Muhammad Ali was an extraordinary human being who has always evoked the most extreme reactions—-ranging from love and adulation to vitriolic hate. When he spoke, the whole world listened. As he said: “Where do you think I’d be next week if I didn’t know how to shout and holler? I’d probably be down in my hometown washing windows and saying yassuh and nossuh and knowing my place!”
Ali had the most unique boxing style, self-publicizing skills, hip-hop poems, bravura stunts, ring-craft, ability to tame opponents such as Sonny Liston, Joe Frazier, Archie Moore, Floyd Patterson, Jerry Quarry, Ken Norton, Cleveland Williams and George Foreman.
But “The Greatest” was not simply an unforgettable boxer. He was also an amazing political force in his own right.
“There are so many things come to mind when I think of Muhammad Ali. The heart he used to fight. The heart he used to help and care for people. Someone with common sense. Very intelligent. A beautiful athlete. The most important boxer ever. I don’t know if there was an athlete ever more copied than Muhammad Ali,” said Claudio Reilsono, head baseball coach CMU and boxing historian. “I remember I cried when he lost to Spinks. I was 13. And I remember how bad I felt when he lost fights at the end of his career. I remember how he made me laugh when he was with Howard Cosell. I remember how he made me think whenever he would talk about the injustices of the world. So here’s a guy who made me appreciate his athleticism. Made me think. Made me cry and made me laugh. Jim Valvano used to say if you can laugh, cry and think everyday you’ve lived a full day. Muhammad Ali made you live a full day.”
At 12 years old, Cassius Clay was already on the way to becoming famous, at least in Louisville. As part of the amateur boxing program, Joe Martin produced a local television show called Tomorrow’s Champions.
“In 1957 my dad and I was watching the Golden Gloves on television and the fights were coming from either Louisville or Cincinnati and that was the first time I saw Muhammad Ali, who was Cassius Clay back then,” said James “Dap” Frazier. “You could tell he was going to be great even then. He could hit you while moving backward and his hand and foot speed was exceptional.”
Muhammed Ali, was a member of the Nation of Islam and Malcolm X was the most famous spokesperson. The Black Muslim’s believed in cleanliness and discipline and they were not allowed to smoke, drink, or eat pork. Interracial marriage was banned, as were homosexuality and adultery. Women were encouraged to cover their hair and wear ankle-length dresses.
“Ali was such a great communicator. When a child asked him what he would do when he retired he responded in a manner so well communicated for a child and everyone to understand basically saying: be good because God is watching you and you want to go to heaven not hell. He was actually born too soon. Because we need him now,” said Jodi Velazquez, author of “Slick Move Guide.” “Racism has become worse and we need men like Ali to be able to communicate to our youth to love one another. There are groups emerging such as Cityyear.org who are desperately trying to get the youth of today to respect each other via working college campuses. Ali would have been a great spokesman for an organization like this. We miss him terribly but not only for his elaborate and charismatic boxing style and champion status but for his empathy and kindness for mankind and humanitarian nature.”
Muhammad Ali, was a conscientious objector and that is an “individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service” on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, disability or religion.
Author of “Everyone Has A Story” Debra Clark shares her thoughts on Muhammed Ali whom everyone knows as “The Greatest”! Debra is the ex-fiance of NFL legend Jim Brown of the Cleveland Browns. Debra tells of her first meeting with the Champ but not before Jim Brown sat her down with his original “Real to Real” clippings of “The Rumble in the Jungle”! Debra said because of their age gap, Jim wanted to make sure that she knew more of Mr. Ali’s history and what made him a Champion! Brown explained to her that because Ali took a stance opposing the Vietnam War that our government thought he (Mr. Ali) was a draft dodger, not because it was against his religious belief and despite Ali being a boxer, he was a peaceful man.
Jim Brown shared with her how the government prevented Ali from fighting in the states, so Jim along with Harry Belafonte, Don Cornelius, Don King and many others, put their finances together and took the fight to the Mother Land Africa!!!
