Ali reaches out to Dirk

Louisville's patron saint sent the reigning NBA champion a very cool present post-Finals, a boxing glove inscribed with the phrase "You are the Greatest". According to this interview with a German newspaper, the gift tickled Nowitzski to no end...

SPIEGEL: Did any German politicians call to congratulate you?
Nowitzki: I think that (German Chancellor) Angela Merkel called my adviser. I'm not totally sure. But do you know what made me the happiest?
SPIEGEL: What?
Nowitzki: Muhammad Ali sent me a package.
SPIEGEL: What was in it?
Nowitzki: A boxing glove with the inscription: "You are the greatest." Please don't ask me immediately about the political meaning of the gift. I was simply happy and sent Ali a golden basketball with a similar inscription.

In related news, former pugilist Peter McNeeley sent LeBron James an autographed mouthguard, with the simple message: "We'll get 'em next time, champ".

Here's a grainy video of Ali's introduction to the German people, ultimately figuring out and punishing the German-leftie champion, Karl Mildenberger, in Frankfurt in 1966.