Ali is on life support

[sand_man]

https://youtu.be/jkhpZoPOfZI

[Nostril Cheese]

The Greatest.

Hero.

RIP

[74-911]

Originally Posted by jcommin

Growing up in the 50s and 60s he was an outcast - draft dodger. I'm glad we can forgive. I wish him the best. A great athlete.

Draft dodgers went to Canada or did the Cheney thing. Ali had the courage of his convictions and paid dearly for them. Us forgive him? We should be glad he could forgave us....

[jcommin]

Originally Posted by BE911SC

At least he was honest and open about why he refused to be drafted and then went to jail--and didn't run off to Canada or somewhere else.

He also didn't come up with the BS line, "I had better things to do." That was a recent vice president who said that.

Not to be a jerk......... you mean like Newt, Rush, Dan Quale, Trump and Bill Clinton?????

[Baz]

[BE911SC]

Originally Posted by jcommin

Not to be a jerk......... you mean like Newt, Rush, Dan Quale, Trump and Bill Clinton?????

Yes. And it was Dick Cheney who said he had "better things to do" than to serve in the military during the Vietnam draft era. Eight deferments.

Pardon the PARF but it had to be said.

[ChemMan]

The Champ signed a picture for me when I was in college. Took his time to write my name, as well. I am so saddened by his passing.

RIP. My condolences to his family.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SV75aFzC1aQ

[pwd72s]

The Thrilla in Manila was probably the best heavyweight fight of my lifetime. Ali and Frazier both laid it all on the line.

I urge anyone here too young to have seen it at the time to watch it on youtube..

They make today's heavyweights a sad joke...

[aigel]

RIP Ali! I will watch the Thriller in Manila in celebration with my family tonight. I am too young to have him seen fight live, but boxing myself in college, he was a big man for me, watching many of his fights, reading about him in books - even after his fighting days.

It is too bad pro boxing has been all but wiped out. I would have loved to be there for some of these big fights.

G

[sand_man]

When We Were Kings is a fantastic documentary (maybe too strong of a word) about the "Rumble in the Jungle"

When We Were Kings (1996) - IMDb

[KFC911]

When I was a youngin' in the early seventies, I was a Joe Frazier fan and didn't like that cocky, trash talking Ali one bit...though I could appreciate his boxing skills. He grew on me as I and he aged...as his skills waned, I discovered he could take a punch like few others could too.

RIP champ....you were indeed "the greatest" of my lifetime.

[Por_sha911]

Cassius Clay was a great boxer. Maybe the greatest ever. Hero? Not even close. He did nothing heroic.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by KC911

RIP champ....you were indeed "the greatest" of my lifetime.

+1.

My son and I just watched excerpts from the first Frazier fight. We were in awe. There was serious boxing going on.

Thrilla in Manilla on tap for this evening. Wiki says it's the best of all three.

[Crowbob]

Originally Posted by BE911SC

At least he was honest and open about why he refused to be drafted and then went to jail--and didn't run off to Canada or somewhere else.

He also didn't come up with the BS line, "I had better things to do." That was a recent vice president who said that.

There is irony, then there is IRONY.

Ali refused the draft specifically because he 'aint got no no truck with no Viet Cong'. But was rather lionized for his 'honesty and openness' by claiming to be a conscientious objector by virtue of his Mohammadism, the followers of whom must eschew any and all forms of violence.

[URY914]

Yes, the greatest in the ring. I don't get why he is called a hero. The media acts as if he cured cancer and parted the seas.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by URY914

Yes, the greatest in the ring. I don't get why he is called a hero. The media acts as if he cured cancer and parted the seas.

No...that was PRINCE who did that....

[Heel n Toe]

Right now on Spike: "Facing Ali," a documentary (2009)... looks like it will be excellent.

Facing Ali (2009) - IMDb

[Tobra]

He made other people look like they were moving in slow motion

[Iciclehead]

Originally Posted by Tobra

He made other people look like they were moving in slow motion

You know, I am not a fan of boxing, must admit I always thought it was a bunch of thick headed thugs beating each other up. Then I saw Ali....and I thought he must just be ducking and moving his head at random...one of these days he was going to zig when the other guy zagged and that'd be the end of the Ali legend.

Well, call it what you will, I became impressed with the skill of anticipation and speed Ali showed so often, so consistently, he truly could not just be a lucky guy with a big, thick skull...he was avoiding blows with purpose at a speed that I could only imagine.

I believe he was a good man, we would never agree on religion, but I respect him and mourn his passing.

Godspeed Mohammed. Godspeed...

Dennis

[fintstone]

A great boxer but not much of a man. A draft evader who refuse to serve the country that gave him so much opportunity. I resented very much the fact that my brother and others we knew had to serve while the rich and famous could do as they pleased. Although there were plenty of legitimate ways to get a deferral (education for example) which postponed competing in the draft or medical (if a physical problem)...those who simply refused don't deserve to live in such a fine nation...paid for by the blood of others who did not shy away from serving.