Living The Green Platform

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1 The Miracle Walks Of Ali And Alex DEEP and lasting change is a heroic journey. Sometimes in our efforts to complete a particular journey in our life, we bite off more than we can chew and end up disappointed when we fail. Other times, though we find the hero inside ourselves and this is witnessed in the growing numbers who are exercising at a time when ironically we also see a huge rise in obesity in our country. Everything is relative — for some a 5k or a 10k might be that goal to feel good and for others, it might be to complete shorter, personal journeys that are absolutely immense victories for them. I’ve seen some of those achievements by people over the years where these journeys were completed with both courage and conviction. Some were just over 26 miles long and others were only five steps long. I had the privilege of introducing the great Muhammad Ali to an Irish audience in Dublin at a charity dinner organised by Dr Pearse Lyons, president and founder of the Alltech company some years ago. I was with the great boxing legend and his wife, Lonnie, backstage as the MC was talking to the audience. Ali was sitting in a chair, shaking with his Parkinson’s disease. My script was simple. Just say, with as much power and passion as possible: “And now, ladies and gentlemen, a big warm Irish céad míle fáilte for the greatest, Muhammad Ali.” The directions were clear. Give Ali the nod to stand up and walk 27
LIVING THE GREEN PLATFORM to the curtain as I was bellowing out, boxing ring-like, the introduction. I looked at Ali and nodded to be sure he was okay. He nodded back. When he stood up, he smiled. Chin up. Head back. He was ready. As he started to walk, I began my introduction. I could have been in Madison Square Garden introducing a world championship fight. But I saw clearly within a millisecond that my speaking was much quicker than Ali’s ability to put one foot past the other. I just got as far as saying: “And now ladies and gentlemen a big warm Irish céad míle fáilte for …” but Ali had only moved two steps. His jaw was square. He had that same steely determination he needed in those nights he fought Joe Frazier, George Foreman and Sonny Liston. He had refused to use a wheelchair and was fighting harder than he did against those opponents inside the ring to walk out and greet his Dublin audience. He had moved only two steps, and I was stuck. I had totally overestimated his walking speed. He takes the third step and I say: “A living legend.” I pause. He takes a fourth step. I go on: “The most recognised face on the planet …” and then he takes his fifth step and just before he splits the curtain I say: “The greatest, Muhammad Ali.” He got a standing ovation. The longest one I’ve ever seen or heard. By the time it was over he had been helped to a chair where he was happy to sit down. Those five steps had taken an awful lot out of him but he has been fighting for a bigger cause than just a boxing payday for these past three decades since he retired. His wife, Lonnie, said that boxing was only ever a vehicle for him to do what he’s doing now; raising millions for his charity as he continues to encourage every man, woman and child in the world to be the greatest they can be. I was humbled to be beside him as he completed those five steps with immense courage and conviction. In those five steps, I saw 28
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