A tribute to 'The Greatest' Muhammad Ali on his 68th birthday

richierichballs

Today, 'The Greatest of All-Time' turns 68. Often imitated but never duplicated, Muhammad Ali transcended the sport of boxing.
He conquered the Philippines in 1975 with his sensational victory over Joe Frazier in their rubber match dubbed "Thrilla in Manila" at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.
He stole the Filipino people's hearts with his flamboyant style and natural charisma which prompted for the Philippine government to even build a mall in his honor aptly named "Ali Mall".
Ali has been a big influence to generations of boxing fans and aspiring boxers all over the world. Filipinos definitely have a special place in their hearts and in their sports history for the pride of Louisville, Kentucky.
"Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee,"
"Last week I murdered a rock, injured a stone, hospitalized a brick.. I'm so mean I make medicine sick," ; Just a couple of the phrases immortalized by The Greatest.
As a special treat on Ali's birthday, here's an excellent video by my man Gorilla over at Youtube. GP is one of the boxing community's best video producers and swept the recently concluded YTBC awards.

Check this out
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0Skf7PujCc

cowzerp

Happy Birthday, you where and still are the man.

Dr. Greenthumb

Just finished reading Paddy Monaghan's autobiography which is mostly about his friendship with Ali. Gives a great insight into how down to earth and considerate he was. Never turned away fans and always looked out for the little guy.

One of a kind and a true champion.

Johner

My 21st aswell.

richierichballs

The greatest of all time

walshb

Great video. His display in Liston 1 was one of the finest ring displays of all time, and at 15 stone to move
and float and punch the way he did was the best of the best. Nothing compares to that level IMO.

Jimmy Iovine

Thanks very much for that. Definitely one of the best tribute videos I've seen and Ali wasn't too bad either

c1979

new film

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055785722

bamboozler

Dr. Greenthumb wrote: »

Just finished reading Paddy Monaghan's autobiography which is mostly about his friendship with Ali. Gives a great insight into how down to earth and considerate he was. Never turned away fans and always looked out for the little guy.

One of a kind and a true champion.

i would seriously question his character like going to KKK meetings to support racial segregation cos he was more or less racist (black separatist) jus like those he protested against.

he also turned on man who used to be his friend, Frazier, breaking the man down calling him a white mans puppet, uncle tom and the gorilla and mocking him because of his darker skin tone. you can say it was all mind games but i would contend is the racist bullying of a man is is a puppet for the black supremists who it is rumoured wrote many of great one liners.

im not sayin he wasnt a great boxer but i would question if he was a great man.

walshb

bamboozler wrote: »

i would seriously question his character like going to KKK meetings to support racial segregation cos he was more or less racist (black separatist) jus like those he protested against.

he also turned on man who used to be his friend, Frazier, breaking the man down calling him a white mans puppet, uncle tom and the gorilla and mocking him because of his darker skin tone. you can say it was all mind games but i would contend is the racist bullying of a man is is a puppet for the black supremists who it is rumoured wrote many of great one liners.

im not sayin he wasnt a great boxer but i would question if he was a great man.

Frazier was never his friend really. When Ali was in exile it suited Joe to keep Ali close, it was all business. Ayway, Ai wasn't perfect, as was no man, but as far as class and character and charisma and all that, he was the greatest.
Put simply, he loved people, and loved being around them. Don't forget, he grew up in an era where he was very opporessed. It would have to have some affect. Ali hated nobody, he didn't like the White Establishment, but he had a lot of reason

bamboozler

yeah but i just dislike the media paint him as a flawless character and almost as a saint. i just think there is a darker side to the man but this is is prob like alll heroes, especially in America, only a selective history is used in their potrayal.

ynotdu

This Video is part 1 of 5 from the interview Ali gave to RTE,parts 2,3.4&5 are also available on Youtube.Angelo Dundee looked for a lot of money for the interview but RTE's highest offer was 100 quid! Ali accepted it !Please guys do not criticise just about the Greatest person who ever lived.Remember that as an amateur boxer He won a gold medal for the USA in the Olympics but on his return to the US was refused service because of his colour in a restraunt.

He served time in prison because he would not serve in the Vietnam war.stating in his usual thought provoking tones, "No Vietnamise ever called me ******!"

Clay was his 'slave name'. ie,when Africans were kidnapped from their families and homes to be sold as Slaves they were given the Surname of the plantations owner.it is the sign of a thoughtful person that he decided to choose his own surname instead.

He was/is something special and thank You OP for starting this thread:)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DwoyNjUR_M

bamboozler

ynotdu wrote: »

Please guys do not criticise just about the Greatest person who ever lived

i dont deny any of those facts but i just posted because of your kind of attitude. Why can he not be criticised because this goes back to the fact everyone thinks he is this infallible character jus cos he was such a great boxer.

More than a bit of a bold statement to call him the greatest person who ever lived, because this is giving him status like Jesus or the other Muhammad

ynotdu

bamboozler wrote: »

i dont deny any of those facts but i just posted because of your kind of attitude. Why can he not be criticised because this goes back to the fact everyone thinks he is this infallible character jus cos he was such a great boxer.

