Muhammad Ali passed away tonight

[Bigtime]

http://www.economist.com/news/obitua...njune3rdaged74

[cracher]

First time I've ever seen youtube give a busy server error. Just watched some classics (some for the 1st time). Insane hand-speed, angles and counters while backing up, footwork that has been imitated for a couple of generations now. Truly educational morning to learn about the personality and rigid ethics of Ali. Congrats to Ali for a very remarkable life.

[endeavor]

'rumble, young man, rumble'

Rest in peace.

I watched "When We Were Kings" a few years back... time to see it again. Great documentary on the lead up to the Rumble in the Jungle.

[jschick88]

West Wing Reports ‏@WestWingReport
Long statement from President and Mrs. Obama on the death of Muhammad Ali:

[Zevo]

Originally Posted by endeavor

'rumble, young man, rumble'

Rest in peace.

I watched "When We Were Kings" a few years back... time to see it again. Great documentary on the lead up to the Rumble in the Jungle.

Anyone who hasn't watched "When We Were Kings" needs to watch it now. Fantastic documentary. He was a brilliant human being.

[Zevo]

"I done wrestled with an alligator, I done tussled with a whale; handcuffed lightning, thrown thunder in jail; only last week, I murdered a rock, injured a stone, hospitalised a brick; I'm so mean I make medicine sick.

Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/au...ammad_ali.html

[Puppet Guy]

Boxing great, Muhammad Ali boldly declared, “I am the greatest!” On one occasion Ali was flying to a fight and refused to buckle his seatbelt; the flight attendant insisted but Ali said, “Superman don’t need no seatbelt.” The attendant replied, “Superman don’t need no plane.” So he buckled.

[Hockey_Ninja]

Another legend gone. Damn. RIP

[EldrickOnIce]

Amazing for somebody to have been that massive and popular in an era where, never mind social media, but even TV coverage was canned and rare.

[AltaGuy]

I remember my Mom being in awe at the Calgary Stampede parade in 1985 - I asked who it was, and she said he was a very important man. She grew up in the sixties in the South, few people loomed larger to her generation.

[troutman]

Ali Bomaye!

[nik-]

I have thought a lot about Ali over the years. I always wondered what I would have thought of him if I was a contemporary sports fan in his hayday. I like to think that my appreciation for the Subbans, the Kanes, the Ronaldos would have made me a fan even then. He was a decisive figure in his day, even though history allows the realization of him obviously being a true trailblazer and someone who truly stood up for his values.

How many people who praise him now would have been on the other side back then?

[jschick88]

Chris Mannix ‏@ChrisMannixYS
Incredible story from @MuhammadAli's daughter. At the end, Ali's organs failed--but his heart continued to beat.

[FlamesAddiction]

Ali really knew how to get inside the heads of his opponents. It wasn't just his physical skills, but he knew that winning and being the best was a mental game as well.

And not just the opponents but the crowds. Winning the crowd over like he did would have been a big intimidation factor.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by nik-

I have thought a lot about Ali over the years. I always wondered what I would have thought of him if I was a contemporary sports fan in his hayday. I like to think that my appreciation for the Subbans, the Kanes, the Ronaldos would have made me a fan even then. He was a decisive figure in his day, even though history allows the realization of him obviously being a true trailblazer and someone who truly stood up for his values.

How many people who praise him now would have been on the other side back then?

I know a lot of older people who don't like the athletes, or types of athletes, that you named but loved Ali. He was different than all the boisterous, over the top arrogant dbags that we see so often nowadays.

He was a showman but he also backed up his cockiness. Let's also not forget that Ali was quite the influential social figure. He was often very anti establishment.

He wasn't just some over the top jerk who disrespected is opponents and fans.

[driveway]

How many of those modern athletes would walk away from the sport at the absolute peak of their ability (and earning potential) and go to jail over a matter of principle?

How many would circle with their advisors, let themselves get drafted and then spend 2 years going on USO tours and basically being second-act Captain America?

I could understand an argument for a Jackie Robinson, or the South African Rugby team, and likely there are international athletes who have managed to transcend their sport in ways we don't know about ... but there is a reason Ali isn't the greatest boxer, or greatest champion, or greatest athlete of all time.

He's simply the Greatest Of All Time.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

Amazing for somebody to have been that massive and popular in an era where, never mind social media, but even TV coverage was canned and rare.

It probably helped him. Kept that mystique. Would be fascinating to have the 1967 Ali now. I think the brave souls behind computer monitors would destroy him. His brashness, his way of talking, how dare him.

That image of him standing of the media and ripping up his draft notice. Can you imagine that on twitter, facebook and blogs today?

[OMG!WTF!]

"I'm gonna tell everybody that that thing on your head is a phony. It comes from the tail of a pony."

[calgaryblood]

Wow a mutual friend of a friend of mine posted a photo on Instagram that blew me away. Muhammad Ali was in Calgary for the Olympics when his dad saw Mohammed Ali and randomly invited him over for dinner. He accepted and had dinner at their house. He was about 3 years old and has a picture of Ali at the dinner table holding him.

How many athletes would accept a dinner invitation from a random stranger in a foreign city?

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

I know a lot of older people who don't like the athletes, or types of athletes, that you named but loved Ali. He was different than all the boisterous, over the top arrogant dbags that we see so often nowadays.

He was a showman but he also backed up his cockiness. Let's also not forget that Ali was quite the influential social figure. He was often very anti establishment.

He wasn't just some over the top jerk who disrespected is opponents and fans.

I'm afraid that's how he was regarded with hindsight. And it's tied up with civil rights movement and social change. When Clay/Ali ascended the summit of the boxing world, he was roundly disliked by the media and the public. The first Clay vs Liston fight was described as "the most popular fight since Hitler and Stalin—180 million Americans rooting for a double knockout." He wasn't really a popular figure until the 70s.