tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5125402567351329247.post7031783246137520405..comments2024-03-11T16:39:12.344-05:00Comments on Once A Knight ...: Talking or boxing ... always The GreatestNico Van Thynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07072351355184106484noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5125402567351329247.post-50768030595687490652014-03-02T12:54:49.784-06:002014-03-02T12:54:49.784-06:00From Ben Sour: American Way magazine and Wall Stre...From Ben Sour: American Way magazine and Wall Street Journal both had articles similar to yours. Great minds think alike. Good stuff and good memories. Nico Van Thynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07072351355184106484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5125402567351329247.post-60078045606693458672014-02-19T10:23:50.996-06:002014-02-19T10:23:50.996-06:00From Sylvia Pesek: I've long respected Muhamma... From Sylvia Pesek: I've long respected Muhammad Ali as a fascinating human being and an excellent sportsman/entertainer. I was a little slow to warm up to him because at first I didn't see past the taunts and lame "poetry," but then I read an article on him, describing his training camp and how he placed particular large stones that he felt reflected aspects of various opponents and how he would meditate upon those, and I began to realize that he was a much deeper and more intelligent person than I had ever suspected. And certainly no one can fault the effectiveness of his showmanship! <br /> I will never be a fan of boxing ... the damage it does to the human brain is something that just sickens me. But I am, ultimately, a fan of Muhammad Ali. He stood up for his principles when it really cost him to do so. He did his share of womanizing, which many athletes seem prone to do (as do a lot of folks who are NOT athletes!) but I'm not aware of any huge scandals in which he was involved ... though it could fairly be argued that given the degree to which I follow sports, my awareness has gaps that would easily accommodate just about anything short of the "drugs and guns" category.Nico Van Thynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07072351355184106484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5125402567351329247.post-74080420995766749992014-02-17T15:00:12.675-06:002014-02-17T15:00:12.675-06:00From James D. Gibson: Same night (as the Clay-List...From James D. Gibson: Same night (as the Clay-Liston fight -- Feb. 25, 1964) at Hirsch, Fair Park overcame a 12-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat Istrouma in a Class AAA quarterfinal game to earn a trip to the Top 20. Dick Hicks got hurt in the third quarter and Danny Bob Turner came off the bench to hit several bombs to lead the surge. (FP lost to Jesuit NO -- Billy Fitzgerald was on that team -- in the finals.) <br /> I went to that game with Mr. Ostteen, Larry’s dad. As we got into the car to go home, Mr. Ostteen tuned the radio to the fight just a few seconds after the sixth round ended. The world totally changed less than a minute later. <br /> Thanks for the reminder …<br />Nico Van Thynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07072351355184106484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5125402567351329247.post-91431800980968566302014-02-17T14:55:16.452-06:002014-02-17T14:55:16.452-06:00From Tommy Youngblood: I'll always say he was ...From Tommy Youngblood: I'll always say he was the best ever. Too big for any others to handle. You left out that prior to the first Liston fight he said there was going to be a total eclipse of the Sonny. Good story.Nico Van Thynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07072351355184106484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5125402567351329247.post-10349886227026437622014-02-17T14:53:14.723-06:002014-02-17T14:53:14.723-06:00From Maxie Hays: Great blog, Nico! I couldn't ...From Maxie Hays: Great blog, Nico! I couldn't stand him early on but recognized that he was a tremendous athlete.Nico Van Thynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07072351355184106484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5125402567351329247.post-77996150043320065102014-02-16T17:23:19.295-06:002014-02-16T17:23:19.295-06:00From Sid Huff: A great blog post, my friend. You t...From Sid Huff: A great blog post, my friend. You took me back ... to a kid lying on the floor in our den, listening to the Clay-Liston fight on the 'Telefunken' hi-fi/record player we had brought back from Germany when we were stationed there. My folks were in the dining room with friends, playing pinochle. When Liston failed to answer the bell, I ran into the dining room hollering, "Clay WON! Clay WON!" They were ALL convinced I had heard it incorrectly and the crowd rushed into the den to hear the "I shook up the world!!" news for themselves. I was hooked at that moment. Yes, they took away 3 1/2f years of Clay in his prime. Who knows how great he could have been. Like you, I saw the Foreman fight on closed circuit, only I saw it in Moody Coliseum<br />in Dallas on the SMU campus, I believe it was. The three friends I was with all bet on Foreman. I was the only Ali believer. And, oh my God, the "Thrilla In Manila" -- I've never seen two men wail on each other like that. Remember when Frazier's bloody mouthpiece went flying into the crowd? Yes, Ali SHOULD have retired right there. He had NOTHING left to prove. I consider myself lucky to have seen this bigger-than-life persona who stood up for what he believed in.Nico Van Thynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07072351355184106484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5125402567351329247.post-61849594710979951752014-02-16T17:12:44.414-06:002014-02-16T17:12:44.414-06:00From Ben Sour: Great memories. I think he chewed K... From Ben Sour: Great memories. I think he chewed Khruschev out in Moscow after the Olympics when Khruschev made a derogatory comment about the treatment of blacks in America. <br /> I listened to the Liston fight, also, but the reception was terrible. Before the fight, interview question: "What do you expect Liston to do?" "The first thing he better do is duck. Then he better get out of the ring before he gets hurt."<br /> "Total eclipse of the Sonny..." greatest sports "poem" ever.<br /> I think the Sherman thing was a bit overdone, personally. But then, I loved McEnroe and Cliff Richey.<br />Nico Van Thynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07072351355184106484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5125402567351329247.post-86373166362184081262014-02-16T17:09:30.735-06:002014-02-16T17:09:30.735-06:00From Robert L Smith: Great fighter -- unless you w...From Robert L Smith: Great fighter -- unless you wanted him to fight with a uniform on!!Nico Van Thynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07072351355184106484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5125402567351329247.post-41723861057624712702014-02-16T17:08:49.560-06:002014-02-16T17:08:49.560-06:00From Tim Looney: Couldn't agree more, Nico. Th...From Tim Looney: Couldn't agree more, Nico. The Greatest of All Time!Nico Van Thynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07072351355184106484noreply@blogger.com