One of my favorite sports authors, David Zirin wrote this about Ali in his book, What's My Name Fool:
"Never has an athlete been more reviled by the mainstream press, more persecuted by the U.S. government, or more defiantly beloved throughout the world than Muhammad Ali. Yet this Ali, the catalyst that forced professional sports - and the country as a whole - to examine the issues of racism and war, no longer exists."
I can't think of a more appropriate quote to write for Ali than that quote that really says it all. I personally believe that Ali was one the greatest athletes of all time. My respect for him dates way back from a time when many did not adore him and the mainstream press.
The first 3-time world heavyweight champion was more than a boxing champ. He was also a champion out of the ring, standing up for causes that very few would dare talk about. I will never forget the controversy he caused on my block back in February 1964 when he fought the then champion, Sonny Liston. Every old timer, including my father disliked Ali because he was "a loud mouth." To put this in perspective we need to remember that in the 1960's very few would be as loud as that young light skin black boxer who few knew anything about.
Sonny Liston represented the status quo. He was a quiet soft-spoken black champion that would only be heard in the ring when he fought. He was the type of champion that America in the 1960's tolerated. The young, Cassius Clay was just the opposite. He was loud, bragging about beating Liston. His best friend was Malcolm X who lived with him while Clay was training for the fight against Liston. Associating with the controversial Malcolm X was enough for the country to be rooting for Liston to beat the pulp out Clay.
The young Clay shocked the world, the odds and all the conservatives by beating Liston in the seventh round on a technical knockout. From that Liston fight forward the world could not stop listening to Clay who soon afterwards changed his name to Muhammad Ali when he joined the nation of Islam.
There was no other sportsman that I respected as much in my generation as Ali who stood up for what he believed in at all cost. His stance on the war in Vietnam and his willingness to lose his championship belt rather to serve an invading army was way ahead of his time and misunderstood by many. However, he resonated with young adults like myself who also refused to fight in a war against people that never did anything to me, or the country.
I got to meet him once in Times Square when he was walking down 42nd St with an entourage of followers. I saw the commotion, recognized him and ran out of a restaurant I was sitting in with a date to shake his hand. The date never understood, but that was something I had to do. He was pleasant and I never forgot his big, yet soft hands that smile he gave me.
The world will miss Ali. I just hope that future athletes will remember what he stood for and his message that Malcolm X stated best when he predicted Clay's victory over Liston.
"Clay will win. He is the finest Negro athlete I have ever known and he will mean more to his people than Jackie Robinson. Robinson is an establishment hero. Clay will be our hero.... Not many people know the quality of mind he has in there. One forgets that though the clown never imitates the wise man, a wise man can imitate the clown."
Thank you Ali.
May you Rest in Peace.