Muhammad Ali was often referred to as "The Greatest," and that's very understandable when you see him move with his hands, legs and feet across the boxing ring. His most iconic quote was, "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee." His movement, along with the power he thrusted from his arms to his hands, was surprising because Muhammad Ali was a heavyweight contender. He was not known for having very mobile movement, but more so for power in the punches.
He wasn't the nicest person -- he taunted opponents and made sure reporters knew about the more arrogant side of being the greatest to have ever lived in the boxing ring. His conversion to the Islamic religion also became a widely known and debated topic in America at the time.
Not only were his actions in the boxing ring powerful, but his actions outside of it were also powerful, including his anti-war initiatives. One of his most powerful actions was not adhering to the draft standards and enlisting in the Vietnam War. He spoke on college campuses about the Vietnam War effort and how it should be avoided at all costs because of his anti-war views. At the time, black students were still just going to college, and he argued that they were accomplishing so much now that they shouldn't have to join the war movement only to die in the front lines. This was his main point and, in my opinion, it was a valid point. Many of these people, not just blacks, but everyone in college, had bright futures -- and the war was causing them to lose their lives for an effort that sadly wasn't even worth it.
His death should help us remember not only his accomplishments, but his triumphant victories both in and out of the ring, as well as what we can do to raise awareness about Parkinson's disease. Dying at the age of only 74, Ali is an example of how this disease is affecting younger and younger people. Surprisingly, the Parkinson's disease developed in Ali due to genetic reasons, not from absorbing too many punches. Fortunately, Ali's legacy lives on in the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, Kentucky, where you can hear Ali's voice and hear inspirational quotes, along with seeing him on plasma TVs talking about his victories and how he accomplished some amazing feats over his lifetime. I hope that more people remember how he made a difference in many people's lives and how we should follow that same example.
