Okay it was around Nov. 1988 or so. The event: The World Boxing Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony/Dinner at the LAX Marriot. Event was originally scheduled for a few months earlier but Ali was scheduled to appear in Saudi Arabia to launch a new automobile called the "Ali." Inductees included Ali, Jake LaMotta, Eder Joffre (?) and Carlos Oritz (probably more but can't remember). Just about every boxer who has boxed one round at least was there. It was definitely the place to be if you liked boxing.
I remember when I was invited to go my manager called me. It just happened that his uncle is Art Braverman (Don Kings right hand man). So I got to be the Guest of Honor. I got to take my girlfriend at the time and mother of my daughters. She was so nervous because she didn’t want to under dressed. SO she went to her mom store which sold very expensive designer clothes. She picked out a beautiful black Oscar de la Renta (?) $6,000 dress. Needless to say she wouldn’t be underdressed. So we get there in the limo and I find out I am sitting next to Ali on one side and La Mottas across from me next to my girlfriend. La Motta and me became really good friends. He was a really nice guy. He had his daughter there and she could of easily been in Playboy.
Anyway, I sat down (we were first at the table) then a huge crown starts to come in. The place had about 500+ people. It was packed. Finally Ali shows up. We greet each other and everyone else at our table. They served us food first. I remember Ali having a little trouble with cutting his food. I cut it for him. The whole time he was very fascinated with my fists and arms. I was wearing a tux. Anyway, I remember we were eating and a guy came up to Ali for his autograph during dinner. I told the guy a man give us a break (cause this was going on the tikme prior to food, so I was hoping it would end at least during the time we ate). Well looks at me and says it's okay. Ali takes the pen and holds it to the paper but wasn't writing. He looked at me and asked me the date. I told him and he put that down along with his autograph. Now all along Jake is picking up on my girlfriend. And to tell you the truth I would have traded for his daughter if he'd do it. Oh I just remembered the date. It was Nov. 17, 1987. It was actually the same time that Time Magazine did an article on something I did and featured me.
Okay, so we are all getting along especially me and Ali. SO now it is time for the ceremony. They do everyone and leave Ali for last of course. Now this was at a time when Ali wasn't as bad as he is now but it was very noticeable. He didn’t shake much and talked slow and low. Anyway, Ali gets up to the podium and starts to talk to, and I swear to god (I just got goosebumps) he does a 2 minute speech where if you closed your eyes you were back in 1970's or so when he was awesome. He must have said 2000 words and was saying "Black" and "whitey" and everything else. He was awesome. When he finished every single person stood up and it was one of the loudest and definitely one of the longest ovations I have ever witnessed. Unbelievable!
So after that and a little more crap, we had an autograph session where all the inductees got up on stage at these tables setup so people in the audience can come up and get there autographs. They had it set so you just go in a single file line and get the souvenir program signed or whatever. Just before dinner they introduced me (I forgot to add that). Well when the inductees went up there Jimmy Lennon who was the announcer said Keith get up here. I look at him and say me. He says you right up here. Oh my god. My girlfriend wanted to go home but then she saw that I had to go up and sign she sat back down with Ali's wife and Jakes daughter. I kissed her and hear Ali's wife say you better get used to it. ? Anyway they stuck me between tow of the greatest fighters in history Jake la Motta and Muhammed Ali. I was in heaven. These guys kept punching me like little kids and treated me so nice. It was so neat cause Ali says to me "Keith give me your autograph" I said WHAT!. He said I want your autograph in case it is worth money someday. I start laughing. I said to him "I want yours because I KNOW it will be worth money." It was so neat cause he signed a few things for me including his picture in the program where he put "To Keith a Great Friend and a Great Champion Muhammed Ali "The Greatest Champion of All-Time". I swear to god I will never forget those words till the day I die. Well an hour later and more than 500 autographs. My hand was killing me and I was tired and my girlfriend was very pissed off.
