the greatest ever

[Screw_Michigan]

I met Ellen Musk in 2014. At the time, he wasn't the threat to humanity and democracy that he is now.

[Softball Bat]

Ed McMahon was Johnny Carson's sidekick for 30 years, and was the best ever at that. He was once on a boat that I worked on, he was really drunk as he tried to leave the boat and fell in the water. I jumped in the water with him, he had hit his head and was bleeding fairly bad. He still had some bandages on when he was on the Tonight Show about a week later.

lol




Chris Evert
Don Budge
Wilt Chamberlain (did not "meet" him, but was close by him)
George Bush Sr. (same as Wilt - was close by him but did not actually "meet" him)
This female tennis pro I was working with at the time Bush Sr. came to our club in Houston had some kind of a "close" relationship with Bush Sr. It was a weird kind of deal that made you go... hmmmm...
It really appeared as if George Sr. was getting something there on the side.

[Softball Bat]

I forgot about Chuck Norris.
Like Wilt and Sr., I did not actually meet him, but was close by him.

[Diego in Seattle]

I saw Andy Coan break the 100m freestyle world record, we went to the same high school, at the time he was a senior and I was probably in the 7th grade. He had no idea who I was of course, but he was this huge freak of nature, and since I was friends with some of the guys on the swim team, I got to hang with him a few times.

A guy who was a teammate of his at Knoxville ('78 & '79 NCAA Championship team) was on my swim team (they were both on the Vols 400yd free relay that broke the American record). I'm surprised that he broke the 100m free world record, as he seemed better at swimming in short course pools than long course ones.

I'm sure you can appreciate how much incredible talent it takes to swim that fast after watching a whole heat of them swim faster through water than some can jog.

[Smackie Chan]

Wrote to him c/o UCLA Athletic Dept requesting an interview, and he sent a hand-written note back with his phone # & address. Spent an hour or so with him in the living room of his Encino condo. Had met him briefly once before & just shook his hand at a ceremony during which Jamal Wilkes had his jersey number retired at Santa Barbara HS.



Introduced him onstage at a Ventura Theater concert while he still held the record for best selling live album (since overtaken by Garth Brooks). That qualifies him as the best ever at something, I guess.

[Screw_Michigan]

OK, so I'll share my Ellen Musk story.

I met him in 2014 after he testified to the Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee about competition (or lack there of) in the launch market. SpaceX wanted access to the DoD launch market and United Launch Alliance, a joint venture of Boeing and Lockheed Martin, got all the launch contracts and wanted to keep the "unproven" SpaceX from receiving contracts.

Ellen testified and I was jizzmopping the hearing. So after the hearing ended, Musk didn't hi-tail it out of there as many witnesses do. So I asked him a few questions for story, and he answered them. 18 years later, SpaceX has as much if not more of the DoD launch market as ULA does.

I have a photo of it. I should print it and frame it sometime.

I've been at a few conferences where Jeff Bezos spoke and I never got the chance to talk to him. Mostly because Bezos rolled around with goons. Musk probably does now, but when he testified, he did not.

[Bill in Houston]

Muhammad Ali.

The definition of greatness.

[LTS TRN 2]

Ali got shitcanned by Frazier, lost to Ken Norton three times, and would have rather converted to Judaism than give Foreman a rematch. He's barely top ten, and that's just because of his brilliant early years outpointing such tomato cans as Zora Foley, Ernie Terrell, and a washed up Floyd Patterson.

As for the greatest heavyweight of all-time (so far) this is the Gypsy King, Tyson Fury. His size is exceeded only by his skill and tremendous toughness. He would have defeated anyone in any previous era, and will continue to defeat all the current crop, despite his claim to be retired. And Joshua will be crushed like all the others. Usyk is deceptively dangerous--a real threat--but Fury will prevail.

[Kierland]

Muhammad Ali.

The definition of greatness.

At what? Certainly not boxing.

[LTS TRN 2]

Talking to yourself? That's a sign... :wink:

[Softball Bat]

(Ali) lost to Ken Norton three times

Ali went 2-1 v. Norton.
The 3rd fight (Ali win) was very controversial, though.

