I became a boxing fan in 1964, huddled around the radio with my grandfather, father and brother, listening through the crazed hoarseness of Les Keiter’s description of the kid that took down Sonny Liston.  I never questioned, or thought inappropriate, the young Cassius Clay’s pronouncements that night, of, “I am the greatest!” or “I’m the king of the world!”.

I became a lifelong Muhammad Ali fan in 1966 when The Champ stood up for racial inequality and the unjustified war in Viet Nam, putting his career and well-being on the line for the principles in which he so strongly believed.  His controversial embrace of Islam was never a platform for hatred, speaking loudly and poetically, instead, against the dangerous irrationality of bias and intolerance from any point of view.  He was, as even W recognized, a true American, (Global), hero.

I was lucky enough to work with him on several occasions, recording countless PSA’s and wiring him up for appearances on the Jerry Lewis Telethon, (don’t be fooled that it was ever the MDA Telethon).  He was kind and real and engaging.  As part of the audio team for the Zaire 74 Music Festival that kicked off the Rumble in the Jungle, I got to watch him work out, (ringside), and then hold court to calm those of us who feared for our safety during the chaos that surrounded that event.

He was arguably the most recognized man on Earth, traveling tirelessly to the ends of it to speak of our better nature, standing tall, even as he was being cut off at the knees by his debilitating disease.  He was The Greatest!