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That time Muhammad Ali pounded the Thrilla In Manila into a napkin

The knocking was incessant, and it was perplexing. Annoyance was creeping in.

Coming into the gala, attendees at Charlotte's historic Duke Mansion were uncertain of what to expect, but they were quite certain this behavior wasn't it.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

For 45 minutes, the pen pounded the table.

It was 2003, and some of Charlotte's most affluent personalities and businesspeople were attending an awareness fundraiser for Parkinson's disease. Many in the room were restless because of the repetitive banging.

The most famous guest in the room was making a scene.