Well, if you haven't had your personal moment with the Pope, your time may have passed you by. It would seem that his Holiness has apparently met everyone on what Santa would call the nice list, as he's now checking out that other list, taking gifts and letters from folks with such controversial character traits as Don King.
King, in Rome to check up on one of his Italian proteges expressed an interest in meeting the Pontiff, and so on last Wednesday's General Audience, he found himself seated in the front row centre.
While it's one notch below the personal one on one audience, King was allowed to present the Pope with a green and gold boxing belt and a letter calling for prayers for a number of people including President Bush and the world's sick and the aged.
King presented the gift and letter during what is known as the drive by, where the Pope slowly drives by a section of the Vatican crowd in St. Peter's square and accepts their presents and prayer requests.
It would have made for an interesting sight, the controversial King showing reverence and quiet adoration, not to mention a flattening of his trademark hairstyle stood ready for his moment. After all there are many that probably figure he had a better chance of a meeting with the Devil, than one with the pope.
King who has always figured out the politics of any situation, had already hedged a bet or two with the Gods, by having helped to launch a fundraising drive in the hometown of Luca Messi, an Italian super weight champion boxer that he represents, who just so happens to have a brother that is a priest.
As always, Don King seems to know who to see when he wants to make a connection or two. Perhaps King, aware of the mortality that we all face, was simply making arrangements for his own final title match.
The winner moves up the rankings to the St. Peter division, the loser, well they say Beelzebub has a pretty good boxing club down in Hell.
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