Perhaps. If history teaches us one thing it's that one person's hero is quite often another person's giant arse. But giant arse or not, Ali did take his stand and accepted the consequences. A lot of people wouldn't do that.
Yes yes, and he also called Joe Frazier an Uncle Tom.... The same guy who supported him publicly and financially while he “stood up for his beliefs”... among other things while playing his little schtick... Folks want to salute a jackass they are free to, Clay wont be the first or last idiot idolized by some.
He had no loyalty but to himself and was a classless arse.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2011/nov/08/muhammad-ali-joe-frazier
*************************
Unless they had good legal representaion and wanted to be allowed to box again.