05/15/2026
"I was with him when he visited the prison on Riker's Island. He'd just come back from Africa.
All the prisoners were gathered together in a big assembly hall, and when Ali was introduced, there was a roar of acclaim. He walked on stage, did the Ali shuffle, and the cheering got even louder.
But then he lost them. He began talking about how he'd been in jail for a traffic violation, how much he'd hated jail and what were they doing in jail? And it was the wrong approach.
The prisoners started hooting. So he looked out at them and said, 'Alright! You think you're bad? Anyone who thinks they're badder than I'm bad, come up here and I'll show you who's bad.' That won them all back again.
They cheered and carried on and loved him. Even today, when I think about Ali, I smile and there aren't many people who have that affect. There was an aura about him.
He glowed, sort of a strange golden colour; like a statue bronzed gold. He shone as though he was possessed of some wonderful power his skin just couldn't contain."
🗣 - George Plimpton
