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Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check - Jun 6, 2016
June 6, 2016
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Ali on how he'd like to be remembered:
As he wrote in his 2004 memoir, "The Soul of a Butterfly" --"I would love to be remembered as a man who won the heavyweight title three times, who was humorous, and who treated everyone right. As a man who never looked down on those who looked up to him, and who helped as many people as he could. As a man who stood up for his beliefs no matter what. As a man who tried to unite all humankind through faith and love. And if all that's too much, then I guess I'd settle for being remembered only as a great boxer who became a leader and a champion of his people. And I wouldn't even mind if folks forgot how pretty I was."
Grace notes from Vinny Marino:
MUHAMMAD ALI was such a worldwide celebrity that a few songs were written about him over the years:
--"The Greatest Love Of All," first recorded by GEORGE BENSON, then WHITNEY HOUSTON, was originally from a 1977 Ali biopic called "The Greatest" where the champ played himself.
--"Cassius Love vs. Sonny Wilson" was a comedy throwaway on the 1964 BEACH BOYS album, "Shut Down Volume 2."
--EDDIE CURTIS got funky for "The Louisville Lip (He's The Greatest)," released in 1971 just before Ali lost to JOE FRAZIER at Madison Square Garden.
--And, the most well-known, "Black Superman (Muhammad Ali)" by JOHNNY WAKELKIN & THE KINSHASA BAND, released in 1975 after Ali beat GEORGE FORMAN in the "Rumble In The Jungle" match held in Zaire, Africa.
Muhammad himself also hit the Billboard charts. Back in 1963 when he was still known as CASSIUS CLAY, Columbia Records released a comedy album called "I Am The Greatest" which had the champ do some routines in front of a small audience before he beat SONNY LISTON. On the LP, he says he'd beat Sonny in eight rounds, but he really did it in six. The album peaked at number 61, and a single with "I Am The Greatest" and a cover of "Stand By Me" on the flip side missed the Hot 100. but bubbled under.
In 1976, Ali was part of an all-star album with FRANK SINATRA, OSSIE DAVIS and HOWARD COSELL called "Ali and His Gang Fight Mr. Tooth Decay." (Marino)MUHAMMAD ALI was also a Broadway star. Playbill.com says in 1969 when he was serving out his ban from boxing for refusing to fight in Vietnam, he was billed as CASSIUS CLAY for his role as a militant black lecturer in a musical called "Buck White." Ali was featured in just about every song in the show and had a decent voice. (Marino)
Animal Stories:
A Florida golf course is getting lots of attention thanks to one of its permanent residents.
A 15-foot alligator has reportedly made the Buffalo Creek Golf Course in Palmetto its home. Manager KEN POWELL says since the gator has never harmed anybody, they have no intention of removing the reptile. A video posted online recently shows the gator taking a walk across the course. Since the clip made its debut, Powell says he's been getting calls from all around the world from golfers wanting to play the course. (Still) -
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