yessir -- I tried hockey for a few weeks and learned
all about that. . didn't have the taste for blood.

it's a good part of my desire to go into engineering.
use your brain and then when your body goes, you
still have an income. -- j
.

There was a time when I could hold my own in endurance, if not talent. However, the only sport I was ever any good at and enjoyed was racquetball which has fallen out of favor of late. I'd sweat off several pounds and learned a few tricky moves that would befuddle my younger, faster opponents. So..I got a win every now and then, and could give the youngsters a match. But alas, those days are long gone, as is most of my physique.

Compared to martial arts, boxing is a mild endeavor, with a long history. However, it is not my cup of tea either. It is, though, one of the ways along with other sports that a poor kid with athletic ability can rise above his surroundings. Note how rare it is that a upper middle class or wealthy youngster become a top athlete.
Your point is well taken, if personal injury is what you find problematic, then football, basketball, and yes, even baseball cause injuries, some of which can be life changing. Then there's ice hockey. Oy vey. Remember the old joke, "I went to a fight and a hockey game broke out."

He was poorly educated and very young when he got famous. He was influenced by some very bad people who took advantage of him, but like a true hero, he eventually rose above his bad influences and became an admirable figure.

We met him BEFORE he became world re-
known, and had no idea he'd reach the heights
he did. A sweet memory.....

it just strikes me as unwise to celebrate people
doing their best to knock one another out of
consciousness. . maybe they could compete at
applying the greatest number of foot-pounds of
energy to a punching bag in 3 minutes? -- j
.

Haha! Yeah...it's humbling to me. My sparring time has been with middle weight guys, maybe light-heavy, all half my age. Humbling. A couple rounds in and I'm in the "deep water"...

Boxing training is one of the best ways to keep fit. I could last maybe ten seconds on any of the workouts.

Nice story. Very cool. Yeah, the Champ seemed to really like kids...

Although boxing played a part in my family, I was never a fan. Ali stood up for what he believed and paid a large price at the peak of his career. He wasn't always rational, but he strove to be good.

Yeah, I'm too old to fight really anymore. Too slow and am trying to preserve what little brains I have left. But, I still train to keep fit. And, frankly, it's very therapeutic.

Boxer who became a Rabbi...that's unique!

I was a young 12 year old boy when my brother Mike, our best friend Eddie and I road our bikes to The Shine Inn in Chicopee MA not knowing anything about boxers. The "Champ" and his staff took the time to talk to us and even sign pictures. We were impressed by their actions. There was something about him that kept us in awe. This was in 1965. Rest In Peace "Champ"

Thank You for posting this, Herb. . until this, I had
thought of him as a draft dodger who practiced a
sport which I find disgusting. -- j
.

It still wouldn't be a fair trade.

Thanks. At the time, Ali was newly retired and some people didn't believe the story. Such is the power of the media to foster a lie.

Great story

Ali was a good sport in a field with lots of bad ones. He fought fairly and he behaved himself off-camera. And he resisted the draft, and I would too.

I'd trade 10 of Jose Canseco for one Ali any day.

If you are a boxer, Ali had to be one of your idols. Talk about poetry in motion. My dad and three of my uncles were amateur boxers, and one was a pro boxer, who became a Rabbi. (I have a weird family).

I've always been a fan. But the older I got, and the wiser I got the more I really appreciated Ali. Right after he passed I did the rare activity of putting something on social media - a tiny tribute to the man. In it I explain that few people have the balls (sorry) to stand up against injustice when everybody is sure you're wrong. But, that's what he did, losing at least three years of his prime career in the process. I'm sure my fellow Objectivists know what I'm talking about.

It was clear that Ali loved kids. So, this story doesn't surprise me one bit. Saturday morning right after he passed I had scheduled a visit to our boxing gym for one of my workouts. It was a strange, quiet vibe in the gym. Just before I got there a local news crew came in with one of their sexy lady reporters to do a small piece and interview our youngest fighter in the gym that day. The kid did us proud with a fine interview. After the news crew left the workouts began. This young man looked really, really good in sparring. It was just a strong vibe in the gym Saturday morning.

I had bought into the negative stuff until this incident. It caused me to investigate and change my attitude. You are right, he was smarter than anyone gave him credit for at the time.

Heartily agree! Many, many years ago my husband and I strolling down Broadway (NYC) spotted Ali surrounded by a group of
kids who were so excited to be there. He
was speaking to them. We watched. Still known as Cassius Clay. So young, so hand-
some, so gracious when my husband went
to him to shake his hand....If I had only asked for his autograph THEN!!! RIP

That is so true. The fedgov used their media control to depict Ali as a traitor. In reality, he was a freedom fighter.

An interesting contrast.

In those days, much Ali news was negative. There's nothing like personal experience to prove the truth.