Presumptive
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has paid tribute to
boxing legend Muhammad Ali, recalling how she sparred with the
three-time world champion in the early 1970s.
“I remember back in 1970
when the
Nixon administration had banned him from boxing. I would often spar
with him to keep him fresh, you know, keep him on his toes,” Clinton
recalled.
And that wasn’t the only Clinton family connection to the man known as
“The Greatest” to fans around the world.
“My daughter Chelsea was an
au pair to his children at the same time. They used to call her mammy,”
said Clinton.
“I remember the day Martin Luther King, Jr. was shot. I was eating
fried chicken and watermelon with Muhammad’s mother. She wept
uncontrollably into my shoulder. I still have that tear-stained dress.”
“And I just remembered that my middle name is Muhammad and that name
was actually given to me by my parents in homage to Mr. Ali,” Clinton
went on.
“After all, what nobler calling could an African-American have than to
beat the crap out of another African-American for the amusement of
white people, giving themselves permanent brain damage,” said Clinton.
“Another thing I just remembered,” said Clinton, “is that on 9/11 when
I went into the South Tower to rescue Chelsea, Muhammad was there with
me, and he took my hand and led me up those 398 floors.”
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