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Indeed, Ali was a man whose boxing skills were unmatched. He had one of the fastest jabs, arguable the best, in the history of the sport. His reflexes were akin to that of a pugilist thirty-pounds lighter. And his tenacious resolve to fight through adversity (He he fought through a broken jaw in a loss to Ken Norton) is match only by the greatest of sports Gods. But, it is his integrity as a man that solidifies his helm atop the boxing world.

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In 1967, at the height of his career, Ali was the World Boxing Association (WBA) Champion when he refused a call to serve in the United States Army. He was promptly stripped of his belt by the The New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) and the WBA as a result. Ali was arrested and found guilty of draft evasion.

Edwin B. Dooley, chairman of NYSAC, was quoted by the New York Times as saying, “(Ali’s) refusal to enter the service is regarded by the commission to be detrimental to the best interests of boxing.”

M. Robert Evans, president of the W.B.A., told The Times, “I feel that Muhammad Ali has defied the laws of the United States regarding selective service. His action today leaves me no alternative.”

Ali, in true form, had this to say of his refusal to join Uncle Sam’s Army: “I ain’t got no quarrel with them Viet Cong…No Viet Cong ever call me Nigger.”

Watch Muhammad Ali Talk About Refusing To Join The U.S. Army

Ali was sentenced to four years in prison, but was never imprisoned due to the active appeal of his conviction. His case made it all the way up to the Supreme Court where the justices ruled in his favor. While he won the moral war, his legal battles kept him out of the ring for nearly four years.

(He did, however, fight in 1970 against Jerry Quarry because the Atlanta Athletic Commission granted him a license to fight)

Nearly four years out of the ring would have kept even the most gifted boxers outside of the ropes for good. But Ali was not merely a gifted fighter.

He was “The Greatest.”

Ali returned to action and lost a thrilling match against Joe Frazier in 1971. He rebounded with multiple victors in 1972 and eventually regained his title on October 30, 1974 when he beat George Foreman in the “Rumble In The Jungle.” That fight is considered one of the greatest sports events in the history of athletics. He retired in 1981 after losing to to up-and-coming fighter Trevor Berbick.

In today’s sport’s culture where athletes seems to speak for nothing, Ali stood and spoke for everything and everyone that keeps America honest. He refused defend his country when it was not quite ready to fight for his rights. He was unwilling to trade in his integrity for money and endorsements, something few superstar athletes of today would do.

It is for this reason that we thank Muhammad Ali for standing up to America and making her better. Thank for being, “The Greatest.”

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By the end of the night, all Ali needed to do to capture the hearts of 2,000 revelers in Las Vegas Saturday was go onstage and smile.

Ali sat next to Stevie Wonder, who played keyboards and sang his version of “Happy Birthday,” while stars including Sean “Diddy” Combs, Kelly Rowland, LL Cool J, Quincy Jones, Sugar Ray Leonard and boxing promoter Bob Arum followed along.

Combs pinched Ali’s cheeks and whispered in his ear, then closed out the nearly 5-hour gala by professing his deep admiration for the fighter.

Ali’s eyes widened. He pointed at Combs, then back at his own head, twirling his index finger as if to tell Combs he’s crazy.

“The greatest of all time,” Combs said after leading the crowd in shouting “Happy birthday, Ali.”

The moment closed out the celebration of Ali’s life and fundraiser to generate millions of dollars for brain research, a mission Ali’s family says is important to him in part because of his nearly 30-year battle with Parkinson’s disease.

“Happy birthday, champ,” Obama told Ali through a video message, saying he wished he could have attended a swanky dinner gala in Las Vegas featuring some of the biggest names in sports, film, television and music.

“As a fighter, you were something spectacular,” Obama told Ali, who turned 70 last month. “You shocked the world, and you inspired it, too. And even after all the titles and legendary bouts, you’re still doing it.”

A set of gloves Ali used to defeat Floyd Patterson in 1965 in Las Vegas – the first heavyweight title fight in Sin City – sold for $1.1 million. It came with one of the original posters used to promote the fight, which had Muhammad Ali’s chosen name as a subscript to Cassius Clay, the name he was born with. When Ali converted to Islam, many people resisted calling him by his new name.

Ali entered the room and sat at a table with his family before bidding began on the gloves.

Lorenzo Fertitta, a casino owner and owner of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, the mixed marital arts league, won the gloves, which organizers had said earlier they hoped would fetch $500,000.

Football great Jim Brown said Ali represents the greatest of America, because at one time people only recognized his athletic ability and didn’t like what he had to say. That changed over time, he said.

