Within about 150 days we have lost, arguably, the greatest musician in the world, along with two others who were trend-setters and icons of the very first order: Prince, David Bowie, and Merle Haggard
now we wake up this morning learning of the death at age 74 of perhaps the most famous human on the planet -- boxing and civil rights legend Muhammad Ali :(
I saw him during his prime on TV when I was a little boy and lived in Louisville, KY for a time when he was the reigning undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the World
There was nobody like him -- there are many valid reasons why he was the greatest of all time and probably the most universally loved man of all time, too
I wrote this short piece about him 9 years ago . . . the Greatest of All Time? Actually, I believe that's true
Muhammad Ali (1942-2016)
now we wake up this morning learning of the death at age 74 of perhaps the most famous human on the planet -- boxing and civil rights legend Muhammad Ali :(
I saw him during his prime on TV when I was a little boy and lived in Louisville, KY for a time when he was the reigning undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the World
There was nobody like him -- there are many valid reasons why he was the greatest of all time and probably the most universally loved man of all time, too
I wrote this short piece about him 9 years ago . . . the Greatest of All Time? Actually, I believe that's true
Muhammad Ali (1942-2016)
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Muhammad Ali was one of the greatest boxers ever to step into the ring and, in many ways, also one of the most important political figures of the 20th Century.
He was a tremendous fighter, who was absolutely unbelievable when he was young--quick as a cat with skills not normally associated with a Heavyweight. He lost his prime time years as a boxer, too, because he was man enough (and I believe it was because he was a man and NOT a coward) to stand up for what he believed in with the Army and Vietnam.
He could have been a poster child and never done anything but box and give speeches, but he refused and he has always, to me anyway, been a man of great character who has stood up for people and given a lot of people hope for a brighter future.
His gift for language, his looks, his speed (FAST--like a GREAT middleweight) were incredible. Ali was an artist in the ring--not some big killing machine like Liston but a brilliant fighter who could adapt and box however he needed to in order to win.
His stuff with Cosell, his poetry, the Ali Shuffle. I love Leonard and I loved Hagler as a pure fighter and there are many fantastic fighters but I am old enough to have watched him when he was young and there is nobody like him.
I believe he is bigger than boxing, but judged only as a fighter he is one of the very best. Ever.
To me, he is the GREATEST of all time.
(Originally Posted: August 23, 2007)
He was a tremendous fighter, who was absolutely unbelievable when he was young--quick as a cat with skills not normally associated with a Heavyweight. He lost his prime time years as a boxer, too, because he was man enough (and I believe it was because he was a man and NOT a coward) to stand up for what he believed in with the Army and Vietnam.
He could have been a poster child and never done anything but box and give speeches, but he refused and he has always, to me anyway, been a man of great character who has stood up for people and given a lot of people hope for a brighter future.
His gift for language, his looks, his speed (FAST--like a GREAT middleweight) were incredible. Ali was an artist in the ring--not some big killing machine like Liston but a brilliant fighter who could adapt and box however he needed to in order to win.
His stuff with Cosell, his poetry, the Ali Shuffle. I love Leonard and I loved Hagler as a pure fighter and there are many fantastic fighters but I am old enough to have watched him when he was young and there is nobody like him.
I believe he is bigger than boxing, but judged only as a fighter he is one of the very best. Ever.
To me, he is the GREATEST of all time.
(Originally Posted: August 23, 2007)
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