Our beloved Muhammad Ali is in hospital with respiratory problems - Update Ali is dead

[malaise]

Last edited Sat Jun 4, 2016, 06:01 AM - Edit history (1)

http://www.bbc.com/sport/boxing/36440514

Get well my hero (and I'm not a boxing fan)!

[elfin]

1. THere is a bad illness going around affecting us geezers

A deep sinus/chest thing that lasts and lasts. Takes a while to determine whether virus or bacterial.

Have had a few friends who have had bronchitis turn into pneumonia, despite having had the shot. He has other weakening issues.

Oh, how I hope this turns around in a good way for this courageous American.

[malaise]

2. He has Parkinson's

This is serious

[brer cat]

3. Very much so.

At his stage with Parkinson's it is hard to fight off other ailments.

For Ali

[malaise]

5. That happened with our uncle but he was in his early

90s.
Ali's body took too much licks.

[brer cat]

8. He did indeed take too many hits.

I suspect that as a result he has more than Parkinson's going against him. I really hate to see this, malaise. He is one of the greatest of my generation. I am a white female and not a boxing fan, but he is a hero to me and so many others.

[malaise]

14. One of my genuine heroes

and i don't have many. There was never anything fake about Ali - he has convictions. A genuine 'greatest'.

[Dustlawyer]

27. One of the smartest, most talented and most courageous Americans of my lifetime!

I remember when he could float like a butterfly and sting like a bee. He was the best know person on the Earth. More people knew of him than any world leader of the time.

My favorite was always watching him beffuddle and overwhelm Howard Cossell, and not anyone else could do that to Cossell. Ali's personality was larger than life! He has paid a heavy price, but he shined so brightly.

[malaise]

29. Yes

Ali was a light as bright as the sun and oh so beautiful - and a Pan-Africanist to boot.

[H2O Man]

50. Ali

has Parkinson's Syndrome, which both his father and Howard Cosell had. But without question, the blows he took in the ring created a co-morbidity. Specifically, his symptoms are related to the punches he took to the back of his head -- all illegal in boxing -- and most of which took place when he was in the last phase of his career. The Chuck Wepner bout is key.

The human parasite known as Don King knew that scans showed brain damage, yet still pressured Ali to engage in his last six bouts.

[malaise]

53. Nice to see you WaterMan

And calling Don King a parasite is high praise - he's at the lower end of despicable scumbags

[Skittles]

4. I have been a fan of him since he was Cassius

there was always something about him

[malaise]

6. Same here

adore him. Still have my magnificent poster and a plethora of books, tapes and DVDs. I love people with convictions.

[Hoyt]

9. Another here. His politics were as important as boxing. I suppose boxing gave him status.

[malaise]

12. More

[annabanana]

10. Ditto.. A brave man in difficult times.. . . n/t

[H2O Man]

51. Right.

I still have young Cassius's LP "I am the Greatest!"

[lpbk2713]

7. Float like a butterfly. Sting like a bee.

Ali will always be The Greatest.

[malaise]

15. And then some

[niyad]

11. prayers for his swift recovery

[rurallib]

13. As a youth I learned what it really meant to stand up for what you believed in from him

After years in catholic schools hearing of martyrs blah, blah, blah I watched this man become a Muslim and thus the target of hate and derision from most of the people my family knew. the more they hated, the more I admired.

When he refused induction and was stripped of his titles and his ability to practice his profession I was amazed at his resolve. I was also amazed at what out government would do. I was even more amazed to hear the adult catholics who were all gung ho when a catholic was a martyr were so hate filled for this man.

Yep learned many major life's lessons from Mr. Ali. So glad I was able to see the reality and not the propaganda. So sad the adults in my life were not adults, but that was a big part of the lesson.

Then as Ali aged and suffered yet remained an ambassador to the world.

So get well, Champ, and thanks for the lessons.

[malaise]

16. Couldn't say it better

[uppityperson]

65. Very much so, thank you for putting it so well

[mountain grammy]

17. Hoping he's better soon. One of my heroes too.

I was so proud when he refused to be drafted and fight in Vietnam.

[elljay]

18. Heard him speak

at my college, back in the late '70s. His disease hadn't progressed as far back then and he was not only eloquent, he double-shuffled! Wishing him the best.

[Lady_Chat]

19. Hope he fights this and wins!

A great fighter and a very courageous man. Please get well!

[FailureToCommunicate]

20. Here's hoping for a speedy recovery!

[Jack Rabbit]

21. !!

[panader0]

22. Hoping for the best--for the best.

[malaise]

32. Yes indeed:

[Raster]

23. Thanks for the thread, malaise.

Here's to The Greatest!

[retrowire]

24. Seeing that he's in fair condition I think he'll be ok. :) nt

[forest444]

25. Ali! Bumaye!

We're rooting for you, big guy.

[malaise]

33. When he was a youngster my brother

would repeat that over and over

[forest444]

39. 'Zat right?

Ali's heyday was a little before my time; but the first time I ever saw mention of that chant was in the documentary made about the legendary Rumble in the Jungle, When We Were Kings.

If you know of anybody who hasn't seen it, tell them it's definitely worth their while.

[kwassa]

26. I've met his ex-wife and daughter ....

I met Laila Ali when she was a sullen teenager .... a friend of mine used to babysit for Ali's kids. Back in the late 80s.

I'll bet all the world that Ali has CTE. He has made it to 74, and he has had Parkinson's for a long time.

