Greatest of All Time, Muhammad Ali, Dead at 74

"I done wrestled with an alligator, I done tussled with a whale; handcuffed lightning, thrown thunder in jail; only last week, I murdered a rock, injured a stone, hospitalized a brick; I'm so mean I make medicine sick." This quote is from none other than the ‘People’s Champ,’ Muhammad Ali. On Friday June 3, in a Greater Phoenix hospital, after battling Parkinson’s for the past 31 years, Ali died from respiratory complications. 

Nearly a week after his death, the world remains in a state of mourning. Ali, the most famous athlete to ever live was best known for his activism rather than his athletic prowess. He was a fighter in the boxing ring, but more notably a fighter for Civil Rights, equality, and the dignity of man outside of the ring. Ahead of time, Ali frequently challenged reporters on the merits of their questions and brilliantly exposed their racial double standards.

He was quick-witted, brave and always managed to perfectly explain the injustices he witnessed. He didn’t hold back when describing his reasons for refusing to kill innocent people in Vietnam. Ali’s decision to follow his faith and remain peaceful unfairly cost him three years of competition during his prime. Many will remember Ali the boxer who was a three-time Heavyweight champion that retired with 56 wins after 61 professional fights.  

However, most will remember that Ali was not beloved because of his dancing in the ring, or bravado, or supreme confidence, or eloquence, or activism, or courage – Ali was and remains beloved for all of these reasons and so much more.

Muhammad Ali you were right, ‘you are the greatest!’