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Muhammad Ali has died

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Re: Muhammad Ali has died

#24
post #14

Muhammad Ali is something we won't allow public figures to be anymore. Being outspoken and standing up for his beliefs, against all repercussions, were his his greatest feat(s). I hope, over all else, his contributions to the human spirit reign over the rest of us. We need another (dozen) Cassius Clays.

He wasn't just outspoken, he was eloquent. His command of wit and humor was as extraordinary as his physical skills. That's a pretty rare combination!

Re: Muhammad Ali has died

#25
post #14

Muhammad Ali is something we won't allow public figures to be anymore. Being outspoken and standing up for his beliefs, against all repercussions, were his his greatest feat(s). I hope, over all else, his contributions to the human spirit reign over the rest of us. We need another (dozen) Cassius Clays.

He wasn't just outspoken, he was eloquent . His command of wit and humor was as extraordinary as his physical skills. That's a pretty rare combination!

In spades. Being eloquent, holding court, was his greatest skill.

Re: Muhammad Ali has died

#26
post #18

The saddest thing about Ali's life IMHO is that he lived in a world where the best way he could make his living was hitting and being hit by others. It is time to recognize boxing for the barbarism that it is and retire it from the repertoire of human activity along with bullfighting and bear baiting.

It's not barbarism when it's consenting adults. Bulls and bears do not consent.

Re: Muhammad Ali has died

#27
Oh man this is a bummer.

For as beautiful as it was to watch him box, it is even more beautiful to watch him and Howard Cosell interact. The two of them were a pair, and Cosell was one of the first if not the first to acknowledge his name change. Cosell also stood by him when he decided to be a conscientious objector.

Re: Muhammad Ali has died

#28
post #14

Muhammad Ali is something we won't allow public figures to be anymore. Being outspoken and standing up for his beliefs, against all repercussions, were his his greatest feat(s). I hope, over all else, his contributions to the human spirit reign over the rest of us. We need another (dozen) Cassius Clays.

Nobody allowed him to be this at the time either. It was not easier in any way. He just had the gut to do it. In France we had some old celebrity known for their very funny yet inapropriate one man show. Everybody said that he would not be able to do the same today. Well, all his friends responded, at the time neither. He got sued. Threaten. Physically and financially attacked. Disruption is always hard. And eventual…

You're correct. That's what I ultimately meant.

His words were met, in the media, with challenge. Having his words even echoed was a feat in and of itself. You or I could not replicate his feat as we don't have the stage. People hinged on his every word because of his prowess in a field people could understand. Guys like LeBron James and Michael Phelps are the only folks who could garner the same level of respect in the here and now, but the field has changed, there's too much money at risk...

Case and point. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l35nC0jVNuk

Re: Muhammad Ali has died

#29
post #14

Muhammad Ali is something we won't allow public figures to be anymore. Being outspoken and standing up for his beliefs, against all repercussions, were his his greatest feat(s). I hope, over all else, his contributions to the human spirit reign over the rest of us. We need another (dozen) Cassius Clays.

Ali wasn't "allowed" anything. He lost his livelihood for roughly a third of his athletic prime for standing up for his beliefs. He faced constant racism and bigotry. He was viewed as a bad guy by most of the country for much of his early career. Many people even refused to call him Muhammad Ali including other African American boxers. He persevered and became popular through shear will, determination, charisma, and talent, not because anyone allowed him to be that way.
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