Muhammad Ali will be in Ireland to re-discover his Irish roots this week. The "Greatest" is due in Ennis on Tuesday to visit the ancestral home of his great grandfather Abe Grady, and to accept the award of Freeman — the first in the town's history.
Abe Grady left his Turnpike Road home in Ennis in the early 1860s, setting sail for the USA from Cappa Harbour in Kilrush – one of the hundreds of thousands fleeing a country devastated by the aftershocks of the Great Famine and London's totally inadequate response to the greatest natural disaster to befall Europe in the 19th century.
Grady eventually settled in Kentucky and married a "freed" coloured woman, whose name is still unknown. One of the daughters of that union, Odessa Grady Clay, is Ali's mother.
Ali originally fought as Cassius Clay, winning a gold medal at light heavyweight at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome under that name. Contrary to erroneous claims, he didn't throw that medal into the Ohio river in disgust at being refused service in a Louisville restaurant because he was black. He lost it in Miami years later.
Clay, who stopped Alvin Lewis in the 11th round at Croke Park in 1972, changed his name to Muhammad Ali in 1964 after becoming involved with the controversial Nation of Islam, under the then rabidly anti-Semitic Malcolm X and Elijah Muhammad, a man who maintained a controlling influence over the fighter's affairs until he died in 1975.
The Nation of Islam, of which Ali was an enthusiastic member, and the Ku Kluk Klan, shared one common racist thread — they both believed that whites and blacks should be segregated.
Ali was just a pale shadow of himself at the University of Illinois in Chicago in November 2007. He arrived in the room trailing clouds of past glories, epic tales of battles lost and won both inside and outside the ring.
These days Parkinson's disease and old age have ravaged the once lightning reflexes and he no longer floats like a butterfly nor stings like a bee but the champ can still charm them like Rudolf Valentino. Just five minutes into his visit to the University – he's there as a guest of the AIBA ahead of the 2007 World Senior Championships and Olympic qualifiers – he has the assembled crowd in the palm of his hand.
"I'm so fast that when I hit the light switch on my bedroom wall I'm in bed and under the covers before the light is off," he insists.
Everyone has heard this line before, secondhand. But they've never heard it from Ali, that's the difference. The room is in uproar. Warming to his task he then wants to know who the heavyweight champion is and proceeds to call him out, predicting that he'll go down in six, maybe five, he adds, "cause I'm in a mean mood."
Below in the vast auditorium the word is beginning to spread that Ali is in the building. Hundreds of young boxers, there to represent their countries at the Championships, which are also acting as a qualifier for the Beijing Olympics, have gathered and are looking up at the balcony in anticipation.
Ali appears and the place erupts. The 1960 Olympic light heavyweight grabs the microphone and booms: "Ali !"
And hundreds of voices shout back in unison. "Bombaye". This goes on for about three minutes and there isn't a dry eye in the house. Memories of the Rumble in the Jungle when the Zaireans come out in their tens of thousands to lend their support to Ali with chants of, "Ali Bombaye". Bombaye, 
incidentally, means "kill him", the him in question being George Foreman, Ali's opponent in the famous Rumble in the Jungle in 1974.
Foreman had made a massive PR mistake on his first visit to the country after he allowed himself to be pictured walking around with a German Shepherd on a leash The Belgians, former colonists of the country which is now the Democratic Republic of Congo, used German Shepherds as part of their security apparatus during their tenure.
Ali, the challenger, used the "rope and dope" tactics during that bout, lying on the ropes, popping up with the occasional jab, but mostly shipping heavy ordnance from Foreman, who was defending his WBA and WBC belts.
The fight also had a political significance as the USA, bitterly divided between conservatives and liberals over the Vietnam war, were still at loggerheads. Mississippi was still smouldering as America inched its way towards reconciling itself with its constitutional imperative that all men are created equal.
"Is that all you got George? My mum can punch harder than that, come on man put some effort into it," was just some of the advice Ali gave Foreman as the leather was flying in Kinshasa. Eventually Forman punched himself out and Ali sprang from the ropes and knocked him out in the sixth round, reclaiming his World title in the process.
