Laila Ali may have hung up the boxing gloves for good but the working wife and mother is still finding ways to stay in the spotlight. She’s now the host of the new CBS Saturday morning show “All In,” a show geared towards inspiring kids with feats of personal or athletic achievement. While Ali will remain in the anchor seat, correspondents will head out to tell the incredible true stories of people who have overcome enormous odds to achieve a goal.
“It’s an inspirational/educational show for the whole family,” Ali told the Tom Joyner Morning Show. “When I say I go around the globe, I’m in the studio but the footage comes from around the world. This Saturday, we have a guy named Jeff who for 15 years has wanted to to go the core of an active volcano. “It is a little crazy but these people do things that people think are impossible and they’re able to do it. Most people don’t want to go to the core of an active volcano, it takes a lot of skill and courage and fitness to get there. It shows kids you can reach for the stars and do whatever you want to do.”
Another segment is the story of Joe Farmer, who ran from the North Pole to the South Pole. It took him a year of daily running in 14 countries to accomplish the task. Ali says that her son, Curtis, who is 5 years old, watched the show and understood Farmer’s sacrifice. She hopes to inspire other children by the example the show sets. As for her father, Muhammad Ali, Laila says that despite appearances her father is in great spirits.
“He’s dealing with a disease that’s breaking his body down every day. When I say he’s great, I’m not delusional. He definitely has a disease and it’s hard for me to watch and it’s hard for everybody to watch. But mentally and spiritually, he’s doing well. It’s hard for him to eat because Parkinson’s breaks down your motor system and it’s hard for him to eat. [But] he knows what’s going on. [Ali and his daughter recently attended the premiere of the HBO documentary.] Anytime he can watch himself, in his heyday, he loves watching that.”
“All in With Laila Ali” airs on CBS Saturdays at 11 a.m. in the Saturday morning “Dream Team” block that includes Jamie Oliver’s “15 Minute Meals” at 10:30 a.m. and Kevin Frazier’s “Game Changers” at 11:30 a.m.
