Re: "The world's greatest" Muhammad Ali dies at 74
This is a shock. A truly great man. I recall my father reading Illustrated Weekly. Casius Clay was stripped of his title and placed under arrest for not going to Vietnam. He said - the yellow people have done nothing to me.
The way he would tease his opponents was legend. His right with Joe Frazier, Ken Norton and George Forman were something to remember. His first fight with Frazier - The Free Press of India had the vital statistics
Ht, wt, reach - if I recall Frazier had the edge in all three categories. And Frazier looked mean. I just got the sense Frazier would win that one. Which he did. But Ali came back the next time. With vengeance. He teased and mocked Frazier into defeat.
Ali could take a punch. He really absorbed a lot of punches. That was his key - not only float like a butterfly and sting like a bee. But also absorb whatever the opponent throws at you. And tire him out. And get him in the 15th.
Ali was an entertainer. And a peacenik.
Thank you for the memories, Muhammed Ali. May you rest in peace.
Re: "The world's greatest" Muhammad Ali dies at 74
More than a boxer, Ali was a beautiful person who taught entire world to stand for themselves. He was a visionary leader who always spoke spontaneously in rhymes. So technically you can call his poetic statements as the origin of hip-hop.
How unjust was that, that the greatest boxer ever who messemerized everyone with his few seconds wins was stripped of his title and barred from entering boxing contests when he refused to get drafted for veitnam war.
[QUOTE]
**“Why should they ask me to put on a uniform and go 10,000 miles from home and drop bombs and bullets on Brown people in Vietnam while so-called Negro people in Louisville are treated like dogs and denied simple human rights?
No I’m not going 10,000 miles from home to help murder and burn another poor nation simply to continue the domination of white slave masters of the darker people the world over. This is the day when such evils must come to an end. I have been warned that to take such a stand would cost me millions of dollars. But I have said it once and I will say it again. The real enemy of my people is here.
I will not disgrace my religion, my people or myself by becoming a tool to enslave those who are fighting for their own justice, freedom and equality. If I thought the war was going to bring freedom and equality to 22 million of my people they wouldn’t have to draft me, I’d join tomorrow.
I have nothing to lose by standing up for my beliefs. So I’ll go to jail, so what? We’ve been in jail for 400 years.”**
Re: "The world's greatest" Muhammad Ali dies at 74
Great quote from a great personality.
"The day I met Islam, I found a power within myself that no man could
destroy or take away. When I first walked into the mosque, I didn't
find Islam...it found me."