Page 81 - Will Smith: A Biography of a Rapper Turned Movie Star

Golf and Back to Men in Black
81
golf. “Golf is the ultimate sport,” he said. “It’s the perfect
blend of physical ability and mental prowess.”1
The Legend of Bagger Vance premiered in November
2000, but no one could fault Smith if he had other things on
his mind. On October 31, 2000, Jada gave birth to their
daughter, Willow Camille Reign Smith. Halloween was a
fitting birthday for the daughter of a science-fiction fan.
The Legend of Bagger Vance received mixed reviews. The
movie is set in the Deep South at a time when racial
segregation was enforced by law. While some critics had
complained about the heavy racial commentary in Wild,
Wild West, a number of reviewers griped that The Legend of
Bagger Vance barely touched on the issue. Still, as with
Smith’s previous movies, enough moviegoers saw The Legend
of Bagger Vance to earn it a profit.
Back in 1997 Smith had said that he would like to play
Muhammad Ali, but only if a wonderful script came
along. One did, and in 2001 he took on the title role in Ali.
Several critics believed that for Smith, it was the role of a
lifetime. Yet he confessed that it was an intimidating part.
“I didn’t want tobe the dude thatmessedup theMuhammad
Ali story,” he said.2
Ali had been drafted to serve in the United States army
during the VietnamWar, but he refused to become a soldier.
He said that according to his strict religious beliefs, war is
immoral. Taking a stand against war made Ali a hero to
some people, a villain to others. The United States
government stripped Ali of his boxing license and his