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Ali: The Man
He's still the most recognizable man on
earth. And over forty years after he burst
onto the scene as a gold-medal winner at the
1960 Rome Olympics, Muhammad Ali remains a
magical figure, known and loved throughout
the world.
Dubbed "Athlete of the Century" by GQ
magazine, Muhammad continues to receive
accolades for his contribution to sports. He
has been named Sports Illustrated's
"Sportsman of the Century," the BBC's "Sports
Personality of the Century," the World Sports
Award's "World Sportsman of the Century," and
the State of Kentucky's "Kentuckian of the
Century." In 2005, he received the United
States of America's highest civil award, the
Presidential Medal of Freedom.
As a boxer, Muhammad brought unprecedented
speed and grace to his sport, while his charm
and wit changed forever what the public
expected a champion to be. His
accomplishments in the ring are the stuff of
legend -- two fights with Sonny Liston, where
he proclaimed himself "The Greatest" and
proved he was; three epic wars with Joe
Frazier; the stunning victory over George
Foreman in the Rumble in the Jungle; and
dethroning Leon Spinks to become heavyweight
champion for an unprecedented third time. But
there was always far more to Muhammad than
what took place in a boxing ring.
Muhammad's life and career have been played
out as much on the front pages of newspapers
as on the inside sports pages. His early
embrace of the Nation of Islam and his
insistence on being called Muhammad Ali
instead of his "slave name," Cassius Clay,
heralded a new era in black pride. His
refusal to be inducted into the United States
Army anticipated the growing antiwar movement
of the 1960's. His willingness to stage his
much-promoted and publicized fights in such
far-flung locales as Kinshasa, Manila, and
Kuala Lumpur signaled a shift from superpower
dominance toward a growing awareness of the
developing world.
Daring to go against political policy to help
people in need, Muhammad has made goodwill
missions to Afghanistan and North Korea;
delivered sorely-needed medical supplies to
an embargoed Cuba; traveled to Iraq and
secured the release of 15 United States
hostages during the first Gulf War; and
journeyed to South Africa to meet Nelson
Mandela upon his release from prison.
The Offical Muhammad Ali Website
Today, championing the causes of the
developing world has become a major focus of
Muhammad's life. He has been instrumental in
providing over 232 million meals to the
world's hungry. Traveling across continents,
he has hand-delivered food and medical
supplies to children in Cote D'Ivoire,
Indonesia, Mexico, and Morocco among other
countries.
In addition to his international efforts,
Muhammad is equally devoted to helping
charities at home. He has visited countless
numbers of soup kitchens and hospitals, and
helped such organizations as the
Make-A-Wish-Foundation and the Special
Olympics. He annually participates in "Fight
Night," which generates funds for the
Muhammad Ali Parkinson Research Center at
Barrow Neurological Institute, in Phoenix,
Arizona. At the State Capitol in Michigan, he
advocated new laws for protecting children.
He is also the namesake of the Muhammad Ali
Boxing Reform Act (sponsored by Senator John
McCain), a law that regulates professional
boxing to protect boxers from unscrupulous
promoters and poor health and bout
conditions. In recent year, Muhammad has
testified before the United States Senate
several times regarding boxing reform.
For his humanitarian efforts, Muhammad has
been the recipient of countless awards. In
addition to being honored by Amnesty
International with their Lifetime Achievement
Award, the Secretary-General of the United
Nations bestowed upon him the citation of
United Nations Messenger of Peace. In
Germany, he was honored with the 2005 Otto
Hahn Peace Medal for his involvement in the
U.S. civil rights movement and the United
Nations. He was also named the International
Ambassador of Jubilee 2000, a global
organization dedicated to relieving debt in
developing nations. Other honors include an
Essence Award, an XNBA Human Spirit Award and
recognition from the National Urban League;
100 Black Men; Givat Haviva; the Oleander
Foundation; The National Conference of
Christians and Jews; Time magazine; and
former President Jimmy Carter, who cited
Muhammad as "Mr. International Friendship."
Ever the entertainer, Muhammad has appeared
in several motion pictures, including the
big-screen adaptation of his first
autobiography, The Greatest, playing himself.
His life has been the subject of numerous
films, including the Academy Award-winning
documentary When We Were Kings and the
Michael Mann's biopic, ALI, starring Will
Smith. Muhammad also starred in Freedom Road,
and made guest appearances on numerous
popular television series ranging from
Diff'rent Strokes to Touched by an Angel. He
also starred on Broadway in the musical, Big
Time Buck White, and recorded a popular
album, I Am The Greatest!
