RIP Champ

[stealthify]

I'm sure you're about to hear the word; today we lost boxing legend Muhammad Ali at age 74.

His fame extends long before I was even born, but I've always had an affinity for his unmatched fusion of style and talent. I've yet to find anyone else I've enjoyed nearly as much before or after Ali's time in the spotlight.

Hopefully we have some other fans here. May the champ rest in peace.

[CoopKill]

[j2k4]

No one like him, before or since.

An absolutely singular talent in the ring, inspiring emulation which most often doomed those who attempted it to miserable failure.

I remember watching him appear at the opening ceremonies of the '96 Olympics; David Hassellhoff (!) had just been introduced, embarrassingly surrounded by a personal security detail so dense you could barely pick him out - followed shortly after by Ali, the most famous man on the planet, quite literally all by himself.

I have never heard a roar so loud in my life.

When he lit the torch, shaking so horribly - I doubt many there knew what he'd been going through, he hadn't been seen publicly for a while - I don't think there was a dry eye in the house.

Larger than life, he was.

All the tawdry aspects of boxing, all the Muslim crap, the draft-dodger stuff, he transcended all of it.


RIP, Champ.

[stealthee]

I heard the sad news this morning and I just knew Shaun would be the one to post the thread. Ever since I joined 3si all those years ago he has had The People's Champ as his avatar.

RIP Great One