Guests packed the 850-plus seat Uptown Theater onDecember 17 for the invitation-only premiere of the film,“Ali.” Prior to the screening, admirers could catch a glimpse ofThe Champ -boxing legend Muhammad Ali, throwing good-naturedjabs and grinning as he strolled the red carpet, accompaniedby his wife Lonnie and the film’s executive producerHoward Bingham. When Bingham introduced Ali at thescreening, the crowd broke into a chant of “Ah-Lee, Ah-Lee,Ah-Lee.” Some of the guests on hand: ABC’s Ted Koppel,Ethel Kennedy, super-sports agent David Falk, Motion PictureAssociation of America President Jack Valenti, former GeorgiaSenator Sam Nunn and his wife Colleen, D.C. RepresentativeEleanor Holmes Norton, internet mogul James Kimsey, andformer heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe. The premiereand party afterwards, held at Café Milano, were fundraisersfor the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, Kentucky, slatedto open in 2003. The center’s focus will be on peace-directedgoals of personal development and conflict resolution. Alistirred up a bit of conflict himself, by telling a few politicallyincorrect jokes at the party. Still stinging like a bee!