Monday, 9 May 2011

Cassius Clay’s First Draft


Memo

From: The Big Fight PR Co.

To: Mr Clay

Hey, big man! We need a catchphrase for your pre-fight. Ideas?


Memo

From: Mr Clay’s Trainer.

To: The Big Fight PR Company

Cassius says:

“Bob up and down like an apple in a bucket of water,
Hurt like a stubbed toe.”


Memo

From: The Big Fight PR Co.

To: Mr Clay

Hey there again, big guy! Almost there with the catchphrase. Give it one more go, perhaps?


Memo

From: Mr Clay’s Trainer.

To: The Big Fight PR Company

Cassius says:

“Dance like a man with ants in his pants,
Thump like a really cross much bigger brother who’s been working out at the gym.”

He ain’t gonna do another, so this better be okay.


Memo

From: The Big Fight PR Co.

To: Mr Clay’s Trainer

Hey! That’s great, sir! Could you make it more poetic for him?


Memo

From: Mr Clay’s Trainer.

To: The Big Fight PR Company

Why?


Memo

From: The Big Fight PR Co.

To: Mr Clay’s Trainer

It would make it more memorable.


Memo

From: Mr Clay’s Trainer.

To: The Big Fight PR Company

Jeez. You guys are drivin’ me nuts. I gotta fight to think about. I spent all evenin’ on this one:

“Move like a psychotic madman,
Punch like a thug.”

Then, when I woke up this mornin’, this just popped into my head outta nowhere:

“Shimmer like a mirage,
Torture like a bad-tempered Nazi.”

Shimmer – surely that’s poetic, man?


Memo

From: The Big Fight PR Co.

To: Mr Clay’s Trainer

It is poetry, and you’re so nearly there with it. How about:

 “Float like a …….
Stink like a …?”

You’re sure headin’ in the right direction now, sir.


Memo

From: Mr Clay’s Trainer.

To: The Big Fight PR Company

You guys know how to try a feller’s patience.

“Float like a turd that won’t flush,
Stink like a turd that won’t flush.”

Even Cassius could get that one right, don’tcha think? Ha, ha!


Memo

From: The Big Fight PR Co.

To: Mr Clay’s Trainer

I read and re-read your memo several times and then realized the mistake in mine. “Sting” not “Stink”.


Memo

From: Mr Clay’s Trainer.

To: The Big Fight PR Company

I did wonder.

I only got two more, than I’m all done:

“Float like a bad smell,
Sting like the end of a reefer.”

Or:

“Float like a life raft,
Sting like a grazed knee.”

That’s it. I’m all poetic-ed out.


Memo

From: The Big Fight PR Co.

To: Mr Clay’s Trainer

Is there any chance you might just give it one more try, sir? They’re really great, just lacking a certain something.


Memo

From: Mr Clay’s Trainer.

To: The Big Fight PR Company

Ah! Forget it! What do we pay you for, anyhow? With all your ‘spensive education, surely you can come up with something yourself, instead of getting me to think up all this “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” shit.

No more! No way, no how!


Memo

From: The Big Fight PR Co.

To: Mr Clay’s Trainer

Thank you, sir. You’ve been a great help.

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