“America started with slavery and ended up with a black president,” Brown said. “Muhammad Ali was a part of that … a big part.”

Ali’s wife, Lonnie Ali, told the star-studded crowd that her husband’s greatest wish has always been to inspire and help others. She said he feels that his life really began when he retired from the ring.

“Muhammad’s gift of inspiration is timeless, and now more relevant than ever,” she said after being introduced by music icon Quincy Jones.

Lonnie Ali introduced a video montage of her husband’s life, including clips from his work with children.

“People look for miracles, people look for wonders, people expect surprises of all kinds,” Ali said in the video. “Yet the greatest wonder, the greatest miracle, the greatest surprise is to be found in one’s heart.”

Guests arriving on the red carpet included football great Franco Harris, supermodel Cindy Crawford, acting star Jackson, Ali’s children and grandchildren and Chuck Wepner, who fought Ali in 1975 for the heavyweight title and lost.

“I would go anywhere in the world for Muhammad Ali’s birthday,” Wepner said.

One of Ali’s daughters, Rasheda Ali, said the gala was a chance for friends, family and A-listers who look up to her father to show their respect for his life and legacy as a humanitarian. In return, she says he’ll be honored to see them there.

“He has not left that need to help others,” Rasheda Ali said. “That’s one of his core values – his charity and his giving.”

The gala – with tickets starting at $1,500 per plate – was held at the MGM Grand, the site of most of boxing’s major fights the past two decades. Famous faces converged on the 160 tables adjacent to two rings and a stage – Terrence Howard, David Beckham, Anthony Hopkins, Manny Pacquiao, and Lenny Kravitz, among others. They spoke and performed in tribute to a fighter who went 56-5 in the ring with 37 knockouts and became perhaps the most famous athlete ever because of his personality and willingness to publicly stand up for his beliefs.

“He’s done it with guts and grace, with his fists, and with his wits,” Jackson said. “He’s one of the groundbreaking figures of the generation that helped make the world a more open place when it comes to who we can love, where we can go and what we can do. Thank you, champ.”

Wonder, who performed earlier in the day at Whitney Houston’s funeral, performed “Keep Our Love Alive” and “Superstition.” Rasheda Ali said Wonder was the performer her father was most looking forward to seeing.

Wonder wasn’t the only performer.

Snoop Dogg sang a medley of his hits, John Legend, Kravitz, Slash, Kelly Rowland and Cee Lo Green all performed. LL Cool J rapped “Mama Said Knock You Out” as DJ Z-Trip span a remixed version of the song that included Ali audio, including his famous “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” quote.

Tennis great Andre Agassi said Ali has shown the world that each person has a duty – regardless of their occupation – to live for more than him or herself and help others.

“What he did with his platform was unparalleled and the impact he’s had as a result, we still feel to this day, which is why we’re all out here tonight,” Agassi said. “We’re grateful to what he’s done. He’s been a leader – we’re also challenged and charged with a duty of figuring out a way to do more.”

Ali has lived with Parkinson’s disease for nearly 30 years, a degenerative brain condition that some doctors say can be brought on by punches to the head.

The gala raised funds for the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health and the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, Ky., a cultural attraction that celebrates Ali’s life and pushes educational goals on a wide range of topics for adults and children.

Larry Ruvo, chairman of the clinic’s fundraising arm, Keep Memory Alive, said he’s not sure whether the fundraiser will exceed its record of $27 million, but he hopes so.

The gala’s auction includes some items that only an A-lister or others with incredibly deep pockets could possibly afford. The top item was Ali’s gloves that he used to fight Floyd Patterson in 1965, a bout he won by knockout in the 12th round.

“If it’s $100, great, $100,000 would be better,” Larry King said in trying to drum up bids.

Magician David Copperfield auctioned off a four-night trip to his set of 11 private islands in the Bahamas for $300,000.

A fundraising concert featuring Kravitz, Green, guitarist Slash and others for the general public was planned in the same room Sunday night.

Boxing promoter Bob Arum said during a pre-gala reception Friday night attended by celebrities including Hopkins and Larry King that Ali will go down as one of the most important Americans in history.

“Without Muhammad Ali, there wouldn’t have been an Obama,” he said. “There wouldn’t have been a mixed-race president.”

ABC and ESPN plan to air the gala on Feb. 25.

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Dundee was one of the most highly sought-after trainers and corner men in boxing.  Although he trained nearly two dozen boxers, including 15 world champions in his long and illustrious career, his legacy will forever be tied to Ali, formerly known as Cassius Clay.

