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Tag: muhammad ali home

  • Muhammad Ali Gets Birthday Greetings From Plumber

    As an act of disbelief, plumber Tony Kelly marched across the street from the house where he was working and knocked on a door. He had been told by some of his co-workers that he was working right across from where boxing legend Muhammad Ali lives.

    Said Kelly, “I thought it was a wind-up, so I decided to call their bluff. I knocked on the door and Ali’s wife Yolanda answered.”

    Realizing it wasn’t a joke and being a huge Ali fan, Kelly was quick to make the most of the unexpected opportunity.

    “I just asked would it be possible for one of his greatest fans from Ireland to meet him. “She said ‘Of course’ and invited me in and there [was Ali] sitting in the living room.”

    Imagine one minute working on a set of busted pipes and the next, you’re in the living room of one of your idols. It was a thrilling experience for the Irishman.

    Tony Kelly had moved to Kentucky from Ireland after marrying his wife, Megan, in 2012. He was a big fan of Ali, whose roots many Americans don’t know can be traced to the “Emerald Isle”. Even though he was initially skeptical, he wasn’t going to pass on the potential opportunity. Thanks to his boldness, Kelly was able to wish Ali a happy 72nd birthday.

    Kelly kept the visit brief out of respect for the Alis. That and matter the busted pipes across the street that he had been working on.

    Before he went, Kelly was able to take a photo with his hero.

    “I was star struck,” Kelly said of his experience. “It was just great to meet him. I shook his hand. He posed for a couple pictures with me. It’s very cool,” Kelly said. “Just everything about him, his attitude and way it changed the sport. The guy is a legend and all the work he’s done for humanity as well.”

    This heartwarming story of meeting one’s idol goes to show that you never know how a job, no matter how unglamorous, could bring you in touch with your favorite celebrities.

    Image via Lauretta Heckstall

  • Muhammad Ali: Home For Sale, To Become Museum?

    Muhammad Ali still captures the interest of millions, his face instantly recognizable around the world even to those who aren’t necessarily boxing fans. His legacy has lasted since the 1960’s, when he began his professional career after a stint at the U.S. Olympics.

    Now, his childhood home in Louisville is going up for sale, and because it’s in dire need of repairs, city officials have shown interest in snatching up the property in order to preserve it.

    “Anything we can do to preserve and expand his legacy, we want to do that,” Mayor Greg Fischer said. “His home serves as an inspiration for people to look at that and say, “If this young guy, why not me?”

    The home is listed at $50,000, although the property value has been assessed at around $23,000. It sits in a neighborhood full of modest, neatly-kept homes, but time hasn’t been as kind to the house where Ali got his start in life. However, Fischer says the repairs should be easy to take care of, and although nothing is official, the odds are good that the city will turn it into a historic site. Some neighbors think it should be turned into a museum, which is another likely option.