This Muhammad Ali Story Is Heartwarmingly Heartbreaking

With the tearful passing of Muhammad Ali, we all take a moment to pause and reflect on his momentous life full of victories, struggle, and meaning. Some of us have more concrete, tangible memories, though, and it’s a wonderful thing when they decide to share this fragment of the man on Twitter.

Apologies for flooding your tl in advance, mute if you want but I've got an Ali story that will make you all smile, I think. Makes me smile.

— One Man TBG (@ThatBoysGood) June 4, 2016

Twitter user @ThatBoysGood starts his story from his own humble beginnings as a student driver.

During undergrad I got a cake job driving exchange students around. First was the Panamanians, which was a party. Next was a Muslim group.

— One Man TBG (@ThatBoysGood) June 4, 2016

It also takes a great man to admit his misgivings, learn from them, and change his way of thinking.

Muslim group was less *entertaining than the Panamanians but I learned a lot about people I was led to believe were evil. They weren't.

— One Man TBG (@ThatBoysGood) June 4, 2016

His story starts, really, with a simple phone call.

boss calls & says "take them to the Ali Center, there will be speakers discussing modern Islam in America post 9/11. And Ali will be there.

— One Man TBG (@ThatBoysGood) June 4, 2016

When you got this chance to meet your hero, you’ll want to look your best.

Said he would pose for a pic and sign one autograph. I unpinned the Ali Norton poster from my wall rolled it up and put a suit on.

— One Man TBG (@ThatBoysGood) June 4, 2016

Muhammad Ali comes in all simple. No fanfare, no special announcement. Just him, his handers, and a curious satchel.

So we get seated and then he walks in with his handlers carrying a satchel of some sort. Sits down removing items from the satchel.

— One Man TBG (@ThatBoysGood) June 4, 2016

All eyes were definitely on the iconic boxer.

I'll be honest, I'm sure the speaker was very informative and I could've learned a lot but cmon I'm not taking my eyes off Ali.

— One Man TBG (@ThatBoysGood) June 4, 2016

At this point, it’ll be best if I stop interrupting with commentary, because this is where the story starts getting real good.

he takes out a pad of paper, a pack of colored pencils, and an electric pencil sharpener. I had no idea how hard I was about to laugh.

— One Man TBG (@ThatBoysGood) June 4, 2016

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SPEECH HE SHOVES PENCILS IN THE ELECTRIC SHARPENER

— One Man TBG (@ThatBoysGood) June 4, 2016

"The state of the Americ-"RRRRRRRRRRRRRR he's just sharpening pencils loud af not giving a damn during the dudes speech.

— One Man TBG (@ThatBoysGood) June 4, 2016

He has this mischievous grin every time he does it like "voice be damned I will still troll the world if I please"

— One Man TBG (@ThatBoysGood) June 4, 2016

He does this like 5 times before the speaker threw in the towel and said "well I guess the Greatest is ready for pictures, line up there"

— One Man TBG (@ThatBoysGood) June 4, 2016

Not gonna lie, my buddy and I are in line trying to scheme up how I could distract him while my buddy swiped one of his drawings.

— One Man TBG (@ThatBoysGood) June 4, 2016

And just when you think Mr. Ali couldn’t get any cooler…

I get up to him and he looks me up and down and grabs my arm, holds it up like I was hitting him, and faked a pained look, for the pic.

— One Man TBG (@ThatBoysGood) June 4, 2016

I unroll my poster, he grins, he makes hand gestures I couldn't read. His friend: "Muhammad wants you to lean down so he can speak to you"

— One Man TBG (@ThatBoysGood) June 4, 2016

Day. Made.

I lean over visibly trembling, almost passed out. He said "That boy Norton had a head of concrete, but boy was it fun to punch".

— One Man TBG (@ThatBoysGood) June 4, 2016