Boxing legend George Foreman to be honored at Houston memorial service
Advertisement
Foreman died on March 21 at age 76. Foreman's family has not disclosed his cause of death, only saying on social media that he 'peacefully departed … surrounded by loved ones.'
Get Starting Point
A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday.
Enter Email
Sign Up
Born in Marshall, Texas, Foreman was raised in Houston's Fifth Ward, one of the city's historically Black neighborhoods.
He began his boxing career as an Olympic gold medalist in 1968, turning pro the next year.
Foreman became the heavyweight champion of the world when he beat Joe Frazier in 1973. But he lost the title the following year when Muhammad Ali beat Foreman in the famous 'Rumble in the Jungle' fight in Zaire.
Foreman then gave up boxing and after a religious awakening, became an ordained minister in 1978. He began preaching in Houston, later founding The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ in 1980.
Advertisement
The middle-aged fighter returned to the ring after a 10-year absence and in 1994 pulled off one of the most spectacular knockouts in boxing history, flooring Moorer — 19 years his junior — with a surgical right hand to claim Moorer's two heavyweight belts.
Foreman retired in 1997 with a 76-5 career record.
He then moved to the next chapter in his life as a businessman, pitchman and occasional actor.
He became known to a new generation as the face of the George Foreman Grill. The simple cooking machine sold more than 100 million units and brought him more wealth than boxing. A biographical movie based on his life was released in 2023.
Foreman had 12 children, including five sons who are all famously named George Edward Foreman.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Los Angeles Times
40 minutes ago
- Los Angeles Times
Scottie Scheffler's role in ‘Happy Gilmore 2' is an unexpected gift for golf fans
This is a story about a movie that saved a sport. OK, that's a stretch, but only a little one. Scottie Scheffler is the No. 1 golfer in the world. Has been for a couple of years. He has won two Masters titles, one PGA Championship and the recent British Open, as well as an Olympic gold medal. He is so good that somebody ought to check his golf balls for tiny magnets that hook up to the cups on the greens. So far this year, by slapping a little white dimpled ball around in the grass, he has won $19.2 million. He has yet to turn 30, but his overall income, just from golf tournaments, is around $90 million. This guy is so good that his caddie, Ted Scott, is estimated, at the normal 10% of winnings, to have pocketed about $5 million. For carrying a bag. So, what's the problem? Scheffler is so good that he might also be sparking a trend called remote remorse. You really want to watch, but once he gets ahead by a couple of shots, there is nothing left. No drama, no possible twist and turn, no chance of any excitement. Other players in those tense, title-on-the-line final holes, dunk a shot into the water or bury one so deep in the sand that their only choice of club is a shovel. Not Scheffler. He is a 6-foot-3 human robot whose veins circulate ice water. When the going gets tough, Scheffler yawns. So, you see this and you know what is coming next — final putt, arms raised in satisfaction, a hug for his multi-millionaire caddie, the mandatory TV interview with the apparently mandatory British-accent female sportscaster, who will always start with, 'How does this feel?' You, and millions more, click the button on your remote for something more interesting, like HGTV or the Gardening Channel. When Scheffler gets ahead in the final round like that — which is almost always — it is game over. He can squeeze the drama out of a golf tournament like Bill Belichick could out of an NFL postgame interview. Certainly, you say, Tiger Woods used to win lots of tournaments by lots of big margins and that never seemed boring. That's because it wasn't. Tiger was animated, angry, annoyed, analytical, fed up with some part of his game, charged up over another part, mad at a reporter, upset with his agent. Tiger could win by eight, occasionally did, and it was still must-see TV. When Tiger was at his best, nobody could beat him and the public loved him and just wanted more. Scheffler is currently at his best and the public certainly is terribly impressed and, sadly, kind of meh. Tiger was a pound-on-the-table-and-shout-at-the-TV kind of player. Scheffler is a nod and a shrug. But there is hope. Hollywood has intervened, as only Hollywood can. Twenty-nine years ago, an up-and-coming comic named Adam Sandler made a movie inspired by one of his New England friends, who was a great hockey player and could also hit a golf ball a long distance with a hockey stick. Sandler called the movie 'Happy Gilmore' and found a wide audience that loved it for its irreverence about a game that flaunts hushed reverence. Among the highlights was an on-course fistfight between Happy Gilmore (Sandler) and aging TV game show host Bob Barker. Barker won by KO. The movie was hilariously overdone slapstick. It was a gut-laugh-a-minute. It was so stupid and wacky that it was wonderful. Now, Sandler has made 'Happy Gilmore 2,' and it is again a must-see for all the reasons that the original was. Plus the cameo appearances. Especially one by Scheffler. In the movie, Scheffler is good, funny, fun. He doesn't have a lot of lines, but he has perfect timing. He punches a guy out on the green and the cops come and haul him away. 'Oh, no. Not again,' he says. Remember, earlier this year, when Louisville cops hauled him away and put him in an orange jail suit, when he was accused of making a wrong turn while driving into the golf course at the PGA Championship, a tournament that he would eventually win? Well, Sandler and his writers made hay out of that, but more significantly, Scheffler played to it perfectly. After the movie punch-out, Scheffler is pictured in a jail cell, in an orange jail suit, as a guard asks, since he has been in that cell for three days, if he wants to get out. Scheffler replies, 'Ah, what's for dinner?' When he is told chicken fingers, he says, 'I think I'll stay another night.' Now, of course, none of that is knee-slapping stuff, but it is Scheffler, and the self-effacing comedy is a perfect image-enhancer, even if it is only in a stupid movie. It is so much better for golf fans to see Scheffler as a roll-with-the-punches fun guy, than an emotionless, ball-striking robot. Neither is totally accurate, but in this media world of image-is-everything, 'Happy Gilmore 2' has done wonderful things for this wonderful golfer. Even moreso, for his sport He will be all over your TV screens for the three-week FedEx playoffs. It starts Aug. 7 with a tournament in Memphis, followed by the next week in Baltimore and the grand finale Aug. 21 in East Lake, Ga., near Atlanta. For the playoffs, the PGA will distribute $100 million in prize money and the winner will receive $10 million. Scheffler, a likely winner, would then certainly be invited to appear on TV, especially the late-night shows such as Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Fallon. This would present another great image-building opportunity. He could show up in an orange jump suit.
