Ali near death (Ali has died at 74)

[Billy5858]

Originally Posted by clydepepper

It takes as much if not more of a hero to stand up for what you believe in when virtually all oppose you and face the consequences than it does to play follow the leader without even considering the bigger picture.

Heroes can stand out FROM a crowd as well as IN a crowd.

I know a lot of veterans and live next to one of the largest military installations in the world, but it does not keep me from being an independent thinker.

I consider myself a conservative and revere what many veterans have sacrificed, but not all of them are heroes...or even good people (and that's before and after their service) ...so, again...independent thinking is the way to see things in proper perspective.

Radical views in either camp (conservative and liberal) are neither valid nor healthy in either the short or the long run.

...and Heroes come in all shapes, sizes, races, and religons...so take the blinders off and see things as they should be.


Raymond Culpepper
in Columbus, GA next to Fort Benning

Thanks...... Very even minded thoughtful
and intelligent response. Wish I had just
a little bit of your wisdom sir. I would be a
much better person

[Bored5000]

Since autographs are often a major discussion point on this site, I thought I would post a couple articles dealing with acquiring the autographs of all 50 of Ali's professional opponents. The first 40 or so of Ali's opponents are easy autographs to acquire. Alejandro Lavorante is tough; he died in 1964 of injuries sustained in the ring. Fellow Ali opponent Sonny Banks was also killed in the ring in 1965.

Alfredo Evangelista is a notoriously reluctant autograph signer. Tony Esperti (Ali's third pro opponent) went to prison following a 1967 mob hit.

The list grows completely cold, though, at 49 of 50 autographs. "Slim" Jim Robinson fought Ali in Ali's fourth pro bout. A Robinson autograph is like chasing a unicorn. No one is even really sure what happened to Robinson.

http://archive.boston.com/news/globe...e_mr_robinson/


http://espn.go.com/espn/eticket/stor.../jimmyrobinson

[Cliff Bowman]

Originally Posted by Bored5000

The list grows completely cold, though, at 49 of 50 autographs. "Slim" Jim Robinson fought Ali in Ali's fourth pro bout. A Robinson autograph is like chasing a unicorn. No one is even really sure what happened to Robinson.

http://archive.boston.com/news/globe...e_mr_robinson/


http://espn.go.com/espn/eticket/stor.../jimmyrobinson

According to the two articles it was "Sweet Jimmy" Robinson, not "Slim" Jim Robinson. The way they talked in the articles, if it was "Slim Jim" the mystery would have been solved very quickly .

[autograf]

I graduated from the same high school here in Louisville, KY.....Central High.....as Ali. Although about 25 years later. It was an inner city High School and I was bused there in the early 1980's busing experiment. I met a ton of great people there and have life-long friendships as a result.

Some people think Ali stood behind Islam as a way to get out of service in Vietnam as if he just adopted that religion for that quick reason. Ali held fast to his beliefs on Islam until the day he died, so if he did just hang on to it for that reason, it was a sly 50-60 year ploy...

While I don't necessarily agree with the decision on Vietnam, I can't possibly fathom the strength it would take to make that stand and then lose everything you worked so hard to get and have the case hanging over you for many years before it was decided. I would hope I would have the same convictions to stand on something if I felt so strongly....

Not many minds are gonna be changed about Ali even after his passing. I think those who wanted to change them already have and many, like Leon said, take his whole life into consideration when rationally looking at any person. I know as a Louisvillian, Kentuckian and American, I'm proud of Ali and all he stood for. Our city, state, country and world is ultimately a better place because of it.

If you are ever in Louisville, there's an Ali Museum on Main Street in walking distance from the Louisville Slugger Museum. It's a fantastic place and about a 2 hour diversion, well worth the time.

[forazzurri2axz]

Been there twice--I second the recommendation, a great place to go

[Bored5000]

Originally Posted by Cliff Bowman

According to the two articles it was "Sweet Jimmy" Robinson, not "Slim" Jim Robinson. The way they talked in the articles, if it was "Slim Jim" the mystery would have been solved very quickly .

Thanks for the correction. I remember how interesting I found the articles when I read them several years ago and wanted to share them with the board. I had a brain freeze and confused my Jim Robinsons.

[jbsports33]

May "Ali" rest in peace