You neglected to note that Ali beat George Foreman when George was at the height of his power.

[Softball Bat]

Wrote to him (Wooden) c/o UCLA Athletic Dept requesting an interview, and he sent a hand-written note back with his phone # & address. Spent an hour or so with him in the living room of his Encino condo.

What struck you most about him?

Did he say anything particularly interesting, surprising, or "controversial?"

[Softball Bat]

Chet fuking Huntly. Chewed my young ass out for screwing up one of his video packages.

Not only was Chet not impressed with your work, he was also not impressed with -----> The Beatles.

[Smackie Chan]

Did he say anything particularly interesting, surprising, or "controversial?"

What I remember was that it took place on the Saturday, 3rd Round, of the 2000 British Open that Tiger ended up winning going away (won by 8 strokes), becoming the youngest player ever to achieve the career Grand Slam. As you entered his home, he had a framed photo of Mother Teresa on one wall and one of Abe Lincoln on the other. We talked about Kareem's recent bust at LAX for pot possession. He said it was unfortunate but didn't go off on Kareem or weed or assume any kind of moral stance on the subject. He was known for being pretty accommodating toward Walton (and probably toward Alcindor) about weed when he coached him.

He said his biggest disappointment from a character perspective was Paul Westphal, from whom he said he had gotten a verbal commitment to attend UCLA before he signed with USC. He seemed to take that personally and was in no hurry to forgive. Nor was he anxious to forgive former Notre Dame coach Digger Phelps, who he said had portrayed him in a book as yelling and swearing at his players along the sidelines during games. He denied the claims and said he confronted Phelps about them, who said it was in there just to sell books. The Wizard wasn't down.

He mentioned his abiding love for his late wife, Nellie, and although he didn't show me the room, he did mention that he kept her room as an essentially untouched shrine to her memory.

We talked about some of the players he coached - Walt Hazzard, Sidney Wickes, Keith Wilkes, Gail Goodrich, and of course Alcindor & Walton. Talked about how he never adjusted to other teams but simply played the same game against every team and made them adjust. Discussed the 2-3 offense and some other strategies & tactics I don't remember.

Definitely the most legendary person I'll ever meet and conversation I'll ever have.

[Mikey]

I'm not sure what year it was, had to be late 70's or early 80's when the PGA tour stop in San Diego was the Andy Williams San Diego Open, and during the later part of Arnold Palmer's playing days.

I was hanging out early during one of the Thursday or Friday rounds, not too many people around, walking between the 4th and 5th holes (both par 4) on Torrey Pines South. The 4th hole goes along the cliff, south to north, and the 5th is parallel going back the other way. No other spectators in sight. As I'm standing there a group hits from the 4th tee, couldn't tell who it was at the time. One of the balls lands within about 20 feet from where I'm standing in the thick rough, so I go over to it so they don't have to search. One of the players walks up to it with his caddy and, WTF, it's Arnie. He says "thanks for finding my ball" and I say "you're welcome" otherwise pretty damn speechless.

That's my GOAT story.

[Bill in Houston]

(Ali) lost to Ken Norton three times

Ali went 2-1 v. Norton.
The 3rd fight (Ali win) was very controversial, though.

You neglected to note that Ali beat George Foreman when George was at the height of his power.

Hahaha. Poptart is a fool for thinking anything truthful would come from licentious transgendered.

If you’re going to correct her posts, there’s over 7k to correct.

[Bill in Houston]

Muhammad Ali.

The definition of greatness.

At what? Certainly not boxing.

Yes, he was a great boxer.

He is greatness.

[Mikey]

Muhammad Ali.

The definition of greatness.

At what? Certainly not boxing.

Yes, he was a great boxer.

He is greatness.

Stripped his titles and banned for four years during his prime for refusing to fight in an illegal and immoral war.

Still named Sportsman of the Century by Sports Illustrated.






But he was never voted NBA Finals MVP by the press corps.

[Mikey]

He also pretty much coined the phrase

Greatest of all Time!!!!!

[Mikey]

As for the greatest heavyweight of all-time (so far) this is the Gypsy King, Tyson Fury.

Who?