Dundee was a fixed presence in Ali’s corner as his chief trainer. Dundee worked with Ali from his second bout in 1960 to his 61st and last fight in 1981.   Even when Clay changed his name to Ali, after studying the teachings of Nation of Islam leader Elijah Muhammad, and was being taught that the “white man was the devil,” Dundee never abandoned Ali.

And when Ali created a controversial media frenzy by refusing to be drafted into the Vietnam War due to his religious beliefs and his world heavyweight title was taken from him, Dundee remained loyal and the bond between the two men never wavered.

Dundee, whose given name was Angelo Mirena, was of Italian descent.  He honed his craft by acting as a bucket man to other well-known and respected trainers at the famed center of the boxing universe Stillman’s Gym in New York and then Fifth Street Gym in Miami, where his reputation was solidified.

Although his name is linked with “the Greatest,” Dundee chose to also work with Sugar Ray Leonard, whom he felt was a smaller version of Ali.  Dundee was also Foreman’s corner man in his highly publicized heavyweight title bout against Evander Holyfield in 1991 and the then-undefeated Michael Moorer in 1994.

Throughout recent years, Dundee continued to act as an adviser in boxing matters and related events.  Hollywood came a-calling in 2005, when Dundee was asked to train actor Russell Crowe for his role as boxer “James Braddock” in the film “Cinderella Man.”  Dundee was actually given a small role in the movie as a corner man named “Angelo.”

Only two weeks ago, Dundee flew to Louisville, Ky., to celebrate the 70th birthday of his dear friend Ali. According to published sources, there was no way he would have missed the event for anything in the world.

Dundee’s lifelong love and respect for the sport earned him praise from those across the boxing world.  A marvel in the corner and an inspiration and motivator to those he worked with, Dundee brought out the best in many of boxing’s giants and he will be sorely missed.

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The boxing champ basked in chants of “Ali! Ali!” as hundreds of supporters cheered him on Saturday night with a hearty rendering of “Happy Birthday” during his 70th birthday celebration in his Kentucky hometown. Never mind that Ali actually turns 70 years old on Tuesday: the private party in his hometown is the first of five planned in the next few months.

As party-goers mingled in a lobby of the Muhammad Ali Center before the festivities, Ali walked slowly to a second-floor balcony overlooking them. The crowd immediately began to clap, then broke into effusive chants and singing. The three-time world heavyweight champion, who is battling Parkinson’s disease, leaned against a rail and raised his right hand to wave to the crowd. Then he joined his party out of view of the public and the press.

Former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis said his boyhood idol is “still the greatest.”

“I feel so proud and honored that we’re able to show our feelings and show our support for him,” Lewis said.

The guest list numbered 350 for the private party, which doubled as a $1,000-per-person fundraiser for the Ali Center, a six-year-old cultural and education complex designed to be a legacy to his social activism. The six-story center also retraces Ali’s career, including his epic bouts against Joe Frazier, George Foreman and Sonny Liston.

The guest list included Ali’s trainer Angelo Dundee and three American hikers who were imprisoned in Iran. Ali, perhaps the most prominent U.S. Muslim, lobbied for their release. Rocker John Mellencamp headlined the entertainment.

Dundee, who traveled from Clearwater, Fla., for the celebration, said he hears from Ali about once a month.

“We’re like family,” Dundee told The Courier-Journal of Louisville. “We’ve always been family and we’re always going to be family. He’ll say, `Angie, I want to come and train. That’s what I miss the most. Being in the gym. Working up a sweat.’”

Guests paid tribute to Ali before filling a banquet hall for a party closed to the public.

“The reason I loved him is because of his confidence,” University of Kentucky men’s basketball coach John Calipari said. “He would talk and then back it up. He had great courage and who had more fun than him?”

The self-proclaimed “Greatest of All Time” remains one of the world’s most recognizable figures, even though he’s been largely absent from the public eye recently as he fights Parkinson’s disease.

His wife Lonnie Ali said recently that the boxing great has mixed feelings about the landmark birthday.

“He’s glad he’s here to turn 70, but he wants to be reassured he doesn’t look 70,” she said.

Born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. on Jan. 17, 1942, Ali took up boxing at age 12, when his bike was stolen and he wanted to find and whip the culprit. The boy was introduced to Joe Martin, a police officer who coached boxing at a local gym.

Ali flourished in the ring, becoming a top amateur and Olympic gold medalist. He made his professional debut in Louisville and arranged for a local children’s hospital to receive proceeds from the fight.

Lewis said Ali ranks as the greatest of heavyweights, and he said he was inspired by Ali’s fights.

