[advertising guy]

Cassius sure could box

[Islaminaction]

What does Frazier think that Obama is going to do for boxing?
Is he an idiot who has bought into the Obama is going to fix everything hype?

[trisham]

What a sad story.

[Mr. Mojo]

“The Thrilla in Manila” (their third fight) was probably the best heavyweight championship fight in history. But their first encounter (in ‘71) was almost as thrilling, and the build-up and drama surrounding the event was a lot higher. I was young, but I remember the entire country taking sides. ...and it got pretty serious. I was in the Frazier camp.

[LibWhacker]

Dodging punches

[Snurple]

I never liked cassius clay, still dont but when he pulled out the little plastic monkey and started punching it saying “this is what Im going to do to the gorilla in Manila I laughed till I cried.

[Cacique]

btt

[fleagle]

I was too young back in '71, but I'm sure I would have been in the Frazier camp.

I still remember when Letterman used to do this bit where, during his show, he would call up Joe Frazier and ask him how much gas he had in his car. Usually Joe would say something like, "Oh, around a quarter of a tank Dave." I don't know why but at the time I thought that was the funniest thing around.

Frazier is old school Philly and I wish him the best.

[the invisib1e hand]

"Let's see if we can get this back to where it needs to be."

You can't go home, Mr. Frazier. You probably know that.

[Richard Kimball]

I liked Frazier, but Foreman was my favorite all time boxer. Never was an Ali fan. Larry Holmes never got the credit he deserved. He was a great boxer, but wasn't as exciting to watch.

Ultimate fighting draws a lot bigger crowd than boxing, now. The last few times I've watched ultimate fighting, the place was packed and the crowd was rabid. The last few times I've seen boxing, the place was half empty and people were walking in and out during the matches.

[frankenMonkey]

"...ying and yang..."

Note to AP: Please, please, please - see if you can find someone, anyone, who has some college edumacation!

[sfvgto]

I used to like how Ali gave other boxers nicknames based on the shape of their head.....he called Larry Holmes “the peanut” and he called Ernie Shavers “the Acorn”......

[mjp]

Now, boxing has become a niche sport followed mostly by the devoted.

I saw a Tyson fight many years ago in Vegas. All the fights that night were so obviously fixed that I have never watched one since.

[tflabo]

I remember seeing a TV clip when Ali had just finished a fight he won. Immediately Howard Cosell jumped into the ring with microphone and a panting Ali. Cosell called Joe Frazier on the phone, said a few words to stir the pot and then gave the phone to Ali who said, “ Ah Joe, it’s just Howard agitatin’ again”.

[Terry Mross]

I’ve always believed Joe won all three bouts.

[ThermoNuclearWarrior]

Muhammad Ali was one of the best heavyweights of all time but he's also the most overrated athlete of all time.

Boxing will never be as popular as it once was because all the big fights are on pay-per-view and pay channels. If they still had the biggest fights for free on network TV it would be much more popular than it is now. They also need to stop charging $50-$60 for each pay-per-view card. I watch all boxing and MMA pay-per-views for free with Sopcast.

[Robwin]

Ali's racism is not solely dependent on what he did with that plastic monkey. He joined the Nation of Islam, a church which taught blacks were the original human race and whites were "devils" created by this scientist guy through selective breeding (no, seriously. The closest thing we have today to the then Nation of Islam, which has since softened its doctrines, is the Louis Farrakhan version of Islam, mother ship and all. Ali was also a member of the NOI's own security force, the Fruits of Islam (curious choice of name, that).

Ali is a racist, pure and simple, but the old Liberal double standard, as always, rules. Only whites are guilty of racism.

[CaptRon]

I had the pleasure of meeting Joe Frazier quite by accident at the hotel in the Catskills where he trained.

I was at a high school music convention when he walked past me and I lurted out "Mr. Frasier!".

He turned shook my hand and took me to a corner of the lobby where we had a few minute one on one conversation. He had no reason to do it, he was just a gracious and nice man.

[MarDav]

It is my view that Ali has taken all the good sportsmanship out of sport. His shtick of self-promotion, showboating before, during and after his matches and the press’s fawning all over that sent out a very clear signal to the young, future athlete. Be “the Greatest,” have a memorable line or two to say when the mike is thrust your way, have some little “act” during the competition that sears (”sears”) “you” into the memories of young people and you’ll be the next ONE.
I always thought he was a great boxer and I always hoped his opponents would be the one to shut him up.

I miss athletes like Mark Bavarro.