Lob & Kritik » answer to some punishing Gloucester momentum.Humph

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Muhammad Alis legendary presence made him a natural ambassador for the center bearing his name. His family and friends hope his death wont stop fans from opening their checkbooks to support his legacy in the city where his boxing career started.Alis death in June at age 74 after a long battle with Parkinsons disease left the Muhammad Ali Center without its co-founder and guiding force.It really made us stop and reflect even more about whats next. What happens after the champ is gone? Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said.The center showcases his fights inside the ring and outside of it -- against war and segregation. Ali Center officials have an ambitious fundraising campaign and hope to further promote the ideals championed by Ali: peace, social justice and personal growth.Meanwhile, a renovation of exhibit space, planned before his death, opens to the public in September with new artifacts.Alis wife, Lonnie, said the centers efforts embody her husbands humanitarian goals.Muhammad was very proud of the Muhammad Ali Center and his genuine desire was that it last for generations to come as an example of how people should live their life, said Lonnie Ali, who co-founded the center.The burst of activity comes as the center, a striking structure along the Ohio River that opened in 2005, tries to build on the outpouring of interest in the three-time heavyweight boxing champion.So many people ... had absolutely no idea that Muhammad Ali was from Louisville, said Ali Center President and CEO Donald Lassere.Fans flocked to Alis hometown after his death. Tens of thousands lined Louisville streets for his funeral procession before a star-studded memorial service.In the first week after he died, the Ali Centers attendance surged to 20,000 people. In 2015, visitors totaled about 100,000. The upswing continued in July and August. Gift shop sales have skyrocketed.The initial phase of the fundraising campaign, focused on Louisville, has a goal of $10 million. About $1 million has been raised so far. The campaign will expand globally, with an ultimate goal of $100 million.Fundraising needs to occur right now while all thats kind of fresh in peoples mind, said Ina Brown Bond, a longtime Ali Center supporter.Donations account for about 70 percent of the Ali Centers income, officials said. The rest comes from admissions, memberships, retail sales and private events. The centers annual budget is about $4.5 million.Lassere acknowledged that fundraising will likely become more difficult as years pass.An annual event bestowing Ali humanitarian awards is an important fundraising occasion. This years awards ceremony will be Sept. 17, and recipients include Cindy Hensley McCain, wife of Arizona Sen. John McCain, and Academy Award-winning actor Louis Gossett Jr.Still, officials acknowledge that Alis death leaves a void.How do you overcome (the loss) of the greatest of all time? Lassere said. You have ... to have the confidence to move forward.Supporters say the center will stay relevant by promoting Alis humanitarian principles while delving into discussions about bridging racial and religious divides.The Ali Center should be one of the premiere gathering places in the world for these types of conversations, said Fischer, the mayor. Because what the Muhammad Ali Center has that nobody else has is Muhammad Ali.Theres only one of him. Gloucester secured a crucial try-bonus point victory to leap up the Aviva Premiership as they defeated dogged Bristol 26-18 at Kingsholm.The Cherry and Whites fired blanks in the opening half as Bristol went in 6-0 ahead thanks to two penalties from full-back Jason Woodward.However, an improved second period saw centre Matt Scott, scrum-half and captain Willi Heinz and wing Henry Purdy all go over for tries, with a penalty try also awarded. Fullback James Hook also kicked three out of four conversions.Wing Jack Wallace and Luke Arscott got late Bristol consolation tries, one of which Arscott coverted.Gloucester began the match in determined fashion, with Bristol stuck inside their own half as the Cherry and Whites pounded their defence.Former England number eight Ben Morgan was on the rampage and made several holes in the visitors defence. Once they started to motor, the Premierships basement side took the game to Gloucester, and they went ahead when Woodward slotted a simple shot from 23 metres to put Bristol three points ahead.The visitors had Gloucester on the rack soon after as they reached Gloucesters tryline, with skipper Jordan Crane at number eight leading the charge - but could not breach a solid defence. Woodward, though, added a second penalty after 18 minutes and were giving the Cherry and Whites headaches.Skipper Heinz came the closest to grabbing a Gloucester try during a decidedly average first period when he was stopped two metres short of the line - and the home crowd vented their frustration when Hook, who has signed for Welsh region Ospreys for next sseason, missed a straightforward penalty.dddddddddddd.Gloucesters handling was poor before the break and all the endeavour was coming from the visitors - but it was a different story after the turnaround as the home side pressed forward.By the 50-minute mark, they had stormed into a 14-6 lead, with Bristol having no answer to some punishing Gloucester momentum.Humphreys changed centre Mark Atkinson for former England centre Billy Twelvetrees at the break and it had an immediate effect as Twelvetrees gave a scoring pass inside the 22 to Scott. Hooks conversion put Gloucester ahead. Gloucesters scrum overpowered the visitors inside Bristols 22 and, when the ball popped out at the side, Heinz snatched it to dive in from five metres alongside the posts.The home side had gone up a few gears and, when they drove a maul over the Bristol line, replacement prop Jamal Ford-Robinson was yellow carded for pulling it down. Ref Matthew Carley also awarded a penalty try, which Hook converted.Bristol almost got a try when replacement fly-half Billy Searle set a lovely ball inside to lock James Phillips but, on review, the pass was adjudged forward.It was tough luck on Bristol but they suffered even worse fortune when Purdy waltzed past two attempted tackles from 10 metres out to stroll over on the left for Gloucesters bonus point try. With seconds left, Wallace got Bristols consolation try in the right corner and Arscott got another virtually straight away. ' ' '