“I used to get mad if I didn’t see the Ali shuffle,” Lewis said. “So I was always watching him, expecting some type of antic.”

Ali won the heavyweight title in 1964, defeating the heavily favored Sonny Liston. Soon after, Ali – who was raised in a Baptist family – announced his conversion to Islam and changed his name.

While in his prime, Ali was stripped of his heavyweight crown in 1967 for refusing to be drafted for military service during the Vietnam War. He cited his religious beliefs as the reason for his refusal.

His decision alienated Ali from many across the U.S. and resulted in a draft-evasion conviction. Ali found himself embroiled in a long legal fight that ended in 1971, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in his favor.

Ali lost his first bid to regain the heavyweight crown when Frazier knocked him down and took a decision in the “Fight of the Century” at Madison Square Garden in 1971. Ali regained the heavyweight title in 1974, defeating Foreman in the “Rumble in the Jungle.” A year later, he outlasted Frazier in the epic “Thrilla in Manila” bout.

Last year, a frail Ali rose from his seat and clapped for his deceased rival at Frazier’s funeral.

Ali’s last title came in 1978 when he defeated Leon Spinks.

Ali retired from boxing in 1981 and devoted himself to social causes. He traveled the world on humanitarian missions. In 2005, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

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The boxing champ basked in chants of “Ali! Ali!” as hundreds of supporters cheered him on Saturday night with a hearty rendering of “Happy Birthday” during his 70th birthday celebration in his Kentucky hometown. Never mind that Ali actually turns 70 years old on Tuesday: the private party in his hometown is the first of five planned in the next few months.

As party-goers mingled in a lobby of the Muhammad Ali Center before the festivities, Ali walked slowly to a second-floor balcony overlooking them. The crowd immediately began to clap, then broke into effusive chants and singing. The three-time world heavyweight champion, who is battling Parkinson’s disease, leaned against a rail and raised his right hand to wave to the crowd. Then he joined his party out of view of the public and the press.

Former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis said his boyhood idol is “still the greatest.”

“I feel so proud and honored that we’re able to show our feelings and show our support for him,” Lewis said.

The guest list numbered 350 for the private party, which doubled as a $1,000-per-person fundraiser for the Ali Center, a six-year-old cultural and education complex designed to be a legacy to his social activism. The six-story center also retraces Ali’s career, including his epic bouts against Joe Frazier, George Foreman and Sonny Liston.

The guest list included Ali’s trainer Angelo Dundee and three American hikers who were imprisoned in Iran. Ali, perhaps the most prominent U.S. Muslim, lobbied for their release. Rocker John Mellencamp headlined the entertainment.

Dundee, who traveled from Clearwater, Fla., for the celebration, said he hears from Ali about once a month.

“We’re like family,” Dundee told The Courier-Journal of Louisville. “We’ve always been family and we’re always going to be family. He’ll say, `Angie, I want to come and train. That’s what I miss the most. Being in the gym. Working up a sweat.’”

Guests paid tribute to Ali before filling a banquet hall for a party closed to the public.

“The reason I loved him is because of his confidence,” University of Kentucky men’s basketball coach John Calipari said. “He would talk and then back it up. He had great courage and who had more fun than him?”

The self-proclaimed “Greatest of All Time” remains one of the world’s most recognizable figures, even though he’s been largely absent from the public eye recently as he fights Parkinson’s disease.

His wife Lonnie Ali said recently that the boxing great has mixed feelings about the landmark birthday.

“He’s glad he’s here to turn 70, but he wants to be reassured he doesn’t look 70,” she said.

Born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. on Jan. 17, 1942, Ali took up boxing at age 12, when his bike was stolen and he wanted to find and whip the culprit. The boy was introduced to Joe Martin, a police officer who coached boxing at a local gym.

Ali flourished in the ring, becoming a top amateur and Olympic gold medalist. He made his professional debut in Louisville and arranged for a local children’s hospital to receive proceeds from the fight.

Lewis said Ali ranks as the greatest of heavyweights, and he said he was inspired by Ali’s fights.

“I used to get mad if I didn’t see the Ali shuffle,” Lewis said. “So I was always watching him, expecting some type of antic.”

Ali won the heavyweight title in 1964, defeating the heavily favored Sonny Liston. Soon after, Ali – who was raised in a Baptist family – announced his conversion to Islam and changed his name.

While in his prime, Ali was stripped of his heavyweight crown in 1967 for refusing to be drafted for military service during the Vietnam War. He cited his religious beliefs as the reason for his refusal.

His decision alienated Ali from many across the U.S. and resulted in a draft-evasion conviction. Ali found himself embroiled in a long legal fight that ended in 1971, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in his favor.

