MIAMI (AP) — Miami Marlins president David Samson says the family of Muhammad Ali isn’t unhappy about the team’s premature tribute to the late heavyweight champion.
The Marlins displayed a photo of Ali on their video board Friday night indicating the heavyweight champion had died, but it was more than two hours later before Ali’s family announced his death in Phoenix.
Samson said Saturday that the premature tribute, which took place moments after Miami’s game against the New York Mets ended, came after he confirmed Ali’s death with someone close to the boxer. Samson was unaware the death had yet to be made public.
Fans at the Marlins-Mets game Saturday observed a moment of silence for Ali while the video board displayed a photo of the triumphant champion.
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