Essay Preview: Ali
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Hes still the most recognizable man on earth. And over forty years after he burst onto the scene as a gold-medal winner at the 1960 Rome Olympics, Muhammad Ali remains a magical figure, known and loved throughout the world.
Heralded as the “Athlete of the Century” by USA Today, GQ, and many other publications, Muhammad continues to receive accolades for his contribution to sports. He has been named Sports Illustrateds “Athlete of the Century,” the BBCs “Sports Personality of the Century,” the World Sports Awards “World Sportsman of the Century,” and the State of Kentuckys “Kentuckian of the Century.” In 2005, he received the United States of Americas highest civil award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
As a boxer, Muhammad brought unprecedented speed and grace to his sport, while his charm and wit changed forever what the public expected a champion to be. His accomplishments in the ring are the stuff of legend – two fights with Sonny Liston, where he proclaimed himself “The Greatest” and proved he was; three epic wars with Joe Frazier; the stunning victory over George Foreman in the Rumble in the Jungle; and dethroning Leon Spinks to become heavyweight champion for an unprecedented third time. But there was always far more to Muhammad than what took place in a boxing ring.
Muhammads life and career have been played out as much on the front pages of newspapers as on the inside sports pages. His early embrace of the Nation of Islam and his insistence on being called Muhammad Ali instead of his “slave name,” Cassius Clay, heralded a new era in black pride. His refusal to be inducted into the United States Army anticipated the growing antiwar movement of the 1960s. His willingness to stage his much-promoted and publicized fights in such far-flung locales as Kinshasa, Manila, and Kuala Lumpur signaled