Today, January 17, would have been Muhammad Ali's birthday. He would have been 75 in 2017. I mourned his death last June 3 like the rest of the world. In 1985, I was privileged to meet him during my first trip to New York City.
I recognized him from having watched some clips of his old boxing matches on TV. My parents and I were leaving the Hilton Hotel to check out some sites when I spotted him with reporters nearby. I spotted him from a distance, and quickly told my parents to take me to where he was. I think my parents were shocked that I knew who he was!
As soon as he saw me we shook hands and got this photo taken. He also shook hands with my dad. He amazed and impressed all of us.
I remember Muhammad Ali to be warm and down-to-earth. By the time we saw him he was in the early stage of Parkinson's disease.
In 2002, I got to see Ali live again in Toronto when the Argonauts football team honoured him in an event supporting Parkinson's research organizations in Canada. Though by the time the ravages of his disease had taken hold of him, he was still a larger than life figure with the soul of a champion.
Of all the famous people I have met over the years, Muhammad Ali is definitely one of the greatest. I was sad to see him go last year, yet he had suffered a lot before, during and after his boxing career came to an end in 1981. He had earned his self-appointed title as one of the greatest people the world has ever seen in our lifetimes.
Happy birthday, and rest in peace champ.
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| I took this photo of Muhammad Ali's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It is the only star that isn't on the pavement. |
