Ali

swinnea

Looks like Muhammad Ali might be down for the count:
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/muhammad-ali-s-family-gathers-ailing-boxer-s-hospital-bedside-n585611

FauxAmish

I will hope differently from the prognosis.

But if so ... I hope he floats "freely" like a Butterfly.

brsmith

He won't win this one, no one gets out alive...

He displayed everything in the ring, his prowess, arrogance, strength, skill and resolve.

I think he was the most talented Heavyweight I ever saw, in the ring and as a self-promoter.

His rapport with Howard Cosell was much like Bobby Jones and OB Keeler, they were good friends
and needed each other to tell their story.

I certainly enjoyed when Joe Frazier put him on his @ss, when Ken Norton broke his jaw and when he was upset by Leon Spinks, but I admired and respected his ability.

Beating Foreman in his prime in Zaire was amazing. The rope a dope and his quick, sledgehammer jab has never been duplicated. He was a surgeon in the ring when his arrogance was left outside the ring. I don't think we ever really saw how great of a fighter he could have been because of his ban for not fulfilling his selective service requirement. We missed his prime, but I saw enough.

I would have liked to have seen the Cassius Clay that beat Liston fight the 20 year old Tyson. That would have been a heck of a fight.

My prayers he doesn't suffer.

clmiano

A cultural icon. Polarizing and unifying. One of the most fascinating figures of our time. Godspeed, Champ.

letthebigdogshunt

There are many things and many fights to remember about Ali. His Gold Medal in 1960, his two fights with Liston, his three fights with Frazier, his monumental defeat of Foreman in the Rumble in the Jungle, his sparring with Howard Cosell and their love fest. Ali was not only the "greatest" in the ring, but was one of the few athletes who became bigger and more popular after his career was over. In the end he lost his last fight the one everyone who has this disease loses. A remarkable man in a remarkable time. I am still upset about his lost 3 1/2 years during the Vietnam conflict thanks to politics. He lived life to the fullest and became a living legend throughout the world. He will be sorely missed and mourned . RIP

FauxAmish

Muhammad Ali will always be to me to be a man of his convictions.

He made a stance in 67 for his Faith.

He paid a great Personal price for that stance.

Whether one agrees or disagrees with that stance.

He still took it and stood by it.

A Man of conviction does such ...

Ali ... RIP!

PIGDivot

FauxAmish He made a stance in 67 for his Faith.

He paid a great Personal price for that stance.

Looking back in hindsight, it may be more about cowardice, but smart.

Three years in prison, versus a suicide mission to Vietnam. Sure, I'll take three years in prison.

Very smart man honestly.

Sneakylong

Certainly the biggest sports figure for my generation growing up in the 60's and early 70's. Never went to a heavy weight fight, but did get to see Larry Holmes train at the MGM Hotel in Vegas when he fought Michael Spinks in 1986. Standing next to the ring it was amazing how hard they hit.

It was a shame Ali lost his ability to speak. He would've been a great spokesperson against radical Islam.

brsmith

There is no way Ali would have ever seen a forward unit. He would have been a dog and pony show for the Army.

If I remember, he said he wasn't going 10,000 miles to kill poor people who had never done him any harm or called him the N-word.

He was 4F because of his aptitude and then magically he was 1A. The government tried to make him dance and he wouldn't. In the end, the SCOTUS ruled in his favor and he was able to resume boxing.

I think his objection was sincere, and I don't believe he was a coward.

Sneakylong

http://www.hbo.com/movies/muhammad-alis-greatest-fight

This HBO movie tells the story of the Supreme Court's 8-0 decision in his (Ali's) favor. Very good movie IMO.

Bangoman

PIG...NO WAY WAS ALI A COWARD! And not everyone that ran to Canada was a coward...although no doubt the majority were. Ali...his convictions Runaways to Canada....most were cowards.

Signed
A Combat Vietnam Vet '67-'68 (I joined)

Release

At first, I was put off by his display cockiness, later on I changed 180° after he backed up his loud mouth by action.
That walk the talk stuff really turned me from dislike to liking him. I may not agree with 100% of what he stood for, however, he has my respect and admiration. in recent years, I kinda liked him as a person. Maybe because he was quieter than the earlier years. :-)