Ali lost his first bid to regain the heavyweight crown when Frazier knocked him down and took a decision in the “Fight of the Century” at Madison Square Garden in 1971. Ali regained the heavyweight title in 1974, defeating Foreman in the “Rumble in the Jungle.” A year later, he outlasted Frazier in the epic “Thrilla in Manila” bout.

Last year, a frail Ali rose from his seat and clapped for his deceased rival at Frazier’s funeral.

Ali’s last title came in 1978 when he defeated Leon Spinks.

Ali retired from boxing in 1981 and devoted himself to social causes. He traveled the world on humanitarian missions. In 2005, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

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The iconic heavyweight boxing champion will bask in the limelight once again at a private birthday bash on the evening of Jan. 14 at the Muhammad Ali Center in downtown Louisville. Ali turns 70 on Jan. 17. The party will double as a fundraiser for the center – a cultural and education complex that also features a museum focusing on Ali’s long career as a boxer, social activist and humanitarian.

“Louisville was the first to support Muhammad in his pursuit of gold,” Lonnie Ali, the boxer’s wife, said in a statement Saturday evening. “It is only fitting that Louisville and surrounding communities participate in this important celebration to mark his 70th birthday.”

Ali Center spokeswoman Jeanie Kahnke said Saturday that Ali will be surrounded by old friends and people who made a difference in his life, including his longtime trainer Angelo Dundee. The party will feature a dinner, entertainment and speeches.

She described it as a “retrospective look and celebration” of Ali’s life.

“It’s significant for anyone to turn 70 years old,” Kahnke said. “But for such a global icon, who has literally touched the lives of millions of people, it’s a momentous event to celebrate.”

A few tickets remained available for the $1,000-per-person event, she said.

Kahnke said that Muhammad and Lonnie Ali are looking forward to returning for the celebration. The Alis have a residence in Louisville but have recently been staying at their home in Arizona, she said. Ali is battling Parkinson’s disease.

A series of community events – titled “Seven Days for Seven Decades” – will be offered from Jan. 15-21 at the center, touching on both the serious and fun sides of Ali.

“Community is an important part of Muhammad’s life,” Lonnie Ali said in her statement. “He was and is a master at building community around him.”

She noted that Ali has engaged community support in the U.S. and around the world.

“In each community he visits, Muhammad involves people as stakeholders in his success,” she said. “He makes people feel important, worthy and good about themselves and their actions. Muhammad continues to involve everyday people in his daily pursuit of life. He draws people in and makes them feel welcome. His support of community causes and individual efforts have been a way of life.”

The week of events includes a “compassion fair” and workshops focusing on examples of compassion throughout the world. An exhibit will delve into the lives of people with dual African American and Native American ancestries. There will be screenings of films based on Ali’s life.

On Jan. 15, a magician will perform in the center’s main lobby – a recognition of Ali’s love of magic tricks. Also, people visiting the center during that week will receive a discounted admission for bringing non-perishable food items for a food bank.

“We really want to thank the community that has supported and loved and embraced Muhammad,” Kahnke said.

The center opened in 2005 and draws about 85,000 visitors a year.

Born Cassius Clay, Ali began his boxing career as an amateur in Louisville in the 1950s, won a gold medal in boxing in 1960 at the Olympics in Rome. He went on to become a three-time world heavyweight champion. He first won the title by defeating Sonny Liston in 1964. Ali was then stripped of his boxing title in 1967 for refusing to be drafted for military service during the Vietnam War.

He regained the title in 1974 when he defeated George Foreman in Zaire. Ali’s last title came in 1978 when he defeated Leon Spinks. Ali had three epic fights against his chief rival, Joe Frazier.

Ali has received dozens of international awards for his humanitarian efforts.

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[UPDATE]  Rev Al Sharpton has gone on record to NewsOne.com to refute claims that boxing legend Muhammad Ali is seriously ill.

Sharpton: ” I have spoken with Ali’s wife and she assures me that The Champ is fine. He is comfortable at home and they are preparing to celebrate his 70th birthday in January.”

PHOENIX-Boxing legend Muhammad Ali has been rushed to the hospital after shifting in and out of consciousness according to a report from Radar Online.

Ali, who is 69 has suffered from Parkinsons diseases for more than thirty years was at taken from his wife’s home in Paradise Valley, Arizona, to Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn Medical Center on November 19 according to reports.

Radar Online reports:

Paramedics and police have confirmed a 911 call was placed around 6.30 p.m. from a woman at the couple’s 6,000 square foot estate.

