Ali near death (Ali has died at 74)

[George]

What a shame........we're running out of low-life draft dodgers.

[mechanicalman]

Originally Posted by George

What a shame........we're running out of low-life draft dodgers.

Whoa. I am not a prolific poster by any means, but I can't imagine the restraint I would have to have to only post four times in 7 years on this board.

[clydepepper]

Originally Posted by mechanicalman

Whoa. I am not a prolific poster by any means, but I can't imagine the restraint I would have to have to only post four times in 7 years on this board.

That's okay. Based on his response less is more...a lot more!



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[the 'stache]

Originally Posted by George

What a shame........we're running out of low-life draft dodgers.

Hmm. Four posts in seven years.

Do us all a favor, George. See if you can't up your average length of time between posts so we don't have to see you scurrying around on the board again any time soon.

[Dewey]

He refused the draft a year before MLK delivered his major speech against Vietnam and then was assassinated the next day. Neither of them were low lifes. Some see refusing to enter foreign wars without just cause an act of moral courage, not cowardice. Any appreciation of historical context makes his decision understandable, whether you agree or not.

Thanks for the memories Ali, but I always favored Sugar Ray Leonard.

Originally Posted by George

What a shame........we're running out of low-life draft dodgers.

[bcornell]

Originally Posted by George

What a shame........we're running out of low-life draft dodgers.

[REMOVED] This forum used to be great, but it's awful now. Arbitrary enforcement of rules by the moderator, plus people who don't know anything about vintage cards and don't care posting over & over again.

[clydepepper]

Originally Posted by bcornell

Virtually every OT thread on this forum is either silly or, like this one, a magnet for stupidity. Thanks, "George".

Leon, the rule should be if you don't put your name to it, you don't get to post at all. No qualifiers.

for 'george':

The statement is appropriate "You can't fix stupid."

- and another one from the same source (Ron White):

"Next time you have an idea, (rather than sharing it)- just let it go."

[Leon]

Originally Posted by bcornell

Virtually every OT thread on this forum is either silly or, like this one, a magnet for stupidity. Thanks, "George".

Leon, the rule should be if you don't put your name to it, you don't get to post at all. No qualifiers.

George Altemose gave the unneeded opinion. I will say that this board has not always been friendly to the deceased, aka Where art thou now, Brucii?

And for Ali, RIP Champ...

a very good and succinct report is here.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/muhamma...042902069.html

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[bxb]

RIP

Despite the controversy, a case can be made that he was the greatest athlete in his sport of all time, beyond the wins and losses.

Certainly the most recognizable sports figure world-wide.

[kkkkandp]

Ali was one of the best entertainers inside or outside the ring I've ever seen.

Back in the early 70s my college roommate was visiting and he was catching a ride home in NYC. We went in early and we were just walking around the city when we happened on Ali walking to an engagement. It was amazing. Cabbies were stopping in the street yelling to him. Ali was smiling, talking to everyone. The people parted on the crowded sidewalk like he was Moses walking through the Red Sea. One kid jokingly challenged him to a fight. Ali stopped, dropped his bag, put on that mean "fight face" he did biting his lower lip, and whipped off a flurry of shadow box punches. Everybody laughed including him. My roommate and I both got his autograph. One of the best bits of New York theater I've ever seen.

[Marckus99]

Nighty nite, Cassius.

[bnorth]

As someone who spent a lot of time in the old squared circle he will be missed. He was one of my heroes. The things that man could do in the ring was beyond belief.

[mark evans]

RIP. A great fighter and a greater man.

[icollectDCsports]

Originally Posted by kkkkandp

Ali was one of the best entertainers inside or outside the ring I've ever seen.

Back in the early 70s my college roommate was visiting and he was catching a ride home in NYC. We went in early and we were just walking around the city when we happened on Ali walking to an engagement. It was amazing. Cabbies were stopping in the street yelling to him. Ali was smiling, talking to everyone. The people parted on the crowded sidewalk like he was Moses walking through the Red Sea. One kid jokingly challenged him to a fight. Ali stopped, dropped his bag, put on that mean "fight face" he did biting his lower lip, and whipped off a flurry of shadow box punches. Everybody laughed including him. My roommate and I both got his autograph. One of the best bits of New York theater I've ever seen.

I got the chance to meet him, with a group of others, in what was a complete surprise circumstance a little less than 30 years ago. Quite a thrill. I stayed up late last night and got up early, listening to the discussion about Ali on NY's WFAN (via the Internet). Some great reflections from reporters who covered and knew Ali, but it was striking how many callers detailed their encounters with the man. He was simply great and gracious meeting with normal, regular folks in public. It's amazing to consider how many people he must've touched in this way. RIP

[rjackson44]

him and cosell were the best omg what a show ,,rip champ

[Jeff_cvc]

“I ain’t draft dodging. I ain’t burning no flag. I ain’t running to Canada. I’m staying right here. You want to send me to jail? Fine, you go right ahead. I’ve been in jail for 400 years. I could be there for 4 or 5 more, but I ain’t going no 10,000 miles to help murder and kill other poor people. If I want to die, I’ll die right here, right now, fightin’ you, if I want to die. You my enemy, not no Chinese, no Vietcong, no Japanese. You my opposer when I want freedom. You my opposer when I want justice. You my opposer when I want equality. Want me to go somewhere and fight for you? You won’t even stand up for me right here in America, for my rights and my religious beliefs. You won’t even stand up for my rights here at home.”

- if he's a draft dodger, then put me in jail also.

Jeff Rogoff

[Michael B]

Originally Posted by George

What a shame........we're running out of low-life draft dodgers.

I've got to jump in on this. Complete ignorance here. He did not dodge the draft. He refused to be inducted due to his religious convictions. He was arrested and convicted of violating the Selective Service Laws. He appealed and the U.S. Supreme Court agreed by an 8-0 vote (Thurgood Marshall recused himself). That is called courage of your convictions. He was willing to stay in this country and face the consequences of his actions unlike the cowards who hid in Canada. You should educate yourself before you brush your teeth with gunpowder and start shooting off your mouth.