MUHAMMAD ALI's funeral will "take place at 2pm Friday at Louisville's KFC YUM! Center arena," according to Jon Kamp of the WALL STREET JOURNAL. A procession "will start at 9am, winding slowly through" Louisville (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 6/6). THE UNDEFEATED's Michael Fletcher noted Ali's funeral will be held with plans "made years ago based on Ali's wishes." The funeral will include a "motorcade through the city and a memorial service with eulogies by" former President BILL CLINTON, BILLY CRYSTAL and BRYANT GUMBEL. Family spokesperson BOB GUNNELL said Ali wanted the memorial to be "open to everyone" (THEUNDEFEATED.com, 6/5). Gumbel today said of speaking at the service, “It is a terrific honor and I’d be lying to you if I told you it wasn’t daunting” (“Today,” NBC, 6/6). In DC, Dave Sheinin noted among the officiants "will be Sen. ORRIN G. HATCH (R-Utah), a former Mormon bishop and a friend of Ali’s." The boxer's death on Saturday was "greeted like that of a head of state, which, in a sense, he was." Ali tributes "came from all over the world" (WASHINGTON POST, 6/5). In Lousville, Chris Kenning noted on Thursday, Ali's immediate family "will hold a private ceremony." The 2:00pm service on Friday will be an "interfaith service" and "include clerics from several religions." For those unable to attend, it will be "streamed live" from AliCenter.org. The event "will be open to the public with limited seating." Information and details on tickets "will be released as they become available." Afterward, a private reception "will be held at the Ali Center for friends and guests" (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 6/5).
