I start today with a personal nugget.
Of all the great gigs I’ve had, my few years as the West Coast Sports and Entertainment Editor of the New York Post was the best. It was in the 1970’s. I would do features on all the New York teams when they traveled to the coast. But the best part, back then almost all Championship Boxing matches were held in Las Vegas, and I covered 88 of those Championship fights. Often spending weeks at a time at Caesars Palace. I got to interview and know Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, Ken Norton, Marvin Hagler, Roberto Duran, Thomas Hearns, Joe Frazier, Leon Spinks, Oscar De La Hoya, and George Foreman. George and I kept in touch over the years even during the 10 years he was retired and long after I had left the New York Post. When he decided to make a come back I was already doing mornings on radio in Los Angeles and would do phone interviews with him about once every two weeks. During these call George would jokingly insist I send him some Chocolate Macadamia Nuts which I had turned him onto years earlier, saying he needed to gain weight. Always a joker! It had been 10 years since George retired and returned to the ring, and I was there, back in LAS when he knocked out then champion Michael Moorer to become champ again. As you know, George died Friday and I want everybody to know George Foreman was one of the nicest human beings I have ever known, and I am proud to call him a friend.
F.Y.I. George had four short marriages but was married to Mary Joan 40 years till his death. He had 12 children, yes all five of his sons he named George. He was a full time minister the last 25 years of his life. And thanks to his George Foreman Grill, he was worth $310 Million when he died Friday. George Foreman, may he rest in peace.
Thanks for letting me talk about my friend and back to Hollywood tomorrow.
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