PATRICK COLLINS: The sombre rumours have stalked him down the decades, but now they are acquiring greater urgency. Muhammad Ali is gravely ill. Parkinson's Syndrome, the brutal legacy of his 21 years in the professional ring, has tightened its hold and, at 72, there are signs that his battle may soon be over. In time, many will attempt to assess the career of the most dramatically gifted and socially significant sportsman who ever lived. But in the week ahead, we shall concentrate on the 40th anniversary of his most extraordinary achievement.
