George Foreman and the art of the comeback
But Foreman came to embody a famous quote by another George — writer George Eliot: 'It's never too late to become who you might have been.'
That's something to remember as this nation, under the control of a lawless convicted felon president, navigates its most difficult and uncertain period in modern times.
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What attracted people to Foreman was his comeback story. When many had forgotten about him, he returned to the boxing ring in his late 30s and, at 45, became the oldest person to win the heavyweight championship when he
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By that point Foreman had found religion and a ministry in his native Texas. He was a man transformed. His menacing demeanor, which could intimidate opponents before he ever threw a punch, had been replaced by an ever-present smile.
For many, he was best known as the affable pitchman of what became the ubiquitous George Foreman Lean Mean Fat-Reducing Grilling Machine — the George Foreman grill — which sold millions and made Foreman a wealthy man.
In interviews he was self-effacing. When Foreman, a father of 12, was
Foreman hosted 'Saturday Night Live,' was a popular guest on
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By refusing to be trapped in the faded memories of his earlier years, Foreman reinvented himself as something greater. In his book, 'George Foreman's Guide to Life: How to Get Up Off the Canvas When Life Knocks You Down,' he wrote, 'Who you take advice from says a lot about who you are. I have been a few different people in my life, but I now have a person who I respect and trust: me. And until you reach that place in life you are at the mercy of fate.'
Foreman's life is a reminder that even our lowest moments cannot last forever. Along the way, he became something that now seems quaint because it no longer exists — a universally beloved public figure. In these acrimonious times, even Dolly Parton, as close to a secular saint as we have, has been targeted by conservatives because of her support of the LGBTQ community.
But President
Foreman steered clear of politics, making it easier to avoid the pitfalls of ideologies. He was equally comfortable on the Christian Broadcasting Network and 'Late Night with David Letterman.'
But it's Foreman's comeback and reinvention that will continue to loom as large as he once did over his opponents in the ring. By spurning others' definitions of who he should be, he was freed to reinvent himself as he saw fit. From a kid who grew up hard in Houston to a two-time heavyweight champion to a beloved pitchman, Foreman accepted no arbitrary limitations.
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To move beyond the darkness, one has to be courageous enough to meet the moment and see in ourselves what others cannot. Fear can be paralyzing. But what's worse is the late realization that we could have done more to change not just the narrative, but lives directly impacted. As Foreman said, anything less leaves us at 'the mercy of fate.'
In this dangerous and fraught time, we can still work toward a just and better world — but only if we recognize that it's not too late for this nation to become what it always should have been.
Renée Graham is a Globe columnist. She can be reached at
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