“The following day (Highly anticipated) arrival of the Champ Muhammed Ali arrived at our home. He was everything that I could imagine and more,” said Clark. “He was warm, sincere, present, gracious and to my surprise, he had a great sense of humor! I always knew one never gets to greatness without being GREAT! We all miss him and glad to have had the pleasure of meeting the peoples Champ Muhammed Ali!”
In 1965, the United States began bombing North Vietnam and early 1966, as the war in Vietnam escalated, the military was forced to lower its standards. In February Ali was reclassified 1-A, available for the draft.
“Ali was the most courageous man to walk the face of the earth. Unlike today’s athletes, he always stood like a man, not what was going to make him the most money. He faced off with the US Government and lost three years of his boxing career for his beliefs. I can hear him say, ain’t no Vietcong called me nigger. Ali was a man with no fear and even if he had fear you wouldn’t know,” said Luther Dupree, host of Steel City Sportsworld. “My favorite quote is “service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth. I loved the way he always spoke about his blackness. He was Malcolm X with a stiff jab and an iron chin. Mainstream media villainized him when he was alive. But they couldn’t destroy and Black people never abandoned him. Now that he is gone, they want to idolize him.
“The passing of an era. Ali stood for his people without a penny to his name. The GOAT wasn’t just an athlete, he was a man.”
When Muhammad Ali then Cassius Clay was first competing as a boxer, the two major amateur competitions in the United States were the Golden Gloves tournament and the National AAU tournament. Today MMA and cage fighting has a growing number of young amateur fighter competing and are also inspired by Ali.
“Ali is still and always will be a huge inspiration to myself and many others no matter how long ago he fought. For me and many other Black African Americans athletes he served as an idol to us. Proved to us no matter what the complexion we are still able to accomplish what we want out of life. I listen to motivational music every morning as a fighter we try find motivation within ourselves and outside.” said Liz Lewis, 19-year old MMA champion. “One of my favorite Muhammad Ali Quotes: 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, hospitalized a brick; I’m so mean I make medicine sick. Muhammad Ali, I hear on repeat because no matter how big the difficulty looks or how small you may think you are..you can still achieve greatness. David defeated Goliath, God will always bring strength. I’m positive God is pleased with him and his work. He will never be forgotten.”
Even as he publicly professed a radical religion, Ali was surrounded by people who were White and of other faiths. His trainer, Angelo Dundee, was Italian American; his assistant trainer, Bundini Brown, was African American and Jewish; Ferdie Pacheco, his doctor, was Cuban; Howard Bingham, his closest friend, was African American and Christian and Howard Cosell was Jewish.
“Ali was a polarizing figure. At a time when America was in turmoil with the civil rights movement. He was an outspoken African American at a time when it was not popular to be. He stood up for his beliefs, and was a shining example of what America could be,” said Chip Haynor, co-host of Pittsburgh Sportsline. “There were as many people that hated him and wanted to see him fail, as there were people that wanted him to succeed. After his boxing career he put his energy to being an ambassador to heighten awareness to Parkinson’s.”
For three and a half years, Ali was completely locked out of professional boxing. Even when Ali tried to fight an exhibition match for charity, he couldn’t get a license.
“My thoughts of Muhammad Ali was that he was a fighter in and out the boxing ring, a true legend, humanitarian on social value and one who demanded respect of himself and all people,” said Billy Hester. “Ali was truly a global figure and will be miss for his contribution and dedication to society.”
Many sportswriters and boxing historians were unimpressed with Ali’s style. He did not fight like a heavyweight. Instead of throwing powerful punches, he tended to rely on his legs. He danced quickly and gracefully around the ring to avoid being hit, while at the same time wearing out his opponent.
“When I first learned of Ali, I Was training at Power Kick Academy under Sammy Pascal and Joe Delio. Both exceptional in footwork, they taught me the Ali Shuffle. I was able to incorporate that into my fights with success,” said Jaime Chesney, boxer and cage fighter. “His style was as beautiful and creative, as it was brutal. A true champion, Ali stood for making for his dreams come true by never giving up and of equally importance, absolute confidence and belief in his ability to do so.”