[LTS TRN 2]

Mikey, you don't know jack shit about boxing or any other sport. And you sure as fuck can't play Dead music.

Tyson Fury is the undisputed heavyweight champ, undefeated, and he's beaten--with real knockouts--a host of serious opponents such as Klitschko and Wilder--both of whom would have destroyed Ali. As for Ali's non-stop boasting and bragging, who cares? He was a whore-mongering pimp ass house nigga who was fast in his prime, but who, as light heavyweight champ Bob Foster pointed out, "couldn't crush a grape."

[Mikey]

Mikey, you don't know jack shit about boxing or any other sport. And you sure as fuck can't play Dead music.

LOL go suck some Jew cock.

[Bill in Houston]

Greatest Jewish cocksucker?

[LTS TRN 2]

(Ali) lost to Ken Norton three times

Ali went 2-1 v. Norton.
The 3rd fight (Ali win) was very controversial, though.

You neglected to note that Ali beat George Foreman when George was at the height of his power.

The second Norton fight was "controversial" as well. As for beating Foreman, I referenced it in the fact that for some reason a dethroned champ in his prime wasn't given a rematch. Completely unprecedented and as sleazy as the cartoonishly loose ropes in the curiously small ring that night in the Shithole that is Zaire.

And as for Wooden having a picture of Mother Teresa on his wall--well so much for his being any sort of judge of character. As you may know, "Mother Teresa" was in fact a small Albanian man. No puberty blockers or surgery, just a man pretending to be a nun. And as for his hospices in New Delhi and so forth, these were appalling and provided no care or medication whatsoever--this in line with the Church doctrine of the "beatitude of suffering." Further, he sidled up to cheap and brutal dictators while raising hundreds of millions for the Church with his whole scam act.

Here's an outline by Hitchens, who first blew the whistle on the twisted little shyster.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJG-lgmPvYA

And another that goes into the drag issue..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8ZezmPrmzg&t=1s

[Softball Bat]

Did he say anything particularly interesting, surprising, or "controversial?"

What I remember was that it took place on the Saturday, 3rd Round, of the 2000 British Open that Tiger ended up winning going away (won by 8 strokes), becoming the youngest player ever to achieve the career Grand Slam. As you entered his home, he had a framed photo of Mother Teresa on one wall and one of Abe Lincoln on the other. We talked about Kareem's recent bust at LAX for pot possession. He said it was unfortunate but didn't go off on Kareem or weed or assume any kind of moral stance on the subject. He was known for being pretty accommodating toward Walton (and probably toward Alcindor) about weed when he coached him.

He said his biggest disappointment from a character perspective was Paul Westphal, from whom he said he had gotten a verbal commitment to attend UCLA before he signed with USC. He seemed to take that personally and was in no hurry to forgive. Nor was he anxious to forgive former Notre Dame coach Digger Phelps, who he said had portrayed him in a book as yelling and swearing at his players along the sidelines during games. He denied the claims and said he confronted Phelps about them, who said it was in there just to sell books. The Wizard wasn't down.

He mentioned his abiding love for his late wife, Nellie, and although he didn't show me the room, he did mention that he kept her room as an essentially untouched shrine to her memory.

We talked about some of the players he coached - Walt Hazzard, Sidney Wickes, Keith Wilkes, Gail Goodrich, and of course Alcindor & Walton. Talked about how he never adjusted to other teams but simply played the same game against every team and made them adjust. Discussed the 2-3 offense and some other strategies & tactics I don't remember.

Definitely the most legendary person I'll ever meet and conversation I'll ever have.

Very nice!

I somehow feel good when I hear those old names -- Goodrich, Walton, Wilkes, Wickes, etc.

I personally find that room for his dead wife to be a little creepy, but oh well.

[Dr_Phibes]

:?

[Softball Bat]

Nice to CU, Phibes!

[Dr_Phibes]

ayup pops, account still works apparently!

[Softball Bat]

As for beating Foreman, I referenced it in the fact that for some reason a dethroned champ in his prime wasn't given a rematch. Completely unprecedented and as sleazy as the cartoonishly loose ropes in the curiously small ring that night in the Shithole that is Zaire.