According to the liberal press, King Arthur had returned to reclaim Camelot, Foreman being unfortunately cast in the role of Mordred. One hour after the scheduled 15 rounder ended the clouds burst as the monsoon season began in earnest. Of course Ali insisted that he had spoken to the weather Gods before the fight and they'd agreed to hold off the rain until after he'd taken care of business.
The handful of journalists, used to Ali's outrageous claims before, during and after bouts, were strangely muted. Given the miracle they had just witnessed in the ring they were probably thinking there was an element of truth to his claim.
Ali lost his last fight in the Bahamas in 1981 on a unanimous decision to woefully inept Trevor Berwick, a man who puched so light you wouldn't be guaranteed to hear him if he was knocking at your front door, a man whom Ali would have destroyed in his prime.
The fool who promoted that match neglected to provide a proper ringside bell and had to borrow a cowbell from a local farmer. The greatest career in the history of sport ending on the incongruous sound of a cow bell. Hugh McIlvanney wrote that it was like watching a King ride into exile on the back of a garbage truck.
Ali will arrive at Shannon airport at 2.30pm on Tuesday. He will then travel to Ennis Town Council’s HQ for the civic reception where he will be made an honorary freeman of Ennis.
His dismissive attitude toward Joe Frazier, with whom he was involved in an epic trilogy, Ali winning two and Frazier one at Madison Square Garden, was a disgraceful chapter in the three times world heavyweight champion's career. Smokin' Joe was a fighter, a gladiator. Sure, he lacked Ali's skills, but he made up for that deficit with sheer raw courage and a refusal to accept defeat. But Ali, who received hand outs from Frazier when he was banned from boxing, – the Nation Of Islam were conspicuous by their absence around that time but they were back on the scene like a shot when Ali got his licence back – called his great rival an "Uncle Tom" and mocked his slurred speech. Ali said later that he regretted his words and praised Frazier for being a great champion, but the damage to Ali's reputation was done.
Was Ali, who won his first fight as an amateur on a split decision over an Irish/American kid called Ronnie O'Keefe the greatest? I reckon that Sugar Ray Robinson was the best pound-for-pound fighter of all time. However, it could be argued that Ali was denied the opportunity to box in his prime because he refused to go to Vietnam, a decision that saw his licence to fight revoked for three years in 1967. By the time he returned to the ring, he was past his best. His speed had diminished and the world never got to see the great Muhammad Ali fighting at the height of his powers.
"London’s totally inadequate response to the greatest natural disaster to befall Europe in the 19th century."
You have got to be fucking kidding me. Is the article about Ali or your (misplaced) hatred of the English?
FYI, it was the Irish catholic middle-class sellouts that made the famine the horror that it was, not the English. England sent plenty of grain to feed the starving, but the Irish merchants, peeved because they were not allowed to control (i.e profit from) its distribution, sent it all back.
Otherwise it would have been a great article.
We won't make this into a debate about the famine. It was a tongue-in-cheek comment by Mr Out, and nothing more.
The pound for pound greatest fighter…………such a hard thing to agree on………..its mostly about preference………Tommy Hearns was a delight to watch, classic hit & move………Roberto Duran for relentlessness……..Tyson for raw power…….Chavez for tactical combinations……..but my money would have to be on Oscar Del a Hoya….a champion at several different weights, articulate when interviewed, went back to school to study as an architect, remained loyal to his roots building free to use sports centers in East LA and as a final touch…just about every single woman in the states seemed to want to marry him at one point……talk about having it all…
Closer to home I had very high hopes for Michael Watson reaching such dizzy heights, I was at white hart lane the night it all came crashing down.
Nicely written.
All great fighters as you say, de La Hoya one of the greats indeed. The Watson situation was nearly tragic.
I spoke to Barry McGuigan once and he still won't discuss his fight with Young Ali who died a few months after being Ko'd by McGuigan in 1982. McGuigan dedicated his world title to him. McIlvanney wrote a brilliant piece on this subject titled, The Tortured Morality of Little Wars. He writes that the arguments that boxing is a safe sport when compared to the injuries in others sports is a smokescreen, pointing out that boxing is one of the few sports in which your primary purpose is to render your opponent unconscious. But then if you begin bringing morality into sport where do you stop? You could question the morality of Formula One racing and people driving cars, and bikes, at 300mph. And if you're tearing down the wing in a rugby match and Paul O'Connell catches a hold of you, he wouldn't be enquiring about your health. Pro boxing has a lot of catching up to do when it comes to health issues. Refs for instance – unlike in amateur boxing – don't have to take the ringside doctors advice on stopping a fight. I believe that pro boxers should use heavier gloves and less hand wrapping, which makes their fists harder. But in introducing changes like above you run the risk of turning the sport into "fencing with gloves".