[malaise]

31. Laila sure looks like him

Quite possible re CTE

[CentralMass]

28. He's a great fighter and may he win this one.

An old interview with his friend Howard Cosell

[malaise]

30. LOL and thanks

[CentralMass]

34. +1

[cwydro]

35. I'm not a boxing fan either.

But I think he is a great American.

Hoping for the best.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

36. Thanks for letting us know, my dear malaise...

I'm not a boxing fan either, but he's tops in my book.

May he recover!

[trixicopper]

37. So sorry to hear this

Several years ago I was working as a bartender at a sports bar. It was the opening ceremony for the Olympics and we had all the TVs on. The place was packed and as soon as the crowd saw it was Ali lighting the flame the whole place went completely nuts! It was really something to see.

Get well soon sir.

[narnian60]

46. An awesome moment.

[malaise]

59. Yes - in every corner of the globe

he is being celebrated this morning - loved, respected and celebrated - three words we rarely hear about most human beings - a champion of the civil rights movement and not just in America.

[840high]

38. Prayers on the way.

[spanone]

40. K&R...

[DonCoquixote]

41. If he was 25 at his form

I think he would be invaluable as a means of outreach to both American Americans and Muslims, as is, i hope ge gets better, and enjoys every second of a well deserved long life.

[Warren DeMontague]

42. Kick and Rec

[Solly Mack]

43. I really hated reading that he was in the hospital.

[malaise]

48. It's worse than that - his family is by his bedside

This is not good although all I want for him is no pain and peace.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027878886

[Solly Mack]

62. A long time ago

at the old Sports Arena off Memorial Drive in Atlanta, Ali, then known as Cassius Clay, had just finished a fight and my brother was in the dressing room waiting for him. My aunt had taken him behind the scenes to meet Ali. Ali came in, stripped down for a shower, but stopped long enough to greet my brother and autograph a photo for him.

My Aunt ran a diner next to the Arena and a lot of the athletes would come in to eat/drink. That's how she could get in the dressing rooms - everyone knew and liked her.

It's one of my brother's favorite childhood memories. Muhammad Ali, in the buff, signing an autograph. My Aunt always smiled when she told the story as well.

A lot of boxers would have gotten angry at the intrusion but not Ali. He made a little boy's day.

[malaise]

64. What a lovely story

So many have so many good things to say about him

[TheKentuckian]

44. Come on now! Fight through, Champ.

[Octafish]

45. ''No Viet Cong ever called me 'nigger.'''

“Why should they ask me to put on a uniform and go 10,000 miles from home and drop bombs and bullets on Brown people in Vietnam while so-called Negro people in Louisville are treated like dogs and denied simple human rights? No I’m not going 10,000 miles from home to help murder and burn another poor nation simply to continue the domination of white slave masters of the darker people the world over. This is the day when such evils must come to an end. I have been warned that to take such a stand would cost me millions of dollars. But I have said it once and I will say it again. The real enemy of my people is here. I will not disgrace my religion, my people or myself by becoming a tool to enslave those who are fighting for their own justice, freedom and equality. If I thought the war was going to bring freedom and equality to 22 million of my people they wouldn’t have to draft me, I’d join tomorrow. I have nothing to lose by standing up for my beliefs. So I’ll go to jail, so what? We’ve been in jail for 400 years.” -- Muhammad Ali

Like all of us, but really: No one like him, ever.

[malaise]

57. I loved him

No one like him

[Octafish]

63. He will always be The Greatest.

My father lived up the road a ways from Ali's farm in Berrien Springs, Michigan, for years. Dad said everyone who knew him, loved him.

Here's something from another Great, Pablo Casals:

"Every second we live is a new and unique moment for the universe, a moment that never was before and will never be again.

And what do we teach children in school? We teach them that two and two make four and that Paris is the capital of France.

When will we also teach them: Do you know what you are?

You are a Marvel. You are Unique. In all the world there is no other child exactly like you.

In the millions of years that have passed there has never been another child like you.

And look at your body what a wonder it is! Your legs, your arms, your cunning fingers, the way you move!

You may become a Shakespeare, a Michelangelo, a Beethoven. You have the capacity for anything.

Yes, you are a marvel. And when you grow up, can you then harm another who is, like you, a marvel?

You must cherish one another. You must work. We all must work to make this world worthy of children."

-- Pablo Casals

[Captain Stern]

47. My favorite Ali quote....

The man who views the world at 50 the same as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life.

[H2O Man]

52. "The Soul of a Butterfly"

His book from about a decade ago is filled with quotes like that.

[H2O Man]

49. Ali

Muhammad is a super-natural man. He has provided humanity with a great example in many phases f his life.

One of his daughters had sent me some holiday-season photos of The Greatest earlier this year. (In fact, I had promised to share a couple with some DU friends; as happens too often, I forget to get things done. But I will.)

[malaise]

54. Please do

I know you were dealing with both grief and a horrific unnecessary tragedy

[malaise]

55. Ali died overnight

[Stuart G]

56. May he rest in peace..

[malaise]

58. I just rolled out my Ali posters

and Ali cards that friends all over sent me because they knew how much I loved and respected Muhammad Ali

ESPN is way better than CNN this morning - CNN is all about CNN - ESPN is about Ali.

[H2O Man]

60. I was up

much of the night, talking with others about our life experiences with The Champ. I've heard from one of Ali's family members. It's a sad, yet beautiful time -- we need to concentrate on all that man taught us.

[malaise]

61. My best friend of 50+ years and I were just

discussing that part - via the phone