The Gooner Forum

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=fODYeoHvH ... re=related

Wanted to watch this when it was Premiered on More4, but it was the same night as the Wigan Carling Cup game that I was at so missed it.

It reappraises a lot of the Ali 'good guy' image that seems to have developed since his retirement and his treatment of Joe Fraiser over the years, including his calling Fraiser an Uncle Tom, yet unbelivably attending a KKK rally.

Much of Ali's twattish behaviour back in the day has been forgiven.

Here's the famous Parkinson interview of 1974, which just descents into a rant. Also great insights such as being an educated person is wrong as are interracial relationships.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=mpSOOCt95 ... re=related

Also note in the Parkinson interview how he corrects Parky on saying that he has no white 'friends', they're just associates. However here note how after defeating Foreman Ali has a shout out to his 'friend' the very white and very unislamic Hew Hefner @ 9.22

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=nSH5frB6eN8

Part of the reappraisal of Ali has come from his leaving the Nation of Islam, which preached seperatism and that whites were 'blue eyed devils' to orthodox Islam. However this shift had only come about because the NOI itself had shifted in 1975, rather than from his own convictions.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_Ali#Religion

Yes Ali did some foolish things indeed and the baiting of Frazier on "Uncle Tom" lines was bang out of order.

Yet I think you will find that Ali these days is no longer a racist and is tolerant of all, he has even given donations to a Jewish charity which might surprise some!

QuartzGooner wrote:Yes Ali did some foolish things indeed and the baiting of Frazier on "Uncle Tom" lines was bang out of order.

Yet often looked like best buddies

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_-GC0f9DqI

Just seen in the listings this programme is on after Gazzas documentary on CH4. Well worth watching.

probally the GREATEST sports person of the 20th century. a man of many flaws but also the only sports person to engluf the world of politics, showbiz and sport itself. a true living legend.

Radford149 wrote:probally the GREATEST sports person of the 20th century. a man of many flaws but also the only sports person to engluf the world of politics, showbiz and sport itself. a true living legend.

Unfortunately back in the 70s it looks as if when he did speak on social issues he often talked a pile of crap.

As a youngster Ali was an ignorant and arrogant man, he talked an awful lot of shit. In my opinion he isnt the greatest boxer of all time, part of that has to do with the views he held which were quite frankly racist, which should be held aginst him. I know he has changed his views with age (which is brilliant) and he is a great, but just like maradona the contrevesrsy and bulllshit that folllowed his career have to be held against him. Ali is a ledgend, but isnt the greatest boxer ever, and thats just considering the boxing.

Interesting take on the Ali legend with regard to Obama's presidency

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/ ... 512007.ece