This is one hour when I find it very easy to remember Angelo Dundee, with much love and gratitude?
Born on August 30, 1921, Angelo Dundee would have been 93 today. I only got to know him during his last decade but I treasure that time. Ang?s love of people and life was a life lesson.
I was blessed to be in Louisville with him at the opening of the Ali Center. We went out to dinner together at an Italian restaurant; a love of Italian food was something we shared. During dinner we could hardly get a bite in. One person after another would come up to recite a memory and ask for an autograph. He didn?t just accommodate people, he would thank them for their interest and spark up a conversation.
The poetess, Mayou Angelou, said, ?People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will not forget the way you made them feel.? I know Ang had a different persona when it came to the world of the ring. He was all business in boxing. But outside the arena, he made everyone feel special.
You might never have guessed it from his south Philly patois, but Dundee was a Freud at reading people. Of course, he was a master a deciphering the character of fighters but he was also a matchmaker of friendships. Over the years, he kept telling me you have to meet these two guys, Hackie Reitman (?The Fighting Surgeon?) and Mike Joyce, a professional boxer who became a prominent lawyer. I said ?sure?sure? but was thinking ?yeah?yeah, there are a lot of people I should meet.? But Ang was right. As soon as we met we became fast friends.
So many celebs today are so narcissistic that they can?t tear themselves away from themselves for more than a minute. But like his beloved Muhammad, Ang would always be willing to walk across the street to give another person?s life a bump up. He was like a telephone operator, always connecting people, always trying to open up opportunities for others.
When we were in Louisville, Ang was going over with Ali to see the champ?s new house. He wanted to introduce me to Ali. He was hurrying me along. The van was getting packed up but I peeled off to visit the men?s room. Just as I was coming back, the van was departing and Ang was looking out the window at me, shaking his head and fist as if to say, ?Gordon you are a moron.?
Even after his health was in decline, Ang would often make two or three public appearance in one day. He would always explain, ?It doesn?t hurt to be nice.? Mr. philosophy professor here would yawn at those seemingly clich?d words. But in time, I would come to understand that in his own concrete terms, Ang was saying what all the great religious cornermen were telling us. Have compassion. Taking care of others won?t detract from your life?just the opposite. Angelo Dundee walked his talk.
Kierkegaard understood that life is a battle with time and forgetfulness. The Danish poet and philosopher taught that we should never say we are always going to remember someone; just stick with trying to remember them for an hour! This is one hour when I find it very easy to remember Angelo Dundee, with much love and gratitude.
