Posted on 11/29/2005 7:43:12 AM PST by forty_years
Hmmm... And he discarded it (Islam) after the danger was past?
I agree with your comments and characterization of Ali completely. However, it is apparently in President Bush's character to not exalt himself above others. I saw it prominently in the Clinton portrait dedication ceremony. You can disagree with it, but I think he sees it as a Christian directive. I am not sure I agree with it either, but this is how Bush treats people, and there probably is something to be said for it.
Muhammed Ali never "hated America" and he is not dumb. I would like to see him woop Mike Tyson, too bad we can't go back in time and match them up at their primes.
Of course, my ex wife Velveeta coulda given Mike Tyson a beating like no tomorrow. Velveeta coulda taken Mike Tyson and swept the sidewalk with him.
Not all heavy weight greats are men.
"Muhammed Ali never "hated America" and he is not dumb."
OK, we will have to agree to disagree here.
I have met Muhammad Ali and his family several times. Nice people but he has been taken for everything he is worth by his 'friends' who have abused him and ill advised him.
I agree the freedom medal is misplaced on Muhammad Ali.
I honestly beleive that 'crazy' motion of a finger around the head was ment to say that he could still win a fight with the president not that the president was crazy. He still thinks he is the greatest. He knows he is a cripple but likes to play the part of a champ. He lost a great deal when Howard Cosell, his greatest straight man, died.
So did Elvis, right in his prime too. I'll bet Elvis had negative things to say about Ali's draft dodging antics.
Too bad we'll never see Joe Louis put a beating on Ali, as he easily could. That would be very enjoyable to see. Why? Here's some background on Joe Louis...
""Louis' war-time patriotism in a racially divided country made him a symbol of national unity and purpose. Twice he donated his purse to military relief funds. He endeared himself even more to the American public when he said the U.S. would win World War II "because we're on God's side.""
Bottom line..Joe Louis was a much better man than Ali, in every way.
And in closing...
""Louis spent his last four years in a wheelchair before dying of a heart attack at 66 on April 12, 1981 in Las Vegas. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery at the request of President Ronald Reagan. In death, like in life, he was a hero.""
Ali is no hero, not in any way.
I have a friend of the family who worshipped Ali, he had scrapbooks, rare pictures, etc. Ali signed most of the pages and pictures.
Say what you want about Ali, but he was kind to strangers and fans, I was supposed to go to meet him as a kid but I had to get up at 5 AM and didn't go.
Ali invited my friend to come to to Pennsylvania and stay on weekends whenever he wanted, he has tons of pictures of his visits. He allowed him to bring whoever he wanted too.
These scrapbooks are huge, I was alllowed to borrow them once. Ali was very kind to an ordinary Joe, Bundini Brown used to try and steal the scrapbooks though!
Jimmy Breslin mentioned my friend when Ali was first hospitalized, he came to visit Ali and said of him to the effect that he was the only person who didn't want anything from Ali except his friendship which he gladly offered.
Last I asked him, he couldn't get through to him any more because of all of the layers of people protecting him.
I should also add that my friend is white, I think the Nation of Islam polluted his thinking only to a point and I make no apologies for for Ali. Just knowing this side of him takes SOME of the edge off his negatives.
Ali was surrounded by vultures, I think he took in my friend to try and maintain some connection with reality.
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