Pep Talk: "A Knockout Success"

Muhammad Ali’s dead at 74.

I’ll never forget the personal encounter with one of the world’s best-known occupants. It was 1986. Yours truly had just begun a sportscasting career as the weekend dude at KGBT-TV, the CBS affiliate in Harlingen, Texas. One of three major cities - Brownsville and McAllen the other - in the Rio Grande Valley of south Texas. Ali was beginning to show symptoms of Parkinson’s as the legend flew into Valley International Airport for an appearance.

Boxing was, and probably still is, huge in the Valley. A docile river separates it from Mexico but the water nourishes a cultural cocktail of two nations. I loved time there - it’s hot and muggy  - and learning more about Mexican culture. Gracias.

Anyway, back to Ali. Growing up a sports fanatic in the 60’s, the former Cassius Clay fascinated me with his talents, charisma and convictions. I loved watching the verbal and intellectual boxing match between him and the late sports commentator Howard Cosell. Now, as a green-horn sports guy assigned a story, I was observing the legend deplane and walk slowly toward a throng of kids. It was obvious the nervous system disorder made it difficult to walk. 

Ali shuffled cautiously toward the crowd. Magic manifested as Ali extended arms and hands in a “Come to me children” sort of gesture. It was amazing to watch a throng of youngsters  rushed to greet the champ. The focus of my story that day was Ali’s powerful charisma. These kids had no idea who this guy was. It was only through the stories of their parents and the power of television that they knew anything of the world’s most recognizable personalities. I’ll never forget that moment.

LIfe in the sportscasting world was awesome. It offered access to some of the great personalities of our time. I had never, nor since, witnessed a larger example of someone’s charisma and its ability to inspire others. 

Talk about life’s ironies? A terrible affliction ultimately robbed one of the world’s great orators the ability to speak? Often, life ain’t fair. It can be cruel in its circumstances. LIstening to NPR shortly after Ali’s death, a fine obituary commentary closed with the reporter honoring Ali with this: “Considering his fragile state and how boxing, and all those head blows, may have contributed to his demise, “Would you change anything?”

Disease might have suffocated a great gift but nothing could kill this guy’s spirit. According to the report, Ali communicated in some fashion, “I would not change a thing.”

He was Clay, then Ali. The showman left a legacy for eternity. We’ll remember the charisma. But let’s not forget the courage and conviction. Those two traits would be wise to emulate. The father of nine kids displayed them as a pugilist, activist and philanthropist. 

Ali brilliantly demonstrated how to jab, dodge and throw haymaker hooks at unwanted and unexpected punches life brings our way. I hope his flock of children, and all of us, figure out a way to live with similar courage and conviction considering the outcome is often considered a knockout success.