Category Archives: Autobiography

The Michael Parkinson-Muhammad Ali Interview, 1971 (an extract)

Posted on September 28, 2023 by odeboyz

And I always asked my mother, I said, ‘Momma, how come is everything white?’ I said, ‘Why is Jesus white with blond hair and blue eyes? Why is the Lord’s supper all white men? Angels are white, the Pope, Mary, … Continue reading →

Posted in Autobiography, Philosophy, Religion | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Miles Davis on *White Music*

Posted on August 24, 2023 by odeboyz

“…I’m quitting Julliard1 because what they’re teaching me is white and I’m not interested in that….before I quit Juilliard…I took some lessons in symphonic trumpet playing…Trumpet players from the New York Philharmonic orchestra gave me lessons, so I learned some … Continue reading →

Posted in Autobiography, education, Politics | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Brian Clough’s advice to Trevor Francis

Posted on July 27, 2023 by odeboyz

Brian Clough: “Trevor, when you get the ball, son, pass it to John Robertson” Trevor Francis (Britain’s first £1 million signing): ”Why?” Brian Clough: “Because he’s a better player than you!”

Posted in Autobiography, Sport | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Noel Coward* in World War Two

Posted on July 20, 2023 by odeboyz

“As the tour went on he got into his stride and the reception [by the troops] improved. The conditions did not. He slept in bamboo huts, keeping one eye out for snakes, witnessed the rudimentary medical care available for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Autobiography, Literature, War | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

John Lennon’s Wisdom

Posted on June 12, 2023 by odeboyz

“When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote: ‘Happy’. They told me that I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them that they didn’t understand life.”

Posted in Autobiography, School | Tagged , | Leave a comment

A Barack Obama quip

Posted on June 5, 2023 by odeboyz

“If I had to name my greatest strength, I guess it would be my humility. Greatest weakness, it’s possible that I’m a little too awesome.”

Posted in Autobiography, Humour, quips | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Muhammad Ali’s a humane man: A great man

Posted on May 8, 2023 by odeboyz

“I’ll tell you how I would like to be remembered: As a black man who won the heavyweight title – Who was humorous and never looked down on those who looked up to him – A man who stood for … Continue reading →

Posted in Autobiography, Philosophy, Sport | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Cricket Obsessive Meets Reality

Posted on March 20, 2023 by odeboyz
Posted in Autobiography, Humour, Sport | Leave a comment

Film Review: Bank of Dave (NetFlix) (Rory Kinnear) (2023)

Posted on March 2, 2023 by odeboyz

This is the biopic of Dave Fishwick, a self-made millionaire, from Burnley, Lancashire. He lives and works there and is grounded in the community. As a wealthy man he was often asked for loans. No paperwork just a handshake. None … Continue reading →

Posted in Autobiography, Film, Finance, Review | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Billie Holiday: a genius that got lucky

Posted on February 13, 2023 by odeboyz

“One day, we were so hungry we could barely breathe,” she told Downbeat magazine in 1939. “I started out the door. It was cold as all hell and I walked from 145th to 133rd down Seventh Avenue, going in every … Continue reading →

Posted in Autobiography, History | Tagged , , | Leave a comment