Ruthe Deskin remembers 1975: Column led to fast response

Friday, Dec. 29, 2000 | 10:28 a.m.

Some events remain in our memory, others fade with the passing years. The brouhaha described in Hank's column of May 20, 1975, is unforgettable.

As I recall, there was quite a riotous scene when Muhammad Ali was declared the winner of the fight at the Convention Center. Trainers, handlers, and hangers-on jumped into the ring. In the melee, Sun photographer David Lee Waite was shoved around and his camera was broken.

David came to me and we decided to report the incident to the chief of security, who rudely turned his back on us with a curt, "Can't you see I am busy right now?"

Very politely we asked him about reporting the broken camera. At about this time a crowd of boisterous people approached. It was Ali and his supporters in a victory march to the dressing rooms.

The security chief, obviously overwhelmed by the great Ali, grabbed me and pushed me to one side as he joined the chant, "Ali, Ali." I had lost sight of David, but my daughter was standing in front of the security chief informing him, in no uncertain terms, that he could not shove her mother around like that.

All the while the crowd was shouting, "Ali, Ali" as the bashful fighter proclaimed himself the greatest.

We never did get to make a report on David's camera, but Hank's column elicited a fast response from the state board that licensed security companies. A hearing was held and David Lee Waite and I had our day in court.