Saturday 4th June 2016...death of a legend!!!!

I think everyone knows that he passed away and i actually went to this event listed below!!!

Ali vs. Semenko - It Really Happened

Legend. Superstar. Great. Hero.

These are all words that are used far too frequently in the sporting world. These words should be reserved for the absolute best of the best, for athletes like Pele, Babe Ruth, Michael Jordan, Jesse Owens, Paavo Nurmi, Tiger Woods, Jim Brown, Jim Thorpe, Willie Mays, and in hockey Wayne Gretzky, Rocket Richard,Gordie Howe, Bobby Orr, Mario Lemieux, Bobby Hull and maybe a couple of more.

But if there is one athlete above all others who deserves any such title. It isMuhammed Ali. I don't think the heavyweight champ needs any introduction. He was the greatest, he even said so himself. He is a worldwide phenomenon, as good a showman as he is an athlete. He was probably the most influential athlete ever, leaving a legacy far more important than that just of a boxer. Had Parkinson's disease not crippled Ali, I'm certain he would have brought about more change in the world.

Hockey fans like fights, for the most part. There's been a few on-ice heavyweight champions over the years - Gordie Howe, John Ferguson, Hammer Schultz, Bob Probert and nowadays Derek Boogaard.

In the early 1980s the unofficial championship belt arguably belonged to Dave Semenko. The tough guy known as "Wayne Gretzky's bodyguard" was as big and strong and as feared as anyone on the rink.

So have you ever wondered what would happen if hockey's heavyweight champ got into a fight with boxing's heavyweight champ? Well that's exactly what happened on June 12th, 1983.

Some of the details about this three round exhibition are pretty sketchy. It turns out Mark Messier's uncle Larry was behind it all. He was always trying to promote something, and his idea of Hollywood celebrities playing the Oilers in a floor hockey match turned into a heavyweight battle between Semenko and Ali, who at 41 was just 5 years removed from his last title reign.

I turned to Semenko's excellent autobiography "Looking Out For Number One" and unearthed some more details, but I never did find out who won the fight. I've seen some online comments suggesting Semenko "acquitted himself nicely."

Semenko apparently trained quite hard for the event, training under Rocky Addison, a former Manitoba middleweight champion. They watched video of Ali's fights looking for tendencies, and hit the gym for many hours. They held a one week training camp at the worst possible time for Semenko.

"They'd only just introduced Happy Hours in the lounges in Edmonton and the first think Rocky did was put me on the wagon. "Two for one sodas are not my idea of a Happy Hour on a hot June afternoon."

Semenko comments on how he really had no idea what to expect in the ring, other than he didn't want this to turn into some comedic sketch. About the only information he had was when Ali sent one scout to watch Semenko work out, but he apparently he was there more to deliver a message: "Make sure you don't do something stupid like try to take the champ's head off." Ali's people didn't want any funny business, but maybe they were more worried about what Ali would do to Semenko once he got up.

Before the match Ali met up with Semenko to greet him personally.

"When I was first taken over to his house to have a meeting about the fight, Ali came walking into the room, put his hands up and said, 'Okay, show me something.' I threw a few combinations and Ali said 'Don't worry, kid, we'll make it look good.' Then he left to take a nap!"

Ali later promoted the exhibition match in typical Ali style.

"Ali comes to meet Semenko
But Semenko's starting to retreat
If Semenko goes back an inch further,
He'll end up in a ringside seat."

"Sammy" was relieved when the whole show was over with. In the autobiography he revealed a funny story not many people knew about at the time.

"I didn't know what I was supposed to wear and didn't have a boxing wardrobe kicking around the house. I didn't have boots like Ali, so I got a pair of old black high-top runners. He had his zippered sweat suit to wear into the ring. I wore a crimson-and-silver terry-towel bathrobe. We hadn't even thought about it, but I'd been wearing the robe when they laced the gloves on me. So there we were, standing in our corner with the opening bell about to ring and I couldn't get the damned bathrobe off over those great big sixteen ounce boxing gloves. So Rocky stood real close to me, trying to block out everybody's view, while he hacked the sleeves off my bathrobe with a pair of scissors."

Like I said, the match itself is pretty sketchy. I believe the match officially ended in a draw, with no knockouts and no winner declared at the end. Ali apparently did his famous Ali Shuffle among other showboating in the ring, all to please the fans. And Semenko let him do it.