The Offical Muhammad Ali Website
Muhammad recently published a memoir
entitled, The Soul of a Butterfly:
Reflections on Life's Journey, in which he
discusses the meaning of religion,
forgiveness, and some of the defining moments
in his life and career. He is also the
co-author of Healing: A Journal of Tolerance
and Understanding and The Greatest: My Own
Story.
In 2005, Muhammad opened the Muhammad Ali
Center in his hometown of Louisville,
Kentucky. In addition to displaying a
selection of his memorabilia, the Center's
exhibits focus on themes of peace, social
responsibility, respect and personal growth.
In 2006, he partnered with CKX, Inc. to form
Muhammad Ali Enterprises, for the licensing
of his name, image and likeness and to
continue promoting his cultural and
philosophical legacy throughout the world.
Muhammad has nine children: Maryum, Rasheeda,
Jamillah, Hana, Laila, Khaliah, Miya,
Muhammad Junior, and Asaad. He is married to
the former Lonnie Williams of Louisville,
whom he has known since her family moved
across the street from the Clay family when
she was 6 years old.
Whether promoting tolerance and
understanding, feeding the hungry, studying
his religion, or reaching out to children in
need, Muhammad Ali is devoted to making the
world a better place for all people. No
athlete has ever contributed more to the life
of his country, or the world, than Muhammad
Ali.
Ali: The Boxer
Who would've thought that a stolen bike was
the key to the beginning of the Muhammad Ali
story? But it was. In 1954 in Louisville,
Kentucky, 12-year-old Cassius Marcellus
Clay's bike was stolen while he and a friend
were at the Columbia Auditorium. Young
Cassius found a cop in a gym, Joe Martin, and
boiling with youthful rage, told Martin he
was going to "whup" whoever stole his bike.
Martin admonished, "You better learn to box
first." Within weeks, 89-pound Cassius had
his first bout—his first win. For the next
27 years, Cassius would be in that ring. Even
in his youth, he had dreams of being
heavyweight champion of the world. But his
life would take turns that no seer could've
predicted.
Young Cassius dedicated himself to boxing
with fervor unmatched by other young boxers.
Indeed, it was his only activity. As a
teenager, he never worked. He boxed and
trained. He had 108 amateur bouts. According
to Joe Martin, Clay set himself apart from
the other boys by two things: He was "sassy,"
and he outworked all the other boys. The work
paid off: 6 Kentucky Golden Gloves
championships; two National Golden Gloves
championships; two National AAU titles before
he was 18 years old. And the son of Odessa,
whom he lovingly referred to as "Bird," and
Cassius senior, "Cash," to everyone, won the
Olympic Gold Medal in 1960 in Rome months
after his 18th birthday.
Although Cassius returned home to a parade,
Louisville was still, in 1960 part of the
segregated South. Even with a medal around
his neck, Cassius was refused service at a
local restaurant.
At the time, Cassius was managed by the
Louisville Sponsoring Group, a consortium of
wealthy local white businessmen. The LSG, as
it became known, put young Cassius with
veteran trainer, Angelo Dundee, after failed
attempts with the Mongoose, Archie Moore, and
a turn down by Ali's boxing idol, Sugar Ray
Robinson.
With Dundee in his corner, from his Miami
base, Cassius blazed a trail through the
heavyweight division with his unorthodox
style that defied boxing logic. He was a
"headhunter." He never threw body shots (he
adopted this style in his youth because he
had reach and because he didn't want to get
close enough to get hit). And he "danced."
Because of Clay's powerful legs—maybe the
strongest in the history of boxing—he
literally floated in the ring. He invented
the "Ali Shuffle;" a foot maneuver where he
would elevate himself, shuffle his feet in a
dazzling blur, and sometimes deliver a blow
while dancing.
The third element that Clay brought to boxing
was his mouth. He never shut up. He became
known as, "The Louisville Lip." It was more
than banter; it was a constant harangue. In a
time when boxers never talked to the
media—their managers always spoke for
them—Clay did all his own talking. He even
went so far as to predict the round. "To
prove I'm great he will fall in eight!"
