Meeting Muhammad Ali
In 1983, I was in Louisville, Kentucky attending a Sports Card Convention, when I received a commission to do an original Muhammed Ali painting. I never thought that this one commission would turn into a life-changing moment.
A few months later, I discovered Ali would be signing at a local sports card convention. I attended the show and approached the autograph table where he was signing.
I placed the original painting in front of the Champ and suddenly he stopped the line.
He asked me “what is this?”
I replied that, “it was a painting”
He asked what I wanted him to do with it. I asked if he would sign it.
He paused for what seemed like an eternity, studying every detail of the painting. Then he asked me, “Who did the artwork?”
I told him that I was the artist. Then he leaned over and whispered into my ear, “You are the Greatest.”
You can only imagine how that made me feel.
That was the day I decided to enter the world of Sports Art, and I’ve never looked back!
Thank You Ali,