I also found this program (pictured to the right) of the event. The original purchase price was just $2, but with the signatures of Ali, Semenko, and several playboy playmates as well as increasing scarcity over time, the program is now for sale at this memorabilia house for $1500!

By the way, 5 years earlier Ali boxed an exhibition match against NFL star (and later acting star) Lyle Alzado. Unlike Semenko, Alzado was trained as an amateur boxer.


I was up and out of the house by 8.30 am this morning it was not so cold but still cloudy and I started my morning with a 6 km hike here

Looking back down over the ferry terminal

and the different views of the cliffs...

Really wonderful formations and views!!

As I was leaning over the edge on the photo before heard these guys down below!!!!

Not sure what these are called but I liked them!!

After the walk I sat in the car and had some strawberries and yogurt and then on the road again I am slowly heading west along the south coast of England....
The area is steeped in British history here is a short synopsis...

I found my way to the town of Hastings and my air bnb stay for the night in a family home which is really nice I have the use of the kitchen and my hostess made me tea...
My room...

This evening I will make some plans and bookings for the next few days I do have some friends that I am going to see...One a young lady I met at an airbnb in New Zealand we will have dinner together.....and then friends I first met in SMA and two years ago after I finished the Camino in Spain....
Have a great weekend ..
Yashi Kochi!!!!

Friday 3rd June 2016...On the English Road again!!!

So the time has come for me to move on and start my round the country journey but I cannot leave without saying how nice it has been to connect with Anne after 50 years, she is very lovely and has treated me so well....I had Little Bluey Tres which I shall now refer to her as LBT, all packed up last night and by 9.30am I was on the road.....

My GPS works great and it was mainly Motorway driving which you have to be constantly aware of what is around you to my first stop of the day which was Canterbury Cathedral...this reverent place is steeped in history and I think the best thing for you to do is to Google the Cathedral and read all about it's history!!

A very busy place and the admission was steep at 16 pounds about 32 dollars, after listening to Janet over the weekend I have slightly altered my views about it not being right to charge to get into a place of worship.

...I really enjoyed this magnificent building and marvel at it's age..

On the walk back to town went through a small outdoor market and could not stop here with out buying two baskets!!

My nest stop was at the town of Margate. My friend Larry sent me an e mail last year informing me about this place in Margate that has a shell grotto...I saved the e mail and went there this morning

Never quite seen anything like it...the cave was not huge but all those shells and so amazing that no one knows the meaning... how delightful and strange.....

I had lunch on the road, thank you Anne, and finally came to Dover where I am staying the night but first I wanted to visit..

Again best to Google because this place has so much history attached to it far too much for me to remember and write about!!!

 One thing for sure I did not learn in my history class in school was that Henry II was born and raised in France!!

You do a self tour which was really interesting the site is enormous and then I opted for a guided tour of the Underground tunnels and the hospital

We were not allowed to take photos but you can read about it when you go on the web.....I was astonished to hear that there were over 4 miles of tunnels underneath the castle

The views were great of the busy sea port where you can take a ferry to France and then the famous and iconic White cliffs of Dover!!!

I had done my tours for the day and my air bnb was only a few minutes away

The outside of the cottage, with LBT and the white cliffs

.

I have a nice room

with a balcony and table and chairs

with  the white cliffs above, how cool!!!

My hostess Karen is very nice and just told me to make myself at home and she was sorry her Internet had gone down this morning but there is a pub three doors down where I think I can send this from

My first day was great full of good old English history and I think you know I enjoy being by the ocean.....and the weather is supposed to improve tomorrow...the car is easy and a pleasure to drive and it will just take me a couple of days to get things organised in the car for my journey with stopping most nights or every other night.

Hope you enjoyed your first English tour!!!

Yashi Kochi!!

Thursday 2nd June 2016......I have a new girl friend!!!!

I bet that got your attention!!!!

the cloudy weather continues and a bit cool so i spent the morning getting my stuff organized and planning some routes and then at noon Anne dropped me off at the car rental and it sometimes pays to ask for what you want....I asked if possible for a car not white or silver so I was quite happy when after all the paper work he took me out to Little Bluey Tres!!!!!!!