The Offical Muhammad Ali Website
While training for his title bout against the
fearsome heavyweight champion, Sonny Liston,
Clay met Cap'n Sam, a Nation of Islam
minister of the local Miami mosque. Cap'n Sam
introduced Cassius to NOI spokesman, Malcolm
X. Malcolm and young Cassius bonded on a deep
level. Malcolm brought Cassius into the
Nation of Islam. Despite the 7-1 odds, Clay
upset Sonny Liston in Miami and became
heavyweight champion of the world in 1964.
The next day, Clay announced to the world
that he was a member of the Nation of Islam
and that his name was Cassius X. The X
reflecting the unknown name that was taken
from him by the slave owners centuries
before.
The national response was immediate, negative
and intense. Cassius X, soon to be given the
name Muhammad Ali, by NOI founder, "The
Messenger," the Honorable Elijah Muhammad,
chose to disassociate himself from his friend
and mentor Malcolm X after the Messenger
suspended Malcolm. Herbert Muhammad, eldest
son of Elijah, was installed as Ali's new
manager as Ali continued to defend his crown
against all comers. In 1967, as the Vietnam
War was escalating, Ali was called up for
induction into the Armed Services. Ali
refused induction on the grounds of religious
beliefs. He was, in fact, a practicing Muslim
minister. This refusal led to the now-famous
Ali quote, "I ain't got no quarrel with them
Vietcong..."
The national furor over that comment combined
with Ali's refusal to be inducted into the
Armed Services, caused virtually every state
and local entity in America to cancel Ali's
boxing licenses. Ali's final fight of 1967
was against Ernie Terrell, who incensed Ali
at the weigh-in by calling him "Clay." Ali
pounded him in the ring with taunts of,
"What's my name?!!"
Ali did not fight again for 2 ½ years. He
was stripped of his championship title, his
passport taken; all his boxing licenses were
cancelled. He lost an initial court battle
and was facing a 5-year prison term. Ali made
money during his exile by speaking at
colleges. He was the first national figure to
speak out against the war in Vietnam. In
1970, after a 2 ½ year layoff, and with the
mood of the country changing, Ali staged his
comeback, first against Jerry Quarry in
Atlanta then for what was billed as, "The
Fight of the Century," his first match
against undefeated champ, Joe Frazier at
Madison Square Garden on March 8, 1971.
Ali fought valiantly, but lost. The 2 ½ year
exile had cost Ali his legs. He could no
longer dance. He lost that night in the
Garden, but months later he won his biggest
fight, the Supreme Court reversed his
conviction and upheld his conscientious
objector claim. Ali was free of the specter
of jail, and free to travel to box anywhere
in the world. Several matches followed,
including an unexpected loss to ex-Marine,
Ken Norton; a win in their next bout; an
uninspired win against Joe Frazier. But these
matches were but window dressing for the
biggest match of Ali's career: The Rumble In
the Jungle. George Foreman was a fearsome
champ. He had thunder and destruction in both
hands. He had easily knocked out Ken Norton
and had lifted Frazier off the mat with one
blow.
Promoter Don King got the government of the
African nation of Zaire to guarantee the
unheard of sum of 10 million dollars for the
fighters. In Kinshasa, Ali derived strength
from the African people. They adored him.
They yelled, Ali Bomaye! (Ali kill him).
Going into the fight, Ali was 3-1 underdog.
His fight doctor, Ferdie Pacheco, had a jet
ready to spirit Ali away to a neurological
hospital in Spain after the fight. But Ali
had other ideas.
Because of the heat, Ali realized he couldn't
dance from Foreman for the whole fight. He
invented "The Rope-A-Dope," a strategy that
allowed Foreman to pound on him until Foreman
tired. His corner men yelled at him to get
off the ropes, but Ali persisted with his
strategy for seven rounds and then in the
eighth round, when Foreman was spent, Ali
came off the ropes and scored a shocking
knockout! Ali was the king again.
After the legendary "Thrilla In Manila," the
rubber match against Frazier, who some have
deemed, the greatest boxing match ever, Ali
fought and lost to young Olympic Champion
Leon Spinks. He subsequently regained his
title against Spinks, thus becoming, at that
time, the only man in heavyweight history to
win the crown three times. Ali ended his
career 56 wins (37 by knockout) and 5
defeats.
Ali has inspired millions worldwide. He gave
people hope and proved that anyone could
overcome insurmountable odds. He gave people
courage. He made fighters of us all. This is
Ali and never comes another.
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