IS ALI DEAD AND DYING?
Former heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali, whose health has been dicey, putting it mildly, forever, has apparently taken a turn for the worse. According to a report published in the London Evening Standard earlier this week, The Greatest is losing his two-decade long battle with Parkinson’s disease and he may be dying.
Quoting an unnamed family friend, “[Ali’s] condition has worsened. At this point, he may only have months to live.”
Those who get their “news” from the news are at a big disadvantage when it comes to discerning fact from fiction, truth from lies, patriotism from agitprop, fear mongering from human decency … especially when it comes to Ali – one of the most beloved – and one of the most exploited – men on the face of the planet.
As to the current state of his health, even those in Ali’s inner circle seem unable to get their stories straight. His marketing agent, Harlan Werner, denied the news report. He told BBC Sport that “Muhammad is fine and he has numerous appearances lined up. He had surgery on his back and was in therapy for that, but that had nothing to do with Parkinson’s. He is fine. It is disrespectful to Muhammad to suggest that he would not tell the truth about his health.”
That’s a marketing agent for you.
Ali’s longtime friend, photographer and manager, Howard Bingham, who is as close to Ali as anyone on the planet, said, “[His daughter] Laila feels she is losing him.”
Laila Ali, in a story printed in the Los Angeles Times, more or less agreed: “I feel like the disease is progressing. Different things start happening as you get older. I have noticed a change in him, something that goes along with Parkinson’s.”
Not to mention the debilitating effects of boxing.
“It’s painful for me,” she continued, “because I would love to sit down and talk to my dad about the way he used to be when he was my age, when he was in his prime, because we are so much alike. I can’t really do that. I can’t share a lot of things with him.”
She also revealed, according to the British-based Mirror, that the 63-year-old former world heavyweight champ has stopped talking to others and has shut himself away from the world.
With all the leeches out there, who can blame him?
Human nature being what it is (and, alas, what it is not), we seem hardwired to make heroes out of mortals, gods out of men, turning flesh and blood into plaster of Paris. But rather than deify, idolize, fawn and drool over a man whose faults, like his virtues, are huge, we should be graceful enough, grateful enough, to leave Ali alone.
November 7th, 2005 at 2:13 pm
as mark twain said ” rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated”
November 7th, 2005 at 3:38 pm
the best moment of my life was to shake the great mans hand.I was too overwhelmed to say anything to him and by the time i`d realised what had actually happened ali was 30 paces away. the hairs on my back still stand up whenever ithink about that day. ive shook ali`s hand and im soooooo proud of that!!!
November 7th, 2005 at 8:35 pm
You could not have said it any better, “we should be graceful enough, grateful to leave Ali alone.”
November 8th, 2005 at 9:14 am
ALI I HOPE U GET BETTER SOON
November 8th, 2005 at 2:07 pm
I am originally from Louisville Ky, and I have met him and his father before he passed away. I must say Ali is and will always be the greatest of all time.
November 9th, 2005 at 9:20 am
I will always have the greatest admiration and respect for Ali, both as a man as well as a professional boxer. I had the unparalleled honor of sparring 2 rounds with him when we were both in our 20’s. I love him and what he stands for. His bravery in life far exceeds his bravery in the ring. He is still the greatest.
November 9th, 2005 at 11:41 am
I have a great respect for muhammad ali as as person and a boxer I’ve watched most of his fights and read his books and I look up to him as a model for upcoming boxers because I am up and coming boxer myself. I think one of things that I like about him the most is he is selfless - he thinks about others before he thinks himself and that’s saying a lot about his character. I for one hope he gets better and makes a full recovery, but no matter what he will be a legend and still the greatest of all time in my eyes. People will miss him greatly when he goes but he was such a captivating figure that he will be remembered in the minds and spirits and of all people and I feel he won’t be fogotten for a long time and thats what’s important. Get well champ.
November 9th, 2005 at 12:08 pm
I am a childhood friend of Ali. I moved to Boston Ma. in 1962. Ali lived on Grand St. and I lived on Virginia Ave. I saw Ali for the first time since Louisville in 1996 @ a B C High school card show. I counted the tickets 500 in number. He had a contract with the show to sign 500 autographs. But he just kept signing them after the 500. At the card show a Boston writer interviewed me about Ali’s and my childhood with him. There was a great article and pictures in the Boston Herald about him with pictures of him. If you look at the picture of him holding the baby, you will see me on the left in the background. 3 guys were together all the time. Me, Jamie Webster and Ali. Our hangout was at the Wells Ice Cream shop in the westend of Louisville. I would love to talk to Ali’s daughter about Ali’s youth. There was a lot of funny things that happened in his life. I lost contact after the show. If anyone knows how to get in touch with his daughter or Ali’s manager, let me know. Charles Brewer Jutt@yahoo.com
November 9th, 2005 at 1:00 pm
ali use to tease frazier alot. but he cant talk right. now who is the one that can’t talk right?
November 10th, 2005 at 11:50 am
Ali was a great champion and a greater human being. It is sad that in the end the truth about Ali was that he was living that truth. He was and is an American hero and icon.
November 12th, 2005 at 11:40 am
who can feel pity, sorrow or negative emotion for a man who lived exactly how he chose. a man who achieved and excelled in life at a time where most black men in his era were mere puppets of those pulling there strings. ther really isn’t a need for ali to speak today, yet he does. he speaks today in seeing the draft done away with,in black men and minorities not taken no for an answer. he speaks today when minority fighters can choose there destiny and be paid there worth. he speaks when we see the great impact boxing has around the world. he speaks today through his prayers prayed then are answered today.he is the king of boxing never dethroned in the eyes of the people,which holmes found out. to Adam Robles i think yours words are disrespectful and shameful. no man is perfect and just from your statement we can see your no exception to that rule. for onedey the words you say today about ali may meet you in your bossom. ali was human,made mistakes but was agreat,great man. peace and blessings to ali and family.
November 13th, 2005 at 12:24 am
ali remains my idol, the greatest boxer in history for me. i watched him spar at the folk arts theater, manila, the philippines. i watched the ali-frazier fight, and his conquest of george foreman. he is so intelligent a boxer, and so good a poet; there is poetry all over his body as he boxes in the ring, communicating this poetry to his foe and friend, to the fans out there: float like a butterfly, sting like a bee…rope-a-dope…ali with a cause has remained to be a symbol for those excluded who dare to struggle and dare to win…in sickness and in the nearness of death, ali stands the greatest. his love for humanity is greater than the possibility of his death. thank you, muhammad ali. i thank god = allah for you, and for the gift that you are to us. MABUHAY KA, ALI!
November 14th, 2005 at 7:48 pm
much love, God Bless you and yours
November 15th, 2005 at 10:00 am
Ali, like no public figure before or after, engaged the people of the world. Wherever he went on the planet he walked amongst the ordinary people. Millions around the globe can say they touched him or spoke with him. That is his enduring legacy - he was indeed “The Peoples Champion”. And that memory will exceed the time he spent on this earth.
November 16th, 2005 at 11:27 pm
My first exposure to the sport of boxing was the Ali vs Spinks bout in the late 70’s. I became a fan of Ali when he had his own Saturday morning cartoon. He is called “The Greatest,” but he was nowhere near the boxer Lennox Lewis was at the age of 38. As 21 year olds, Ali would have schooled Lewis. As 38 year olds, Lewis would have destroyed Ali. Ali was 38 when he fought a 30 year old Larry Holmes. Lewis at 38 would have knocked out a 30 year old Larry Holmes.