Muhammad Ali, ‘the greatest of all time,’ dies at age 74

[Spiritof96]

The man dodged the draft. He used the race card and his muslim faith to chicken.out on serving his country. Granted, thousands of white guys chickened out as well. All my Uncles on my Dad's side went to vietnam. One never came back as he lost his life being blown up by a mine. An Uncle I never got to meet. A Brother and Son lost. Ali's non service was a spit in the face to All who served over there or who have ever served. What makes his life anymore special than my Uncle's ? I'm sorry but he'll always be a piece of crap in my book.

So clearly you do understand the infatuation with him, you just don't like his choices.

People I love have disliked Ali as a draft dodger while they themselves spent their conflict on the flight line in England, Okinawa, and Guam. Another fixing helicopters in Missouri. I don't begrudge anyone escaping boots on the ground or in the air and rivers of Vietnam.

None of that diminishes Ali's historical and cultural significance.

[TrueblueCATfan]

A lot going on here in Louisville this week for Ali.....service Thursday at Freedom Hall...service Friday at Yum Center.....Ali festival on Wednesday

[Lighthouse]

The thing about his boxing prowess that fascinated me was how many times his opponent was cut. I heard this happened because as his fist made contact, he had a quick twist with his glove on their face.

This might make this topic move to the political forum, but here's my thought on this whole thing. We are all created by God for His purpose, and The Bible says this. Jesus says, "I am The Way, The Truth and The Life, no one comes to The Father, but by Me." Which means, no matter your accomplishments, status, or how others feel about you, if you don't know Jesus as your Personal Savior, you will spend eternity in Hell.

[Joneslab]

I'm kind of in between Blue Heaven and others. I've never really understood the infatuation with him either, but I'm not black nor Muslim and I never had to live during that time as a minority. It's not my place to say whether he was a hero or not. He wasn't my hero, but he was certainly a lot of people's. I also never saw him box so I have no point of reference for that, either.

Somebody made the point on TV this weekend that what he dodged wasn't combat duty. A guy like Ali would've never picked up a gun. What he was going to do in the military was go around and do these boxing exhibitions for the morale of the troops. He was aware of that and still took a stand against it.

[Hellobicycle]

RIP to great Ali