The Greatesf^ Behind '^Hhe Greatest'

Page 15 Allen Johnson She was “the Greatesf^ behind '^Hhe Greatest’'^ When the legend of Muhammad Ali whom an Ebony writer called “a came to a sad but graceful end at the twenty year old, reed-'slim beauty hands of Leon Spinks, boxing lost a named Veronica Porche.” hero. And when Ali and his second Ali had been repeatedly seen in the wife, Khalilah, ended their marriage company of Miss Porche while in amid the gossip and immuendo of Manila, and had even, on occasion, cover stories in Jet and Ebony, Ali introduced her as his wife. When lost a heroine. Khalilah later arrived in Manila to I met Khalilah Ali while I was a join her husband, the media waited sophomore at the University of North eagerly for the fireworks. Some Carolina. She had accompanied the people who were at Manila ila champion to the campus for a International Airport when Khalilah speaking engagement sponsored by arrived swear “that she was making the Black Student Movement. I was funny litter karate moves and had fire sports editor of Black Ink at the time in her eyes,” said one magazine ar and thereby one of the chosen few who ticle. attended a reception in Ali’s honor. When the swarm of reporters had Ali was at his quick-witted best that subsided, a swarm of women ensued. evening, supplying an eager pack of Ali kissed women. Women kissed Ali. sportswriters with one quotable gem One coed swooned at how “soft and after another. He noted how he had smooth” the champ’s skin was. made Howard Cosell what he is today Another vowed that she would never and how the Hallowed Utterer of wash the cheek that Ali had kissed. Multisyllabic Jargon owed his The huddle of ooh and ahhing livelihood to the cham p’s ap femininity practically buried Ali, and pearances on “Wide World of Sports.” he loved every minute of it. Concerning his universal appeal, Ali I noticed that in a corner of the explained that he owed as much of his room sat Ali’s wife—still patient, success to his mouth as to his fists. content, and dignified. She was a “I can talk,” Ali said. handsome, full-faced woman with “Joe Frazier can’t talk. People hear smooth, caramel-brown skin and soft, me run my big mouth and they get endearing features, particularly her Muhammed Ali: 14 years in the ring . and still “the Greatest. ” Staff mad. ‘I’m the greatest,’ I say. Then smile She wore a scarf over her hair, photo by David Squires. some white man says, ‘Somebody as was required then of all Muslim oughtta’ whup that nigger and shut women, and a matching robe. Suave and debonair man of the his mouth. Gimmie two tickets.’ ” now I’m proud that my husband and i Ali shuffle. Finally, the champ called While Ali basked in the attention of world that I imagined myself to be, I are the kind of people who help fulfill his wife to the podium. In a gesture his admirers, Khalilah was extremely mustered a quick surge of gumption that need.” perhaps to quell the rumors that his low-key, seldom seen and even more and approached Mrs. Muham/nad Ali. She greeted me with a smile and a I fumbled through a number of marriage was strained, Ali spoke seldom heard. While her husband equally stupid questions, trying not to proudly of Khalilah and embraced palmed the media in his million-dollar warm “hello.” Determined to maintain my cool—since I was so be awed by the woman’s beauty and her. She smiled shyly. fists, she remained contently in the dignity (and failing miserably). Two years later, Ali and Khalilah background. She had no doubt heard suave and debonair—I started a conversation. Did the admiration and I also forgot to take notes. are divorced. The now ex-champion Ali’s brash routines over and over Later, the champion spoke to a has married Veronica Porche and a again. constant scrutiny of the public eye become annoying? I asked, trying my crowd of 6,000 spectators on the daughter was born to the couple after Ali was at the time a Jekyl and best to be unlike the uncultivated virtues of friendship. Khalilah and a their marriage. Khalilah has shed the Hyde figure. He had pummeled Joe masses who groveled at Ali’s feet and group of about five or six women traditional scarf for a new hairdo and Frazier in the “Thriller in Manilla,” begged him to sign autographs on attendants sat patiently by, listening is taking karate and acting lessons in restoring luster to his claims that “I napkins, hands and even arms. to a speech that they’s probably heard Hollywood. I myself am a little older am the greatest.” He had at the same “Not at all,” Khalilah replied. “It’s numerous times before. Khalilah and a little less vulnerable to falling in time, tarnished his out-of-the-ring all part of being a public figure. Black yawned once or twice, then decided to love with the wives of heavyweight image through his relationship with people need someone to look up to and pass the night by whipping out a champions. Nikon camera and smapping pictures Still, I cherish the thought that of her friends. I observed these events hanging somewhere in Los Angeles or rather easily since I sat directly Chicago or Hollywood or wherever behind the entourage. Khalilah Ali is now making her home, Why a sports editor had suddenly is a framed photograph of a sophmore taken up following the heavyweight sports editor. champion’s wife around I didn’t know or especially care about. Suddenly, Khalilah pivoted in my direction and snapped a photo. Oh my God! I thought. Khalilah Ali has My Basketball immortalized me! In all probability, she was aiming at her friend sitting in front of me and I just happened to be By DAVID R. SQUIRES in the background. But I didn’t care. Editor-in-Chief Main thing was that by whatever means, I had been captured on film by My basketball is a flaming orange Khalilah Ali. Maybe she had secretly fellow. It is a most vivid object; and I yearned to take a picture of me and cherish it. Its cover is made of supple used her friend as a conventional leather whose coarse design makes it easy excuse. Probably not, but I like to to grip. think so anyway. I treasure this inflated doll because it Ali, meanwhile, had assured the obeys my every command. Because it audience for the third time that he bounces uniformly, I can dribble this was winding up his speech, only to pressurized sphere between my legs and continue his thorough examination of behind my back almost at will. friendship. Khalilah giggled at her Its uncanny form is a masterpiece as it husband’s promises to close his glides through the air, spinning quietly speech and continued to handle the then crashes through the nylon cords on Nikon like a seasoned pro. After he my basketball goal with a loud and finally did close his speech, Ali told distinctive swish! the Black Student Movement This bombastic globe is prodigious when compared to my other prized possessions. While Alt clowned with the audience, Allen Johnson sought out the chairman that his suit made him look like a turtle, then aroused the It is the most luminous figure in my room champ’s wife. Staff photo by David Squires. audience with a demonstration of the and I love—my basketball..

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