Muhammad Ali dead

[account_inactive]

I was never much of a boxing fan. It's sad news but nobody lives forever.

[abaris]

He seemed like a decent guy, ignoring for the moment that he beat the snot out of people for money.

Our modern day gladiators. Let's face it, watching two guy beating the shit out of each other is only a tad more civilzed that the Roman sport of old.

But, funnily enough, boxers tend to be gentle person with humanist streaks. Tyson aside. There was that German champion of old, Max Schmeling, who lived to the ripe age of 99, pushing 100. His most famous fights were against Joe Lewis, whom he became friends with and supported him to his death, after Lewis had fallen on hard times.

[Jackalope]

Yeah that was mostly an attempt at levity. Humanity seems to enjoy blood sport - and you're right, boxing is certainly more civilized than skewering one another.

[Mister Agenda]

This here's the story of Cassius Clay
Who changed his name to Muhammad Ali
He knows how to talk and he knows how to fight
And all the contenders were beat out of sight

Sing, Muhammad, Muhammad Ali
He floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee
Mohammed, the black superman
Who calls to the other guy I'm Ali catch me if you can

Now all you fight fans, you've got to agree
There ain't no flies on Muhammad Ali
He fills the arena wherever he goes
And everyone gets what they paid for

Muhammad, was known to have said
You watch me shuffle and I'll jab off your head
He moves like the black superman
And calls to the other guy I'm Ali catch me if you can

Johnny Wakelin

[brewer]

Very sad. Another part of my youth gone. Hope he went peacefully.

[AFTT47]

Loss of a true, American icon. I'll miss him.

[abaris]

Loss of a true, American icon. I'll miss him.

Global Icon, more likely. Even if you aren't into boxing, you knew him. I would be hard pressed to name any contemporary boxer, but Ali or Cassius I knew for my whole life.

[CapnAwesome]

One of the most important things to remember about Ali, both as a man and as a boxer is that he missed 4 of his prime athletic years where he was stripped of his title because of draft dodging and his principled stance against the war. He also softened on most of his goofy religious views that he had when he was younger while he aged. .

[Minimalist]

Good point.  Usually religitards get crazier as they get older.

[Crossless2.0]

One of the most important things to remember about Ali, both as a man and as a boxer is that he missed 4 of his prime athletic years where he was stripped of his title because of draft dodging and his principled stance against the war.

Yes, we'll never know how great a champion he could have been because of his having the title stripped. Prior to his years wandering in the wilderness, we had glimpses of how magnificent he was (Liston, Terrell, Williams) and of course we saw his checkered but often brilliant years once his boxing license was reinstated, but those lost years will always be a tantalizing "what if".

For my money, his defining fights -- aside from winning the title from Liston -- were the fight in Zaire when he beat the odds and Foreman to regain the title and his third fight with Frazier, during which two of the finest heavyweights of all time threw more punches and absorbed more punishment than seemed possible. People rightly talk about Ali's speed and freakish reflexes, but it's worth mentioning that he had a granite chin and could take body punches like no one I've ever seen.

Of course, his courage and ability to absorb such punishment (combined with his refusal to retire after the fight with Frazier in the Philippines) led to his developing Parkinson's, which was sad. But I doubt many Parkinson's sufferers lived so long and so well with their condition.

R.I.P. Champ. And thanks for the memories.