Muhammad and Lonnie Ali welcomed visitors from all over the world to Louisville in celebration of the 2008 Ryder Cup at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 17, 2008.  Staged on the plaza adjacent to the award-winning Ali Center, the celebration also included Louisville Metro Mayor Jerry Abramson and Deputy First Minister of Wales, Ieuan Wyn Jones, along with Jonathan Blum, Chair and Greg Roberts, President/CEO of the Ali Center.

“As an international education and cultural center, we are delighted to have an opportunity to welcome international visitors to Muhammad Ali’s hometown,” says Greg Roberts.  “Having the Ali Center as a backdrop for this event furthers our goal of creating a global gathering place for people to share, interact and celebrate with people from around the world.”

            In addition to the speakers, a variety of musical entertainment provided much fanfare to help kick-off the festivities.  The Kyene Drum Ensemble started the event with their heart-thumping drum dances.  Local vocalist and entertainer Sharron Sales payed tribute to the host state with a beautiful rendition of “My Old Kentucky Home.”  Up-and-coming country music artist Dustin James debuted a special original composition “It Ain’t Braggin (If You Can Back It Up)” as a surprise for the Alis.  James was inspired to write the song after a visit to the Muhammad Ali Center.  Bagpipers from the Louisville Pipe Band closed as a tribute to the Europeans - hosts for the 2010 Ryder Cup to be held in Wales.

“Muhammad Ali has said that ‘Champions are made from something they have deep inside them – a desire, a dream, and a vision…they have to have the skill and will, but the will must be stronger than the skill’,” says Roberts.  “Both the American and European teams have demonstrated both the skill and the will to have come this far.  No matter what the outcome, every member of each team can already consider themselves champions.”

The public celebration was free and sponsored by Yum! Brands, Inc. and Ernst & Young.  The event was held on the Ali Center Plaza located at 144 N. Sixth Street (between Main Street and River Road).



Related Online Video

Ryder Cup: The Teams Meet Muhammad Ali - Guardian

Muhammad Ali Has McDowell Awestruck - BBC