My mom saw the Ali-Fraszier fight at MSG. We were living on Long Island and her brother, a retired NYGiant, scored tix. Mommy went with Rosie Grier and some other folx. I’ll never forget how excited she was! She was full-stop dressed to the nines, encased in her long, fur coat, and she was soooo excited as she waited to be picked up. That was back in the day: boxing was on tv every weekend, and Howard Cosell was “our” weekend sports guy: anyone else remember the ABC Wide World of Sports intro? “The thrill of victory, and the agony of defeat!” Yes!! We were kids transfixed by boxing, when it was the Sweet Sport. Float Like a Butterfly, Sting Like a Bee…I AM The Greatest!

Muhammad Ali was an iconic American figure: Black and PROUD; Righteous, and righteously so; Respected and Revered; Smart and Principled. A TRUE American hero, for refusing to kill other Brown people for no damned reason.

I am sad today, but so very grateful that I got to live in Ali’s time.