[Ronhutton]

In today's English newspaper, the headlines are,
"Even the greatest can't win this cruel battle."
In the full page article, it says that Ali has entered what threatens to be the final round of the longest and most arduous of all his epic fights.
He is celebrating his 65th birthday,and it is likely to be his last.
PD has been Ali's opponent for the last 22 years, and, although it wil be the death of him, sadly sooner rather than later, his victory has been in outboxing it long enough to reach the age of retirement.
I don't really agree with some of their comments, but it does show
that all the money in the world can't buy you a ticket to a cuire. Ali has $100 million, which was negotiated for the rights to his name.
He is a true fighter in many ways, and I do hope he goes way beyond the age of retirement, and proves them wrong.
Ron

[@chilles]

A large Leroy Neiman lithograph of Muhammed Ali hangs on the wall of my exercise room. It gives me the inspiration to continue to work my body and fight off this disease. "Long live the Champ". Happy Birthday!

[Thelma]

I done wrestled with an alligator

I done tussled with a whale

Hancuffed lightening

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

[rosebud]

I feel somewhat ambivilent about the prediction of his "soon to be" demise. I know he struggles under a great weight with his PD and for that I want to let him go. On the other hand he is an inspiration and the selfish part of me says I want him to be here with us. How do you reconcile these kinds of feelings? Maybe you don't. Maybe it's not my place to have any feelings one way or the other, just accept what comes and know it was to be as it turned out. There is still a quick wit and a sharp mind under that facade he wears these days. He may be around a lot longer than the naysayers give him credit to (for?). I'm sure he's ready to leave this place behind and has come to terms with his mortality long ago. I know I sure have days when I'm ready to take the next train to Clarksville. In the immortal words of Mick Jagger "you don't always get what you want...but you get what you need".
Hmmm, wonder where Mick gets his insights? just rambling .... for my money I'll bet he's here longer rather than shorter...on the other hand.... (did I mention I feel ambivilent)

[ol'cs]

's what his family named him long before he was "the Champ"; Muhammad Ali.
He was lucky to have lived a good life, which would have been better (?) if he hadn't got PD. No RIP's yet
The good thing for us is that he gave of his fortune for us, all PWP's. He didnn't have to. He could have been like many of the wealthy and gave it to his family, or perhaps help the NAACP, or one of the many organizations like predominately black colleges, or the like; but what is for sure, is that he gave to us in a non-sectarian way.
Martin Luther KIng would have been proud of him, to act with such goodwill to all of US, in spite yet increasing voids, politically, economically, and in many ways, in an America where race is still a dividing factor.