Tuesday, December 05, 2006

Ali Rap

Just in time for Christmas comes a new book (they probably have a DVD and CD planned too)about Muhammad Ali or Cassius Clay as I like to refer to him. Since his name is in the news I figure it's my duty to try and change the public's misguided perception of him once and for all.

So let's see what we already know. Clay (or Ali to you) is arguably one of the greatest boxers in history. He changed his name to coincide with his conversion to Islam. He has Parkinson's disease (just like Michael J. Fox) and was a big Black Panther activist. His political views led him to protest the Vietnam War.

Many people think of Clay as a great noble person who stood up for his rights. In fact, many say he epitomizes America and what it stands for, namely standing up for your rights and expressing your opinions. But let me tell you what he should really be remembered for-making a mockery of professional sports.

First off, Clay was arguably the first of the "modern" athlete. And I mean this in the worst possible way. Go and turn on ESPN Classic, chances are they'll be showing one of his fights, that's all they ever show. What you'll see is a guy talking trash to his opponent in the ring and taunting him. Sure, it's a great strategy (throw the guy off mentally and take advantage) but it also made him arguably the first in a long line of disrespectful athletes. You know the ones everyone likes to point out as what is wrong with sports nowadays.

Before him, athletes carried themselves with class on and off the field. They'd flip a ball to the ref after scoring a touchdown. They'd round the bases quickly with their head down after a homerun. But Clay, no he had to have all the attention. He began making fun of his competitors in the ring. Outside of it, he did the same. He even made fun of journalists and anyone else he came into contact with like Howard Cosell. Why Cosell let him do this is beyond me.

If you think about it he gave way to the T.O.'s of the world. He gave way to the Latrell Sprewells, the Barry Bonds', the Stephon Marbury's. He made it cool to taunt the opposition when they were down. And it's funny today everyone cries that these players are punks. Yet somehow, Clay was spared this label. Now I was born at roughly the time his career ended so I'm just going by what I've seen in replay and read. But for everyone to annoint this guy a humanitarian and a noble Ameican? It's a joke. How about we label the guy the way he really is. A misguided, ignorant punk who deserves to be remembered at a fantastic boxer but a jerk of a person. But I forgot, the media gets to write the story and his controversy sold well back then. Hmm, I wonder then why they like him so much?

3 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

1:19 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

if you make so much money then why are you wasting your time here telling everyone else?

1:20 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

i'm curious. what was in that second comment?

and yeah, "crass"ius clay is a total douche. but then, i feel that most sports players are. maybe that's why i can't stand sports in general, and why i feel like vomitting whenever i see a tv show or movie centered around sports. except for the bad news bears movie when they went to the astrodome. i think one of the kids popped one when he first saw the place

7:26 AM  

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