More than a bit of a bold statement to call him the greatest person who ever lived, because this is giving him status like Jesus or the other Muhammad

I said "just about" unfortunatly there was no TV for the others!:D

consultech

lol - Clay isn't the greatest person to ever live. Not even close. (I personally don't think he was even the greatest boxer, my opinion though)

I'll always give him his dues for his ability. As a person though? He possesse(d/s) some downright disgusting character traits, and some of his behaviour was completely unforgiveable. I've always applauded people like Frazier for their stubborn refusal to forgive Ali and let time and pity romanticise how he treated Joe, other fellow professionals, people, in his prime.

ynotdu

consultech wrote: »

lol - Clay isn't the greatest person to ever live. Not even close. (I personally don't think he was even the greatest boxer, my opinion though)

I'll always give him his dues for his ability. As a person though? He possesse(d/s) some downright disgusting character traits, and some of his behaviour was completely unforgiveable. I've always applauded people like Frazier for their stubborn refusal to forgive Ali and let time and pity romanticise how he treated Joe, other fellow professionals, people, in his prime.

Most of that was just 'hype' just like WWE is based on hype to whip{no pun intended;)} mass hystyria.
Ken Norten broke Ali's jaw so that should console You a bit!:D

George Foreman truly respects him and they are the best of pals.
Ali DID get to light the torch for the LA Olympics{so some recognition&recompense by the US was given to him}
His personal morality or mistakes to me just show that he was only human.
The Joe Frazier thing i do not know enough about but hope it was sorted out.however fans feel these guys were all ten times the man Tyson ever was.The era seems to have been boxings finest hour?

walshb

bamboozler wrote: »

because this is giving him status like Jesus or the other Muhammad

Jesus? Muhammad? Who are they, cartoon characters?

Look, nobody said he was perfect, but why nit pick? You look hard enough you will be able to criticise any human being. Ali lived in times that really shaped his life. He had serious character and dignity. Was he brainwashed? Damn straight, and this led to a lot of his later beliefs on segregation and the White man Devil.

Frazier is a bitter bitter man. Ali has more than once offered him the olive branch and apologised
It was nasty at times, but a lot was to do with Ali hyping fights.

Joe has got in more than his fair share of swipes at the greatest over the years.
He ain't al clean in this affair, not at all.

consultech

walshb wrote: »

Frazier is a bitter biter man. Ali has more than once offered him the olive branch and apologisd.
It was nasty at times, but a lot was to do with Ali hyping fights.

And?

Joe is well within his rights to take said olive branch and stick it firmly up Ali's arse. Just because someone apologises for their disgusting behaviour now that it suits them, doesn't mean you have to accept it. Ali humiliated Frasier (amongst others) in the public eye and in front of their families; he mocked his beliefs, the integrity of his black heritage, amongst many other things. No-one ever caned Ali for the joke of a personal life he led, more out of human decency than anything. Saying someone was just "hyping fights" offers no excuse.

Karma's a dirty bitch though.

bamboozler

I second what consultech jus said

ynotdu

consultech wrote: »

And?

Joe is well within his rights to take said olive branch and stick it firmly up Ali's arse. Just because someone apologises for their disgusting behaviour now that it suits them, doesn't mean you have to accept it. Ali humiliated Frasier (amongst others) in the public eye and in front of their families; he mocked his beliefs, the integrity of his black heritage, amongst many other things. No-one ever caned Ali for the joke of a personal life he led, more out of human decency than anything. Saying someone was just "hyping fights" offers no excuse.

Karma's a dirty bitch though.

consultech and the poster above who agree's with You are making me very suspicious that yiz have some kind of 'hidden agenda' going on that boards would not let you say straight out?

If it was white Skinned boxers that were holding grudges would it upset so much?

almost every famous black boxer has ended up in jail or been chased for hugh tax bill's,One donated two purses to Army widows but the IRS went after him on the basis that the cheques were made out to the boxer even though he received NO money for the fights!

White boxers done the same,but the IRS did not go after them?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YngpWylqQ3A

bamboozler

ynotdu wrote: »

consultech and the poster above who agree's with You are making me very suspicious that yiz have some kind of 'hidden agenda' going on that boards would not let you say straight out?

If it was white Skinned boxers that were holding grudges would it upset so much?

Well if it was white skinned boxers who went to KKK meetings it might upset a few people alright.

jus because i agree with a point made by another poster does not represent a hidden agenda by the way, i am sure you have agreed with another posters point at some stage during your time on boards without having a hidden agenda.

i also dont appreciate you insinuating that i am afraid to say somethin in fear of gettin in trouble with board's mods when it appears to be the opposite way round to me. jus because you dont like an individual doesn't make you racist so i wont be demean myself by responding with a list of my fav boxers and their colour to prove a point.

and in regards to your hurricane video, not quite sure of the relevance. i thought it was a great film but when you read the actual truth and see that it is just a fanciful hollywood potrayal of ruben carter. for example the the main fight scene in the film is bull. Two respecting boxing journalists can confirm my thoughts for you
1.http://www.graphicwitness.com/carter/pdfs/I_times.pdf
2.http://www.nytimes.com/2000/03/12/sports/backtalk-once-again-giardello-is-in-the-eye-of-the-storm.html?sec=&spon=&pagewanted=1


this topic has now gone off the point so i apologise to the mods but i felt i was obliged to respond to ynotdu veiled insults

consultech

ynotdu wrote: »

consultech and the poster above who agree's with You are making me very suspicious that yiz have some kind of 'hidden agenda' going on that boards would not let you say straight out?

I'm not quite sure what it is that you're hinting at tbh. If you're insinuating that I'm a closet racist and Ali wasn't in fact a d1ckhead, then you probably need to throw some coffee on and catch yourself. You seem to have some weird reverse racist angle going on yourself though, which is all the more confusing.

walshb

This thread is going nowhere fellas, we will take it back up next year when Ali turns 69....