Thank You
I am grateful to Lonnie & Muhammad for opening their home to me, and to Abdul Shabazz of Celebrity Cuts Barber Shop for making the introduction to Muhammad Jr. over five years ago. Thanks Muhammad Jr. for thinking enough about me and what I am doing to introduce me to Lonnie and your father!

The Visit
The morning of Saturday, November 8th was filled with anticipation as Muhammad Jr. and I drove to his fathers’ home. We talked about the type of response we would receive from his father when he saw me. Muhammad Jr. wondered if his father would have the same kind of response that he himself had given me when we met at the barber shop. In early 1999, Adbul Shabazz called me on my cell phone to tell me that Muhammad Jr. was in the shop and wanted to meet me - he had told Junior several times about my strong resemblance to his father. Junior recalls, "When I saw you come in the door, I ran up to you, hugged you and said, daddy."

After we arrived at the Ali's farm, we slowly proceeded through the security gate and junior said, "How does it feel entering the gate of the greatest heavy weight of all time!" That's when it hit me, I was about to meet the man that had done so much for the sport of boxing, the African American race and humanity in general around the world! I was about to meet the person that I had been told I looked like for most of my adult life...I have to admit, I was very nervous.

Junior went into the house first as I stood by the car waiting in disbelief. About 15 seconds passed before Junior stuck his head out of the door and said, "Dwayne...what are you waiting for? Come on in." As I proceeded through the door I could see Hanna and her father sitting at the kitchen counter working on one of his many projects. They both looked up at me and Hanna said, "oh my God dad it's your twin!" Muhammad and I just stared at each other as I walked across the room to greet him. I shook his hand, gave him a big hug and told him that this was a dream come true!

I spent a little over five hours with the Ali's that day and they made me feel right at home. Muhammad included some of the things from his normal routine when he meets people. He performed several magic tricks: he "elevated" on one foot; he made a handkerchief disappear in his hand; he did a trick with some small tube shaped cylinders that required me to choose the one that would make noise if shaken; by rubbing two fingers together, he kept sneaking up behind me and making me think I was hearing an annoying cricket behind my ear.

I received a nick name during the visit that I will forever treasure. It happened by accident. Lonnie offered me some juice to drink and was in the kitchen getting it while I sat in the den with Muhammad and Junior. Lonnie asked Hanna to take the juice into the den and Hanna asked, "Who is this for, Dad?" To which Lonnie replied, "No, the other one." We all had a good laugh off of that.

Muhammad Ali is doing fine. I would encourage anyone who wants to keep up with him to visit his web site www.ali.com for regular updates. I would also encourage you to visit the Muhammad Ali Center web site www.alicenter.org.

Thanks again Lonnie and Muhammad for opening up your home.  You and Lonnie truly are the Greatest!   Keep swinging Champ!

"The Other One"