The original question was how did Ali go from a sports legend to an American icon. His religious convictions and his stance on the Vietnam War brought him out of the sports world and into the American culture as an American icon. How he went from a disliked figure to a beloved figure, is a great question.

 

I also wonder if the Parkinson disease has also played a part. As you see him now, you have to feel a sense of sadness and pity for someone that MADE his image by his blazing fast reflexes and his quick wit and his mouth to someone that cannot hold his hands still and basically cannot speak like we are used to Ali speaking.

 

I wonder if that disease has soften the hearts of those that did not like him and elevated him for those that did.

 

I feel no pity for him. I feel inspiration from him. Say what you will, nothing has beaten him down. How can you pity someone who still continues to be such a presence, and make a difference? I pity people who give up and concede their lives to their hardships, trials and/or challenges. I'm inspired by people who refuse to be beaten by what many term as a liability.

The original question was how did Ali go from a sports legend to an American icon. His religious convictions and his stance on the Vietnam War brought him out of the sports world and into the American culture as an American icon. How he went from a disliked figure to a beloved figure, is a great question.

 

I also wonder if the Parkinson disease has also played a part. As you see him now, you have to feel a sense of sadness and pity for someone that MADE his image by his blazing fast reflexes and his quick wit and his mouth to someone that cannot hold his hands still and basically cannot speak like we are used to Ali speaking.

 

I wonder if that disease has soften the hearts of those that did not like him and elevated him for those that did.

I know that my mother isn't near as famous (unless of course you listen to her children and grandchildren talk about her) as Ali is but coming from a daughter who watches her mother live each day with Parkinson, I would truly be insulted, for her, if I thought anyone felt pity for her. I, of course, can't speak for Ali but I kinda doubt if he would want anyone to fill sadness or pity for him either. What I see in Ali is basically the same thing I see in my mother, I see two people who worked hard and over came a lot in order to make a life for themselves.

So his religious convictions and his stance on the Vietnam War is what made him an American icon? I totally disagree.

 

I'd say his camera presence and early TV stuff with Howard Cosell played a big part, as did his reclaiming of the title after the suspension. But you can't dismiss his conversion to Islam and subsequent stance against the war; they are a significant part of the larger puzzle.

Obviously, I did a poor job wording what I meant in my previous posts on Ali and his disease. Let me try once more and if I don't get it right this time, I will just shut up on the topic.

 

I think back in the 60's there were people who did not like him because of his race and because of his stance against the war. Ali is famous for his "mouth."

 

Now, what he was most famous for has been taken from him yet he stills holds himself in a dignified manner.

 

What came across as brash and arrogance was taken from him and replaced with a man battling a disease and it has changed him.

 

Where pity was a poor word choice earlier, I see him as a much different person than he was 30-40 years ago. The brash, cockiness that had him running his mouth and declaring himself, "the greatest of all time" is gone and replacing it is simply a man who is battling a disease and doing it dignified and heroically.

 

I hope that would soften the heart of those who might have disliked him because of a political stance or the color of his skin.

 

RK, I truly apologize if I offended you. I did not mean it as it came across.

Obviously, I did a poor job wording what I meant in my previous posts on Ali and his disease. Let me try once more and if I don't get it right this time, I will just shut up on the topic.

 

I think back in the 60's there were people who did not like him because of his race and because of his stance against the war. Ali is famous for his "mouth."

 

Now, what he was most famous for has been taken from him yet he stills holds himself in a dignified manner.

 

What came across as brash and arrogance was taken from him and replaced with a man battling a disease and it has changed him.

 

Where pity was a poor word choice earlier, I see him as a much different person than he was 30-40 years ago. The brash, cockiness that had him running his mouth and declaring himself, "the greatest of all time" is gone and replacing it is simply a man who is battling a disease and doing it dignified and heroically.

 

I hope that would soften the heart of those who might have disliked him because of a political stance or the color of his skin.

 

RK, I truly apologize if I offended you. I did not mean it as it came across.

Please, no apology needed, I was not offended.

