The Rebirth of George Foreman

George Foreman is known to millions of people all over the world. His jovial smile and warm, exuberant personality are mainstays of George's persona. In the world of business, George has proven to be a gold mine. His George Foreman Lean Mean Fat Reducing Grilling Machine took the world by storm - selling millions of units - and, as a result, George has made millions. It was but a few years ago that the Salton Corporation, the company that designed and developed the grill, paid George an estimated $137 million dollars for his share in the company and for the rights to continue the use of George Foreman's name in relation to the marketing of the grill. $137 million dollars! That's more money than George earned in his entire professional boxing career - by far! And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

George has his own line of big and tall men's clothing, a line of cookware, and he's now writing books! George is not just a knockout in the boxing world, but he's obviously carried his knockout punch into the business world as well. And for those who are familiar with George's earlier professional boxing career - the one that started in 1969 and saw him win the Heayweight Boxing Championship of the World in 1973 from Joe Frazier - it's quite a shock to compare that George Foreman to the present day incarnation. The old George was a surly, moody, and reclusive guy who had to force himself to smile. He exuded menace and danger, and he reveled in that; he didn't go out of his way to be nice! He was the stereotypical big and bad heavyweight champion, and he wanted everyone to know that.

But George changed. Somewhere along the way he morphed into a genial, smiling, happy-go-lucky guy. After George's last fight - a decision loss to the slick Jimmy Young in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Foreman had a religious experience in his dressing room moments after the fight ended. Surrounded by his cornermen and trainer at the time, Gil Clancy, Foreman appeared to hallucinate and started reciting religious scripture and proclaiming himself clean and living for God. George was crazy; he was mad! His trainer said that George was just exhausted from his fight with Jimmy Young in the sweltering Puerto Rican heat and was suffering heat-related hallucinations, or heat prostration. But George knew better! It had to have been a sign! George decided to retire from the world of boxing after that dressing room experience and embarked on a religious journey that saw him become an ordained minister. The old George Foreman was gone. T

In with the new. The new George Foreman, the man of God, learned the value of human love and affection; he enjoyed people and he enjoyed his life in ways that he never was able to back when he was the surly and ill-tempered heavyweight boxing champion. George Foreman was at peace with himself and the world. When George found God, he found himself! George built his own church and regularly conducted twice-weekly sermons to people in his small rural town of Humble, Texas. Eventually, George opened his own youth program and facility - the George Foreman Youth and Community Center - that he built to give the areas children a safe, productive place in which to spend their time and interact; something that George lacked in his wild, troubled youth. George Foreman became a man who loved life and himself. And that newfound sense of meaning and peace reflected in his personality. People seemed to be drawn to George; he exuded an aura, a glow! But the boxing ring was calling out to George, and George answered the call.

After resuming his boxing career in 1987, after a ten year retirement, George scarcely resembled his previous boxing self. He was much heavier, his head was shaved clean, and a smile replaced his earlier perpetual frown. George became a media sensation; his genial and warm personality and manner attracted hoards of people and fans to his many fights. In a world of cocky, arrogant, and ill-mannered athletes, George was seen as a welcome breath of fresh air; he was somebody that you could look up to. No pictures of George fighting in public, being carted off to jail or rehab, and no scandolous headlines appearing in any newspapers. George was having too much fun enjoying himself and his fans in ways that he never did during his first boxing career. And then the endorsements came. Many well-known companies were lining up to hire George to be a spokesman for their products - Meineke Mufflers, McDonalds, Kentucky Fried Chicken, e.t.c. George became a darling of Madison Avenue. And then he did the impossible!

In 1994, George Foreman regained the heavyweight championship with an improbable and unbelievable knockout of then-champion Michael Moorer. After losing his title to Muhammad Ali in 1974, George was once again champion, twenty-years later! The boxing world was abuzz with George's miracle, and George's popularity hit the stratosphere. His autobiography - By George - was published soon after his record-shattering championship win; when, at the age of 45, George became the oldest heavyweight champion in history! Then, the grill! The Salton Corporation approached George about being a spokesman for their new grill. After trying the grill himself, George agreed. And the rest is history! Millions of grills have been sold, and George is now known as the "King of the Grills!" In fact, there is a whole generation of younger people who don't even know George was the heayvweight champion of the world - twice! They only know him as that man on television who's always doing the grill commercials and endorsements!

George Foreman learned to sell himself, and he definately has a product to sell. After George's initial boxing career ended and he found God and peace, he emerged ten years later as a changed man. And to a vast public who had become accustomed to the boorish, childish behavior of many of its sports celebrities, George Foreman's warm, engaging personality and smiling face have endeared himself to a legion of fans and admirers, many of whom trust in, and believe in, the George Foreman name and brand!