RIP Muhammad Ali

[WAKATAKE 2,759]

As I'm sure many of you know, "The Greatest" boxing legend Muhammad Ali passed away. Entertaining and controversial, Ali was always one those personalities that stood out and had an effect on people. 2016 is a sad year where legends are being taken away from us.

RIP to Muhammad Ali

[hamcornheinz 839]

RIP indeed. Been talking about him on facebook. Here is what I wrote, in response to an earlier comment, but I think it can stand on its own:

My favorite part of the Thrilla, apart from the fight itself, was when that bomb went off. Just seemed to sum up the whole spectacle very well. Boxing has lost all that spectacle, what with all the fighting between companies, fighters avoiding each other and all that. There are very few combat sports that have survived the test of time and remained spectator sports: the only 2 I can think of are boxing and sumo. They both have a coexistent beauty and brutality. Just the right amount of violence, technique, power, and pure ridiculousness. That was Ali. Stronger than just about anyone, faster, knockout power, got into the most violent fights of all time, yet was at the same time the fastest wit and a gift for language unsurpassed, willing to say ridiculous things and trash talk his way to big paychecks, and above all this the most incredible elegance in the ring.

[robnplunder 978]

It's a sad, sad news. He was much more than a great boxer & entertainer. He was a hero to many all around the world, including me. I trained as a boxer since I was 10 and tried to copy many of his moves, and techniques. At the time, I only knew him as a brash boxer and didn't like his antics that much. As I understand him and his accomplishments more over the years, I learned how great a human being he was. Ali, RIP. There won't be any boxer like him, ever.

[Mukonoso 273]

He's from my home town of Louisville, Kentucky. I'm still debating if I can brave the crowds downtown to see the funeral procession on Friday.

[Jejima 1,495]

He's from my home town of Louisville, Kentucky. I'm still debating if I can brave the crowds downtown to see the funeral procession on Friday.

Please go, and report back, on behalf of those of us who do not have the opportunity to make this choice :-)

[Naganoyama 6,039]

Do it.

He was one of the great men of our time, of all time. He was worth a bit of inconvenience.

You will later regret it if you don't go.

[Achiyama 1,272]

Do it.

He was one of the great men of our time, of all time. He was worth a bit of inconvenience.

You will later regret it if you don't go.

I agree.

It's an opportunity of a life time.

I remember very well the "Rumble in the Jungle" and the "Thrilla in Manila". They were huge bouts.

RIP Muhammad Ali!

[Fukurou 534]

Pretty much everyone's seen the video of Ali lighting the torch at the Atlanta 1996 Olympics (and the crowd blows the roof off the roofless stadium):

Here's a video, not as widely known from the same games, that I think this is even better than that (and the crowd goes even wilder for "Superman"):

He's from my home town of Louisville, Kentucky. I'm still debating if I can brave the crowds downtown to see the funeral procession on Friday.

Hey neighbor! I grew up on the north side of the river :-)

If it's remotely possible, I'd go. It'll be a madhouse, the traffic will jam the bridge construction, it'll be like Derby traffic on steroids, and I'd still go.

Edited June 6, 2016 by Fukurou

[egparis18 622]

He comes in at 1:22.

This video floated up on my YouTube homepage a day before the news broke, and I clicked on it out of idle curiosity.

[Washuyama 662]

I remember a picture of Ali hamming it up for the camera with Jesse/Takamiyama back in the late 70s. Probably when Ali was in Japan to "fight" Antonio Inoki.