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America's Most Popular Muslim
ALI, Muhammad (1942- ) American professional boxer, considered by many the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time. Olympic Gold Medalist (1960). His greatest win might have been traveling to Iraq after it invaded Kuwait. Saddam Hussein took thousands of foreign hostages including 15 American’s. He used them as human shields. Some of them had worked for the GM plant in Baghdad. Ali was supposed to meet Saddam but Saddam stalled for a week. Ali was in rough shape as he ran out of his Parkinson’s medication. Ali was able to find some of the medication at a Baghdad hospital and met with Saddam Hussein on Nov. 29, 1990. Ali convinced Hussein to release all the American hostages and they went to Ali’s modest hotel room. On Dec.2, 1990, Ali and the hostages flew out of Baghdad to JFK airport in New York. Just a few weeks later on Jan.16, 1991 the U.S. began bombing Iraq known as “Operation Desert Storm.”
MARTIN, Joe (1916-1996). In 1954 a twelve year old Cassius Clay approached Joe Martin, a policeman, to report his bicycle was stolen. Martin offered to teach Clay how to box and became Clay’s first coach. Martin was also an Olympic Coach in 1960 and accompanied Clay to the Olympic Games in Rome. Martin was inducted into the Amateur Boxing Hall of Fame in 1977.
Most unusual autograph letter signed, 156 Madison Avenue, new York, April 16, Three inch by five inch unlined card inscribed with a religious quotation by Muhammad Ali. Ali writes: “To Kevin from Muhammad Ali, Serve God He is the Goal. 1-13-90). Ali has drawn a circle around his writing. In addition at the bottom right corner, Martin has written: “Joe Martin, Ali 1st coach at age of 12.” In fine condition ..................450.00
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