Chief Dick Posted July 13, 2004 Share Posted July 13, 2004 Still the greatest: take_a_b Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rover Posted July 14, 2004 Share Posted July 14, 2004 Amen to that! Anyone out there who hasn't seen the movie When We Were Kings should rent it. As remarkable as he was as an athlete, he's even more remarkable as a man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grits and Shins Posted July 14, 2004 Share Posted July 14, 2004 Rover: he's even more remarkable as a man. He was remarkable as a man? He was a draft dodger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ursa Majoris Posted July 14, 2004 Share Posted July 14, 2004 Grits and Shins: Rover: he's even more remarkable as a man. He was remarkable as a man? He was a draft dodger. Oooooh, you old fisherman, you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kansas State 2000 Posted July 14, 2004 Share Posted July 14, 2004 Ali - coach I'm a bad man! Cosell - You ain't that bad. take_a_b Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynch Posted July 14, 2004 Share Posted July 14, 2004 He was a contentious objecter. That is very different than draft dodging. He decided that he should take a stand. I am not saying if I agree or disagree with that stand. I do respect the courage of his convictions. My father joined the reserves to avoid Vietnam and I don't consider him a draft dodger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I Like Soup Posted July 15, 2004 Share Posted July 15, 2004 Contentious objector = draft dodger. thumbs_d The best boxer in history though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grits and Shins Posted July 15, 2004 Share Posted July 15, 2004 lol ... call it what you want, he was a draft dodger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hitman Posted July 15, 2004 Share Posted July 15, 2004 I usually would agree with the "draft dodger" assesment, but not in Ali's case. He was the heavy-weight champion of the world at the time, and how many "star athletes" not even close to his stature in today's sports would object to being drafted, "just because"? He honestly took a stand for his religious beliefs (although I don't agree with them) and he said it best I believe when he said something to the effect of "I ain't got no quarrel with them Vietcong." He is a peaceful man, and one of the greatest athletes of all-time. Definitely one of my heroes. thumbs_u Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grits and Shins Posted July 15, 2004 Share Posted July 15, 2004 We will have to disagree ... I don't believe he "honestly took a stand for his religious beliefs" as much as he used it for an excuse to get out of going to Vietnam. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ursa Majoris Posted July 15, 2004 Share Posted July 15, 2004 Grits and Shins: We will have to disagree ... I don't believe he "honestly took a stand for his religious beliefs" as much as he used it for an excuse to get out of going to Vietnam. Yep. Ali - one of the greatest cowards of all time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Only In America Posted July 15, 2004 Share Posted July 15, 2004 Grits and Shins: Rover: he's even more remarkable as a man. He was remarkable as a man? He was a draft dodger. applause Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I Like Soup Posted July 19, 2004 Share Posted July 19, 2004 Hitman: I usually would agree with the "draft dodger" assesment, but not in Ali's case. He was the heavy-weight champion of the world at the time, and how many "star athletes" not even close to his stature in today's sports would object to being drafted, "just because"? Well, geez, ask Ted Williams, Christy Mathewson, Grover Cleveland Alexander and many other major sports stars who volunteered to serve their country. There has been no volunteering from the Hollywood or major sports ranks since Korea. Tillman excluded, of course, but he wasn't at the top of his respective sport like the others mentioned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruffian Posted July 20, 2004 Share Posted July 20, 2004 Ali was willing to give up his title and his freedom for his beliefs, so for that, I respect him. He was tremendous in the ring, and he really was entertaining in and out of the sport. No one should have to live as he does now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grits and Shins Posted July 20, 2004 Share Posted July 20, 2004 Ruffian: Ali was willing to give up his title and his freedom for his beliefs, so for that, I respect him. He was tremendous in the ring, and he really was entertaining in and out of the sport. No one should have to live as he does now. lol ... now that's funny ... he didn't willingly give anything up ... he fought tooth and nail NOT to give anything up. It's not like he had a choice either ... he decided to dodge the draft and one of the consequences was that he lost his title and had to go to jail. What a joke. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynch Posted July 20, 2004 Share Posted July 20, 2004 This is a topic that we could argue about for years. I know what I would have done in his situation, and I know what I think about his situation. I don't agree with what he did, but I wouldn't be here if my Dad didn't volunteer for the reserves three days before his draft number came up. Our last president suddenly enrolled in school in England to avoid going to Vietnam. That is a war that unless you lived during that time you can never understand the way people thought. I think that Ali was the second best heavyweight of all-time. I have to give a nod to the only undefeated champion ever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I Like Soup Posted July 20, 2004 Share Posted July 20, 2004 lynch: This is a topic that we could argue about for years. I know what I would have done in his situation, and I know what I think about his situation. I don't agree with what he did, but I wouldn't be here if my Dad didn't volunteer for the reserves three days before his draft number came up. Our last president suddenly enrolled in school in England to avoid going to Vietnam. That is a war that unless you lived during that time you can never understand the way people thought. I think that Ali was the second best heavyweight of all-time. I have to give a nod to the only undefeated champion ever. I'm thinkin' that was Marciano? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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