Ali and Me: Through the Ropes (Enhanced Edition)

“THE GREATEST BOOK ABOUT ME IN THE WORLD.” -MUHAMMAD ALI (1983)

“Ali and Me” is unlike other Muhammad Ali books. Rick’s special fan’s perspective is written in informal style, flavored with boxing clichés, humor, time landmarks (news events, culture, political climate), and uncommonly keen insight into Ali. A refreshing angle fuels a wealth of rich emotion packed in a 100-page 8½” X 11” coffee table book, now featuring 25 full-page photos, glossy full-color soft cover, and epilogue. “Ali and Me” also examines fighters and the fight game in depth, and paints vivid accounts of ring action. In 1963, 15-year-old “Ricky” Kaletsky phoned “Cassius Clay” and enjoyed a nice chat with him. In 1982, “Muhammad Ali” called “Rick” (now as author) at 1:30 AM, to thank him for “Ali and Me.” Ali called again, when Rick’s daughter was born, in 1984. Rick saw Ali fight “live, in person” eight times (including Frazier I). He watched Ali train at Ali’s iconic camps in Miami and Deer Lake. He met “the Champ” several times, highlighted by a visit to Ali’s dressing room immediately after the New Orleans rematch win over Leon Spinks. He has met many members of Ali’s “corner,” entourage, and family, plus his promoters, publicists, numerous opponents, and…yes…Howard Cosell. In 2012, Rick attended Ali’s “by invitation only” 70th Birthday Party in Louisville. Rick curates a small Muhammad Ali museum, showcased with “Ali and Me” on CNN-HLN and (upon Ali’s passing) on local TV stations. Then there was the time he and Ali drank Coke from the same glass!

“This book provides an arresting look into the mind of a superfan.” -- Ferdie Pacheco, “The Fight Doctor” and Ali’s Cornerman (1982)