Recalling my Time with Muhammad Ali by Jack Coll

Recalling My Time

With Muhammad Ali

By Jack Coll

      While watching an eight hour documentary film on Muhammad Ali that recently aired on Channel 12, PBS television station over a period of four nights, September 19-22, I recalled the time that I got to spend with Ali on two different occasions. 

     The film was Directed and produced by Ken Burns, David McMahon and Sarah Burns, written by Sarah and David McMahon and in typical Burns fashion it was a terrific film.

     The documentary gave the viewing audience an in depth look at Ali’s life both in and out of the boxing ring.  As pointed out by Burns he was one of the best-known men of the 20^th Century, a three time heavyweight boxing champion who captivated millions of fans throughout the world with his mesmerizing combination of speed, grace and power in the ring, and charm and playful boasting outside of it.

     According to a Burns press release Ali’s brazen outspokenness and unsurpassed boxing skills made him a heroic symbol of black masculinity to African Americans across the country, yet at times he seemed to take pride in humiliating his black opponents. 

     At the peak of his ability, he bravely sacrificed his career by refusing to go to war in Vietnam, and though he was condemned for it, Muhammad Ali would later be celebrated as a principled pacifist.

     He was a faithful Muslim, and unfaithful husband, a proud father and an adoring son.  He was a fearsome warrior who vanquished nearly every opponent, but was finally brought down by his stubborn refusal to quit.  After boxing, when Parkinson’s Syndrome had all but silenced him, he became an international hero and a symbol of freedom and courage.

     The documentary covered many of Ali’s Title fights including both fights against Sonny Liston, his three fights with Joe Frazier, Kenny Norton, George Foreman, Ernie Shavers, Leon Spinks, Larry Holmes and many of the other great fighters of his time.

Thirty years ago in December of 1991 I got a call from the newspaper asking me to take a ride into East Mt. Airy and take some photographs of Muhammad Ali who was looking into investing in a new restaurant called Bilal Gardens, which was a new growing chain of eating establishments.  The restaurant wasn’t open yet and I arrived about 20 minutes before Ali.  He pulled up in a limousine, and exited the car, walked into the restaurant and shook my hand.  He shook my hand because there were only three other people in the building at that time including Harlod “Mac” McCuen, long tome owner, editor of the Conshohocken Recorder newspaper and two other men whom I didn’t know.  Ali’s entourage included two of his handlers.

     Ali and his two handlers talked to the two men I didn’t know for a couple of minutes and then we waited together for several other investors to show-up and talk business.  Well we waited a long time, (if I recall right it was more than two hours we waited).  So I had quite a bit of time talking and joking with Ali.  The champ was still talking but very soft and he performed a lot of magic tricks, slight-of-hand tricks.  I asked him about his fights with Liston, Frazier and Foreman, his answers were soft and short.  I asked him about his friendship with Malcolm X and Martin Luther King and the time he spent in Philadelphia, again his answers were short and soft. 

     After a while another photographer showed up, snapped a few shots of Ali including one with me and Ali as he signed an autograph for me.  Over a period of more than two hours I talked to Ali on and off while snapping more pictures.  I found Ali to be very pleasant, talkative, even though I had to lean in to listen to him slowly talk to me, he never seemed angry or mad about having Parkinson’s Disease, he smiled brightly the entire time I spent with him.  A couple of times his handlers would go over to Ali and recommend one thing or another and Ali would agree or disagree with a shake of his head, it was clear to me that he was still very much in control of his life at that point.

     More than two hours later the business partners showed up and Ali and his guys had a 10-15 minute discussion with them and it was time for Ali to go.  I walked out of the restaurant behind him where the limo was waiting but Ali made a left-hand turn and walked through the shopping center a couple of stores up, he walked into a ladies hair saloon where several women were in different stages of getting their hair done.  When they realized that Muhammad Ali had just walked into their hair saloon their reaction was absolutely priceless.  Women were jumping out of their chairs and out from under the drying hoods and were hugging and kissing Ali uncontrollably, it really was a wonderful site and Ali was loving it.

     When Ali was done with the hugging and kissing he made his way out the front door and climbed into his limo, he blew a kiss, smiled and he was gone, he never spoke a word while he was in the saloon.  I stood on the sidewalk and smiled after he was gone, it was quite an assignment.

     A few weeks later Donna and I traveled to Atlantic City to see the “Hardest Working Man in Show-Business,” James Brown.  I think it was at the Trump Taj Mahal, I was rather pleased when we presented our tickets and were led down front just to the right of the stage but in a front row table.  While Donna and I were waiting for the show to begin we were chatting and I heard this soft quiet chant that grew louder and louder.  Ali, Ali, Ali, Ali, Donna and I looked around and sure enough there was Muhammad Ali walking through the crowd.  They marched him down to the front of the arena just two tables away from us.  I gave him a minute to get settled as a few people gathered around him.  I walked over to say hello to Ali at his table and I said, “Hey Champ,” he looked up and smiled and extended his hand, I said to him I just saw you a couple of weeks ago, he nodded, we shook hands and I turned and headed back to my seat.  He nodded as if he remembered me, I don’t know if he did or not but I would like to think that he did remember me.

     My time with Ali was short but provided me with a lifetime memory, I felt like I was in the presence of greatness and yet I was very comfortable spending time with him, he couldn’t have been more down to earth and pleasant.

     When the question is asked if you could have dinner with any three people who ever walked the face of the earth, even before I met Ali, he was one of them along with Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King.  When asked that question about having dinner with three people I’ve always had different categories like political, sports, females and so-on.  Other people I would love to have dinner with would include Amelia Earhart, Billie Jean King, Janis Joplin, President John Kennedy, Pete Rose, and so many more.

     My photography career has led me to places that I never would have dreamed of and has allowed me to meet people I never would have thought of.  Watching the Ken Burns Documentary for four evenings allowed me to recall the private moments I had with Muhammad Ali, I’ll treasurer those moments.

     On a side note I met and chatted with Joe Frazier a couple of times, I approached Joe at a benefit held at Tolands Restaurant some years ago and asked him about his fights with Ali.  Jolt’in-Joe just stared at me, I didn’t like the look in his eye and I backed up a half of step, then he smiled but didn’t say anything.  I also ask George Foreman about fighting Ali while I was on a photo assignment years ago and he replied “I don’t want to talk about Ali” and that-was-that.

     Good memories, good times, it happened 30 years ago and all I can say is, “It was Good To Be Young.”    

Photographs include:

A photo snapped by the other photographer while Ali signed an autograph for me.

Harold “Mac” McCuen interviewing Muhammad Ali.

A smiling Muhammad Ali.

2 photos—Ali kissing the women in the hair saloon.

Ali climbing into the limo as he departs Mt. Airy.