After finishing his routine, Ali gave him a nickname he’d keep for the rest of his life: “Little brother”.
Advertisement
The 19-mile procession will tour landmarks in Ali’s life, including his childhood neighborhood and the gym where he began his boxing training.
People walk by a large picture of Muhammad Ali at the Muhammad Ali Center on June 10, 2016 in Louisville, Kentucky.
The service last Friday capped two days of tributes to the three-time heavyweight world champion.
Other guests at the service included many members of Ali’s family, Hollywood director Spike Lee, football legend Jim Brown, basketball’s Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and actress and comedian Whoopi Goldberg. “And every day you have to focus and concentrate on making sure you’re living your life in a way that it illuminates the things you want illuminated, and the things that were illuminated today were his love, and his heart, and his unconditional appreciation for all people of every race and color”.
Ali planned the details of his funeral, which will be an interfaith memorial service in the Muslim tradition, in keeping with his beliefs. Numerous public attendees started lining up on Tuesday for a chance to get tickets.
Ali’s widow, Lonnie, spoke eloquently about the inspiration of his legacy. “As we face uncertainty, Mohammad’s life provides useful guidance”.
“He stood up for himself and for us, even when it wasn’t popular”, said Ashia Powell, waiting at a railing for the funeral procession to pass by on an interstate highway below. “And saying, ‘I told you I was the greatest!’ No one compares to you, Daddy”. Meanwhile, the Turkish president, along with many prominent personalities from around the world, attended the memorial service.
“What a man.” The president was not there, as he was attending his eldest daughter Malia’s graduation ceremony. “I just knew him for boxing and beating Joe Frazier, at the time, at my age, but a lot of the stuff that he did outside the ring added to him being the greatest”, he said.
“I am forever grateful that our union on this earth together allowed for me continuum of shared understanding, preserved confidentialities and the comfort of living in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, for the past six years”. Photo / APAmbassador Qubilah Shabazz, the second daughter of Malcolm X and Betty Shabazz, speaks during Muhammad Ali’s memorial service.
Comedian Billy Crystal prompted laughter from the crowd as he impersonated Ali on stage in a moving tribute.
Rumors that Donald Trump would attend were quashed Friday morning when Gunnell said Trump called Ali’s wife, Lonnie, to inform her that he was unable to make it.
The veteran journalist said he was struck by the news that the legendary athlete had been rushed to the hospital because he feels so strongly that the world still needs him.
He was a tremendous bolt of lightning created by Mother Nature. “Now, a half a century and a lifetime of experiences later, I’m still awestruck and I’m still convinced more than ever that Muhammad Ali is the greatest”.
Lawrence Montgomery, a former neighbour of Ali, said that he has “mixed emotions”, knowing that Ali, who was suffering from the debilitating Parkinson’s disease for decades, is no longer in pain. Something like Parkinson’s could come along, but being free, he realized that life still was open to choices.
Advertisement
The president’s senior aide Valerie Jarrett, reading a message from Obama and wife Michelle at the service, said: “Muhammad Ali was America”. Representatives from Buddhist, Islamic, Jewish, Christian, Mormon, and Native American religious honored Ali. He also called Ali a champion who represented “the best of Islam, to offset the hatred that comes with fear”.