So, we all get going. This is where Kevin wanted me to start the story but I figured I'd lead up to it so you know what's happening. When we get outside the ballroom the escalator is broken. So everyone has to turn around and go on the elevator. Ali was right in front of me with his wife and bodyguard (who is a major part of this story now). I was right behind them with my girlfriend Jake and his daughter. While we were walking I asked Jake if he felt sorry for Ali. He stopped me and said "you know there is nothing to feel sorry about him for. He has led a life we can only dream of. He doesn’t feel sorry for himself and we shouldn't either." That was something I will never forget either about that night. Jake gave me his number before we parted as he got into one of the elevators. He told me to call him anytime for anything and let’s get together. I never called him. I wish I did. Anyway, Ali went in one elevator and called me in so I could get in the same one. Now I don’t know how people their were in the elevator but it was packed to the gills. No more room. But Ali's bodyguard had to come on. He was holding the door. So he squeezes in and I MEAN SQUEZES IN. I swear to god he was at least 6'5" 500 lbs. He was enormous. I got very personal in the elevator with several people. So we are sitting there when all of a sudden as we wait for the doors to close, the fucking elevator begins to drop. I swear to god it dropped to the bottom of the shaft with the door wide open. I swear to god this was so funny. These people who were standing now above us were looking down thinking what happened. We had so much friggin weight after King Kong got aboard we sank. So now the people above are pulling the people out. The funny thing is Ali's bodyguard was blocking close to half the door. So the girls all were pulled out first. We thought the elevator would go up if we lightened it, but no good. So now the others were being pulled out including Ali and then me. I am about 300 at the time. From the couple of guys on top and Kong shoving his hand up my ass I finally got out (thankfully still a heterosexual). While this whole time in the elevator the first thing that came to mind was the bodyguard. How in the f**k are we getting him out. Well when I got out I didn't look back I headed straight for Ali and hid because I knew they were going to ask me for help. I didn't want any part of that circus act.
So, now no one wants to go on the elevator cause their afraid. SO now we have a bunch of people heading to the escalator. As I turn around I see the bodyguard coming. I thought he was going to punch me. As I get on the escalator Ali, my girlfriend and Ali's wife are right behind me. We are walking up the escalator. Then I notice something. First off the escalator was full with people (maybe 20). Secondly Ali's bodyguard is about 5 people behind him. Both sides of the elevator are mirror. I look to my left and there is a seam where the mirrors meet. We aren't moving. Everytime we took a step the escalator was going down a step. It is like we were doing the stairclimber. I turned around and said, "hey we ain't moving" Everyone stops walking as we slowly start going backwards. I swear to god I thought I was on Candid Camera. I was not only the youngest person on this "stupid journey" but I was with multi-millionaires, business executives, sports heroes and I'm the one who noticed all this or I think we would have been there for an hour. Anyway, people got off and we finally made it to the area in front to wait for our limos. We are all cracking up including Ali who no matter how medically off he was he was laughing his balls off. So, while we are waiting and trying to get over our "Punkd'" episode Ali sneaks up behind me and grabs me. I turn around and we start to wrestle (the picture below). In short (a little late now) we ended up on the ground. It was so funny. People were taking pictures and laughing. I finally pinned him. I help him up. Our tuxes got all dirty and everything but it was so much fun. Well we said bye to each other. I kissed his wife he kissed my girlfriend (which he later sent a picture of that to her) and we hugged and he just said how happy it was to meet me. That incident is something that no matter what will live with me forever. Cause Ali from when I was a kid was my biggest idol of all time.
The neat part about this is about 3 months later I was in Miami doing an appearance and was staying at the Fontainebleau Hotel (?). A very nice place. As me and my manager were going down the escalator I see a sign at the bottom saying something about a chocolate convention. I said I gotta see that. So we went in and there was this really long line against the wall. We followed it to the front and to my surprise was Ali sitting in a small area that was setup to look like a boxing ring. I stood there for about 30 seconds when he looks up and sees me. He stands up looks at me shakes his fist and says I'm going to beat you. Then he signals to his wife and a few others on the sided. She sees and comes over with a huge smile on her face along with Muhammed. She hugs me and kisses me then he hugs me. We talk for about a minute and he had to get back to signing (kind of what happened to Kevin with Cory at the Arnold a couple years back, only Cory had people waiting for about 30 minutes while she talked to Kevin). Anyway that was great but one thing Ali's wife said to me made me feel really great inside. She said "Keith you know Muhammed really grew fond of you. He talked about you for weeks after that night and still brings you up. You really made him laugh and I really love you for that". Well I gotta tell you (goosebumps again) that is another thing that will never leave my memory bank. If you ever get a chance to meet your hero, DO IT. It will really makes you feel good inside. I lost all the autographs and the program and the pictures sent to me from that night except for a few. SO if my writing is too long sorry but a picture is worth a 1000 words and since I didn’t have many pictures.
One more thing. I haven't talked about some of this stuff for along time. I'm sorry for all the writings and stuff but to tell you the truth like I've said before, memories is about all I got left. Hopefully you like them. If not sorry in advance. Once I forget these things, all of you have permission to pull my feeding tube.
P.S. That is not my girlfriend in the background. I've had people ask me that.
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