The Day We Met “The Greatest”

A photo of a poster featuring Muhammad Ali, seen from a cafe table.

Jane Cave

Back in the early 90’s, I took my wife to the opening day of “Muhammad Ali’s Rotisserie Chicken” restaurant in Silver Spring, Maryland. We hoped to see The Greatest. As we entered the mall, there was a long line outside the restaurant to meet Ali, and a short line to purchase food.

We chose the short line. As we were making our decisions on the entrees, I noticed Ali greeting his fans on the other side of the restaurant. I said to my wife, “there he is.”

“Where?” she asked. The moment that I pointed in his direction, she yelled “Muhammad, Muhammad!” She left me holding the tray and went to the front of the line, standing at the rope, and excitedly began telling him that her uncle had been a professional boxer in Kansas City.

“Let her through,” Ali said with his audible whisper.

Meanwhile, I was still choosing entrees when I heard her call, “Husband!” I knew what that meant: trouble! I put down the tray and went to her aid.

Ali was holding her hand as she—being tall, shapely, beautiful and intelligent —introduced me as her husband. He gave me a look and made a growling sound like a pitbull, as though I was the next contender that he was going to meet in the ring!

I puffed my chest, balled up my fists, looked him in the eye and yelled at him assertively, “that’s myyyyyyyyy wife!” He let go of her hand, smiled and welcomed us to his restaurant. My wife and I got the rest of our food, sat down, ate and went shopping.

As we were leaving the mall, we were waiting to cross the street when we noticed that Ali was leaving the mall right behind us. Then someone yelled, “Here comes Joe Frazier!”

Ali yelled, “Joe Frazier?! Joe Frazier!” as he went into his boxing stance and began to throw punches. All of a sudden, there was Joe Frazier, coming through the crowd in his boxing stance, bobbing and weaving, and throwing punches approaching Ali. The two of them sparred for a moment or two, then they hugged each other.

What a show! What an experience! We will remember that day for the rest of our lives.


Issues |Sports

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