spouse of scouse

I've never watched a boxing match in my life, but I was sad to hear Muhammad Ali had died. Parkinson's is a horrible disease but he didn't let it stop him making public appearances and being the consummate showman he's always been.

He was larger than life, extremely talented in his field, entertaining every time he opened his mouth, and so much more intelligent than people might think on first glance.

Rest in peace, Black Superman.

Beoz

Lets talk about Ali shall we ..... warts and all. Or can't you do that without throwing insults?

scrubbedexpat098

He threw his olympic gold into the Ohio river, in protest at the American segrigation of black people. He rather famously replied when asked why he wasn't going to fight in Vietnam 'No Viet Cong ever called me nigger' Like I say, courage of his convictions. A rare man

scrubbedexpat098

In fairness, my post wasn't bearing you in mind, it was balanced and true, I have no problem with that

Amazulu

Cool and no worries

He was a great man, no question

He transcended sport and became an icon of the 20th century

Float like a Butterfly, sting like a Bee - one of the greatest sayings ever spoken

Beoz

If you like balanced than you'll be able to admire his many great qualities and be fair about those that were bad. His early on vendetta against white people was just as bad as those who persecutes black people. Thankfully the great man was able to "balance" as he got older.

scrubbedexpat098

The nation of Islam was criticized for white supremacist ideas, Ali never was except by association. He did refer to the white man as the devil, but amid those times, when blacks were second class citizens, that's hardly surprising.
I'm no apologist, but if you persecute a race long enough, they'll bite you, it doesn't take a genius to work that out.


However you want to slant it, he believed that black and white were equal, two of his closest friends Howard Cossell, and Angelo Dundee were white, and two famously vicious attacks were on Ernie Terrell (What's my name?) And Joe Frazier (Uncle Tom) , both of whom were black, and don't forget Ali and Frazier were firm friends, the Uncle Tom bit (and in general his big mouth), was another weapon in Ali's arsenal. He never hated anyone, he hated the ideals of segregation and oppression, as indeed most people do today.

He was way ahead of the curve, perhaps more people should have listened to him at the time instead of posthumously.

By the way, I won't be inviting you to my Dad's funeral, don't want you arguing with anyone making a speach about how lovely he was (He's not dead by the way haha)

Beoz

There we go, a very sweeping, racist statement that he no doubt regretted in later life.

RIP the greatest.

Alfresco

RIP Big man. What a legend.

Amazulu

When We Were Kings is on ABC tonight

Well worth a watch if you've never seen it

scrubbedexpat098

I've got that on DVD, and you're absolutely right, it's brilliant. Another one I think is superb is Ali with Will Smith. Smith is on the money IMO, and some great roles played by current boxers at time of filming. I thought James Toney and Michael Bentt were proper menacing. I'm still sad

OzTennis

"I'm so fast, when I turn out the light I'm in bed before it's dark" (or similar)

carolinephillips

"Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee,
The fists can't hit what the eye can't see."

That second bit always gets left out.