Wednesday, August 4, 2010
THERE'S ONE THING I WANT YOU TO DO FOR ME.... WIN: Or, there's also the answer that Muhammad Ali said to the screen when watching Rocky II with Roger Ebert back in 1979. A great read, with Ali critiquing Stallone-as-fighter, Apollo Creed as Ali stand-in, the film's realism ("In a real fight," Ali said, "they would never allow the eyes to be closed that much and let the fight keep going. They would stop it") and the racial implications of the ending. (HT: Chuck.)
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Thanks Adam, that was awesome. Reminded me of one of my favorite non-ring Ali moments, when he appeared on Arsenio Hall and hadn't done any public appearances for a while. Arsenio had Sugar Ray Leonard and Mike Tyson as surprise guests, ostensibly because they were both at the height of their careers and because they both Idolized Ali and wanted to be on with him. Ali was genuinely happy to see the boxers and receive their adulation. Arsenio asked Ali what seemed an unfair question, "Champ, if you were in your prime and had fought Mike what would have happened?" Ali responded, "I think he would have knocked me out . . . If he could hit me."
ReplyDeleteAnd, the clips really show Mike Tyson in an unusual light, he was modest, and awestruck in the presence of his Idol. No hint of the man he was to become. Link to Part 1 is below:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ki4UKsI8bms