The Luck Of The Irish: Ali a Free Man In Ireland?

    THE LUCK OF THE IRISH: ALI A FREE MAN IN IRELAND?

“The Greatest” aka Muhammad Ali returned to his ancestry roots of Ireland recently in the town of Ennis.  It was here his great-grand father Abe Grady was born.

Many Black Americans have traced their ancestry roots back to Africa and millions more don’t have a clue who they are and where they came from.  Ali is now saying, “Top this one.”

History will record this visit and you can take your pick whether it was Black History or White History that discovered that Abe Grady settled in Kentucky in the 1860’s.  He married a free slave and one the grandchildren was Ali’s mother Odessa Lee Grady Clay.  Mrs. Clay gave birth to “The Greatest” aka Cassius in 1942. 

Genealogists (a person who traces or studies the descent of persons or families) discovered Ali’s ancestry links in 2002, but this was Ali’s first visit to Ireland since he fought and knocked out Alvin Lewis there in July 1972.  

During his visit in the town of Ennis he met distant relatives at celebrations held a local town hall and a Castle.  I can imagine the thrill of meeting for the first time the most famous and recognizable athlete in the World.  He is a man held in high esteem and seen as a hero all over the world. 

People traveled hundreds of miles from across Ireland to see the former three time heavyweight champion, among them veteran Irish boxers who sparred with Ali in New York training decades ago.

Former Irish national champ Jim O'Sullivan recalled sparring with Ali and his trainer Angelo Dundee during a U.S. tour by Irish boxers in 1978 -- and wished he'd known then that "The Greatest" was "just a Paddy like us."

"We'd have dearly loved to have known he was that wee bit Irish. We'd have given him some stick," O'Sullivan said, using an Irish expression for good-natured ribbing.

It is estimated there were 15,000 people (population 23,000) on the parade route waving red, white and blue flags on the streets of Ennis.  The town is located in western, Ireland.  The streets were decorated with red and white flags and the shops along the parade route competed to display the most impressive posters honoring the champ.  There was one display that sure didn’t make one local politician happy.  The poster showed Ali getting ready to knockout the unpopular Irish politician.  Then again he probably has the poster now mounted on his home wall.

Along the parade route Ali offered a few playful jabs to cameras but made no public comments.  He steered clear of throngs of autograph-seekers, among them hundreds of kids whose schools closed early for the event.  Police blocked off roads and kept crowds in line with railings. Mayor Frankie Neylon presented Ali with a scroll and proclaimed him Ennis’s first “Freeman,” and honor conveying him special privileges in the County Clare town of 23,000.  The mayor said the most valuable privilege would be free parking.

The privilege would be worth something if Ali could have the parking privileges transferred to New York City and Washington, DC.

I know the most painful part his visit was when he had to bypass the children.  He loves inter-acting with children.  During his career pretty women often had to take a back seat when there were little children present.  I would not have believed it but I saw it with my own eyes.  His love of children is clearly defined in a television interview I produced and hosted on NBC TV-4 here in DC in 1974 (now on video @hbsportslegends.com).  

 Lonnie, Ali's wife and traveling companion said, “Ali’s Irish blood might help explain his legendary ability to bludgeon his opponents with blarney as well as punches.  When you look at Muhammad's pugilistic skills and his loquacious ways, I am sure if his great-grandfather was alive, he would swear it came from him.  If he were alive today I bet he would be in every pub talking about it too."

My last encounter with him was here in Washington, DC in 2005.  His daughter Laila Ali fought on the undercard of Mike Tyson vs Kevin McBride.  This was Mike’s ill fated comeback try at the Verizon Center.  He pulled a Roberto Duran “No Mas” and quit sitting on his stood in the sixth round.

Due to my late arrival I had no idea Ali and Laila’s mother Veronica were at ringside. 

Immediately after Tyson quit I spotted Ali’s brother Rachman making his way to the exit.  We had not seen each other in at least 20 years.  We hugged and shook hands.  It was then he told me that the champ was in the building.

Rachman and I shared a special bond during the glory days of his brother.  He was my eyes and ears and kept me in touch with Ali.  On this night he would take up where he had left off.  He directed me to a black Escalade Cadillac in the parking garage.  He told me to wait there for the champion.

The five minute wait seem like five hours but sudden around the corner I spotted this crowd of people headed toward the Cadillac.  It was Ali and Veronica and a throne of fans trying to get Ali’s attention.  His security had their hands full, but when spotted me he pushed everyone aside and embraced me like a long lost friend.

I had pictures of us together with Veronica when they were courting in the 70’s and Laila was just a thought.  I brought the pictures to surprise Laila after the fight, but I was the one surprised by “The Greatest.”  

When Ali saw the pictures his eyes got so big and he motioned for someone to give him a pen.  He wanted to autograph the pictures for me and I told him “Champ you don’t have to sign these pictures” it was then I heard Rachman yell ‘Harold he wants to.’   

I knew it would be a difficult task because of the Parkinson, but he managed to sign them anyway.  He never forgot.

In 2006 Ali sold the rights to his name and likeness for 50 million dollars and 20% of the net.  The venture is operated by a company called G.O.A.T. LLC, an acronym for the “The Greatest of All Time.”

Ali and Lonnie were expected to work with CKX, Inc. to market his interest around the world.  The deal includes trade marks owned by the boxing great.  The inside word is that Lonnie and the champ have had little or no input since they signed the deal.  Money does not buy peace of mind, peace of mind is not for sale.

I can imagine the trip to Ireland was a refreshing and an eye opening once in a life time experience.  

 Ali is now 67 and he is in the biggest fight of his life.  The fight is against the dreaded Parkinson disease.  The disease has robbed him of most of his physical attributes but his mind is still sharp. 

Despite the discovery of his Irish roots, don’t look for Ali to disown or change his African roots and status and become an Ire-blac like other black athletes of mixed heritage.

He understands the rules have not changed and that one drop of black blood still makes him a full blooded African/Nigger/Negro/black man in America (all four are found and defined in Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary).  On any given day I can be assigned any of the above names, it all depends who is using the word.