by the Village Elliott
For “The Greatest,” Mohammad Ali nee Cassius Clay (1/17/1942-6/3/2016); “The King,” Elvis Presley (1/8/1935-8/16/1977); and “The Bear,” Sonny Liston (5/8/1932-12/30/1970)
Met Ali in LV, ’63.
Elvis stayed, filmed same hotel as me.
Went to see Liston play,
Met instead Cassius Clay,
My Greatest “Viva Las Memory.”
—————
I’m from St. Louis. In July 1963, my father scored a three day comp for the Sahara Hotel in Vegas, a week before the Liston-Patterson rematch. He had ties with the local boxing community and had met Liston through “his People,” from whom he scored the comps.
The comp also included tickets to the show. We attended the dinner show. Allen and Rossi (“Hello, There…”) opened for Paul Anka. Waiting in the lobby before hand , my mother commented on “the big greaser” standing in front of us loud enough that he couldn’t pretend he didn’t hear. When he turned around, I met a vary gracious Paul Anka.
You can look it up: These were the three days Elvis filmed Viva Las Vegas at the Sahara. I didn’t meet Elvis, or Ann-Margret, but when we went over to visit the Liston camp at the Dunes(?), I met someone even more iconic. Not Liston, who wasn’t there, but:
Walking through the lobby as we were leaving, my father became excited, purchased a post card and said, “Go get that large black man’s autograph.” I had no idea who he was, even after I got it. Three days later, after he invaded Liston’s training camp, everyone knew who Cassius Clay was.
Yes, though Liston may have been “The (Current) Champ” and Elvis may be “The (Once and Future) King”, I met “The Greatest.”
Eight months later, the last week of February 1964, Cassius Clay shocked the world. A few days later on Thursday, he came out as Mohammad Ali. On Saturday, the 29th, I was Bar Mitzvahed and came out as Elijah. I’ve always had an affinity with him
What happened to the autograph, you ask? Don’t ask. My father cried about it every day until he died three years later. He is probably still crying about it. In hindsight, it is fortunate we missed the Generation Gap confrontation that would have inevitably happen, especially when “debating” our opposing opinions on Ali’s CO stand.
I never expected to write and dedicate two poems to Mohammad Ali in one week, but, he is “The Greatest.”
Earlier this week, my poem, “The Great Sacrifice: “Decoration Day: 2016”” was published on Bardball. I also posted the poem included in a longer piece, entitled “Decoration Day,” about The Saga of NY Giants Eddie Grant and the Replacement of his Plaque at Pac Bell Park on Bill James On-Line.This is my response to the first posting to reply.
Considering the passing of Mohammad Ali yesterday, I suppose I could slightly revise, re-title and rededicate it:
“The Greatest Fortitude”
For: All Who Have Given Their Last Full Measure of Devotion in Service to Their Better Angels.
The Village Elliott: 6/1/16
Post #2: 6/1/16: 2:07 AM: Just a thought. Perhaps we’d be a better country if we celebrated, Draft Dodgers Day, more than Memorial Day.
I replied: Post #3 The Village Elliott: 6/1/16:6:36 AM
By “Draft Dodgers,” do you mean “Conscientious Objectors,” like Mohammad Ali, or “Chicken Hawks,” like Dick Cheney?
If you mean the former, I think we would be a far better country if we celebrated each equally. I’d willingly contribute a poem in support:
“‘Profiles in Courage:the First Amendment and Constitutional Protection as Bulwark Against the Tyranny of the Minority.”
For: Mohammad Ali
The Village Elliott: 6/1/16
Thank Jah for those with Fortitude,
Defending us from “Mind-Intrude,”
With Constitutional Protection,
Promoting Rational Selection.
If you mean the latter. I think eight years of Bush-Cheney is ninety six months more than enough. Personally, I can’t afford to pay any more to celebrate those Sanctimonious. Draft Dodging. Hypocritical Self-Aggrandizing Usurpers. I can’t even afford to donate my time, energy, effort or willingness to write a poem to denounce them.
However I am willing to donate my share of Our Two-Month National Nightmare between the 2000 General Election and the Certification of the Electoral Vote in Jan. 2001 and write a poem to celebrate:
“In Memory of the ‘Last Full Measure’ of Constitutional Checks, Balances and Due Process Sacrificed by Congressional Cowardice and the Unconscionable Abandonment of the Green Party Platform and Constituency by the Party’s Presidential Candidate/Champion/ Defender-of-the-Faith Mama’s Boy on the Altar of Hypocritical Zealotry”
For: Ralph Nader and The Chicken-Shit-Hawks
The Village Elliott: 6/1/16
I guess the title says it all,
Of whom I voted for that fall;
Not Donkey’s Inconvenient Fool,
(Damned Sanctimonious Bush Tool),
Not those some claim stole crown Unfair,
(I claim they bought it fair and square;
It was the Second Act they stole;
Ohio playing leading role.)
But Whom, when in our deepest need,
Abandoned us at Unsafe Speed;
Since none of them deserve our trust,
I resolve I’ll add “adjust”
Post on “New Year’s Resolution,”
Poetic “Two-for-One Solution.