Nevertheless, if young men, and an increasing amount of young women, want to box then it is up to the authorities to ensurethat they are protected – from themselves in a lot of cases, because some guys just won't quit even when they are being obviously outclassed.
fair enough, btw I wasn't looking for a debate any my response was probably a bit heavy handed; but in my defence, there's nothing obviously tongue in check about the statement; the article itself is written in a serious tone.
Anyhow, Ali, what a legend and certainly one of the best, maybe not the best ever but like Hendrix he brought something totally new to his chosen profession and I think that's why he'll be remembered for a long time to come.
I think if you read it in the context of some other posts by Mr Out, you'd pick up a common theme.
By the way, I must do a post on this grain of which you speak – Trevelyan's inedible Indian corn – but probably not in a post on Muhammad Ali.
One thing Ali/Clay brought to heayweight boxing was thousands of middle-aged Irish women who couldn't keep their eyes off him whenever he fought.
I concur on the issue of pro boxing needing some extra safe guards, when I boxed as an amateur a nose bleed would be enough to stop the fight, a cut and you were off to hospital.
At the time of Micheal Watsons incident a lot of calls came for banning the sport…..if the day ever came when the pro game was banned it would just drive it under ground, I used to go the Downham traven in south east london to watch a mate of mine box unlicensed…..talk about savage…..they used to have "amateur spot"….if anyone in the house was having a barney with someone else they would just glove 'um up and let 'um go…..but now that the girls are in the ring I doubt that banning day will ever come.
Wether Ali rates as one of the all the greats is a matter of opinion rather than fact, he was most certainly the first to bring such glamour and humour to the sport……..I remember seeing on tv as a kid Ali calling up the gym where Joe Frazer was training to tell how ugly he was……brilliant stuff.
Ali v Foreman….knockout was in round 8…..smockin' Joe still calls Ali a brain-damaged bum,…Ali responded "I'm sorry after all these years Joe still feels so bitter,Joe is a good chriastian family man,and if God in the next world,calls me to a holy war,I pray that Joe is fighting right beside me,'cause he's a warrior". The best book on Ali?,Thomas Hauser's "Ali,His Life And Times"
The "rabidly anti-Semitic Malcolm X " and the Nation of Islam's contribution to history summed up as merely being a black KKK.
Seconds out writes in a style not unknown in American journalism in the late 60s. It was a style that helped mark Ali out as one of the most vilified men in America.
Interesting how corporate America reclaimed and made the hated into the hero, the coke olympic games atlanta 96.
I was struck off during the McCarthyite era for being a Marxist Shane.
But those are my principles eitherway – if you don't like them I have other principles
of course.
I don't remember Ali as being anything other than a hero in the public mind but I could be wrong about that. However, while he was a great fighter, he wasn't without his flaws, and the way he treated Joe Frazier was shabby at best so although I wouldn't like to demonise him, I wouldn't want to canonise him either.
Something in the middle is more appropriate.
I'll leave Mr Out to comment on his views regarding the Nation of Islam.
Ali acknowledged many times that his involvement with The Nation of Islam was at best misguided,and he also said tghey were racist,altough he did admit they suited his agenda at the time,Ali did leave them to become and remain a moderate muslim……and of course,his treatment of Frazier was immoral,but Ali claimed that Joe was the only fighter he truely feared,and the boxer that he found the most diffecult to overcome,so he carry-ed on with the uncle-tom jibes to drive Joe nuts and upset his mo-jo,{it never worked},Ali attempted many times to make-up to Frazier,including publicly apoligizing for his behaviour,and Joe never forgave….which is his right……suppose
Most Muslims consider Nation of Islam a heretical sect – its a black supremest, racist organisation in the guise of a religion. I think Ali just got caught up in the hype and radicalism of the time. Maybe he regrets it, as he became a real Muslim in 1975 (maybe its no coincidence that that this was also the year the bombastic, controlling Elijah Muhammed finally died).
