Ali near death (Ali has died at 74)

[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.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Even if you didn't like him, he was great and unique theater. And from my perspective he evolved greatly from the brash youth who doubtless made mistakes into a genuinely spiritual humanitarian.

[ALR-bishop]

The Louisville Lip

[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

[JustinD]

I choose to judge people on their present actions, not their past. We age, we learn and hopefully grow as a person.

As Ali stated in that infamous Playboy interview referenced; "The man who views the world at 50 the same as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life."

I will mourn the loss of a legend who lived and learned like us all. The world will miss him.

[Dewey]

Well quoted and well said, Jeff.

FYI, (especially for newbies), if a member posts stuff that makes you upset or that you find offensive, it is possible to ignore/block them so that you no longer have to see anything they post.

[dgo71]

Originally Posted by 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

+1000

[Billy5858]

Originally Posted by dgo71

+1000

++++1000 more

[Billy5858]

Originally Posted by 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

I meant ++++10000 to this post

Media is now reporting that the cause of death was septic shock according to Ali's family.