NittanyFan

June 3rd, 2016 at 9:56 PM ^

on the St. Joseph River --- an estate supposedly once owned by one of Al Capone's bodyguards.  

I've read that while he still owns that estate, he's been spending more and more time in Arizona over recent years: to spend time in a better climate as he ages.  There is no lake-effect snow out there.

carolina blue

June 3rd, 2016 at 9:25 PM ^

He's 74 with Parkinson's. I'm actually kinda surprised he's lasted this long. I remember him lighting the torch in Atlanta in '96 and thinking he looked pretty bad then. I can't believe it's been 20 years since then.




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LSAClassOf2000

June 3rd, 2016 at 10:06 PM ^

As someone who has a father who is 74 and suffering from Parkinson's himself, hearing this news today hit sort of close to home knowing that such sadness may be in your own future, although for the moment my father is doing well enough.

As for Ali's family, thoughts go out - I can't even imagine what they are experiencing. Hopefully, he pulls through, and as others have said, his cultural contributions as an athlete and as a human being are incalculable. 

sum1valiant

June 3rd, 2016 at 10:14 PM ^

I know those feelings well. I adopted the mentality that every time something reminded me of my father's eventual fate, I would consciously remind myself of something special my father and I shared. Him coaching my little league teams, taking me fishing, etc. I was eventually able to accept the fact that my dad wasn't invincible, but I also taught my myself how incredible a life he provided for me.
My prayers are with your father.

Sopwith

June 3rd, 2016 at 11:45 PM ^

with the term "athlete" than pure runny/jumpy.

Ali was the best at his sport, sure, and had the speed/grace/power combination no one had ever seen, but also had more impact on society than any athlete before or since. He was outspoken when people didn't like black people to be "uppity." He didn't all his fame and use it to sell overpriced sneakers. He tooks stands that he knew would make him unpopular with at least half the country, and he was willing to lose the prime years of his career (4 of them) on sheer principle. Add that to all the stuff in the ring, the Gold Medal, the Liston upset(s), the Rumble in the Jungle, the Thrilla in Manilla (still the most iconic fight of all time, damn near killed the both of them), the 3rd title against Spinks.

So yeah, I'm comfy with the Greatest being the GOAT across all sports. As for pure runny/jumpy, yeah, Bo, Jim Brown, and a whole lot of Olympic decathletes would be up there.

stephenrjking

June 3rd, 2016 at 11:47 PM ^

Not the same thing. On pure athleticism Bo may be the best, but in this context the term "greatest athlete" means best player/sports participant in any sport. Not "most athletic." The term "athlete" here is used because it is generic enough to include participants from all sports without using sport-specific language to inadvertently exclude someone. In this case, for example, nobody ever calls a boxer a "player." He's a boxer or a fighter. But the term "athlete" does apply.

And Ali was the greatest.

victors2000

June 3rd, 2016 at 9:47 PM ^

I can't tell you how many times I've thought, after someone famous died, 'Man, I wonder when The Greatest is going to go?'. As a youngster, those fights we saw for free on t.v.: Ali-Frasier, Ali-Foreman, Ali-Japanese wrestler (no, I didn't see that one but it did happen lol) man we'd have to pay big bucks to watch them now. He was the greatest. No, he's still the greatest.

In reply to by ijohnb

umchicago

June 3rd, 2016 at 10:38 PM ^

was frazier the second best of all-time, since ali was only better by the smallest of margins.  they are about as close to a tie as you can get.

Sopwith

June 3rd, 2016 at 11:32 PM ^

“I’ve wrestled with alligators,

I’ve tussled with a whale.

I done handcuffed lightning

And throw thunder in jail.

You know I’m bad.

just last week, I murdered a rock,

Injured a stone, Hospitalized a brick.

I’m so mean, I make medicine sick.”

M-Dog

June 4th, 2016 at 12:52 AM ^

Ali essentially started the approach of trash-talking your opponent to gain an advantage.  

When you watch interviews of athletes before Ali's time, they were all "Yes Sri, No Sir."  Ali came along and shocked everybody with his in your face braggadocio.

But like the Rope-a-Dope, he was doing it with a plan.  He was also having fun with it.  He was a showman with it.

Marvin

June 4th, 2016 at 12:17 AM ^

I met Muhammed Ali in 1993. He seemed like he was in bad shape then. I am glad he has made it this far because he was an amazing person and a breathtaking athlete. When I was a kid the whole neighborhood used to watch boxing. Ali vs. Liston, Ali vs Fraser, Ali vs. Foreman etc. Always Howard Cosell announcing. My sister and I got to stay up late to watch. These days boxing is gone, and when I hear that Muhammed Ali is about to leave this world it's heart wrenching.