Interestingly, though probably not surprising for anybody who understands the organisation, Elijah Muhammad had a cordial relationship with the Head of the American Nazi Party, George Lincoln Rockwell. Rockwell was even invited to speak at the Nation of Islam Convention of 1962, where he praised Muhammad as the black Adolf Hitler. Muhammad even sent Malcolm X to Atlanta in 1961 to negotiate an agreement with the Ku Klux Klan whereby the Klan would support the creation of a separate black state. So I think Bock is pretty fair in calling the organisation the black KKK.
"Irish need not apply"…….."No dogs or Irish"……..any of you folks ever seen that in a shop window…..I doubt it….it was a feature of Irish life in england in the 50's & 60's……I never saw it myself either but I am pretty sure it would have made me bitter……..Ali reacted to what was going on around him at the time and he was hardly going to do it quietly.
A lot of talk these days of brands and packaging………..Ali was years ahead of his time in those terms…genius almost.
Before this goes off the rails, or gets hijacked, I'm going to jump in.
Nobody here is defending racism. This post is about Muhammad Ali, who was never going to stay quiet, nor is that the issue. He's a complex man, with gifts and flaws both of which need to be acknowledged but the Nation of Islam is a wider matter.
Ali's personal reaction to injustice is one thing, but when people are discussing a broad political and religious movement, they're entitled to their opinion.
The "no dogs or Irish" reference is irrelevant to discussion of a religious movement. Let's keep that clear.
Elijah also claimed that he helped Ali to many wins by virtue of praying to Allah – Angelo Dundee would have nothing to do with those victories of course. God, or Allah, helps those that help themselves – it also helps if you have Dundee working your corner.
My point is that Ali was faced with exactly that type of discrimination and it was most likely a driving force behind what some folks saw as radical decision making on Ali's part, joining the nation if islam, refusing to be drafted etc…….I would say that most folks these days have a hard time comprehending signs like "Whites only" or "No dogs or Irish" were ever a part of civilized society and what it really felt like to be subjected to it.
Ali was subjected to it and it seriously affected him.
Nation of Islam and racism are mentioned in the post and my comments have relevance to me in understanding why Ali did the things he did, all if which added to the mystic of the man………..his record compared to some other greats is not that impressive but Ali did have that something special that made him a legend.
Ali suffered the same racial oppression as every other black man in America.
Some turned to the Nation of Islam and some didn't. Nobody forced Ali to become a Muslim and it certainly wasn't an inevitable consequence of the racism he experienced. It was a personal choice and we're all responsible for our choices in life.
exactly Bock,if any of us were to judge another man on their life,we must match the good v bad,and Ali's goodness and charisma outweighed all else,all of us at this thread should be thankful to be on earth when the Great man walked among us……and on a personal note,I had the privalige of shaking hands with Ali at a book signing in London in early 90's,and proud to admit I wept and grinned like a child on christmas morning…..my then 22-year old girlfiend couldn't understand why,accusing me of being s 'soft', 'sure he's only a boxer'…I knew then we'd no future…
Muhammad Ali is the Greatest. However, he once told the Leo High School Boxing Coach -Mike Joyce -that pound for pound the Greatest Boxer of All Time was Chicago's King of the Stockyards – Packey McFarland.
"McFarland was an outstanding boxer who engaged in more than 100 bouts during his career and lost just one; He was considered to be among the best in his division during his fighting days but never received a title shot; He was smart, a good boxer, and a hard-hitter; McFarland was elected to the Ring Boxing Hall of Fame in 1955 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1992."
http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Lodge/6525/PackeyMcFarland.htm
"It certainly wasn't an inevitable consequence ".
Maybe Ali knew his history and that of Black boxers who held the same crown and how America destroyed them. Jack Johnson forced into exile for daring to liase with White Women and Joe Louis, bending over backwards to be the patriot in World War 2 but still left pennliless by a relentless IRS.
Remember Ali announced his Nation of Islam conversion the morning after his win in 64. His words choosen in that press conference are worth noting
" I don't have to be what you want me to be. I'm free to be what I want"
Obviously 35 years later many still believe that he wasn't.
