Tuesday morning at 11 am, Rob Ford presented the key to the city to legendary Canadian boxer George Chuvalo.
The event would be the first opportunity for the press to directly ask Ford about the Toronto Star’s astonishing report of his apparent struggle with alcohol abuse, which included an allegation that he was kicked out of last month’s Garrison Ball due to intoxication.
A thick storm of media showed up at City Hall’s Members Lounge for the press conference.
“So where is there more cameras, here or after a fight, George?” Councillor David Shiner asked, while members of Council posed with the boxer for a photo.
“Actually, there are more people here than my first [press] conference with Ali. There’s more people here, more press here. I’m kinda shocked,” Chuvalo said.
He added, “The mayor draws attention.”
And then the floor was opened up to questions. The video is at the bottom of this post.
Press secretary George Christopoulos: The mayor will take questions.
Toronto Star Urban Affairs Bureau Chief David Rider: Mayor Ford, can you address the story this morning-
Christopoulos: Can you hold on, one second please. Can you hold on.
Rider: Can you talk about leaving the Garrison event?
Ford: You know what, guys, this is about George Chuvalo. If you want to address this: number one, it’s an outright lie. It’s the Toronto Star going after me again, and again, and again. They’re relentless, that’s fine. I’ll go head to head with the Toronto Star any time. Let’s just wait, just let’s wait, let’s just wait ’til the election is, and then we’ll see what happens. But second, it’s patholo- it’s just lies after lies and lies. And I’ve called you pathological liars, and you are, so why don’t you take me to court? Let the courts decide.
Christopoulos: Thank you…
Ford: You guys are liars! It’s about George Chuvalo today, guys. Have some respect!
Christopoulos: Is there any questions for George Chuvalo?
Ford: Have some respect.
Christopoulos (bringing the mayor off the dais): Thank you.
Ford: Thank you very much.
Christopoulos: Is there any questions for George Chuvalo?
Rider: Mr. Chuvalo, you’ve fought against substance abuse. Can you talk about that, and you also know the Ford family, have you seen any evidence of it?
The crowd laughs uncomfortably at the directness of the question. But it becomes clear that Chuvalo, age 75 and somewhat hard of hearing, didn’t quite catch it.
Christopoulos (passive aggressively): Do you wanna speak up a little louder?
Rider: Mr. Chuvalo, you’ve talked about substance abuse that’s your main focus. There’s a story in the Star today saying that the mayor might have a problem or has or appears to have a problem with substance abuse. Have you seen any evidence of that?
Shiner: You should have trouble hearing him, George.
Ford and Christopoulos have an awkward huddle with Chuvalo, attempting to explain what he’s been asked. Ford can be heard muttering the words “substance abuse.”
Chuvalo: I haven’t seen today’s paper, so I can’t really comment on it. I haven’t seen the paper today. So I can’t really comment on it.
Christopoulos: Any more questions?
Toronto Sun City Hall Bureau Chief Don Peat: George, any advice for the mayor?
Chuvalo: Listen, the mayor is a good guy, and he just keep truckin’ the way you usually do, that’s all I can say to you, is I love the mayor, I’ve known his family since his older brother was a little guy, his older brother Randy used to hang around with my son Georgie Lee, so I knew the family way back when, I’ve seen Rob back then. Rob’s always been a good person, he’s always been a kind person. I admired him when he was coaching, first started coaching football at Don Bosco, where my stepdaughter went to school. And I know he’s a good guy, I know he’s got a good heart. I know he’s taken a lickin’ in the papers here and there, and I know it’s a little tough to bear. But I see the Rob the way I see him: he’s a good person, he’s a kind person and he’s a hell of a good mayor. And all the people I see in Rexdale love Rob Ford, everybody. I don’t remember one person in Rexdale said one bad thing about Rob Ford, only positive stuff, only positive. People there love him, and I think he’s gonna be our mayor for quite some time yet.
Christopoulos: Okay, thank you very much everyone.
Ford: Thank you.
