Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 15, 1992 TAG: 9201140352
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: The Associated Press
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
NO ATHLETE EVER RHYMED LIKE ALI
Muhammad Ali enlivened many of his news conferences and training sessions with poems, which caused most people to laugh, some to cringe.Here are some samples:
"Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. Ohhhhh. Rumble, young man, rumble."
Actually, this piece of free verse, which became Ali's battle cry, was the creation of the Bundini Brown. It must, however, be included in any Ali collection, just as the song "Take The A Train," composed by Bill Strayhorn, is part of Ellingtonia.
"Everyone knew when I stepped in town, I was the greatest fighter around.
"A lot of people called me a clown, but I am the one who called the round.
"The people came to see a great fight, but all I did was put out the light.
"Never put your money against Cassius Clay, for you will never have a lucky day."
- In 1962, when he still was Cassius Clay.
"Now Clay swings with a right, what a beautiful swing.
"And the punch raises the Bear clear of the ring.
"Liston is still rising, and the ref wears a frown.
"For he can't start counting, till Sonny comes down.
"Now Liston disappears from view.
"The crowd is getting frantic,
"But our radar stations have picked him up.
"He's somewhere over the Atlantic.
"Who would have thought when they came to the fight
"That they'd witness the launching of a human satellite.
"Yes, the crowd did not dream when they lay down their money
"That they would see a total eclipse of the Sonny.
"I am the greatest."
- Part of a poem before upset title victory over Sonny Liston Feb. 25, 1964.
"Joe's gonna come out smokin' but I ain't gonna be jokin'
"I'll be pickin' and pokin' pouring water on his smokin'
"This might shock and amaze ya, but I'm going to destroy Joe Frazier."
- Before losing to Frazier in their first fight March 8, 1971.
"It will be a killa and thrilla and a chilla when I get the Gorilla in Manila."
- At news conference before his victory over Frazier in their third fight, the Thrilla in Manila Oct. 1, 1975.
"You think the world was shocked when Nixon resigned?
"Wait till I whup George Foreman's behind,
"Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee, his hands can't hit what his eyes can't see,
"Now you see me, now you don't, George thinks he will, but I know he won't.
"I done wrassled with an alligator, I done tussled with a whale.
"Only last week I murdered a rock, injured a stone, and hospitalized a brick.
"I'm so mean I make medicine sick."
- Before regaining title by upsetting Foreman Oct. 30, 1974.
"I got speed and endurance; you'd better increase your insurance."
- To Larry Holmes before his one-sided loss in a bid to become a champion for the fourth time Oct. 2, 1980.