Clearly one of the greatest - and most controversial - athletes of our generation. I've forgotten a lot of things, but I clearly recall my feelings about him when he first began his rise to the top of the heavyweight ranks. He had won the light heavyweight championship at the 1960 Rome Olympics. He was Cassius Clay, brash, loud mouthed, trash talking, something I had never seen before in any sport. I didn't like his style. I felt athletes should keep their mouths shut and go about their business, like....well, like Joe Frazier. Smokin' Joe was the anti-Cassius Clay, also rising on a parallel trajectory to Clay. I "sided" with Smokin' Joe. From the time he decked Liston, Clay/Ali completely dominated the heavyweight division. His 3 fights with Frazier were the Super Bowls of boxing. His refusal to enlist in the service and the ensuing suspension began his downfall, but his colorful personality, which by this time had endeared him to millions, including this boxing fan, continued to shine. It was in retrospect, that I acknowledged his bigger-than-life greatness as a boxer and as a pioneer for his race during the time following the passage of the Civil Rights Bill, when racial bigotry remained firmly ingrained in our society. In retirement, he displayed a warm, approachable personality, which furthered his legacy of greatness. Our children witnessed his impact when he lit the flame at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. I watched it and was moved with emotion. I'm a sap for scenes like that. Some may make the claim, but there will never be another "The Greatest", at least not for our generation.
He was truly larger than life. Like all who are that way, they have good and bad. I remember him calling Joe Frazier and "Uncle Tom" and several other names. But his good outweighed his bad. At the time he refused to enter the service, I felt he got what he deserved. I later while not condoning his refusal to serve, agreed that the country needed to move on and he needed to be allowed to fight again. He was the greatest boxer ever, that's for sure. RIP
My feelings about Ali in many ways mirror Sid's. He started out as a national hero winning the light heavyweight gold in 1960. Then in a time of war he became a controversial draft avoider. He missed a number of his prime years in his sport like the greatest hitter in baseball, Ted Williams. But unlike Williams who served in two wars, he refused to serve his country. He became the model for Apollo Creed in the Rocky movies and Rocky's epic battle with Drago was the mirror of his great victory over Frazier in Manila. That fight more than any other showed not only his skill but his tremendous courage and heart. Like Tiger Woods there was no one better than he in his prime. But it's hard to be the self appointed "greatest" when you lose 5 times. His last few fights were difficult to watch as he took needless punishment. He was the most recognized personality in the world. And when it came to celebrity, he was the greatest.
:idea: :arrow: He seemed to be a man who was trying his best to do the right thing. In the end, that's the best most of us can hope for.