This year’s Liberty Medal will be given to Muhammad Ali next Thursday, but we already knew that. What we didn’t know, however, was who else would be there. Today, we recieved word that Ali’s daughter Laila Ali will join Olympic Gold Medalists Claressa Shields and Susan Francia in presenting the medal to Muhammad Ali. Terrence Howard will be there, because the event involves wearing a tuxedo and being in front of cameras in Philadelphia, which is his favorite hobby. Former NBA big-man and current National Constitution Center Board member Dikembe Mutombo will talk about how inspired he was by Ali’s visit to the Congo in 1974. Also, Tyreem “Moo-Moo” Hayward and Devin Price, who are seven-year-old boxers, will be there.

But finally and most importantly, the great Roberta Flack (whose first three albums are UNFUCKWITHABLE) will close the ceremony with a performance of “The Impossible Dream.” And while we’re thinking about it, since the Liberty Medal is given to basically whoever every year, why not Roberta Flack? It’d at least bring some life to the whole thing.

Previously: From The Archives Of Maury Z. Levy: The Muhammad Ali Interview

This entry was posted on Thursday, September 6th, 2012 at 2:27 pm.