Few people remember the launch of Apollo 16b, also called the CREED mission.
In 1972, Muhammad Ali was at the peak of his fame. His recent public dispute with then President Richard M. Nixon on the subject of his refusal to serve in the Vietnam war, coupled with the nation's enthusiasm for space travel, allowed fight promoter Don King to create a media firestorm of a sort seen once in a generation. This firestorm culminated in the most remarkable boxing event of the seventies.
In a televised star-studded variety spectacular, Ali and Nixon were launched, in a kind of live rehearsal for Apollo 17, along with a referee, and a cameraman for ABC Sports, to the surface of the Moon.
Three days later, on August 16, 1972, CREED landed. Howard Cosell did live play by play from Earth as Nixon and Ali arrived, disembarked and then boxed 16 rounds in one-sixth gravity at Mare Tranquilitas.
The match ended in a draw, both men unprepared for the effects of the local gravity. It also ended with each man gaining a new respect for the other, and embracing to the thunderous applause of the studio audience watching on Earth.
As Harvey Korman and Jean Stapleton led the crowd in a singalong of What The World Needs Now Is Love, the boxer and the president began their safe trip home.
The fight, for all the short term hoopla generated, was not nearly profitable, assumed to be a staged event featuring a Nixon impersonator, and soon forgotten.
Yet for one shining, bizarre moment, Ali did float like a butterfly, and, at least in intent, Dick Nixon was not a crook. He was an explorer, pioneer, and an example of good sportsmanship.
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10 comments:
Are you referring to the 1965 Burt Bacharach hit, What the World Needs Now Is Love? Because that's what it's called.
Nice research in your historical piece.
Loser.
G-
What the hell are you talking about? Jesus.
The Wayback Machine knows you're a scum-sucking cheatbag.
G-
Oh, and I think you should be disqualified for changing your goddamned motherfucking piece after posting it for the fucking contest, you fucker.
Fuck.
G-
Sherman and Peabody know you're a big whiner.
And I don't care, by the way, if people change their entries and resubmit so long as they do it prior to the deadline.
Not that I did, or would.
But you might, having loaded yourself and a jumble of words onto the first train to Obvioustown for your entry.
Sorry... can't hear you over the sound of how much you SUCK. Suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck.
You sucky, sucky cheater.
G-
And on that note of high wit, we return to our coverage of the "Six Year Old Girls Arguing Over Who Has The Prettiest Barbie" finals in Suffolk, just returning from the break between periods.
Please stay with us on the Puling Fucking Babies Network.
What a crock! Everybody knows the Creed mission was faked on a sound stage in Lanigan Saskatchewan.
Children, children. I think you both need to learn a lesson from Mr. Ali and Mr. Nixon. And that lesson is: you both suck, I rule, eat it!
-Gordon
When's that Barbie thing on again? Has it started already?
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