Ali, Me And The Red T‑Bird

Like many of you, I too was deeply saddened to hear of the transition of a true hero, legend, icon, Muhammad Ali. As I conversed with, emailed and texted over this past week with childhood friends, and classmates from elementary through law school; from North Carolina to California; accomplished Black men, lawyers, businessmen, politicians all expressed similar sentiments: heavy hearts, tempered with a sense of gratitude that we all had grown from boys to men idolizing, imitating, and being inspired by the ​“Peoples Champ;” the brother who floated like a butterfly and stung like a bee. 

Ali’s passing has been particularly impactful on this writer and my college classmate, Dennis Mink. For you see, it was Dennis and I who were blessed with the once in a lifetime opportunity to escort, chauffeur and entertain the Great Ali when he visited the Tufts University Campus in the Spring of 1974.

Dennis — a Hartford native — had won a state high school basketball championship as a 6ft 7in forward with Weaver before matriculating at Tufts, where he would become an all American breaking all of the schools scoring records. Though I was a teammate of Dennis at Tufts, my claim to dame was that I was the President of the Black Student Union and a member of the Student Government Association. So, when the Tufts presidents office confirmed that Ali was coming to the Medford, Mass campus they reached out to me and asked if I’d mind hosting Ali during his visit. Of course that was a ​“no brainer.” For even then in 1974, Ali was bigger than life, a symbol of success and sacrifice; determination and defiance; a rebel and role model, especially for young African American men.

But the problem was that I had no car, and all the school would give me access to was a sky blue Tufts van…clearly not fitting for the Greatest of All time. So I called my homeboy Dennis who had a fresh, shiny red 1965 Thunderbird and asked if he wanted to hang with me and Ali. Dennis, from Hartford’s notorious Stowe Village Projects jumped at this because he not only love Ali, but talked as much ​“trash” as Ali. 

Dennis washed his car then we rolled up in the ​“Red T‑Bird” where Ali was staying. Excitedly, we introduced ourselves. Ali graciously greeted us but then as he approached the car he laughed, scowled and then began talking much trash about Dennis’ T‑Bird. ​“Don’t ya’ll know who I am?” he exclaimed. ​“I am Muhammad Ali, the Greatest of All time; most popular Black man on earth and you come and pick me up in an old red thunderbird!! What is wrong with ya’ll? Is Tufts that cheap?”

Now, Dennis and I were very familiar with the Ali persona and modus operandi from watching his fights and interviews on television. Ali’s ranting didn’t really bother us in fact we laughed, though admittedly embarrassed. After a few minutes, Ali — traveling alone with no security got in the backseat, but continued talking non-stop trash about Tufts and Dennis’ car as we made our way to campus. While we knew this was Ali being Ali, Dennis had had enough, and the Stowe Village come out, stopping the car and telling Ali that he could get out, walk or take a cab. Ali — always undaunted again scowled, playfully balled up his fist, and threatened to punch Dennis ​“Mink to the Brink;” knock him from 6“7” to 5’7” if he didn’t keep driving.” 
So we cruise into campus making sure all the ​“Brothers and Sisters” saw us with Ali. Needless to say, I am enjoying the Ali — Mink show. 
We finally get to Cousens Gym where Ali is met by a multi-racial, standing room only crowd of students, faculty and community folk who filled the gym to see, hear and touch the champ.

During his speech Ali is funny, witty and serious. Cracking jokes about Dennis’ Red Thunderbird, but also detailing his conversion to Islam; explaining why he refused to be inducted into the armed services, to fight in Viet Nam, based on religious and principle grounds: ​“No Viet Cong ever called me Nigger.” He also encouraged us to value education, learn all we can and be difference makes in our communities and continue to fight against injustice.

When the ​“lecture” is over Dennis and I escorted Ali to the African American cultural Center for an informal discussion and interaction with Tufts Black students. There Ali flirted with the women and show boxed with some of the brothers. He then turned and called out Dennis to come box him, prompting Mink to talk more Hartford ​“trash” telling Ali that he would beat him like Frazier did and then he ran out the door with Ali chasing him. 
Again this was the Spring of 1974, barely 6 months before Ali would battle George Foreman in the ​“Rumble in the Jungle” in Zaire, Africa; where Ali would regain the ​“Heavyweight Championship.” Ali clearly was ready. When the night was over Dennis and I took the champ back to his room. There he got serious again, thanked us for the hospitality, laughed and said he was just joking about the car and again encouraged us to finish school and to make a difference in our communities. 

Over 40 years later Dennis and I still laugh when we reflect back on our special night with Ali. Coincidentally, Dennis now resides in Glendale, Arizona a short distance from Scottsdale where the Great Ali died. Yes, we both reflect on the life and legacy on the boy from Louisville, who grew and evolved into a man of the world; Olympic Gold Medalist; Heavyweight Champion three times over; courageous; conscience objector; convert to the nation of Islam; confidanet of Malcolm X; Civil Rights; Human Rights; Activist; Advocate; and dogged fighter against Parkinson’s Disease. Beloved by millions of all races the world over.

In my lifetime, I have been blessed and fortunate to have met and shaken the hands of historic, iconic figures such as, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela , Thurgood Marshall, Constance Baker Motley and President Barack Obama. Further, I have been fortunate and blessed to meet and converse with legendary sports figures: Jim Brown, Hank Aaron, Bill Russell, Julius ​“Dr. J” Irving, Earl ​“The Pearl” Monroe, and Michael Jordan. And while each of those moments will always have their own unique place in my memory vault, that Spring evening in 1974 with my ​“homeboy” Dennis, his ​“Shiny Red T‑Bird,” Ali and me will forever be special. May God bless and keep the memory and legacy of the ​“Greatest of All time” Muhammad Ali.

Clifton Graves Jr. is the prison reentry coordinator for the City of New Haven.