A wreath of flowers was placed at Muhammad Ali's Walk of Fame star, which is actually on the wall (as opposed to the ground).(Photo: Courtesy Hollywood Walk of Fame)
HOLLYWOOD, Calif. —<span style="color: Red;">*</span>You'd literally need to float like a butterfly to walk on Muhammad Ali's Hollywood star.
The engraved<span style="color: Red;">*</span>star, which was presented in 2002, is alone on a wall, while the nearby stars of Steven Spielberg, Halle Berry and Nicole Kidman cover the<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Walk of Fame sidewalk. On Saturday, Ali's star at<span style="color: Red;">*</span>6801 Hollywood Blvd.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>became a sort of memorial site for the
athlete who died Friday.
But why is the star on the wall?
Ana Martinez, the producer of the Walk of Fame ceremonies,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>says Ali "did not want the name of Muhammad to be stepped on," and so in<span style="color: Red;">*</span>2002, Ali's star was ceremoniously<span style="color: Red;">*</span>presented on an easel (as opposed to being unveiled on the ground, like the others) and then put on the wall at the entrance to what is now called Dolby Theatre.
As for why Ali received an honor that is generally reserved for filmmakers, actors and musicians, Martinez explains: "He was a showman.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>He had two Grammy-nominated spoken word albums. He was an entertainer, as well."
At<span style="color: Red;">*</span>noon Saturday, Martinez placed a wreath of flowers at the site of Ali's star, and presented a card to his family that read, "Float like a butterfly. Rest in peace, Mr. Ali." All day Saturday, a security team<span style="color: Red;">*</span>helped facilitate a line of fans who arrived to take<span style="color: Red;">*</span>pictures, place flowers and often pose with clenched fists in front of the star.
Sheryl Pruitt, 58, from<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Twinsburg, Ohio, stopped by the star with<span style="color: Red;">*</span>her family "just to pay respects," she said. "We're trying to pass this on to our children, the great impact Muhammad Ali had on the world, on sports," she said after posing in front of the star with her two sons and daughter.
Meanwhile, John Watson, 40, from Philadelphia<span style="color: Red;">*</span>visited Ali's star<span style="color: Red;">*</span>solo. He said it was a no-brainer to show up after hearing the news of Ali's death because "he<span style="color: Red;">*</span>was the champ, the best boxer, hall of fame. Muhammad Ali was a king."
Ali's impact was felt by those visiting from outside of the United States, too.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>"He's a legend. He's so inspiring for all of us, even when he was dealing with his illness" Hessa Alqahtla, 23 of Saudi Arabia.
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Back in 2002, before Ali's star ceremony,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>then-chairman of the Walk of Fame committee Johnny Grant said that Ali was worthy of a star for several reasons, including this: "Since the day he won worldwide recognition with an Olympic gold medal, his life has been
walking theater."
Grant was the man who approved Ali's request to have his star on the wall. According to Martinez, who's been with the Walk of Fame for two decades,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>no other honoree has ever been granted a similar request, and probably never will.
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