This is going to be a great car for me and it has a feature that Malc's car had that I have not seen before....it is a standard gearbox and when say you come to a red traffic light if you take it out of gear the engine cuts out to save emissions and then when you put your put on the clutch it starts again!!!!
Anyway i think my new girl and i will have lots of fun!!!
Then went to the store, the grocery stores here are really nice and Anne helped me find lots of stuff for my trip!!!
We came home for again an afternoon of watching the tennis from France and because of all the kind and many things Anne has done for me I wanted to show he my appreciation so i told her I would treat her to dinner and some entertainment afterwards she was thrilled until she realized it was fish and chips from the local chippie and eating it on her lap in the living room watching live soccer England V Portugal!!!!!  I know how to treat a lady!!!!

I think i am ready for the trip so get your walking shoes ready because you are all coming with me!!!
Yashi Koch

Wednesday 1st June 2016....Rabbits, rabbits, rabbits!!!

Just in case there are any new readers out there my Mum always told me to say rabbit, rabbit, rabbits as soon as I wake up every month and it brings good luck all the month and I have been doing this for over 50 years!!!   It pretty much works too!!!
So where did May go ?????

This morning it was not raining but still very overcaste and sort of a dreary day...Anne had a choir practice in a town about 15 minutes away I tried to get her to invite me as I believe I have a lovely voice but no.....so I went with her to the car park and then I went off on a great walk I reckon about 4 miles along the banks of the river Thames...

The kids are on holiday this week and these were attending a tennis camp.....

One day I will hire a house boat and go down some of the rivers...

 There were about 5 of these on the wall and they each took turns jumping into the river and it took me two attempts to get the flying goose!!!!

I left the banks of the river and was making my way to the road and passed these cows and I thought they were only black and white but I guess not!!!

I waited on the main road in a bus stop and called Anne on my NEW PHONE and as I was waiting for her this boat came by!!!!

Anne drove us home through the Richmond estate, very beautiful and large and of course deer make my day!!!

We were home in time to watch Andy Murray make his way into the semi finals of the French Open......

In the evening Anne's son Ashley and his wife Jen came over for dinner it was lovely to meet them and the meal was a delight......

I have the slightest touch of a cold coming but not going to blame it on the weather.......

So a great start to June!!!

Yashi Kochi!!!

Tuesday 31st May 2016.........what is that stuff falling from the sky???

Good morning from rainy England the first time I have had to say that!!! Quite a good down pour and also cool with dreary looking skies but really I cannot complain I have been following the sun for over a year now.

You cannot tell but this is taken from the front door and the rain is pounding down!!!

This morning was chore day and Anne willingly drove me around and I told her she did not have to wear white gloves and a hat......

The first stop was a computer/phone store where I actually did what I have promising Janet, Linda, Heather, Carol and many other of my readers.....I bought a

Think I got a great deal …... just so you know one pound Stirling is about $1.89 Canadian...so for 5 pounds I bought a small basic phone and then added a 10 pound call as I go plan......so now I am armed with a phone for emergencies at a really reasonable cost and I think I can take the phone back with me to Canada, USA and Mexico and get a card and use it there too.........and a nice colour too her name is Diva!!!

I have been unable to download Europe maps into my TOMTOM it freezes at 12% updated so in the same store I had the “man” look at it and it seems there may be an issue doing this so I had to pay 20 pounds leave the GPS with him and collect it tomorrow and then my English maps will be down loaded.

Next on the agenda was to find a rental car  for Thursday and we went to Enterprise where they offered the best deal for me....My original plan was to rent a car and take off for three weeks bring the car back here stay at Anne's a couple of days then take the train to Hull and be with Janet and Malc for a while....the cost of the train from here to their home was 35 pounds with three change of stations.....I could and would have done it but it would have been a bit of an ordeal as Malc has lent me a few very big and heavy books on routes and sights for my trip.....so when I was booking the car I asked about my rental and he had given me a monthly rate but the date I was coming back here was a few days before the rental expires so.....I asked him what it would cost extra to leave the car in Hull....30 pounds......great so now I can keep the car a few days longer not have the hassle of the trains and drive to Hull and even do it a bit cheaper I know I have to figure gas or petrol as they say here into the equation....but I went for the deal booked the car and pick it up Thursday and also asked if possible not to get a white or silver car, yes picky I know!!!

We came back in the afternoon and settled down for an afternoon of tennis from Paris but they only managed to play for about an hour when rain stopped play..the stadium there does not have a roof so they are going to be struggling to finish the tournament on time as they cancelled all yesterday’s matches as well.

Anne produced another lovely meal and I really don't know where the time went today and also I realise it is the last day of May!!!!!!

Yashi Kochi!!!