Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer
Former Palisadian Michael Arkush visited Village Books last Saturday to discuss his latest work, “The Fight of the Century,” about the epic heavyweight showdown between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier on March 8, 1971. Much to the author’s delight his audience at 1049 Swarthmore included Los Angeles Lakers Head Coach Phil Jackson, Lakers Vice President Jeannie Buss (Jackson’s girlfriend) and Palisadian-Post managing editor Bill Bruns, who attended the fight and was of the people interviewed for Arkush’s book. Arkush has written nine books, including two New York Times bestsellers, one of which, “The Last Season: A Team in Search of Its Soul,” he co-wrote with Jackson. Playing for the New York Knicks at the time, Jackson and his teammates had seats for the historic fight. Longtime Palisadian Ann Kerr, whose son Steve played on three of Jackson’s NBA championship teams with the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s, was also at Saturday’s signing. “The Fight of the Century” hit bookstore shelves in early November. Arkush lived in Pacific Palisades from 1991-96.
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