Here are a couple of examples. He called Joe Frazier an 'Uncle Tom' and a 'gorilla.' This after Frazier gave him money while he was banned from boxing, and after Frazier worked to get Ali reinstated. Using the term 'gorilla' to describe a black man is something straight out of a Klan handbook. He spread rumors before the Rumble in the Jungle that Foreman was allied with Zaire's enemies. So when you see those great docufictionaries and you hear the crowd chanting 'Ali boombahya' they were motivated by the lies he and his camp spread about Foreman. Great fighter? No doubt. Maybe the best ever. Principled? In some things like the draft, sure, although that was more a result of his involvement with the Nation of Islam and less from his own initiative. In other things he was out to do whatever he could to further his own career, his own image, and his own ego.
Gotta go with Dylan here. And before anyone beats me to it, he's a jerk too. If you haven't yet, check out Don't Look Back for evidence of his coolness and also his jerkiness.
Rex Hudler - If anyone has heard this guy's interviews with Jim Rome and how passionate he is for baseball, but so caring for his son with Up (Down) Syndrome, you can't help but love his attitude and personality. I had no idea who this guy was and after hearing him the first time Rome interviewed him made me want to go to actually see a Phillies game (against the Astros). He seems like a guy who truly loves life and truly cares.
HayesStreet, In the Frazier incident, Ali was simply fulfilling his public image of being a loudmouth, trash-talking, over-confident athlete who would say the unexpected. That was something that drew people to him out of fascination and part of the enigma of his appeal. Sure he might have gone too far with those statements, but I think Frazier knew as well as anybody that Ali was just being Ali, and there were no personal implications in his comments. To be honest, how is his trash-talking any different from the average athlete of today verbally humiliating each other to rile themselves up? As for your second example I did not know that. While thats definately not cool remember, keep in mind he was associated with the devil himself at that time; Don King. I'm sure Ali's people had as much to do with that lie as the man himself. I'm not saying the guy was perfect, not by any stretch. But he is truly one of the most charismatic personalities of our time and his feats both on and off the ring were amazing and his influence is among the greatest if not the greatest of any athlete during the 20 century. If you're definition of a jerk is that of someone who is out to do whatever he can to further his own career, his own image, and his own ego, then I'm afraid a vast majority of the athletes out there are jerks. Azim da Dream
