lunch.....Ali was sitting in his living room signing pamphlets....the signs of Parkinson's just starting to really show.
Ali fooled around with the kids, doing silly magic tricks...cricket sounds....even did the levitation illusion that made it look as if he was rising off the floor. Brunt's young son said, "He's flying."
They went outside....Ali was genuinely happy that they stopped in. As they were getting into the car to leave, another car drove in....a couple from Germany, visiting the States....coming by to see the champ.
Arguaby the most famous, the most recognizable man in the world....no bodyguards....no security pat downs.....just come on up and come on in.
Brunt said he gets very sentimental when he recalls that story.
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Post by Skilly on Jan 18, 2007 18:40:14 GMT -5
They went outside....Ali was genuinely happy that they stopped in. As they were getting into the car to leave, another car drove in....a couple from Germany, visiting the States....coming by to see the champ. Arguaby the most famous, the most recognizable man in the world....no bodyguards....no security pat downs.....just come on up and come on in. Sounds like Newfoundland .... explains why Brunt comes here every year. |
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Post by Cranky on Jan 18, 2007 23:00:19 GMT -5
They went outside....Ali was genuinely happy that they stopped in. As they were getting into the car to leave, another car drove in....a couple from Germany, visiting the States....coming by to see the champ. Arguaby the most famous, the most recognizable man in the world....no bodyguards....no security pat downs.....just come on up and come on in. Sounds like Newfoundland .... explains why Brunt comes here every year. I heard that Newfoundlanders are pretty hospitable. Do they do the Eskimo thing too? You know, invite the guests to sleep with the wife so they can share the warmth? ;D |
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Post by MC Habber on Jan 18, 2007 23:33:27 GMT -5
They went outside....Ali was genuinely happy that they stopped in. As they were getting into the car to leave, another car drove in....a couple from Germany, visiting the States....coming by to see the champ. Arguaby the most famous, the most recognizable man in the world....no bodyguards....no security pat downs.....just come on up and come on in. Sounds like Newfoundland .... explains why Brunt comes here every year. I used to live there. My neighbour never took the keys out of the ignition of his truck, to prove that it wouldn't get stolen. It never did. |
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Post by CentreHice on Jan 18, 2007 23:38:50 GMT -5
Sounds like Newfoundland .... explains why Brunt comes here every year. I used to live there. My neighbour never took the keys out of the ignition of his truck, to prove that it wouldn't get stolen. It never did. Yeah, I had a neighbour with a crappy truck once........  |
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Post by Skilly on Jan 20, 2007 0:39:33 GMT -5
Sounds like Newfoundland .... explains why Brunt comes here every year. I used to live there. My neighbour never took the keys out of the ignition of his truck, to prove that it wouldn't get stolen. It never did. I wouldn't try that now ...... if you live outside of St.John's you could get away with it. I used to do it in Labrador when I lived there though. My grand-father (when he was alive) never locked the door to his house. I remember being drunk one night and walking home (It was about a 10km walk) ... but my grand-father lived about 3 km away. When I got to my grand-father's street I decided to go to his place .... sure enough 2:30am I walk up to his house walk on in and wake up on his couch, he was happy to see me, my mom well she woke up worried sick (but at least the first place she called was pop's so she wasn't worried long)  |
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