I've never liked boxing or even the premise behind boxing — people hitting each other and the one who does a better job hitting wins. But I liked one boxer. George Foreman and I had the same attorney and through him, I met George and he sure didn't seem like the kind of guy who'd hit or harm a flea. He was genial, friendly and even funny.
I can still make myself laugh recalling one time he was on with Johnny Carson because George was about to get into the ring for the first time in quite a while. They were talking about the guy George was about to battle and Johnny asked, "Is he a good fighter?" George replied…
No, I think I'll let you hear him say it himself. It's near the end of this conversation. Watch the whole thing. It's only six minutes…
That was what George was like when I was around him. And the fact that I was around him a few times led to him asking to do a voice in an episode of Garfield and Friends. We had him in — he played a boxer who couldn't stop eating — and he was real good, though a couple of people saw his name in the credits and didn't believe it.
But it was him and he was a joy to work with, a joy to be around…and full disclosure: It was the only time in my career as a Voice Director for cartoons that I took a bribe from someone I'd hired. He sent me a grill. Autographed.