Muhammad Ali and wife Lonnie live a quiet life on a small farm near Berrien Springs, Michigan. Ali dedicated a new $60 million non-profit center in Louisville, named in his honor, one year ago, the same month he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom at a White House ceremony. Toward the end of 2005 he was reported to be suffering worsening effects of Parkinson's disease, a disease he was first diagnosed to have in the early 80's. It would take an entire MPR to list all the awards and titles he has received since he left Louisville (KY) to begin his boxing career as a teenager in the 1960 Olympics. Ali's final record in the ring was 56 wins (37 by KO) - 5 losses. In simple terms Ali was the greatest heavyweight fighter of all-time...
George Foreman who finished his career with a record of 68 wins - 5 losses is a successful businessman and an ordained Christian minister. He started his boxing career by winning a gold medal in the 1968 Olympics and would become a two-time heavyweight champ. As recently as 2004 he was training for one comeback fight at the age of 55 but his wife Joan quickly put an end to those plans and Foreman has officially retired - for good this time. George has earned 3 times what he earned in the ring as a product endorser and in 1999, Salton, the maker of the George Foreman Lean Mean Grilling Machine paid Foreman $127.5 million in cash for the rights to use his name and selling skills in perpertuity and oh, by the way, threw in $10 million in stock. Foreman continues to be a pitchman for Meineke Mufflers and clothes retailer Casual Male ("Big and Tall", but of course). Estimates put Foreman's worth at $240 million. Not exactly "chump change" but remember Foreman was and still is - a champ. Foreman has 5 boys and 5 girls. When asked why he named all his sons "George" he replied "I want them to know who their father is"...
"The Rumble in the Jungle" was fought in Kinshasa, Zaire on the night of October 30th, 1974. No one, including Ali's #1 fan Howard Cosell, gave Ali a chance to win this fight. Foreman was an imposing 6'4" with sledge-hammer fists. He had won 37 of his 40 bouts by knockout, most within 3 rounds or less but Ali would regain the title that night taking Foreman's best shots and using his "rope-a-dope" tactic - playing the ropes to his advantage by hitting and then holding the rope to avoid Foreman's devastating right For a clip of that fight, click on: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkWGuO4eBWo ...
Ten Timeline Memories...
- [1938] "H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds" was aired on "Mercury Theater on the Air presents Orson Welles". Of the 6 million listeners, more than 1.7 million believed the fictional account of Martians invading New Jersey (I mean if they really were going to invade the U.S., what better place than New Jersey) ???
- [1961] The Soviet Party Congress orders the removal of Josef Stalin's body from Lenin's tomb (a great trivia question - "Who's buried in Stalin's tomb?" Ans: "Nobody"...
- [1966] Johnny Unitas, unarguably the greatest QB ever, passes Y.A. Tittle as the all-time passing leader with 252 yards in a game. Johnny U. will also become the 1st QB to pass for over 40,000 yards with San Diego in 1973...
- [1971] Cornell running back Ed Marinaro runs for 272 yards against Columbia to surpass 4,000 yards and break Steve Owens record at Oklahoma...
- [1972] The worst rail accident in the U.S. in 14 years, kills 45 in Chicago...
- [1975] "FORD TO CITY: DROP DEAD" is the New York Daily News headline one day after President Gerald Ford says he would veto any proposed federal bailout of New York City (Yeah, better to use the money on police body armor in Keokuk, Iowa)...
- [1984] Barry Manilow breaks Diana Ross's box office record at Radio City Music Hall with sales exceeding $1.9 million (the Ross record was $1.8 million)...
- [1989] Mitsubishi Estate Company announces that it's buying 51% of Rockefeller Group Inc. (where Radio City Music Hall and the Rockefeller Center buildings are) cha...chingggggggg !!!
- [1997] A Cambridge (MA) jury convicts British au pair Louise Woodward of 2nd degree murder in the death of 8-month old Matthew Eappen (the judge later reduces the verdict to manslaughter and sets Woodward free. Who was the judge Lance Ito ?)...
- [2001] Michael Jordan returns to the NBA with the Washington Wizards after a 3 1/2 year retirement...
"Happy Trails": 2000] Legendary comedian and 1st host of "The Tonight Show", author and composer Steve Allen dies from cardiac arrest at 78...
Released on this date: 1973] "Mind Games" LP - John Lennon...
Diva Debut: 1984] Linda Ronstadt makes her operatic debut in "La Boheme" in Manhattan...
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees: 1995] David Bowie, Gladys Knight & Pips, Pete Seeger, Jefferson Airplane, Little Willie John, Pink Floyd, The Shirelles and the Velvet Underground. Tom Donahue ("The Father of FM Radio") goes in as a radio pioneer (was he ever !)...
"D-I-V-O-R-C-E": 1974] Kathy Silva files for divorce from Sylvester Stewart a.k.a. Sly Stone (at the time, Sly had disappeared with his son and was in hiding)...
"Anchors Away": 1976] Jane Pauley becomes co-anchor of "The Today Show"...
[To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in the timeline]...
Commentary...
Although famous deaths usually occur in 3's, we had 4 in recent days that bear mentioning starting with "The Godfather of the Celtics", Red Auerbach whose presence will be sorely missed not only in Boston but as a representative for what once was great about the NBA. No more Red, no more victory cigar. A great man. A great loss. Red passed away of a heart attack at 89. R.I.P. Red Auerbach...
Former major league pitcher, Joe Niekro, brother of Phil, father of current major leaguer Lance died of an aneurysm at 61. Niekro won 221 games in his career. A good pitcher, he would fall short of joining brother Phil in the Baseball Hall of Fame...
Marlin McKeever, a 13-year NFL player and 2-time All-American at USC, died of head injuries after a fall at his home. A fullback-defensive end and punter in college, McKeever, 66, would make his mark in the NFL as a linebacker...
And finally (enough already) Former heavyweight champion Trevor Berbick was apparently a homicide victim in Kingston, Jamaica. Berbick was believed to be 52...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Harry Hamlin 55, Timothy B. Schmit (The Eagles) 59, Henry Winkler 61, The only original living member of the Temptations, Otis Williams, 65, Grace Slick 67 and Motown's Eddie Holland 67...
Timeline Countdown: 62 days until 2007, 69 days until NFL playoffs and 97 days until Super Bowl XLI...
...
