...one of my greatest dreams came true...EXCEPT... I was in the wrong place:
Back in the day, Muhammad Ali was my biggest hero--outside of Jim Brown
in football--
14 years old, I sat nervous as hell in the family small living room in steel-mill
small-town Western Pennsylvania.
I "thiink" I remember actually sweating...and maybe even shaking a little bit.
I wanted Ali to win sooooo bad... but had heard from MANY media folk that
Liston was gonna walk right through him. And shut him up!
I suspect they heard me next door both sides and across the street...when Ali
won. I went nuts.
Fast Forward : I'm now in in Los Angeles. Steven Spielberg had chosen my
script from among a group of others to direct. 'Met the fella a couple of times
in his studio-lot office.
'Seemed nice enough. He'd said he wanted to direct a "boxing movie"--and
we discussed a range of things as to how to go about it. He seemed enthused
and even excited. When I asked about the timetable--when? He said something
I have found to be true in my experience in TV, Movies, and even theater.
Spielberg: "I've found that the only way to get a movie done is to put it on the
fast track". Yep True. (In Hollywood--and elsewhere)...
With a few "intervening events"--the movie ended up getting done. Lotta stuff
no need to mention here because up top, I introduced what, to me, was an
"odd" twist of fate...per my childhood hero.
Cut to the crux: We were shooting in South Central Los Angeles at the old
Historic boxing gym on Gage. I read that Ali was going to be signing boxing
gloves and other memorabilia in San Francisco. Sooo--I decided to leave the
shoot for a day or so... and drive up to San Francisco to stand in what I knew
would be a long line to meet my childhood idol--WITH my young son... and my
Lady(who were at our home, in Bay Area) .
Got there early. Stood in the LONNNNG line to see THE GREATEST up close
and personal--and maybe get a pic, or something. Line was long. It was a usual
very cold morning in SF. Sooo After the long wait the doors opened and the line
moved forward... into the store. My toddler son has no idea what the hell I've
come up with this time. FINALLY...we get close to Ali. WOW! Talk about
charisma. He was a LIGHT. Finally, we get to where we're next. Ali stops!
Stands...and stares me down. And at same time OTHERS notice and are looking
at what The Champ is looking at: ME? (I think my Lady even took a step back
with our son in her arms... unsure like everyone else...(including ME).
Then in one of the ways ONLY Ali could do it. He breaks out in a big friendly
smile and says. "Man, you lucky I ain't jumped up and hit you. You looked to
me like JOE FRAZIER!" Instant laughter(and relief) all around.
Ali graciously signed gloves, trunks...and I got a picture of my baby boy with Ali
kissing him on the cheek! (will dig up and post, later).
HERE'S THE KICKER IRONY!!! I go back to Los Angeles..after spending an
extra day hanging out in San Fransisco Bay Area with my Family. And what do
I hear. "Art, you missed it. "What"? "MUHAMMED ALI AND SIDNEY
POITIER dropped by the set--and spent pretty much the WHOLE DAY
HANGING OUT with Ivan Dixon(who I was given the opprtunity to choose as
my "replacement" director for Steven(may visit that later).
But as I type this... what I felt to this VERY MINUTE(seriously)..was a
MISSED OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME? I JUST THIS INSTANT
CHANGED MY MIND. WOW! I MISSED A DAY OF HANGING WITH ALI ON
MY SET. BUT!!!DAMMIT-NEVER HIT ME UNTIL NOW. 'GOT SOMETHING
ABSOLUTELY PRICELESS! I HAVE/WE HAVE... A PICTURE OF
MUHAMMAD ALI KISSING MY SON ON THE CHEEK!!! WOW! Glad I
somehow came up with the odd idea of putting up the movie--and launching
into this remembrance of Ali. One of my earliets of few heartfelt HEROES...
To me? Ali WAS THE GREATEST... and that is a "STILL"...
Change the opening line: I was in the RIGHT" PLACE...and just, this moment,
discovered it...
Hope you enjoy the movie... AW 6-24-24