2 hours ago
Schmidt snatches late point for Houston in 2-2 tie with Bay
Sophie Schmidt scored a late equalizer to give the Houston Dash a 2-2 tie against Bay FC on Saturday night in the National Women's Soccer League. In the only other match, the North Carolina Courage was held to a scoreless tie at home to the San Diego Wave. Schmidt rose the highest in a crowded box to head home a corner kick in the 88th minute at PayPal Park. Bay FC (4-6-4) had opened the scoring when Penelope Hocking scored a one-touch finish off Racheal Kundananji's cross in the 16th minute. Houston (3-8-3), now winless in its last six matches, fought back to tie it 1-1 when Kiki Van Zanten scored her first NWSL goal in the 72nd minute. Van Zanten swept home a chipped ball across the box by Avery Patterson. Within two minutes Bay restored its lead when Alyssa Malonson crossed the ball to the back post for Taylor Huff to find a pocket of space in the box and finish in the 74th. Bay FC took twice as many shots (20) as Houston (10). Despite 58% possession, the Dash managed just two shots on target. The North Carolina Courage and the San Diego Wave played to a 0-0 draw. The Courage (5-5-4) is now undefeated in its last five matches at home, while it is third shutout away from home for the Wave this season. San Diego (7-3-4) dominated with 58% possession and 18 shots to North Carolina's six but struggled to create big chances against a stubborn defense. Courage goalkeeper Casey Murphy made three saves. Wave winger Delphine Cascarino's effort from the edge of the box in the 39th minute was the only strike that required a big save. Olympic goal medalist Jaedyn Shaw, who started her career with San Diego in 2022, came off the bench for North Carolina in 70th minute.
Fox Sports
7 hours ago
- Fox Sports
Schmidt snatches late point for Houston in 2-2 tie with Bay
Associated Press Sophie Schmidt scored a late equalizer to give the Houston Dash a 2-2 tie against Bay FC on Saturday night in the National Women's Soccer League. In the only other match, the North Carolina Courage was held to a scoreless tie at home to the San Diego Wave. Schmidt rose the highest in a crowded box to head home a corner kick in the 88th minute at PayPal Park. Bay FC (4-6-4) had opened the scoring when Penelope Hocking scored a one-touch finish off Racheal Kundananji's cross in the 16th minute. Houston (3-8-3), now winless in its last six matches, fought back to tie it 1-1 when Kiki Van Zanten scored her first NWSL goal in the 72nd minute. Van Zanten swept home a chipped ball across the box by Avery Patterson. Within two minutes Bay restored its lead when Alyssa Malonson crossed the ball to the back post for Taylor Huff to find a pocket of space in the box and finish in the 74th. Bay FC took twice as many shots (20) as Houston (10). Despite 58% possession, the Dash managed just two shots on target. Courage hold on for 0-0 at home to Wave The North Carolina Courage and the San Diego Wave played to a 0-0 draw. The Courage (5-5-4) is now undefeated in its last five matches at home, while it is third shutout away from home for the Wave this season. San Diego (7-3-4) dominated with 58% possession and 18 shots to North Carolina's six but struggled to create big chances against a stubborn defense. Courage goalkeeper Casey Murphy made three saves. Wave winger Delphine Cascarino's effort from the edge of the box in the 39th minute was the only strike that required a big save. Olympic goal medalist Jaedyn Shaw, who started her career with San Diego in 2022, came off the bench for North Carolina in 70th minute. ___ AP soccer:
