Muhammad Ali: "Everyone Has A Purpose."Muhammad Ali told a New York Times Magazine reporter. "I never talk about boxing. It just served its purpose. I was only about 11 or 12 years old when I said 'I'm gonna get famous so I can help my people.'" Indicating his never ending desire to help people, in 1990 He visited Our Children's Foundation, on Manhattan's 125th Street N.Y. According to Bill Gallo in the New York Daily News, Muhammad Ali addressed the children, saying: "The sun has a purpose. You should have a purpose, you should all seek in finding your purpose in life. Parents should give guidance and children should find inspirational life meaning purpose and regaining a sense of being. Ali went to say: The moon has a purpose. The snow has a purpose. Cows have a purpose. You were born for a purpose. You have to find your purpose. Go to school. Learn to read and write. What is your purpose, your occupation? Find your purpose. What do you have to find?" "Purpose!," they shouted gleefully in unison, "Find a Purpose." True to form, one of Muhammad Ali's favourite inscriptions when signing autographs is; "Love is the net where hearts are caught like fish." The Trainer Who Taught Muhammad Ali The Science of BoxingMuhammad Ali was born Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jnr., on 17th January 1942, and was raised in a clapboard house at 3302 Grand Avenue in middle class Louisville, Kentucky. He began boxing at the age of 12. A white Louisville patrolman named Joe Martin, who had an early television show called "Tomorrow's Champions," started Ali working out in Louisville's Columbia Gym, but it was a black trainer named Fred Stoner who taught Ali the science of boxing self defense. Stoner taught him to move with the grace of a dancer, and impressed upon him the subtle skills necessary to move beyond good and into the realm of greatness. After winning an Olympic gold medal at 18, Ali signed the most lucrative contract a 50-50 split negotiation by a beginner in professional history of boxing, with a 12-member group of millionaires known as the Louisville Sponsoring Group. Blacks Were Expected To Be Polite and Respectful.He worked his way into contention for the coveted heavyweight title shot. Boas ting and creating media interest at a time when, by his own admission, he was rated number nine on the list of contenders. Looking back to the early life of Muhammad Ali before he changed his name from Cassius Marcellus Clay. We head back to the time of Cassius Clay when aged 22 leading up to the challenge for the world heavyweight title which was held by a giant of a man; Sonny Liston who at the time of his reign seem totally invincible and unbeatable, feared and looking a monster amongst other fighters in the boxing ring. No one knew what to make of the young 22 year old brash kid Cassius Clay who hailed from the town of Louisville, Kentucky. Black athletes of that 60's era in general were expected to be polite and respectful. But Cassius Clay loved to blow his own trumpet bragging and boasting how great he was, and in fact, who could blame the brash Kentuckian kid! Ali: "I’m Not Even Worried About This Big Bum" Clay had the quick hands to back up his boasts, after all said and done he won a gold medal in the 1960 Olympics in Rome by defeating the more experienced Polish amateur Pietrzykowski in the finals and then quickly entered the professional boxing arena upon returning to the United States. Instead of serenely discussing his opponents before a bout, Clay would publicly denounced them. Before battling Henry Cooper, the scrappy British champion, Cassius Clay shouted at a reporter: “Henry Cooper is nothing to me! If this bum goes over five rounds, I won’t return to the United States for 30 days, and that’s final! I’m not even worried about this big bum. Henry Cooper will only be a warm-up until I get to that big ugly bear Sonny Liston!” Who would have envisage that one day he would become the greatest boxer of all times! Some will remember this jive he made up before he fought Liston in their clash. “Clay comes out to meet Liston, and Liston starts to retreat. If Liston goes back any further, he’ll end up in the ringside seats!” |
Muhammad Ali: "I Just Wanted To Be Free."Ali's own thoughts conveyed to the world as he said: "I never thought of myself as great when I refused to go into the Army. All I did was stand up for what I believed. There were people who thought the war in Vietnam was right. And those people, if they went to war, acted just as brave as I did. There were people who tried to put me in jail. Some of them were hypocrites, People say I made a sacrifice, risking jail and my whole career. But God told Abraham to kill his son and Abraham was willing to do it, so why shouldn't I follow what I believed? Standing up for my religion made me happy; it wasn't a sacrifice. Everything I did was according to my conscience. I just wanted to be free. Everyone has a purpose in life. | |
