Happy Birthday Muhammad Ali

Over the weekend - January 17 to be exact, it was the birthday of one of the greatest sportsmen that we have ever caught on film. Muhammad Ali turned 67 years old.

This forum cannot accurately describe his boxing career, his personal life, or his recent battle with Parkinson's. I urge you to take the time to read his autobiography, there are a few on the market and learn more about him growing up in Louisville, Kentucky, the road he took to get to the Olympics, his fight against the US government during the Vietnam War and of course his actual boxing career.

Ali was involved in some of the biggest fights the boxing world has ever seen. He never shied away from a fight and during his ban from the ring during the War, he even challenged George Foreman to a fight at the boxing club he was training at instead of taking the millions to do it at a stadium.

Outside of boxing, Ali is recognized at the grandfather of rap. He constructed poems that put down his opponents, made predictions about his victories and promoted himself. Some of his most famous;

"I've seen George Foreman shadow boxing and the shadow won."

"I don't always know what I'm talking about but I know I'm right."

"The fight is won or lost far away from the witnesses, behind the lines, in the gym, and out there on the road; long before I dance under those lights."

"Inside of a ring or out, ain't nothing wrong with going down. It's staying down that's wrong." "He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life."

"Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee."

"You give 100 percent in the first half of the game, and if that isn't enough in the second half you give what's left."

"If winning isn't everything, why do they keep score?"

"I'll beat him so bad he'll need a shoehorn to put his hat on."

"If you even dream of beating me you'd better wake up and apologize."

"I'm so fast that last night I turned off the light switch in my hotel room and was in bed before the room was dark"

I was never one to believe that being in the same room with someone famous could give you the chills, make you feel proud, or ignite a fire inside you that will make you a better person, Ali changed all that the day he showed up a Toronto Argos game. It might have been a promotional stunt to get people in the seats, but he makes you want to be stronger and find purpose in the things you do.

One last Ali quote to finish off -

"The service you do for others is the rent you pay for the time you spend on earth."