The Greatest!

[Guest Pistonbroke]

Jesus, just turned the TV on and heard about this sad news since his passing. A true legend and a + as far as mankind goes.

 

My own mother had Parkinson's disease and eventually succumbed to it  and the various other illnesses it brought on, tis a cunt of a disease and a lot of people get it through the actions of others. OK, he was a boxer and knew the risks, many get it just because others decide to smack them in the head anyway. 

 

RIP Cassius Clay, a true legend. 

[RedKnight]

Is there a bigger icon in sport than Ali? I can't think of anyone who transcends his sport like him.

[AngryOfTuebrook]

This is what Heaven looks like - Ali, the Wurzels and brandy at 40p.

 

[Guest Pistonbroke]

Is there a bigger icon in sport than Ali? I can't think of anyone who transcends his sport like him.

 

There are a few depending on how you look upon it, some are just an icon within their own country, region or continent. Ali was a World Wide Icon as far as sport goes and I really can't think of anyone else who was as iconic as he was globally speaking in sport . 

[Bjornebye]

Parkies got a lot to answer for the nosey bastard

[AngryOfTuebrook]

Breathtaking.

 

[Rico1304]

This documentary on BBC is brutal. The cunts milked him.

[Guest Pistonbroke]

You know you are getting old when you can remember the Rumble in the jungle because you were 10 years old. 

[RedKnight]

There are a few depending on how you look upon it, some are just an icon within their own country, region or continent. Ali was a World Wide Icon as far as sport goes and I really can't think of anyone else who was as iconic as he was globally speaking in sport .

I agree. Everyone knows who Ali is and what he did. I think maybe Pele is close but he doesn't have the great quotes that Ali has. That's what was so good about him, he talked the talk and walked the walk.

 

Babe Ruth is an American icon but if you asked the average man in the street in Europe anout him, they'd struggle to tell you anything about him.

 

For me, Ali is the single most iconic and famous sportsman ever.

[Guest Pistonbroke]

I agree. Everyone knows who Ali is and what he did. I think maybe Pele is close but he doesn't have the great quotes that Ali has. That's what was so good about him, he talked the talk and walked the walk.

 

Babe Ruth is an American icon but if you asked the average man in the street in Europe anout him, they'd struggle to tell you anything about him.

 

For me, Ali is the single most iconic and famous sportsman ever.

 

Indeed.

 

His so called arrogance was just a very early media attempt to sell the sport and he went along with it. Not one professional boxer he beat had a bad word to say about him to his face and the majority loved him for what he was, the best there was and a real nice bloke behind the scenes and hype of boxing. 

 

He was also anti establishment, which endears him to my heart even more. 

[Bjornebye]

No-one comes close globally. Michael Jordan might in the states but worldwide he has to be the most iconic.

[KMD7]

Breathtaking.

 

 

That's brilliant AoT.  And to think he was only reaching his peak there before his best years were then taken from him.  Almost 4 years of genius lost.  

[RedKnight]

No-one comes close globally. Michael Jordan might in the states but worldwide he has to be the most iconic.

 

I actually think Jordan isn't that far off. Who doesn't know who Michael Jordan is?

[Boss]

Breathtaking.

 

 

George Foreman - "Boxing is like jazz, the better it is the less people appreciate it"

[Josef Svejk]

I actually think Jordan isn't that far off. Who doesn't know who Michael Jordan is?

 

No comparison. Jordan is a shoe to most people. Ali was the most mythic figure in sport...

[Tony Moanero]

Ali > everyone else

 

Pele > Jordan

[RedKnight]

No comparison. Jordan is a shoe to most people. Ali was the most mythic figure in sport...

 

I'd agree that Jordan is synonymous with footwear, and he is below Ali in the all time stakes, but you ask anyone and their first thought of Jordan is of the best basketball player to have played. As I said earlier, Ali is THE sportsman, I'm just thinking out loud about who would be on the list below him. I'd have Pele and Jordan on there somewhere, sportsmen who transcend both the sport and who everyone knows.

[AngryOfTuebrook]

No comparison. Jordan is a shoe to most people. Ali was the most mythic figure in sport...

This is correct.

 

Michael Jordan is a big noise in the USA and for people interested in sportswear brands, but beyond that?  I couldn't tell you what made Jordan great at basketball (I couldn't even tell you who he played for) let alone tell you anything about his life, his political and religious beliefs, any witty quotes he may have come up with, etc.

 

Ali, even three decades after he retired, is still revered throughout the whole world - not the Western world, not the rich world, the whole world - not just for what he achieved in sport, but for the man he was.

 

Michael Jordan is someone a lot of people may have heard of.  Ali continues to inspire people.

[Remmie]

Do you think Usain Bolt gets in the conversation in a few years time? No chance bigger than Ali, bit in the tier below? Michael Johnson and Carl Lewis are probably the greatest known athletes of all time and they are nowhere near as big names despite their impressive accolades.

 

Due to his charismatic personality and out of ring persona, it could be argued some of Ali's boxing achievements are overlooked. Olympic Champion, regained the title twice and beat some hall of fame fighters. Invented the rope-a-dope, threw right hand leads, boxed with his hands at his waist.

 

I have never been that much of a boxing historian, always been more interested in boxers active while I've been watching, but again, Ali is the exception tot hat, love watching his fights and his interviews just as much.

[Nunavut Patrick]

Jordan is about commercialism, like Tiger Woods.

 

He never said boo about social justice issues, even uttering that famous quote about Republicans buy sneakers, too.

 

Woods played the Buick Open at a segregated golf course.

 

Ali confronted racism head on.

 

Jordan played a team sport. Pippen and Rodman were key to that team as well. And Phil Jackson.

 

Just as many people have heard of Kardashians, or Lebron, or Messi.

 

I cannot think of anyhting iconic Jordan did besides that crying Jordan meme and sneakers.

[Nunavut Patrick]

Do you think Usain Bolt gets in the conversation in a few years time? No chance bigger than Ali, bit in the tier below? Michael Johnson and Carl Lewis are probably the greatest known athletes of all time and they are nowhere near as big names despite their impressive accolades.

 

Due to his charismatic personality and out of ring persona, it could be argued some of Ali's boxing achievements are overlooked. Olympic Champion, regained the title twice and beat some hall of fame fighters. Invented the rope-a-dope, threw right hand leads, boxed with his hands at his waist.

 

I have never been that much of a boxing historian, always been more interested in boxers active while I've been watching, but again, Ali is the exception tot hat, love watching his fights and his interviews just as much.

Bolt will be usurped in a generation or two. Lebron, if he wins with Cleveland, would be better than Jordan.

 

I have ot heard of Michael Johnson. And Carl Lewis is more famous now for butchering the US national anthem...

[Red Phoenix]

Respect to you and hope you're well wherever you are. You were a true giant of a man.

 

Masha' Allah.

[Lee909]

Ali is head and shoulders above the rest but to suggest mist people think Jordan is a shoe is outrageous. Basketball is huge in Asia and China in particular. People world wide know Michael Jordan and he was basketball.

[cloggypop]

Remember when he snotted Superman?

 

[littletedwest]

I actually think Jordan isn't that far off. Who doesn't know who Michael Jordan is?

I know who Jordan is but I wouldn't recognise his photo or tell you who he played for.

Doubt most Americans would know who Pele was.

Everyone knew ali