6B
SPORTS
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BOXING
THE UNIVERSITY DARY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2009
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Boxing legend Muhammad Ali, center, arrives in Ennis, Ireland on Tuesday, where a plaque was unveiled on Tumpkie Road to honor his ancestors. Ali was on a seminal journey to see his little-known Irish roots. Ten of thousands are awaiting the three-time world heavyweight champion's arrival in the western Irish town, the home of Ali's great-great-father Ade Grady.
Ali visits Ireland to find roots
BY SHAWN POGATCHNIK
Associated Press
DUBLIN — Boxing legend Muhammad Ali made a sentimental journey Tuesday to discover his Irish roots, and met distant relatives during celebrations at the local town hall and a nearby castle.
Thousands lined the streets of Ennis, western Ireland, to cheer the motorcade carrying Ali as the three-time world heavyweight champion visited the home of his great-grandfather Abe Grady.
Fans adorned streets with red, white and blue USA bunting and flags, while shop windows competed to display the most impressive posters honoring Ali — including one tongue-in-cheek portrait of him appearing ready to knock out
an unpopular Irish politician.
Ali, who is 67 and battling Parkinson's disease, offered a few playful jabs to cameras but made no public comments and steered clear of throngs of autograph-seekers, among them hundreds of kids whose schools closed early for the event. Police blocked off roads and kept crowds in line with railings.
Grady settled in Kentucky in the 1860s and married a freed slave. One of their grandchildren, Odessa Lee Grady Clay, gave birth to Ali — then Cassius Clay — in 1942.
Genealogists pinpointed Ali's Irish links in 2002, but Ali had never visited Ennis before.
His visit to Ennis Town Hall was broadcast live on big-screen televisions outside, where locals
also took in a live concert by Irish traditional musicians, including best-selling accordionist Sharon Shannon.
Ali's wife, Yolanda, said her husband's Irish blood might help explain his legendary ability to bludgeon his opponents with blarnev as well as punches.
She stayed close at Ali's side throughout the public events, talking to him and steadying him as he walked arm in arm.
"When you look at Muhammad's pugilistic skills and his loquacious ways, I am sure if his great-grandfather was alive, he would swear it came from him. If he were alive today I bet he would be in every pub talking about it too," she said.
Mayor Frankie Neylon presented Ali with a scroll as he
proclaimed him Ennis' first "freeman," an honor conveying him special privileges in the County Clare town of 23,000.
The mayor said the most valuable privilege would be free parking.
Yolanda Ali said the couple would return to Ireland "now that we know that Muhammad is an Ennisman."
People traveled hundreds of miles from across Ireland to see Ali, among them veteran Irish boxers who sparred with Ali in New York training decades ago.
Former Irish national champ Jim O'Sullivan recalled sparring with Ali and his trainer Angelo Dundee during a U.S. tour by Irish boxers in 1978 — and wished hed known then that "The Greatest" was "just a Paddy like us."
Summer setting
Jennv Terrell/KANSAN
Alex Blazer, Tulsa, Okla., senior, spikes the ball as Carrie Selden. St. Louis Park, Minn., senior goes up for the block during a sand volleyball class on Tuesday afternoon. The class meets twice a week until fall break.
BIG 12 Former Tiger begins pro basketball career abroad
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Former Missouri guard Matt Lawrence is headed to Norway to begin his pro basketball career.
The 6-foot-7 sharpshooter started three seasons for the Tigers and helped lead the team to a school-record 31 wins and
an NCAA regional final appearance last season. He finished second in career 3-point shots made at Missouri.
PGA
Lawrence has signed a pro contract with Norway's Tromso Storm. The team is the defending regular-season champion of the BLNO, Norway's premier basketball league.
Associated Press
Nicklaus won't overstay welcome
BY DOUG FERGUSON
Associated Press
NORTON, Mass. — Jack Nicklaus has said all along he would never become a ceremonial player, and just because he will be on the first tee at Augusta National next April doesn't change that.
Nicklaus agreed to join Arnold Palmer as honorary — not ceremonial — starters at the Masters.
The difference between those words only becomes blurred if they decide to hit more than the opening tee shot.
Nicklaus already was reaching ceremonial status in 2005 when he played his last Masters without telling anyone. Then, he played his final major in the British Open at St. Andrews with the world watching, some weeping.
That spring, he was asked if it bothered him that fans only wanted to see him play.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
"No, I think that's very nice," he said. "I'd like to have them see me, the real Jack Nicklaus. I will put as much effort through as I can to do that. That's what I've always done, all my life. I just know that there's a certain point in time — and I'm sure that time is there — that I can't do that, give them what I think they really paid to see."
Jack Nicklaus, left, and Arnold Palmer smile on the first tee before the Del Webb Father/Son Challenge golf tournament in Orlando. Florida, on Saturday.
The winner of 18 majors, the benchmark of greatness in golf?
What did they come to see?
Red Lyon Tavern
A touch of Irish in downtown Lawrence 944 Massachusetts 832-8228
Or someone who can barely reach
some of the fairways?
The Golden Bear or the Olden Bear?
"I don't think he ever wants to
be looked at like a museum piece"
Brad Faxon said Tuesday.
Palmer, a four-time champion,
turns 80 next week.
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