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Ali And Me
Steve Stein | Contributing Writer
T
Marshall N. Cyrlin, M.D.
Glaucoma and Cataract Consultation
medical, laser, surgical therapy
Graduate:
Washington University School of Medicine,
St. Louis, MO
Internship:
Washington University, Barnes Jewish Hospital,
St. Louis, MO
Residency:
University of Illinois, Ill. Eye and Ear Infirmary,
Chicago, IL
Glaucoma Fellowship:
Harvard University, Mass. Eye and Ear Infirmary,
Boston, MA
Board Certified:
American Board of Ophthalmology
Member:
American Academy of Ophthalmology
Charter Member: American Glaucoma Society
Member:
American Society of Cataract
and Refractive Surgery
Attending Staff:
Sinai Huron Valley Hospital,
Commerce Township, MI
William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI
Dr. Cyrlin proudly announces the relocation
of his practice to Wayne State University
Physicians Group, Kresge Eye Institute at its
newly opened facility located at
26400 West 12 Mile Road, Suite 60
Southfield, MI 48034
248 263-2640
Appointments welcomed for new,
existing and former patients
48 June 23 • 2016
he world lost Muhammad Ali on
June 3 when the former boxing
champion died at age 74. Dr.
Stuart Kirschenbaum lost a longtime and
dear friend.
“We knew each other for 38 years. I
called him, ‘Champ.’ He called me, the
‘Great White Dope,’ but with affection and
a twinkle in his eye,” said Kirschenbaum,
the Michigan boxing commissioner from
1981-1992 and boxing commissioner
emeritus and special adviser to the gov-
ernor on boxing affairs since 2013.
Kirschenbaum couldn’t make it to Ali’s
funeral June 10 in Louisville, Ky., because
he underwent vascular surgery the previ-
ous day. But he was there in spirit.
“I did some radio and TV interviews
about Muhammad. They gave me some
closure,” he said. “I received condolences
from across the country because so
many friends and patients knew about
my relationship with the Champ. That
made my heart feel warm. Almost like
the feeling I would get receiving one of
the Champ’s hugs.”
Kirschenbaum said Ali was his inspi-
ration to enter the New York Golden
Gloves competition in 1967. They met 11
years later in Detroit after Kirschenbaum
had opened a podiatry practice in the
Motor City and was judging boxing
matches.
The meeting was suggested by one of
Kirschenbaum’s patients, who was Ali’s
personal cook. The cook thought the two
would hit it off because each had a great
sense of humor.
Kirschenbaum has many stories to tell
about his friendship with Ali. All show
their close bond.
It’s 1984. Kirschenbaum was attending
a news conference with Ali in Detroit
when he noticed Ali was hobbling
because he had fractured his big toe at
the Los Angeles airport.
Kirschenbaum met Ali in Ali’s room
in the Hotel Ponchartrain in Detroit
and treated the injury. From that day,
Kirschenbaum was known as Ali’s foot
doctor.
More importantly, Kirschenbaum
said, Ali asked that day if he could put
Kirschenbaum’s name and phone num-
ber in his address book.
“Back then, we had to write down
Dr. Stuart Kirschenbaum and
Muhammad Ali are ringside March 7,
1987, at Cobo Hall in Detroit for a box-
ing match between Thomas Hearns
and Dennis Andries.
people’s names and phone numbers,”
Kirschenbaum said. “The Champ wrote
my name in his little black book with
loose papers that was secured by a rub-
ber band.”
Ali came to town in February 1989
to meet with Kirschenbaum and others
about establishing a world boxing hall
of fame. After spending a day with Ali
talking in Ali’s room at the Radisson
Hotel in Southfield and holding a news
conference about the hall of fame the
next day at Ginopolis restaurant in
Farmington Hills, Kirschenbaum told Ali
he was going to watch his son Storm play
hockey at the Southfield Ice Arena the
following morning.
Ali came to the arena, sat on teams’
benches, did magic tricks for players in
locker rooms and left three hours later.
“That was the Champ. He made
everyone he met feel important, at ease
and as though you knew him forever,”
Kirschenbaum said.
Ali often traveled to Detroit for box-
ing shows and sat with Kirschenbaum.
They were joined by people like Mayor
Coleman Young, Leon Spinks, Thomas
Hearns and Aretha Franklin.
In fall 2002, the Michigan Jewish
Sports Foundation presented Ali with
its “Book of Life Award” through
Kirschenbaum at Ali’s home in Berrien
Springs, Mich.
“Muhammad and his wife, Lonnie,
were thrilled to accept an award from a
Jewish organization to a Muslim follow-
ing the 9-11 tragedy,” Kirschenbaum said.
After the serious business was com-
pleted, Kirschenbaum and Ali playfully
sparred in a boxing ring at the home.
“We were a couple of kids,”
Kirschenbaum said.
Kirschenbaum’s office at the New
Center One building in Detroit features
the Muhammad Ali Conference Room.
There are four original Andy Warhol
paintings of Ali in the room, and Ali’s
famous saying, “Float like a butterfly,
sting like a bee,” is inscribed on a wall.
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