12/21/24
November 21, 2005
Muhammed Ali feels the love of Louisville: As the Muhammed Ali Center opens, locals recall when Ali was just Cassius Clay, a brash and cocky young man on his way to shaking up the world.
The Greatest Boxer of all time? Yes. The greatest athelete? Yes, many feel he is. The greatest black athlete? Yes, but to many it's Jordan, not Muhammad. A legend? 100%. A man of moral character? Absolutely, it's proven. But do Whites hold him in high esteem? Yes. Why? Because of the many, many obstacles he had to hurdle to get the prize. I believe this is why we have so many Blacks as role models because they really do epitomize what one must do to pesevere and move ahead.
posted by OldSchoolBall at 12:32 PM on November 21, 2005
I believe this is why we have so many Blacks as role models because they really do epitomize what one must do to pesevere and move ahead. Who are the black role models? Comparable to Ali?
posted by justgary at 12:36 PM on November 21, 2005
Fuck that - who are the white role models? Jerry Seinfeld? George Carlin is the only one I can think of who doesn't play hockey. Of course, I think about hockey a lot. Most people don't, but I pledge to you that if life were lived according to the model of one Mark Messier, we wouldn't have poverty, racism, cancer, guns, war or death. Mark Messier makes Jean Luc Picard look like a child molestor.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 12:43 PM on November 21, 2005
Who are the black role models? Comparable to Ali? Just using athletes, I have a couple that come to mind.
- Jesse Owens might get a nod as a "black role model" for his accomplishments at the 1936 Olympics in the middle of Nazi Germany.
- Jackie Robinson would definitely be high on the "role model" list for overcoming great pressures to succeed in the previously-segregated MLB.
- Hank Aaron overcame great racist hatred (taunts, death threats) for making the assault on Babe Ruth's career HR record.
posted by grum@work at 12:45 PM on November 21, 2005
Most people don't, but I pledge to you that if life were lived according to the model of one Mark Messier, we wouldn't have poverty, racism, cancer, guns, war or death. But we would definitely have a lot more illegitimate children.... ;)
posted by grum@work at 12:48 PM on November 21, 2005
That's just off the top of my head. Exactly. Any today? Do they exist? White or black, but I asked for black because of the topic. And as for the three you mentioned, are kids really growing up to be the next Jesse Owens, Jackie Robinson, or Hank Aaron? I'm guessing very few, and growing smaller by the decade. Which makes them fine men but not role models.
posted by justgary at 01:16 PM on November 21, 2005
I bet the kids today want to be Ron Mexico.
posted by bperk at 01:52 PM on November 21, 2005
It's hard to pick a role model in sports today. There isn't a whole lot of perservering to be done in this day and age for top athletes at any level. Times are different than 40-50 years ago.
posted by tadley86 at 02:46 PM on November 21, 2005
I bet the kids today want to be Ron Mexico. ...or his big brother...perhaps Ron Jeremy (but good-looking without the hairy back)
posted by bigrobbieb at 02:52 PM on November 21, 2005
When asked about what he thought about the Muhammed Ali Center, Ali said, " AHHH UGGGGG PPPHHHHH DAAAAAA" and then spit on himself.
posted by Turbo at 03:01 PM on November 21, 2005
Let's not forget David Robinson. He served his country 2 years before going on to a NBA career. He has donated millions of dollars, time and effort for the school he founded in one of the poorest sections in San Antonio. Morals, Values, and a Christian Brother qualifies him as a true role model.
posted by Richard j Garcia at 03:30 PM on November 21, 2005
Exactly. Any today? Do they exist? White or black Albert Pujols. I also agree with David Robinson. If my grandkids model after either, I'll be happy.
posted by STLCardinalfan at 03:58 PM on November 21, 2005
I hated Cassius Clay for the draft thing and his rantings and ravings. Over the years I came to like and greatly respect Muhammed Ali because he risked everything for what he believed even though I disagreed. I met him one time in an airport years later when his health was in obvious decline. A nicer man I never met.
posted by STLCardinalfan at 04:12 PM on November 21, 2005
Barry Sanders was a class act. His views on abstinance for young people was ahead of his time.
posted by Richard j Garcia at 04:26 PM on November 21, 2005
Kind of a hard cap on his views on abstinence though, huh?
posted by yerfatma at 04:39 PM on November 21, 2005
What about Pele? Even now he's doing a thing for men's health awareness :-).
posted by owlhouse at 07:35 PM on November 21, 2005
Saul: Goddammit. If a man wants to call himself Muhammed Ali, I say Muhammed Ali. Clarence: Mama call him Clay - I call him Clay. Cassius Clay.
posted by HATER 187 at 10:19 AM on November 22, 2005
Oh there they go. There they go, every time I start talkin 'bout boxing, a white man got to pull Rocky Marciano out their ass. That's their one, that's their one. Rocky Marciano. Rocky Marciano. Let me tell you something once and for all. Rocky Marciano was good, but compared to Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano ain't shit.
posted by bperk at 11:11 AM on November 22, 2005
In Britain, we're lucky to have a plethora of sporting role models. Andy Forham, Wayne Rooney, Vinny Jones, Gazza, Ronnie O'Sullivan, and don't even get me waxing lyrical about our cricket heroes...
posted by JJ at 11:30 AM on November 22, 2005
Good white role model, let me think...... I like Willy Jeff Clinton, especially his fat-chick policy. Also the guy who invented free-base, he totally had to be white.
posted by HATER 187 at 12:27 PM on November 22, 2005
What about Lance Armstrong for a white roll model? He overcame a little bit of adversity huh?
posted by Jeffro71984 at 02:07 PM on November 22, 2005
You people aren't even trying with the white role models, are you. (Jackie Robinson, for my money, is the most significant figure in American sports in the 20th century, and is as much of a national hero as anyone for what he endured in the name of bridging the schism in this country. They should put him on currency. And Arthur Ashe hasn't been mentioned yet? Seriously?) But white folks? Okay. Pat Tillman. Billie Jean King. Ted Williams, and anyone else who paused their career at its peak to go off and "do what was right." Lance? Damn straight. And he may not be USA-born, which I know disqualifies him for many of you knuckleheads, but -- Terry Fox.
posted by chicobangs at 08:33 PM on November 22, 2005
The guy who wrote The Turner Diaries. Ted Turner or whatever.
posted by yerfatma at 10:14 PM on November 22, 2005
This gives me a reson to visit Louisville. I have read though that only a small portion of the center is dedicated to boxing memorabilia and such, and most of it is a diversity and cultural center. That's all good, though. I loves me some Muhammed Ali.