By Matt Thacker

Three days before celebrities from across the country gathered in downtown Louisville to celebrate the opening of the Muhammad Ali Center, the University of Louisville’s Ekstrom Library honored Ali’s life with the unveiling of its 2-millionth volume.

Speakers paid tribute to Ali on Nov. 16 as the library displayed its new copy of “GOAT: Greatest of All Time: A Tribute to Muhammad Ali.”

The book is 792 pages and contains more than 3,000 photographs. Dean of Libraries Hannelore Rader said 1,000 copies of the edition exist in the world but only six libraries own a copy.

“This is a wonderful thing for the library,” Rader said of the acquisition.

Speakers used the occasion to commemorate Ali’s life and reflect on their memories of him.

University President James Ramsey recalled watching Ali defeat Leon Spinks in the Louisiana Superdome to regain his title, while Rader said Ali was especially important to her because of her own childhood experiences. A native of East Germany, Rader said she had little money growing up and found Ali’s success story inspiring.

“It demonstrates and documents how a person from very low means can make it in the world,” she said. “Anyone can make it.”

“I think time, as it has done with many athletes, has really changed our view of Muhammad Ali,” Ramsey said. “And he is recognized not so much for his athletic achievement and not so much for his boxing accomplishments, but for his commitment to peace, conflict resolution, unity and bringing people and bringing communities together.”

Rader said the Collection Development team made the decision to pick “GOAT” as its 2-millionth book based on the significance of Ali to Louisville and the rarity of the book. The book will now be on display in the library’s rare book collection.

“‘GOAT’ is probably the most comprehensive book about Ali,” Rader said.

“GOAT” was edited by Benedikt Taschen and published in 2004, and the 1,000 copies of the Champ’s Edition, the edition U of L obtained, include a specially commissioned congenial multiple from artist Jeff Koons and four silver gelatin prints by photographer Howard L. Bingham.

Amazon.com says the list price for the first edition is $10,000. Another 9,000 second edition copies have been made available for $3,000 apiece. Each copy was signed by Ali.

The unveiling event, which took place on the 18th anniversary of the celebration for the library’s 1-millionth volume acquisition, drew a large crowd. People gathered around the book on the third floor of the Ekstrom Library, while many more students took a break from studying to watch from the balcony of the fourth floor.

“It’s amazing how many young people still so excitedly connect to Muhammad Ali and his mission,” said Al Herring, director of the Muhammad Ali Institute for Peace and Justice at U of L.Junior Michael Von Sickle said he is an Ali fan and would like to see the book to browse through the photographs.

“He’s the greatest athlete of all time,” he said. “He’s a poor Louisvillian who made it.”

Mohammed Al Samna, a graduate student at U of L, said young people connect with Ali because of what he’s done since he left boxing.

“It’s about what he’s been doing for other people – not just boxing, the person himself,” he said.

The event was a prelude to a larger celebration later that week. On Nov. 19, celebrities and politicians, including former President Bill Clinton, Will Smith, Angelina Jolie and Jim Carrey, honored Ali before the opening of the Ali Center. The Center, which opened Nov. 21, is a museum chronicling Ali’s life and is intended to relay his message of peace, a message which has inspired many in Louisville and around the world.

“We have great reasons for hope because persons such as Muhammad Ali are still in the world,” Herring said.

The Center is located at 144 N. Sixth St. Students can purchase tickets for $5 with an I.D. For more information, go to http://www.alicenter.org.