I know that my mother isn't near as famous (unless of course you listen to her children and grandchildren talk about her) as Ali is but coming from a daughter who watches her mother live each day with Parkinson, I would truly be insulted, for her, if I thought anyone felt pity for her. I, of course, can't speak for Ali but I kinda doubt if he would want anyone to fill sadness or pity for him either. What I see in Ali is basically the same thing I see in my mother, I see two people who worked hard and over came a lot in order to make a life for themselves.

 

My brother currently has Parkinson's and is battling through it as he continues to teach. Like your mother he doesn't want anyone's pity. Nonetheless, I and a whole lot of other people, including his students, feel sorry for what he is going through and the card he has been dealt. I agree with LBBC that people's nature to feel sorry for a person inflicted with a disease like Parkinson's or cancer or whatever, has played a role in people's love for Ali. It's only human nature folks, and that's true whether or not the inflicted want pity or sorrow or whatever you want to call it.

My brother currently has Parkinson's and is battling through it as he continues to teach. Like your mother he doesn't want anyone's pity. Nonetheless, I and a whole lot of other people, including his students, feel sorry for what he is going through and the card he has been dealt. I agree with LBBC that people's nature to feel sorry for a person inflicted with a disease like Parkinson's or cancer or whatever, has played a role in people's love for Ali. It's only human nature folks, and that's true whether or not the inflicted want pity or sorrow or whatever you want to call it.

Of course we all feel bad when someone we love is going through a horrible situation but to say that those feelings have a role in people's love for that person just doesn't fit in with my thoughts. I am sorry that anyone is dealing with any bad situation but that situation isn't what makes that person. How you deal with the card that is dealt you is what makes you who you are. I suppose what I was trying to get across was that no one wants anyone to feel pity for them but most importantly, what you have done with your life and who you were before a horrible problem hits you, and how you deal with the problem is what you should be judged on.

I love this picture and I think it shows the sense of humor he still has, even with a man like Bush whom Ali is pretty much the complete opposite of. For those of you who didn't see these clips Bush put his fists to fight (jokingly obviously) and Ali gave him the crazy sign. :lol:

 

Ali was kind of like Elvis Presley in that he was in a class by himself. He was a great boxer and entertainer and seldom disappointed his fans or critics.

Muhammad Ali is still a big enough deal that of ALL the athletes from ALL the world that the 2012 London Olympics Opening Ceremony organizers could have had come show their face and touch the Olympic flag just before it was raised...they had HIM.

 

Muhammad Ali is the absolute Greatest Of All Time.

Muhammad Ali is still a big enough deal that of ALL the athletes from ALL the world that the 2012 London Olympics Opening Ceremony organizers could have had come show their face and touch the Olympic flag just before it was raised...they had HIM.

 

Muhammad Ali is the absolute Greatest Of All Time.

 

Thought that was pretty awesome, of all of the people in the entire world they wanted him there. Only thing is it was really really hard to watch because you could tell how hard it was for him just to be able to even stand there and touch the flag.

Thought that was pretty awesome, of all of the people in the entire world they wanted him there. Only thing is it was really really hard to watch because you could tell how hard it was for him just to be able to even stand there and touch the flag.

 

I'm with you. It was definitely hard to watch (this is coming from someone whose mother is suffering from Parkinson's). If you ask me - and A LOT OF OTHERS - Ali was the greatest...period.

I'm with you. It was definitely hard to watch (this is coming from someone whose mother is suffering from Parkinson's). If you ask me - and A LOT OF OTHERS - Ali was the greatest...period.

 

I'm sorry to hear that I'm sure tonight was definitely hard to watch then. It's amazing the international symbol that Ali was able to become.

It was telling that the 8 (I think it was 8) people that carried the flag were all movers and shakers in the area of human rights. It was also telling that of the 6 billion souls on the planet, the one other person that got to touch the flag and actually have it stop in front of him during that ceremonial circuit was The Greatest.

I'd say it was a combination of Boxing being the biggest sport at that time. Him being probably the best Entertainer @ that time. AND The fact that even though people didn't always agree with his beliefs he stood up for them in a time period that was very crucial in shaping our country into what it has become today. And I'd say without people like him today, we wouldn't have alot of the freedoms we still do today(this post feels so awkward sense I'm kinda VERY conservative), and he should be thanked for each and every aspect of what he helped this nation through.

 

Good post...and if I may add...he stood his beliefs with pride and dignity and took the consequences.