Muhammad Ali Was The First, The Last And The Only - Dog Leg News

About the author

Tom Edrington

Tom Edrington spent the first 10 years of his misguided youth as a sports writer for the Tampa Tribune. His career brought him face to face with many of sports greatest stars -- Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Muhammad Ali, Don Shula, countless Hall of Fame NFL stars, more PGA Tour players than he can count. In 1980 he was honored by the Golf Writers Association of America for writing the best news story that year, his coverage of Jack Nicklaus' U.S. Open victory at Baltusrol. Today, 36 years later, golf is still a great part of his life, thanks to competitive playing days and the wonderful people he has met on this fabulous journey.

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4 Comments

  1. 1

    Doughboy1338

    What a wonderfully written article!

    1. 1.1

      Tom Edrington

      Thank you sir. Spending time around Ali as a young man and let’s say, a slightly older man, was certainly an eye-opening part of my life’s journey.

  2. 2

    beege

    Tom,
    I had the pleasure to be with The Champ for 4 days in nov. of 1993 producing a series of television commercials–we were at the Beverly Hills hotel—what an amazing 4 days. Too many stories to tell quickly but he was stricken of course at the time–still had his wit, showmanship and style. he did his levitation trick ten times a day, the same jokes, card tricks and of course he went to the Mosque daily. He signed for me just like he signed for you–to Bob, the date etc. This great athlete had been reduced to almost a childlike 51 year old man—he was HUMAN, not superhuman. subject to any and all of the frailties that life has—Lonnie was amazing. RIP “The Greatest”

    1. 2.1

      Tom Edrington

      Bob, I found the Tampa Tribune column I wrote after that interview. Muhammad was 32-years-old in that picture. I was around him through all stages of his life. It was sad to see what the disease did to him. When I saw him in 2012, I didn’t think he would last two more years and he made it almost four. Lonnie took care of him during the toughest part of his life. Strong woman, extremely nice, class act.

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