I would have many problems with the Nation of Islam, far fewer with Malcolm X, but as Sula Man says context is very important here.
Well, you know what I think about religion. I find it hard to agree that buying into a system of delusional thinking is inevitable.
Ali was conferred as the first Honorary freeman of Ennis at a reception held in the town this afternoon.
He also met four of his distant cousins.
The conferring event was closed to broadcast media and the public, but was shown on a large screen in the town.
Ali was driven through Ennis, taking in the Turnpike Road area from where his great grandfather hailed.
He will attend a charitable function at Dromoland Castle this evening before flying back to his home in Kentucky from Shannon later tonight.
That seems like a tough schedule for a man of his age and infirmity.
It is an all, he's 67 now and is obviously not in the best of health.
He's only 67? I thought he was much older.
For anyone interested here is a link to Cathal O'Shannons nearly hour long interview with him when he came to box in Croke Park http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DwoyNjUR_M.
It's the first of five clips but you can easily get the others. Enjoy
I saw a re-run of that on RTE one night – great interview, its a shame they can't seem to replicate anything that good today.
He is the great boxer I saw on t.v in the early 70s, I enjoyed the big build up watching it in black and white, even tho I Fully did not understand Boxing. It's great for Ennis and fantastic for OUR MR.ALI ! …… Now Fuck Off Steve……………….
I think the opponent that Ali struck most fear into was actually Michael Parkinson……….Ali took a swing at him live on tv when Parkinson try to pull out the Koran mid interview….Parkinson planned to make Ali look foolish with crazy quotes from the Koran……Ali was having none of it, he sprang forward and swiped Parkinson's hand away from the book…………the terror on Parkinson's face was very real as his Koran jack in the box trick went wrong……….it seemed Parkinson forgot for a few minutes the sport that Ali hailed from…..his sport was not about getting a ball between two posts or over a line or into a basket……it was about hitting someone as hard as he could as fast as he could…….silly parky….
Talk about not enjoying the moment. This is a great man, he is an icon and a hero to so many. We are so lucky to have him in our life time. Yes, he had flaws but nobody ever claimed (especially him) that he was perfect. As for his religion – Islam is like all other faiths. It is susceptible to manipulation etc by men who aim to use it to their own ends.
Anyways, Ali was never about hate. Sure he had some bitterness during the civil rights movement -but who wouldn't?
I wish him health, happiness and hope he lives to be 100 plus.
look everybody,ye all know I'm a fan,but if you wanna read something to feel great about life's possibilities,as I said earlier,Thomas Huesar's 'Muhammud Ali,His Life and Times' will re-invigorate for anotherwhile……trust me
I traveled with Muhammad for our England / Ireland tour. I was the guy handing Muhammad children to kiss at the Ireland event and I also spoke on behalf of The Muhammad Ali Center at many of the functions. The purpose of my post is to say "THANK YOU! " I have traveled with Muhammad for over 25 years and have never witnessed the level of warmth, love, and affinity for Muhammad as was displayed during our stay in the U.K.
To the peope of Ireland: It is very easy to understand how Muhammad became so loved and so admired. The Irish blood in "The Greatest" is obvious !
John Ramsey
johneramsey@aol.com
[pedant]"rope a dope"[/pedant]
He certainly was the greatest, even if he said so himself.
Thanks for the message John. We all wish Muhammad the very best in all his future endeavors.
Did his mother and father call him Muhammad?
They called him champ actually…….
Second's correct,his mother and father,both being committed Chriastians,were never totally comfortable with Ali's name-change,so they all compromised with 'Champ'….deadly really…
That sounds like spin.
Did you ever know of a mother who called her son by anything other than his full, uncontracted, given name?
I don't know many mothers who call their children Jimmy, Bob, Tom, Noodles or Whacker. It's all James, Robert, Thomas, Murgatroyd and Alphonsus.
So really, I simply can't see Mrs Clay addressing young Cassius as Muhammad in private.
I can't see it.
I do believe all of the concepts you have presented to your post. They're really convincing and can definitely work. Still, the posts are too quick for starters. Could you please prolong them a bit from next time? Thanks for the post.
Are you getting spammed ?
Joe – Yes. A huge increase in spam lately. Would you like some Viagra?