Sports Memorabilia -> Fan Apparel and Souvenirs -> Boxing
Not that long ago, everyone recognized the name Muhammad Ali. He wasn’t just popular during his heyday, though, even though many of the younger generation might not recognize his name today. As recently as 1999, he was given the title “Sportsman of the Century” by Sports Illustrated, in conjunction with the British Broadcasting Company. Ali was an American boxing champion who still holds a record today for winning the linear heavyweight championship 3 times. He was also an Olympic gold-medalist.
Muhammad Ali’s real name was Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr. named for his father who was actually named after an abolitionist and politician. When Clay joined the National of Islam in he changed his name to Muhammad Ali, in line with his newfound religious beliefs. No one knew this until he won the heavyweight championship in 1964, and then he revealed his religion. This was controversial then, as his views were considered extreme and racist. He openly condemned interracial marriage, and claimed that the white man hated the black man.
Ali was no stranger to controversy throughout his entire career. Part of the appeal of Muhammad Ali to many wasn’t just his amazing ability in the boxing ring, but his attitude In 1964, he failed the test that would qualify him for the draft because he had sub-par reading and writing abilities. He finally passed the test in 1966, but claimed that he was a conscientious objector of the Vietnam War on religious grounds and refused to serve because Allah had not given him the instruction. When he was drafted and refused to go in 1967, the boxing commission stripped him of his rights to box, and he didn’t enter a professional ring again until 1970.
Muhammad Ali became a 3-time World Heavyweight Champion, with his fights often known by catch-phrases like “The Fight of the Century” when he took on champion Joe Frazier, “Rumble in the Jungle” when he fought against George Foreman, and “Thrilla in Manila” when he fought Joe Frazier again.
One of his most famous lines, recognized widely even by people with no interest in boxing, referred to his style in the boxing ring: “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.” He was known for the speed of his hands and his ability to do fast footwork and move. He was also steel-jawed, never seeming to fear getting punched by the opponent. His ‘feud” with then famous sportscaster Howard Kosell was just one more thing to get the audience excited and create buzz about Muhammad Ali.
Muhammad Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 1984, and has won numerous awards and been giving numerous distinctions since he retired from boxing. Still a practicing and devout Muslim, he travels extensively and contributes time and money to several humanitarian causes, including helping feed the hungry worldwide. Collectibles found on eBay often include photos, old magazines and news clipping, and autographs—compare those with a trusted source to be sure the signature is authentic, he hasn’t signed autographs in several years, so these go for a high price.
Photo Credits: cliff1066™
Originally posted 2008-10-30 14:00:09. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Related Posts -
Collecting Autographed Sport Memorabilia Are you thinking about collecting autographed sport memorabilia? If you are interested in creating a sports collection of some kind, one of the options that is available to you is collecting autographed sport memorabilia. If you want to add autographed collectibles to your own personal collection, what you may like...... -
Joe DiMaggio Sports Memorabilia Even today's modern kids who might not even watch baseball or be able to name one single player have heard the name Joe DiMaggio. His name is synonymous with baseball and sports, as he was part of the game during its glory days, when it seemed every...... -
Build Your Own Sports Memorabilia Collection Some people begin to create a sports memorabilia collection to create a hobby, and other people decide to put together a sports memorabilia collection for the sole purpose of eventually selling their memorabilia off later. Some people, then, specially build up their sports memorabilia collection full of specifically chosen items...... -
Types of Sports Memorabilia Items to Buy There are a number of different forms that sports memorabilia items can take, including both modern memorabilia and vintage memorabilia. Some of the sports memorabilia items that you can purchase and add to your collection include: - Autographed sports memorabilia items, including balls, gloves, bats, cards and anything else that...... -
Spotting Real Autographed Sports Memorabilia Many people get excited about autographed sports memorabilia when they find it for a good price, and as a result, many people purchase so called authentic autographed sports memorabilia without investigating the authenticity of said memorabilia. The question that all buyers should be asking when shopping for autographed sports memorabilia......
Related Websites -
Musician Profile for Isaac Stern American violinist Isaac Stern was born on July 21, 1920 and died on September 22, 2001. During his lifetime, he won several prestigious awards, including the 1982 Sonning Award and a number of Grammys. In addition to receiving recognition for his own works, Stern was also known to have a...... -
Collecting Sports Autographed Memorabilia One of the keys to sports autographed memorabilia is to know whether or not your sports memorabilia is actually authentic. A lot of people find themselves wondering how they can be able to tell whether or not their sports autographed memorabilia is authentic. The bad news is that it is...... -
Benefits of Collecting Autographed Memorabilia Collecting autographed memorabilia is a hobby that can be enjoyable whether or not you are actually into sports collectibles or collecting other types of memorabilia for that mater. Collecting autographed memorabilia, in fact, has become a fad among pretty much everyone because collecting autographed memorabilia is a great way to...... -
Reflections on the Moon Landing Photo by atomicjeep This is a little late, but my son and I were talking about the anniversary of the Lunar Landing. We spoke about Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the Moon. I told him about first impressions of people, and how we should get all...... -
never underestimate the influence of a teacher After writing my post on my grandparentâs influence on my investing habits, my Mom clarified on how my grandfather got âintoâ investing and I thought it was worth a guest post. Lightly edited: how a Depression-era farm boy got into stocks. Largely in my mom's words... Your grandfatherâs 8th......
- Gloves Boxing Autographs-Original Sports Collectibles
- Aiken, Clay A Rock, Pop Music Memorabilia Entertainment Memorabilia
- NBA Championship Items Basketball-NBA Fan Apparel Souvenirs Sports Collectibles
- Photos Boxing Autographs-Original Sports Collectibles
- Index Cards Boxing Autographs-Original Sports Collectibles
