Muhammad Ali last night in Las Vegas

We all know that heavyweight hero Muhammad Ali likes magic. And last night, Ali, his wife Lonnie and other family members were in the audience for Lance Burton's magic show at the Monte Carlo. When fellow Louisville native and Tabloid Baby pal Burton announced the champ was in the audience, the entire crowd of over 900 people leapt to their feet with a standing ovation that went on for minutes.


Poor Muhammad Ali.

Update: Our Man Elli in Israel. Elli Wohlgelernter. You will remember his name, Mr. Rosen.

"... The IPBL’s organizer, Jeff Rosen... someone so rich he thought he could just dial up a new league, someone trying to show up Baras on how it can be done-- and somebody who can’t-- or won't-- get somebody’s name right. He’s learned that money can buy a lot of things, but not necessarily a baseball league in Israel. He has a lot to learn if he wants to attempt it again next summer. It's my name. It's all I've got. Elli. Wohlgelernter. And when I have to correct someone three times, I don’t care who he is...I expect to be respected on that issue. Like I said, If I was a million dollar investor in the IPBL, I guaran-eefin-tee he’d know how my name is spelled..."

--Our Man Elli in Israel, in yesterday's Israel baseball post mortem

This matter of respect regarding the coverage of baseball in Israel has historic precedent in sports...