A Knoxville lawmaker tells WBIR's "Inside Tennessee" he shouldn't have posted his opinions about the late boxer Muhammad Ali on social media.
Within hours of the boxing great's death June 3 in Arizona at age 74, Republican Rep. Martin Daniel of Knoxville was widely criticized for chastising the boxer on Twitter for refusing to sign up for the Army in the 1960s during the Vietnam War.
Daniel, who represents the 18th District in the state Legislature, also referred to Ali by his original name - Cassius Clay - which the champ changed decades ago.
His remarks were covered by media across the nation, and his tweets drew scornful responses from people who wondered why he wouldn't address Ali by his chosen name.
"In this case, it was only personal comment. I made a mistake. It won't happen again," Daniel said on the program, which will air 9:30 a.m. Sunday on WBIR, Channel 10.
Daniel since has deleted his Twitter account.
Daniel faces three challengers in the Republican primary in August - former state Rep. Steve Hall, Bryan Dodson and James Corcoran. The three appear on the program with Daniel.