She stated an elderly male — who Star has independently confirmed was Ali — was unconscious.

“The victim started to pass out in the car and when they got him into the house he fell unconscious,” Alan Laitsich, a spokesperson for Paradise Valley Police, told Star.

Read More At Radar Online

After his old rival died Monday night, Ali had nothing but kind words for Smokin’ Joe.

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“The world has lost a great champion. I will always remember Joe with respect and admiration,” Ali said in a short statement. “My sympathy goes out to his family and loved ones.”

Frazier died at 67 after a brief battle with liver cancer. He and Ali will be linked forever, both heavyweight champions and bitter enemies in the boxing ring who squared off in three epic fights from 1971-75.

Frazier won the first one at Madison Square Garden in the Fight of the Century. Ali took the last two, cementing his legend as The Greatest.

Outside the ring, Ali called Frazier a gorilla and mocked him as an Uncle Tom. Between the ropes, they nearly fought to the death in the Thrilla in Manila.

Those became the most poignant and defining moments of Frazier’s fantastic career. But he also was the only American fighter to win a gold medal in the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo. He was the heavyweight champ from February 1970 to January 1973, an era when that crown truly meant something. He was beloved as an adopted son of Philadelphia, embodying the city’s blue-collar grit.

And when the last round of his final fight ended Monday night, reaction to Frazier’s death poured in from every corner of the sports world.

“Good night Joe Frazier. I love you dear friend,” former heavyweight champion George Foreman, who stopped Frazier to win the title, posted to his Twitter account.

WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao said boxing lost “a great champion” and “a great ambassador.”

And it wasn’t only other boxers who were touched by Frazier. Tennis star Serena Williams called him an icon and a pioneer.

“Inspiring and loved. Your presence will be missed,” she tweeted.

Don King, who promoted the steamy fight in the Philippines that became known as the Thrilla in Manila, was described by a spokesman as too upset to talk about Frazier’s death.

WBC light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins, a fellow Philadelphia fighter, said Frazier was so big in the city that he should have his own statue, like the fictional Rocky character.

“There’s no way in the world you should come to Philadelphia and not recognize who Joe Frazier is. It’s the perfect time to build the biggest statue in appreciation for all the heart and love he gave to Philadelphia,” Hopkins said. “It’s just to say how we regret when it’s not there to touch and see. We didn’t realize we had a super special person amongst us that we all in a way took for granted. I said this when he was living, I say this now. That’s the only thing.”

Bob Arum, who once promoted Ali, said the famous bout in the Philippines was “the greatest fight in the history of boxing.”

“Joe Frazier should be remembered as one of the greatest fighters of all time and a real man. He’s a guy that stood up for himself. He didn’t compromise and always gave 100 percent in the ring. There was never a fight in the ring where Joe didn’t give 100 percent,” Arum said.

Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko, who hold all the major heavyweight belts, paid respect to Frazier on Tuesday.

“My brother and I are very sad about the death of Joe Frazier,” said Vitali Klitschko, the elder of the two brothers and the WBC champion. “He was one of the really great heavyweights. He was a great champion and Joe did a lot for the sport of boxing through his social engagements.”

Wladimir Klitschko is the WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight champion.

Former German heavyweight Axel Schulz also praised Frazier.

“He marked the gigantic era of heavyweight in the 1970s. The news made me incredibly sad,” Schulz told the German news agency dapd. “I was shocked by how fast it all went.”

Ali’s wife, Lonnie, said the hikers are “citizens of the world.” Like her husband, they sought to engage people worldwide despite cultural differences, she said.

The Americans have been held since being taken into custody along the Iran-Iraq border in July 2009. Bauer’s fiancee, Sarah Shourd, was released on bail last year. She also pleaded for the pair’s release.

Earlier Tuesday, a Foreign Ministry spokesman told Iranian state TV that calling them hikers is a “joke.” The two Americans are charged with espionage. They deny the charges.

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Ali, arguably the most prominent U.S. Muslim, on Wednesday released to The Associated Press a letter he wrote to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in February.

The letter asks Khameini to release Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer, who were arrested while hiking in northern Iraq near the Iranian border. A third hiker, Sarah Shourd, was released on bail in September.

“Please show the world the compassion I know you have in your heart,” he wrote, asking Khamenei as a brother in Islam to show the same mercy and compassion for the two men as he did for Shourd.

Ali also wrote a letter to Khamenei shortly before Shourd was released, though it was unclear whether it had any effect.

The 69-year-old is the founder of a center for world peace in Louisville, where he grew up and launched a boxing career that included three world heavyweight titles.

