Ali and Me

                                                               

We were from different worlds.

He was a talented, big-mouthed boxer from the south, challenging society and our institutions.

I was everything he wasn't—a white, Jewish, gung-ho American kid from New York.  There was no cable TV back then, and his fights were not televised) so I would listen to my 6-transistor radio and shadow box the match in our apartment    on Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn.

And I hoped that someone would knock his block off and shut his mouth forever. Patterson - Liston – Chuvalo - Terrell - Bonavena, but no dice!

We would read the sports headlines on the back pages of the daily news and daily mirror the next day in the schoolyard - always with the same results:

The anti-American, anti-white, anti- Jewish(or so I thought) Clay/Ali would always come out on top.

Fast-forward 10 years or so.

Ali would be stripped of his title and re-instated. I would go on to high school, graduate college, and enter the working world. Mom and dad took all of us to Washington, DC a few times each summer for vacation. We camped out at the Washington Hilton, played tennis, swam in the pool, and saw the sites for 4 or 5 days at a time—often with friends, girlfriends or cousins as our guests.

Circa 1974, and Ali and his entourage happened to be staying at the very same hotel.

We were all seated at a huge round table in the hotel restaurant, eating breakfast, when Ali and his crew approached our table. The legend went to dad, extended his huge hand, said a few words, and then smiled! He made his way around our table, shaking hands and greeting the Ades children and friends, one at a time!

He finally made his way to the elevator, where i chased and confronted him

I said:

"Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee, it sure was an honor to meet Ali!"

He smiled, shook my hand again, and disappeared into the lift.

Many years later, I asked dad, "What did you have to do to get Ali over to our table?"

And dad replied, "Nothing Abbie, he did it on his own!"

From that point on, I was firmly entrenched in Ali’s corner.

And I hope G-D  is too.

Written by Special Guest Writer
Abdo A. Ades

Get Your New York Sports Here!

                                               

   When it comes to New York sports, what the first thing that comes to your mind? The Yankees? The (Brooklyn) Dodgers? The Knicks? New York is so rich with sports history, it’s so hard to discount any of it. The Yankees have 27 World Series Championships. The Knicks and Jets have not won in over 40 years, but they are the lovable losers of New York. The history is so rich people still talk like it’s the 1940’s and 1950’s in baseball, like we’re still in the 80’s and 90’s for football. You may be wondering, why is he writing about New York sports? Great question! New York is one of few cities/states that sports is relevant 365 days a year and why not honor that.

   Over the course of the past 100 years, New York City(the 5 boroughs), as well as Long Island(Islanders) has had 4 baseball teams, 2 football teams, 2 basketball teams, and 2 hockey teams. That’s a total of 10 teams, can you honestly believe that? What is more amazing each borough that has hosted a team(Staten Island has never hosted a professional team), has seen a world championship. Whether its 27 of them in the Bronx, 2 in Queens, or 1 in Brooklyn. Surely, all New York teams have had their down years. Even during those down years, winning in New York is expected in some form. If the Yankees and Jets weren’t winning during the 80’s, then the Mets, Giants and Islanders were winning. If the Mets and Giants weren’t winning in the 90’s, the Rangers and Yankees were winning. New York City was always “Winning” as Charlie Sheen would say.

   Besides for the winning, New York teams have the greatest fans in the country (I know I may sound biased here). You will always see fans supporting their teams no matter what. I am a huge New York Football Giants fan. After beating the Patriots in the 2011 Super Bowl(SB 46), they have not been to the playoffs, let alone had a winning record. Regardless of those situations, fans, myself including, have stuck with them knowing they will come back from this rocky road. Can you imagine being a Jets or Knicks fan(I am a Knicks fan) right now? They have both had many spectacular seasons, but haven’t won it all in over 40 years. No matter the game or the season, fans have always showed up to support their team. 

    There are two things New York has that I feel go hand in hand, that is the abundance of great players and moments they have brought to the City. What do I mean? Do you think there will ever be a “Called Shot” without Babe Ruth”? A guaranteed Super Bowl Victory without Joe Namath? What about “The Catch” by the “Say Hey Kid” Willie Mays? Mark Messier all but guaranteed the Rangers would win the Stanley Cup in 1994. Do you get my point here? Moments that have mattered are because the players have created them. Just in (New York) baseball alone, there are more great (and Hall of Fame) players that I can count on all of my fingers and toes together. The Giants and Knicks have had just as many great players in their rich histories. Between Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, Walt “Clyde” Frazier, Lawrence Taylor, and Frank Gifford, these guys have not only greatest to their teams, but also class.  Many of great players in all sports have said if they can even play 1 year in New York, their careers would be complete. Wayne Gretzky played with the Rangers or Wade Boggs with the Yankees.

   In my opinion, the Yankees are the greatest North American sports franchise. Everyone either loves or hates New York sports. The city and its people carry such pride in their teams, we often refer to the teams as “us” not “them.” New York, in my opinion, is the greatest sports town in North America. It’s winning, fans, pride and most importantly, tradition, is what makes it so great. Let’s go New York!