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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 5, 1978)
Section II Portland Observer Thursday, October 5.1978 Page 3 The Greatest Ali has done it all — fighters could take on Joe Frazier, Ken Norton, Ernie Shavers, George Foreman — even Sonny Liston and, Ron Lyle? Ali beat them all, and that's all you can ask. People have to go with Muhammad Ali. He’s fought everybody there is to fight, and what’s more, he’s managed to adjust to each style. Muhammad Ali coined a popular slogan: “ Your hands can’t hit what your eyes can't see,’’ “ float like a butterfly, sting like a bee,’’ and a younger generation of fight fans made it their eleventh commandment. The two statem ents, while hum orous in nature, are declarations of philosophies that oppose each other at every level, and represent boxings classic confrontation: the persistence of a slugger vs. the elusiveness of a boxer. . Ali depends on backing up and boxing to get out of jams. Muhammad Ali has had some of his greatest fights against sluggers. And as far as a lack of current talent is concerned, if you look at the size of the current heavyweight contenders, all of them are bigger, faster and stronger. Ali didn’t have to knock people out — he outpointed them. Remember that Ali, at 6*3” , 225 pounds, hit hard and often, and a lot of times those punches take more of a toll than a single knockout punch. Muhammad Ali, is not only big but he is the fastest Heavyweight Champion who ever lived. After Ali won the light Heavyweight Gold Medal in the Olympics in 1961 he said: . this is an age of records and record-breaking. If you don’t break some records, you’re a no one . . . I have to be first (even) in the soup line . . . ” The most recognized face in the world lived up to his popularity. Muhammad Ali who crowned himself “ The Greatest,” in 1965, remarked, "The man who’s gonna whup me is now ten years old. There’s a little bitty boy walking around the sidewalks and he doesn’t even know but he’s gonna be interested in boxing.” Muhammad Ali, the 36-year-old two-time former Heavyweight Champ didn't know how accurate his prediction would turn out. Leon Spinks, an ex-Marine and a Gold Medal winner in the 1976 Olympic Games, was only eleven years old when Ali made that statement to a reporter. That little bitty boy became king of the mountain. And Ali, “ the people’s champ” became the challenger. In previous fights Ali announced the round in which his opponent would exit — a feat (or treat) that his fans could count on. But this time he kept Spinks — and the fans — guessing. Up to his old tricks of promoting him self and the fight, Ali, who dubbed the man he first beat (1964) for the Title, Sonny Liston, “ The Bear,” and the second he toppled for the crown, George Foreman (1974), “ The M ummy.” He also had a label for Spinks'. He called Spinks “ Blackula.” Poking fun at the gap between Spinks teeth when he removes his mouthpiece between rounds. Ali said: “ I’ve got a purpose, I’m going to win the Title a third time. Something that no other champion in any weight has ever done,” says Ali. AU vs. SPINKS Champion Leon Spinks and former Champion Muhammad Ali broke training camp to head for New Orleans on Thursday, August 31st, to begin final preparations for their September 15th, encounter at the New Orleans Superdome. They began public workouts at the New Orleans Municipal Auditorium September 1st. Both men had trained intensely and were below their respective fighting weights the first time around with over two weeks training to go. Those around both fighters felt confident that their man would fight the best fight he was capable of at this stage in his career. That proposed a very compelling question. That question was whether Ali, even in the best of condition could salvage enough of his once remarkable skills to beat off the young, strong, brawling Spinks. He was intent upon becoming the first man in history to gain the crown three times. Spinks loved the power and glory of being Champion. He was ready to put up the fight of his life to keep it all. Both men had something to prove. This encounter was aptly dubbed “ THE BIG ONE.” iHGE ENERGY UPDATE Do-it-yourself Conservation Show Returns on KPTV 1 :. Because of the popu- Parity the television program “How to with •Iff * T Fete" which shows I f K feMT K . do-it-yourselfers how \ ^ J \• to insulate, make storm doors and windows and a variety of other a 7 home weatherization projects, PGE is happy to present a repeat of the best of the “How to" series again this fall. Show s are sc h e d u le d on C han n el 12 (KPTV), 10 to 10:30 a.m. every Saturday through December 9th. All PGE division and district offices have schedules which are yours for the asking or you can call 226-8501 and w e’ll mail you one because we re anxious to have you learn all about conservation and weatherization from Pete, one of our PGE energy misers. 5? PGE/Reader’s Digest Scholarship Awarded to U. of O. Freshman A 11000 Reader’s Digest scholarship, which was part of the National Sweepstakes Award won recently by PGE for the best utility communications during 1977, was awarded this month to Curtis Grund who plans to enter the University of Oregon this fall. Cur tis is the son of the late John Grund, a PGE employe. Curtis graduated from Tigard High School last June, was valedictorian of his class, active on the school newspaper, an accomplished athlete and an outstanding student. PGE President, Robert H. Short, made the scholarship presentation. Energy Education for Families at Trojan Info Center Have you and your family had the opportu nity to visit the Trojan Information Center yet? If not, there’s an in teresting, educational treat in store for , you. A combina y ” tion of films, slides, and fascinating working models, assembled in an ultra modern building, relates a wide assortment of energy information on conservation, energy sources, safety and plant operation, that is easily understood. More than 100,000 visitors toured the cen ter so far this year. The center is a comforta ble 42-mile-drive north and west of Port land on Hwy. 30 and it’s hard to miss the bright orange building that houses a fas cinating educational experience. Come visit and learn. Workforce Now Totals 1,000 Building Boardman Coal Plant The 530,000-kilowatt Boardman coal-fired generating plant, currently under construc tion 13 miles southwest of Boardman, Ore gon, is just under 40 percent com plete with a workforce of 1,000 producing a payroll of approximately 11.5 million per month. The plant, which is scheduled to be generating electricity by June 1980, represents an in vestment estimated at »500-525 million. PGE will be operator and principal owner. PGE Has a Bureau-full of Speakers to Present Free Club Programs Now that fall is officially here (it began Sept. 23), most civic, service, church and social clubs are resuming their meeting schedules and PGE speakers are available to present a variety of topical programs at luncheon, dinner or evening meetings. The programs range in subject matter from A (atom ic en ergy) to Z (zucchini freezing). To arrange for a speaker, program chairpersons (o r anyone, for that m atter) can simply call 226-8501, or write PGE Speaker’s Bureau,. 121 S.W Salmon St., Portland, OR 97204 for a folder describing the programs that are available. Thought For the Day Democracy is based upon the conviction that there are extraordinary possibilities in ordinary people. Harry Emerson Fosdick 56E Fbrtland General Electric