His wife, Lonnie Ali, told the AP in a telephone interview from their Arizona home that her husband was asked to intervene by the late John Arum, son of boxing promoter Bob Arum.

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John Arum, also a hiker, died in a climbing accident on Storm King Mountain in Washington state shortly after he asked Ali to help and before Shourd was released, she said.

“We felt we could at least send a letter on their behalf,” Lonnie Ali said. “So that’s what we did and we followed up with this letter.”

She said they did not receive any responses to the letters.

Lonnie Ali said her husband has visited Iran twice before, including a trip in the early 1990s where he tried to secure the exchange of prisoners during the Iran-Iraq war.

She said he would be willing to go to Iran to help secure the hikers’ release, but it would depend on his health. Parkinson’s Disease has limited his speech and physical activity.

“Life is sacred; we just want to make sure Muhammad is physically up to such a trip,” she said.

Lonnie Ali said Alex Fattal, Josh Fattal’s brother, had visited the Alis in Arizona on Tuesday. It was their first meeting.

“We are deeply grateful to Mr. Ali and the many other people around the world who know that Shane and Josh absolutely do not deserve to be in prison,” the families said in a statement released through their spokeswoman, Samantha Topping. “We hope and pray that Iran hears this appeal and responds with compassion. It is time for this nightmare to end.”

The trial for the three Americans began in February, and they pleaded not guilty to the espionage charges. Shourd pleaded not guilty in absentia.

The second session of the trial is scheduled for May 11 in Tehran.

The U.S. government has denied the charges against the hikers and demanded their release. Their lengthy detention has added to tensions between the two nations over issues such as Iran’s disputed nuclear program.

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My friends are evenly divided on the Two and a Half Men star with half us being firm on “Team Sheen”, the other half being just as firmly on “Team FCS” (and if you need help with that acronym, I suggest you redo kindergarten).

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Mr. Sheen, who’s recent shenanigans with hookers/porn stars, cocaine and now his war of words with the creator of his hit show have kept him in the news lately, has been granted the media circus most stars would kill for, without the seeming necessity of any of the cleanup.

And of course, the question was posed, “if Charlie Sheen was Black…?”

Now, admittedly, I’m one of the few Black people in America that thinks that we can get away with everything that white people can.

It’s just that we should expect entirely different responses.

Like, say, in dealing with the police.

We all remember and probably laughed when white people asked of O.J. Simpson, “If he isn’t guilty, then why is he running?”

We might have even said by way of explanation, “Well, unlike you Homie, who the police might detain for a round of ‘Sir’ heavy and very patient questioning, the cops come in billy clubs and guns drawn first when dealing with Blacks, and any movement at all, false or otherwise, results in a beating and an arrest on the mild side, with death as a constant and related possibility.”

Still, nobody’s a bigger fan of the “righteous indignation” kick than I am. When white people are on it, it’s often convincing. When Blacks are on it, the results are mixed.

All it takes to ride that kick is the genuine conviction that you’re 100% in the right.

And while Charlie Sheen is riding the “righteous indignation” kick right now and winning with it so far, I can only think of two examples of Black celebrities that have ever been on it.

The first was Muhammad Ali, who genuinely didn’t believe that a Black man should be forced to fight in a war he didn’t believe in and lost millions of dollars and the three prime years of his boxing career as a result.

The second was Tupac Shakur, who genuinely didn’t believe that he was guilty of sexual assault.

Look at what happened to him.

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The top 10 CNN Heroes will be announced on CNN.com at 1 p.m. September 23, when public voting begins to select the CNN Hero of the Year at CNNHeroes.com. The CNN Hero of the Year will be revealed at the tribute show.

“CNN Heroes has illustrated the best of humanity through the telling of stories of selfless acts of kindness, courage and perseverance” said Jim Walton, president of CNN Worldwide. “We are honored to bring these Heroes the recognition they so deserve. It is a program the entire CNN family is proud of and excited to share with our viewers on Thanksgiving night.”

Read The Whole Story At CNN

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The only time I’ve ever even heard of a mass act as suspiciously Tom-like as the group of Black leaders that got together last night to discuss New York Governor David Paterson’s political future was the effrontery that took place when some fool decided to gather together a gang of Black athletes to “weigh in” on the mind state of one Muhammad Ali whom everyone had assumed was insane because he had refused induction into the United States Military.

Ali’s group included, among others, Jim Brown, Bill Russell and Lew Alcindor– ne Kareem Abdul Jabar, dudes that had to go extra heavy on their Blackness over the course of the next few years just to make up for this debacle.