“Muhammad Ali, was the most popular figure to walk on earth since Christ! Those that say Babe Ruth are wrong. Babe Ruth is known in this country but Go to Zimbabwe and ask them about Babe Ruth. Ali was known all over the world,” said Eddie Jefferies, Boxing Historian. “I first met Muhammad Ali when I was a college student at Lincoln University. He was doing his college speaking tour. Everybody wanted to shake his hand, but Ali had the ability to make you feel like he wanted to shake everybody’s hand.”
In 1972 Muhammad Ali opened Fighter’s Heaven in Deer Lake, Pennsylvania. The remote camp included a gym, a house for Ali and his family, and cabins for sparring partners and guests.
“I was working at the Pittsburgh Courier when Minister Mustafa Hussein asked did I want to go to Deer Lake to meet the champ. The camp was deep in the Poconos Mountain,” said Jefferies. When we arrived Ali was sitting in the restaurant and told me to come sit next to him. He said I’m going to make you famous. They are going to see me all over the world and they will see you too.”
In 1975 Elijah Muhammad died. When his son Wallace took over as leader of the Nation of Islam, he changed its direction, abandoning its antiwhite rhetoric. Ali’s public statements also changed. “The Nation of Islam taught that White people were devils and I don’t believe that now; in fact, I never really believed that.”
“Former NAACP President Harvey Adams and I went in 1979 to the old airport to pick up Muhammad Ali. He was stuffing and campaigning for Jimmy Carter,” said Jefferies. “As soon as Ali seen me he started throwing jabs at me. He told me we got to “elect the right White”. He asked me to come sit in his Limo and told me that he would give me stuff I can give to my grandkids. He recited some poems that he never told to anybody else.”
Ali’s youngest daughter, Laila, became a professional boxer in 1999. By 2005 she had fought twenty-one bouts, scoring eighteen knockouts and no losses.
“With the help of the late Jacquet Bazemore and Minister Hussein Mustafa we were able to bring Muhammad Ali to Pittsburgh to speak at the 1977 Willie Stargell MVP Banquet,” said Bill Neal, CEO Achieving Greatness, Inc. “The Banquet was at Judy’s Banquet Hall in East Hills and we were running behind schedule. Ali, walked over to me and said: if you don’t get this thing going I’m going to whip you like you was Joe Frazier.”
My favorite quote from: Muhammad Ali: “I am America I am the part you won’t recognize. But get used to me. Black, confident, cocky; my name, not yours; my religion, not yours; my goals, my own; get used to me. “The trials of Muhammad Ali…” The Fighter” the ascribed nickname given to people of color… born Black means you better be ready to fight? Muhammad Ali was …fighting for existence, fighting to be heard; fighting to be visible, physically visible; fighting to remain in the color of his skin; fighting for approval; fighting to stand for something to be proud of; fighting for purpose; fighting for freedom ; fighting for you; fighting for me; fighting for greatness; fighting to be a Black man coexisting in a White world without a voice,” said Cynthia Culbreath. “He was more than just a legendary boxer, entertainer and orator he was also the GREATEST EQUALIZER of our time. He came into this world fighting with heart and left this world not wanting to give up his heart… his heart kept beating for 30 more minutes after all his organs failed. A Champ down to the final round!
After Ali’s heavyweight championship title was taken away, an eight-man elimination tournament was held to determine the new heavyweight champion. The winner was Jimmy Ellis and Joe Frazier. During his exile from boxing, Ali thought of himself as the “People’s Champion.”
Ali was a Golden Glove champion, an Olympic champion, a World champion and will always be The Champion of the People.
Like us at https://www.facebook.com/pages/New-Pittsburgh-Courier/143866755628836?ref=hl
Follow @NewPghCourier on Twitter https://twitter.com/NewPghCourier
Download our mobile app at https://www.appshopper.com/news/new-pittsburgh-courier