The Greatest Meets His Greatest Fan - Paperback

by Barry Tesar (Author)

The Greatest Meets His Greatest Fan

This book must be the Greatest!

There can be no doubt,

'cause Ali is The Man

this story's about!

'Tis a fine blend

of prose, poetry, & rhyme,

thrills, memories, & happy times! But it has one fault, I'll admit through my tears:

Why did I wait to write it for so many years?

​​​​​​Author's Opening Remarks

I am known among my friends as someone who loves to tell stories. The one about the time I met Muhammad Ali is the one I love telling the most. I have told it to friends, co-workers, random people in the grocery line, and, to be honest, total strangers on the street. Now, if you are interested, I would like to tell my story to you.

When I met Muhammad Ali in December of 1976, he was enjoying life at the zenith of his glory. This was his Golden Era. He was the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, universally recognized as the most famous man on the planet, and everyone from homeless people on the street to world leaders, celebrities, and kings wanted to meet him.

It's a standard caution that meeting one's childhood hero can be disillusioning. Thankfully, that wasn't the case for me. Muhammad Ali was as friendly and kind as I could have ever imagined. Even after all these years, reliving the random chain of unlikely events that brought Ali and me together still fills me with joy and wonder. It so easily could have not happened- but it did! And I will be forever grateful.

Here is my story. I hope you enjoy it.