David Paterson’s own group got together at Sylvia’s restaurant in Harlem last night to discuss whether or not Paterson should resign as governor of New York. Get this straight: David Paterson shouldn’t go anywhere.

And this isn’t even a case of Paterson doing what white politicians would have done. If Paterson had done what New York’s most recent white politicians had done, Manhattan’s skyline would probably be missing a few more tall buildings right now and more former street-walkers would be sex columnists for the New York Post.

The big deal(s) in David Paterson’s case are that he is accused of accepting free tickets to a New York Yankees game and he supposedly used his political influence to try to resolve a domestic violence accusation between David Johnson, who is one of Paterson’s aides and Sherr-una Booker, Johnson’s former live-in girlfriend.

If accepting Yankee tickets were anywhere near a punishable crime, former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani would be currently under a jail.

And as for Paterson stepping in and trying to resolve things between his aide and the aide’s former girlfriend, this isn’t at all like the case where current New York mayor Mike Bloomberg intervened and prevented a criminal investigation in the aftermath of the Deutsche Bank  fire– a fire that killed two firemen.

Using your polticial influence to attempt to resolve an issue that might have been blown out of proportion while emotions were still running high and at the same time, trying to protect one of those in your employ and therefore, one of your own, isn’t doing anything unethical at all.

As a matter of fact, in politics, that’s called leadership.

From the AFP:

PHOENIX, Arizona — Ring legend Muhammad Ali attended the opening Thursday of the newly expanded center to treat Parkinson’s disease that bears his name.

Officials at the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center said the facility is now the most comprehensive in the nation for the treatment of the illness that causes tremors, slowed movement and disrupted speech.

The former heavyweight world champion lives with his wife, Lonnie, in the Phoenix suburb of Paradise Valley.

He put one hand on a pair of giant scissors to help cut a red ribbon in an opening ceremony before taking a tour with his wife and sister-in-law.

Click here to read more.

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It can and should be argued that when laws are unjust, the morally righteous man is an outlaw. Therefore, it would be downright loony to consider Harriet Tubman a criminal because she stole people’s property and set it free, or to call Rosa Parks a criminal because equal fare paid should always mean equal privileges, or to call Muhammad Ali a criminal because he refused induction into the US Army to fight in a war that he religiously opposed.

It would be loony, but it’s also true. All three were criminals. All three broke the law.

But let’s say that the moral terrain isn’t so rocky and we’re dealing with more conventional criminals. And not the Oskar Shindler types that might have occasionally stretched a truth here or there to help people, but, you know, hustlers and the like. Are they heroes too?

Well…

The popular Balzac paraphrase holds that “Behind every great fortune there is a great crime” and if we consider that illegal bootlegging afforded the money necessary for Joseph Kennedy to make one of his sons a US President, one a US Attorney General, and another a longtime Senator, we’d have to admit that Balzac wasn’t lying.

Still, I must admit that I do find it a little disheartening that until the ascension of Drake, the only possible way to have been considered a credible MC was to have had as a past an equally credible run as a crack dealer.

Seriously, even if we Blacks do tend to idolize our criminals, are we any different than any other people? Sure, a lot of white folks seem pissed about Bernie Madoff, but right after a criticism, you’ll see them shaking their heads and hear them whistling to themselves almost worshipfully about the splendor of a con that brought in 65 billion dollars.

The most interesting irony, I think, about the whole criminal thing is that when notorious mob rat Sammy “The Bull” Gravano “turned” on his boss, John Gotti and gave him up in order to get a lighter sentence and enter the witness protection program, all the New York papers roasted Gravano. After The Godfather, I guess that the media was expecting a little integrity from its gangsters. Meanwhile, that same media seems to expect Blacks to snitch, as if we have no such integrity to be concerned about.

Larry Davis (pictured above) was a criminal. Click on his name and read his Wikipedia profile and tell me whether or not he was a hero.

DUBLIN — Boxing legend Muhammad Ali is on a sentimental journey to see his little-known Irish roots.

Tens of thousands are awaiting the three-time world heavyweight champion’s arrival Tuesday in the western Irish town of Ennis, the home of Ali’s great-grandfather Abe Grady. Fans have adorned shops and streets with posters of Ali and red, white and blue USA bunting.

They plan to watch live on TV screens as the Ennis council names Ali as its first “freeman,” a civic honor.

Grady settled in the United States in the 1860s and married a freed African-American slave. One of their grandchildren, Odessa Lee Grady Clay, was Ali’s mother.

Genealogists established Ali’s Irish links in 2002, but Ali – who is 67 and suffering from Parkinson’s disease – has never visited Ennis before.