Ali Facts :
He made the Civil Rights and anti-war movement in the US proverbial to the world at large . Yes , there were Martin Luther King Jr and Malcolm X . But compared to Ali , they were provincial names . From the heart of Africa to the depths of Latin America , from the Arab and Muslim world to continental divides of Eurasia – he first conquered the heart of his fans and then sat down gently like a caring gardener and planted the seed of justice and fairness inside those hearts .
The death of Ali does not leave a hole , but fills a whole spectrum of consciousness we had become too familiar with to see and sense . His sudden departure ignites and enlightens that space . We suddenly remember why we loved him , what he stood and fought for , and why and how we must mourn him .
Season of national sorrows
He was born in the season of national sorrows and global despair , and he died in the season of hateful politicians and opportunist carpetbaggers . In between , he graced the world with hope , with defiance , with speaking truth to power .
Civil Rights leader , anti-war activist , the heavyweight world champion Muhammad Ali ( 1942-2016 ) has now joined eternity . The battle for whitewashing his defiant legacy has already started in the form of obituaries that seek to sugarcoat and distort his powerful , consistent , unrelenting anti-racist , anti-imperialist , legacy and make him palatable to future generations of submissive souls who take no for an answer .
But remember him we must for who he was : a beautiful man , a soaring soul , a magnificent poet , a principled Muslim , a Civil Rights icon , a steadfast anti-war leader , a world champion , and a beloved American who singlehandedly altered the image of what it means to be American . May his magnificent memory forever shine beautifully upon our path ahead !
Ali Facts :
1 . Muhammad Ali ( born Cassius Marcellus Clay , Jr .; January 17 , 1942 ) is an American former professional boxer , generally considered among the greatest heavyweights in the history of the sport . A controversial and polarizing figure during his early career , Ali is now highly regarded for the skills he displayed in the ring plus the values he exemplified outside of it : religious freedom , racial justice and the triumph of principle over expedience . He is one of the most recognized sports figures of the past 100 years , crowned “ Sportsman of the Century ” by Sports Illustrated and “ Sports Personality of the Century ” by the BBC .
2 . Muhammad Ali practiced his speed by dodging rocks . It sounds crazy enough but it ’ s true . He used to ask his fella to throw rocks at him . The crazy Muhammad Ali dodged every single rocks threw at him . His younger brother , Rudy , the rock thrower said , “ No matter how many I threw , I could never hit him .”
3 . Muhammad Ali punched a cop in his first bout . It was on 29 October 1960 , when Muhammad Ali won his first professional fight by defeating Tunney Hunsaker . Hunsaker was also a Chief of Police from West Virginia . It was an incredible match and Muhammad Ali won a unanimous decision after six rounds of play .
4 . He was afraid of flying . While Ali was getting ready for the 1960 Rome Olympics , he realized he ’ d have to fly there . Terrified , the 18-year-old asked if he could take a boat ride instead . When his idea was shot down , Ali decided winning a gold medal wasn ’ t worth risking a plane crash and decided to skip the Olympics .
Page | 11
Lawless Entertainment Magazine – www . llemag . com