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.
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