RIP Muhammed Ali

[Doerrcollector]

It's time for him to go "Float like a butterfly and sting like a bee"

RIP sir, you were the Greatest!

Thanks,
Jeff

 

[Doerrcollector]

 

[Doerrcollector]

Perhaps the greatest sports pictures there is...



Thanks,
Jeff

 

[joey12508]

He was the greatest. RIP

 

[hive17]

The most famous athlete? I would say yes.

 

[dano7]

He was not only the greatest boxer, but the greatest promoter of himself. It is still questionable as to whether Howard Cosell got Ali's career going or if it was the other way around.
DANNY

 

[WaxPax]

I'm old enough to have seen him fight back in the 70's. The greatest sports icon ever....

 

[AnthonyCorona]

Never saw him fight, but after my grandfather was diagnosed with Parkinson's I started learning about Ali. A truly amazing life, he lighting the Olympic flame still gets me a little emotional. Someone who really transcended sports and was bigger than life

 

[mchenrycards]

I remember seeing him fight a few times and watched him hundreds of times on television promoting himself. An awesome humanitarian and a decent human being.

Now...all that being said I have a question for the group. I have no opinion either way but I have always been fascinated by the love all Americans of this and past generations feel for this man so I am asking for opinions. Lets face it, Ali was a draft dodger and most other men and women who dodged the Vietnam War draft would have been hated, ostracized and thought of as garbage by most Americans. How did Ali survive with his reputation in tact and become one of the most revered men in our history with almost no talk of his draft dodging status? Remember, this is a status that would have been attached to others for the rest of their life and destroyed many a good man even if they were conscientious objectors like Ali.

ok.....discuss!

 

[hive17]

I remember seeing him fight a few times and watched him hundreds of times on television promoting himself. An awesome humanitarian and a decent human being.

Now...all that being said I have a question for the group. I have no opinion either way but I have always been fascinated by the love all Americans of this and past generations feel for this man so I am asking for opinions. Lets face it, Ali was a draft dodger and most other men and women who dodged the Vietnam War draft would have been hated, ostracized and thought of as garbage by most Americans. How did Ali survive with his reputation in tact and become one of the most revered men in our history with almost no talk of his draft dodging status? Remember, this is a status that would have been attached to others for the rest of their life and destroyed many a good man even if they were conscientious objectors like Ali.

ok.....discuss!

I think the way he was targeted by others because of his affiliations (Malcom X for one) is seen as racism through the lens of history, so maybe it's easier to forgive someone who should have been given objector status and wasn't, as opposed to someone who just made excuses. He fought the system to not go to war, whereas true draft dodgers lied about their intentions, college, medical situation, or simply ran away.

 

[mchenrycards]

I think the way he was targeted by others because of his affiliations (Malcom X for one) is seen as racism through the lens of history, so maybe it's easier to forgive someone who should have been given objector status and wasn't, as opposed to someone who just made excuses. He fought the system to not go to war, whereas true draft dodgers lied about their intentions, college, medical situation, or simply ran away.

You may be on to something here. History will show that he did indeed fight and go through the proper channels where others just ran off to Canada. I cannot help but wonder if his actual fight to stay out of the draft and doing it the right way helped to absolve him in the eyes of Americans or has time itself and his good deeds for society in general helped him more. In all the stories I have read today, his humanitarian deeds are about the only thing that is talked about with his draft status being more or less a footnote on his life.

Please note I am NOT pressing to crucify the guy for his misdeeds as we all make mistakes or decisions in life and we have to live with the consequences. I am just fascinated with society and the willingness to forgive some while not forgiving others for the same thing issue especially if there is a celebrity involved. I personally liked Ali and remember him in the late 60's when I was just six years old and all the excitement he brought to the sports world. It was a great time to be a sports fan especially when you were able to watch Ali's interactions with Howard Cosell. Now those were interesting days!

 

[AnthonyCorona]

whereas true draft dodgers lied about their intentions, college, medical situation, or simply ran away.

 

[mchenrycards]

Come on...you are better than that. Why does everything have to turn into a political discussion? I am asking a serious question to find others thoughts on this and you post this crap. Keep this political stuff to the general boards.

 

[fordman]

He was not only the greatest boxer, but the greatest promoter of himself. It is still questionable as to whether Howard Cosell got Ali's career going or if it was the other way around.
DANNY

Both of their careers fed off each other. If ABC didn't have Wide World of Sports in Saturday or Sunday afternoons, Ali would just be a footnote in boxing history.

Fordman

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