I don't blame Ali for not giving George a rematch.

In a rematch, Ali would have been 33 years old -- and Foreman would have been 26.

Ali knew that he was on his way to losing that fight, but he managed to hit George with a couple of decent shots out of nowhere -- and that was that.

In a rematch, with Ali a year older, it most likely would not have happened again.

If they were both about the same age, yeah, Ali should have given him a rematch.
But Ali was getting old and one fight was enough.

[LTS TRN 2]

As for beating Foreman, I referenced it in the fact that for some reason a dethroned champ in his prime wasn't given a rematch. Completely unprecedented and as sleazy as the cartoonishly loose ropes in the curiously small ring that night in the Shithole that is Zaire.

I don't blame Ali for not giving George a rematch.

In a rematch, Ali would have been 33 years old -- and Foreman would have been 26.

Ali knew that he was on his way to losing that fight, but he managed to hit George with a couple of decent shots out of nowhere -- and that was that.

In a rematch, with Ali a year older, it most likely would not have happened again.

If they were both about the same age, yeah, Ali should have given him a rematch.
But Ali was getting old and one fight was enough.

What sort of gibberish are you spewing?

[Softball Bat]

George Foreman was in his absolute prime, and he got whooped by a guy 7 years older.

A 33 year old Ali should be obliged to give the young guy another chance.

George should have been able to get it done the first time.

He didn't, so too bad.

[Smackie Chan]

account still works apparently!

Good to see you back. Pop back into TuneTown tunight!

[Kierland]

Muhammad Ali.

The definition of greatness.

At what? Certainly not boxing.

Yes, he was a great boxer.

He is greatness.

I didn’t know you hijacked the thread from greatest to greatness.
Carry on.

[Mikey]

Want to jump to sweetness and talk about Walter Payton?

[LTS TRN 2]

As for beating Foreman, I referenced it in the fact that for some reason a dethroned champ in his prime wasn't given a rematch. Completely unprecedented and as sleazy as the cartoonishly loose ropes in the curiously small ring that night in the Shithole that is Zaire.

I don't blame Ali for not giving George a rematch.

In a rematch, Ali would have been 33 years old -- and Foreman would have been 26.

Ali knew that he was on his way to losing that fight, but he managed to hit George with a couple of decent shots out of nowhere -- and that was that.

In a rematch, with Ali a year older, it most likely would not have happened again.

If they were both about the same age, yeah, Ali should have given him a rematch.
But Ali was getting old and one fight was enough.

First of all, Ali wasn't losing at all, but was scoring steadily with his right--for the first time ever--and he wasn't taking any serious shots while rope-a-doping Big George (who in fact was the same size as Ali). But so what if Ali was 33. What does that have to do with not granting a rematch for the FIRST TIME EVER? What kid of dented logic is that? So it's fine for Ali to go on fighting Norton and Frazier--and Ernie Shavers and Chuck Wepner? But because he was all of 33 he had no obligation to have a rematch in the ONLY great win of his career? What a farce, and it's a testament to Ali's shallow, venal, and really cowardly character.

[Kierland]

Want to jump to sweetness and talk about Walter Payton?

Or maybe wetness and discuss Cardi B & Megan the Stallion.

[Screw_Michigan]

:?

I'm confused.

[Mikey]

Want to jump to sweetness and talk about Walter Payton?

Or maybe wetness and discuss Cardi B & Megan the Stallion.

Or maybe governess and discuss Mary Poppins.

[Dr_Phibes]

I'm confused.

Well I've met them both. If they're not GOATS I get sentenced to TROTS or something.
There I'll be forced to make a shiv and align myself with a gang to survive. Personally thinking the Aryan Brotherhood or the Mexican Mafia, don't like the looks of the Black Guerilla Family.

[Screw_Michigan]

Well I've met them both. If they're not GOATS I get sentenced to TROTS or something.
There I'll be forced to make a shiv and align myself with a gang to survive. Personally thinking the Aryan Brotherhood or the Mexican Mafia, don't like the looks of the Black Guerilla Family.

Ok, I get it. Rack you, Phibes!