The braggart was hated by everyone, even the media, until he came out as a draft dodger. Suddenly the MSM rehabilitated him form loud mouth braggart to a beloved sports figure.
He was converted by Elijah Mohammed in one visit in jail. Went in a Baptist, came out as a black moslem iman teacher who was anti-war. Who ever heard of an anti-war moslem iman conscientious Objector! If so, he could have been a medic or spent his two years working in a hospital.
If drafted, the sports writers of the time said he would be too valuable to send to Vietnam. He would be used for Public Relations purposes and boxing demos.
I rank him right up there next to treasonous WALTER CRONKITE, JAME FONDA, CASSIUS CLAY MOHAMED ALI.
If Ali had gone into the service, he would have fought exhibitions for the troops—as Joe Louis, Billy Conn, Tony Zale did during World War Two.
No wonder Obama loved him.