Rest in Power – Muhammad Ali – No Viet Cong Called Me Nigger

By
Martyn Bradbury
-
9
11

He was an incredible man with an incredible vision for justice – his death is a loss for humanity

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9 COMMENTS

  1. Yes I first cast my eyes on him in the mid 70’s when he was Cassias Clay, a cocky African American, and we all knew he would become something more than a ring fighter.

    There were rumours his name was taken from another Cassius Clay in Kentucky who worked to abolish slavery.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cassius_Marcellus_Clay_(politician)

    Quote;

    Cassius Marcellus Clay (October 19, 1810 – July 22, 1903), nicknamed The Lion of White Hall, was a Kentucky planter and politician who worked for abolition of slavery.

    Rest well Mohammed Ali.

  2. We seem to be back to 50s to 60s levels of diplomacy; having lost practically every round since 2003, the Empire is back to demonising Russia, and right now is demonising Putin in particular.

    “No expansion of NATO eastwards.” That was the deal.

    So just what are those Americans doing in the border states if not fomenting yet another war? -perhaps the last one ever.

  3. Just to correct the usual error perpetuated by many in the media.

    Mohammed Ali did not suffer from Parkinsons disease.

    He suffered from Parkinson Syndrome, a syndrome of symptoms that closely resemble those of Parkinsons disease.

    In Ali’s case his neurological degeneration was almost certainly caused by brain damage sustained during his boxing career, likely he suffered from dementia pugilistica.

    That this cause is downplayed by referring to it as Parkinsons disease is perplexing.

  4. Muhammad Ali dies aged 74: Greatest boxer of all time passes away with family at his side after being rushed to hospital with breathing problems following 32-year battle with Parkinson’s

    Muhammad Ali has died aged 74 at a hospital outside Phoenix, Arizona, after a 32-year battle with Parkinson’s
    Greatest boxer of all time was rushed to hospital on Thursday with difficulty breathing and an ‘unshakeable cough’
    Doctors earlier warned the legendary boxer was just hours from death and his family were making funeral plans
    Ali’s wife, Lonnie, and daughters were by his side during his ‘very peaceful passing’ late on Friday evening
    Three-time heavyweight world champion was considered the greatest boxer in the world and also won Olympic gold
    His wins over Sonny Liston, the Thrilla in Manila & Rumble in the Jungle will be remembered – as well as his quotes
    Donald Trump was among the first to pay tribute to Ali, who he called ‘a truly great champion and a wonderful guy’

    Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3624910/Muhammad-Ali-dies-aged-74-Legendary-boxer-passes-away-family-day-rushed-hospital-difficulty-breathing.html#ixzz4AaYSWXcv
    Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3624910/Muhammad-Ali-dies-aged-74-Legendary-boxer-passes-away-family-day-rushed-hospital-difficulty-breathing.html

  5. He was an incredible man. I remember watching the fight beaming in from Kinshasa in 1974 when I was eight years old. It was only many years later that I became aware of the political situation in the Congo at the time and what a coup (excuse the pun) staging the fight was for the CIA backed dictator Mobutu Sese Seko. In her novel, The Poisonwood Bible, Barbara Kinsolver points out that political prisoners were being held underneath the stadium as the fight was taking place. We shouldn’t forget this.

  6. Mohammad Ali said he was the greatest. And the greatest he was. He proved that time and time again. He was a technical boxer, having won a medal at the Rome Olympics in 1960.

    I remember as Cassius Clay, his first heavyweight championship fight, with Sonny Liston, in either 1963 or 1964. Clay danced around the ring, ducking and diving, as Liston threw the punches, using enormous energy, attempting to land a punch on Clay. Watching it, we thought Clay was terrified of Liston and had visions of him running scared out of the ring. But no. I think it was about two minutes into the fight that Clay threw the punch that took down Liston, the first of many fights which did indeed establish Clay/Ali to be the greatest.

    I heard a journalist many years ago say it was difficult to argue with Mohammad Ali, because more often than not, he was correct in his statements.

    Although not perfect himself, which he often admitted to, he was nevertheless a man with a strong sense of social justice and humanitarian values, something which will also be a lasting legacy of Ali, along with his boxing.

    On retirement, Ali said “I won’t miss boxing. But boxing will miss ME.” And he wasn’t wrong there either.

    The great Louisville Lip has gone.

    RIP Mohammad Ali and thanks for showing the world true sportsmanship can be carried over into ordinary life, away from the competitive sports field and boxing ring.

    • I was never a fan of boxing, but I took note of the sport and the leading contenders when Cassius, then Muhammad Ali, fought the sport. He is legend, and he took pride in what he did and said. He later suffered harshly with Parkinson’s disease, and I really felt sorry for what he endured. He is after all a man of the quality we need more of.

  8. I am sad, the man really suffered, e.g. Parkinson’s disease, who would choose such a fate? He deserves a place in heaven, if such a place exists.

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