Dorothy Brush "Random Thoughts" Published Nov. 30, 2005

Looavull has lots to offer

Big things happened in Louisville, KY, last week. Every spring the city is featured world-wide because of the Kentucky Derby, but this was November and the focus was on the opening of the Muhammad Ali Center. The gala weekend followed an exciting few days for the former boxer. Earlier he had been presented the Medal of Freedom by President Bush at the White House. This was a high honor for the man known as "The Greatest" whose career was filled with both praise and controversy.

In 1999, the National Society of Newspaper Columnists held their annual conference in Louisville and as one of their handouts said, Looavull, Luhvul, Looaville, Looeyville, any way you say it. It was my first visit to this city on the Ohio River so I read everything about the city in my welcome packet. There was a long list of famous Louisvillians and the very first name was hometown of Muhammad Ali, three-time heavyweight boxing champion.

One evening our group visited the Louisville Slugger Museum for a tour and supper. One of the speakers that evening was a member of the board of a proposed $60 million museum and cultural center to be named The Muhammad Ali Center. It was a lively presentation and made clear the emphasis would be on much more than boxing. It was a tribute to the man for "his life's charitable works and deeds."

It was envisioned as a place of ideas and principles that Ali followed - respect, conviction, confidence, dedication, spirituality and giving. A place where "The Greatest" will inspire youngsters to believe that every child can become "the greatest" at something.

During that June evening six years ago we learned the dream of such a place began about four years earlier. At that time the planners estimated cost was $60 million, but in the 10-year time span it grew to the final cost of $75 million.

The spiraling costs probably "stung like a bee," but the original vision of the ideas the center would promote remained to "float like a butterfly." USA Today sports columnist Jon Saraceno wrote last week, "The goals of the Center are to inspire greatness in all of us and to foster better understanding between races and cultures."

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If you are considering marriage I have a real deal for you. You would need to move to Boston and I believe a healthy bank account would be a priority. I saw the ad in the Boston magazine. "If it rains on you, the rings are on us."

This offer is made by Elyse, Fine Jewelers-Gemologist, Reading, MA. If you purchase your engagement and wedding rings from them and if it rains on your wedding they will refund the full purchase price of both up to $25,000! They add that it will be rain as documented by the National Weather Service in Boston.

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Dorothy Copus Brush is a Fairfield Glade resident and Crossville Chronicle staffwriter whose column is published each Wednesday. She may be reached at ebrush@frontiernet.net