Daddy the champion... at making me feel most special girl of all
GROWING up as Muhammad Ali’s child wasn’t always painfree. With nine children living in four different states, he could not be equally present for us all. Yet, despite the geographic differences and his busy schedule, he made sure to bring all of his children together at our home in Los Angeles every summer and shower us all with love.
He told us stories until we fell asleep at night and woke us up with kisses every morning. He sang to me on the way to school and brought me lunch almost every day. He taught us about forgiveness and compassion.
One of the most beautiful memories belongs to my sister, Miya: ‘Since we lived in different states, he didn’t spend a lot of time in my neighbourhood or take me to school. After a while, the kids started teasing me, saying they didn’t believe he was my dad.
‘One day, when I was eight years old, I called my dad in tears about the teasing. The next day, he flew into town and walked me up and down the street so everyone could see us together.
‘He took me to school the next day and they called an assembly, where he had me point out the kids that had been teasing me. One at a time, they walked up to the stage, he shook hands and told them he was my daddy. That meant more to me than words can explain.’
Muhammad Ali was called to greatness many times in his life – and every time he rose to the occasion. He proved over and over, in and out of the ring, that he was no ordinary champion.
He taught us that no matter our wealth or position in life, it was only the heart that makes a person great or small. Most of all, he made me feel like the most special little girl in the world.
I can remember my sister Laila and me playing every evening in his office when we were kids. No matter what he was doing, or who was visiting, he would let us roll around in front of the fireplace, making all the noise we wanted.
Sometimes he would sneak out a tape recorder and tape our conversations. He would play them back to us, explaining how one day, when we were grown up, we would be happy he’d done this.
Perhaps the most striking thing was his ability to connect with the common person. From kings to presidents to the guy next door, my father was happiest making people smile.
His vitality came from a place deep within. It came from his courage to fall and his will to rise. It came from his awareness that every moment under the sun has a purpose and a time.
If you could have borrowed his heart, you would not question what he has sacrificed, but rather pray for the happiness of his further journey and for the peace of his gentle soul.
God bless you, Daddy. You are the measure of greatness. I cannot express enough love for you.