Arnold Palmer, Ali To Be Orange Bowl Honorary Captains
12/28/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 28, 2006
Miami, Fla. (www.orangebowl.org) - Already a national stage for some of the best in college football, the 73rd FedEx Orange Bowl will welcome two of the "greatest" athletes in sports history, Muhammad Ali and Arnold Palmer to Dolphin Stadium.
Muhammad Ali will be the honorary captain for Louisville while Arnold Palmer will represent his alma mater Wake Forest as the honorary captain on the evening of January 2nd. South Florida favorite, Dwyane Wade will also be involved in the evening's festivities, marking the first time in Orange Bowl history that three winners of the Sports Illustrated "Sportsman of the Year" have taken part in the event.
"It is a privilege to have these three sports legends in one place at one of the biggest college football events of the year," said Bowl Committee President and Chairman Al Dotson, Jr. "This is one of those moments you will remember for the rest of your life. Combining the three Sportsmen of the Year, the singing of the National Anthem by Grammy Award winner CeCe Winans and our halftime show featuring Taylor Hicks and Gladys Knight, fans will be treated to a truly magical experience."
Ali, regarded as the best boxer of all-time, was born in Louisville. The city is home to the $60 million non-profit Muhammad Ali Center, which was opened on November 19, 2005. In addition to displaying his boxing memorabilia, the center focuses on core themes of peace, social responsibility, respect, and personal growth. Ali is one of just three boxers to be named "Sportsman of the Year" by Sports Illustrated, and he was also named their "Sportsman of the Century."
Palmer, a member of the Wake Forest Hall of Fame and the World Golf Hall of Fame, is known by many as the most charismatic professional golfer of all time and is credited for increasing the visibility and popularity of the sport. Palmer was named Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year in 1960 after winning the Masters and the U.S. Open. He won a total of seven major championships.
The FedEx Orange Bowl, a sellout for the seventh straight year, is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. EST on January 2 and will be televised by Fox. Seven-time Gospel Grammy winner CeCe Winans will sing the national anthem and the 2007 Blockbuster Total Access Halftime Show will feature American Idol star Taylor Hicks alongside Grammy-winning legend Gladys Knight.
The Orange Bowl Committee is a not-for-profit, 329-member, all-volunteer organization that exists as a self-sustaining, independent organization supporting and producing activities and events which enhance the image, economy, and culture of South Florida. Among the OBC core events are the Orange Bowl Festival, FedEx Orange Bowl and the Blockbuster Total Access Orange Bowl Halftime Show, the MetroPCS Orange Bowl Basketball Classic, the WaMu Orange Bowl Fan Fest presented by the City of Miami, the Budweiser Orange Bowl Tailgate Party, Boston Market Orange Bowl Youth Football Championships, Orange Bowl Cheer & Dance Championships, Orange Bowl Swim Classic, Orange Bowl International Tennis Championships and Orange Bowl Sailing Regatta Series.