Ali & Obama (Great news!)

[H2O Man]

Two days ago, one of my best friends on DU asked me if Muhammad Ali was going to be at the inauguration today. I said that I’d ask someone who would know, and get back to her. I’m happy to say that The Champ will be sitting towards the front today when Barack Obama takes the oath of office.

Ali and Obama have become friends over the years. Ali’s 67th birthday party included 1400 people getting together to honor Barack Obama. Ashley Judd and Simon Bull unveiled a pair of paintings of Ali and Obama, which will be on display in the Muhammad Ali Center.

Ali’s wife Lonnie spoke at the event. She noted that Ali had time to grow into his role of service as a world humanitarian, while Obama "will inherit the world on his shoulders, not just the US. And that is a much heavier burden than I think Muhammad had to face. But I think his shoulders are broad. He and Muhammad are made of the same fabric."

Lonnie also teased Muhammad in front of the crowd (good sign!). She noted that while The Champs’s face has long been the most recognizable around the globe, "I do believe you’ve been surpassed."

The torch has been passed. Look for Ali behind Obama this morning.

[panader0]

1. That picture of him standing over Sonny Liston is a classic.

I'd bet he wouldn't miss this for anything.

[H2O Man]

4. I believe

that it was used for one of the paintings of Ali and Obama.

[Me.]

2. A New President & Ali Too

So fitting and can this day get any better?

[H2O Man]

5. I find myself wishing

that I had gone.

[Me.]

11. Just Saw The Champ

Making a valiant effort on this day

[babylonsister]

3. How great! H20 Man, today's the day!

I'm so glad to see you and share this with you. Thank you for your many contributions the past few years that were so thought provoking. Thank you for being a friend.

And I will be looking for Ali, the Tuskegee Airmen, so many people who want to celebrate today.

[H2O Man]

6. Yes.

It's a huge day, and one that we should all enjoy. It also marks the time when the grass roots activists and community organizers need to step up the pace of their work, for we will never have this opportunity again.

And I certainly look forward to coordinating efforts with the good people on DU -- and you, my friend, are representative of the best on this forum. Thank you for all that you do. It is appreciated.

[BrklynLiberal]

14. It is awe-inspiring to know that the Tuskegee Airmen - those that are still around - will be there.

[Kolesar]

7. Some kind of message for the world's billion Moslems

"Can we have another chance?"

[H2O Man]

17. I remember that

shortly after 9/11, the conservative magazine Readers Digest carried an article about Ali's response. In the past seven years, the face of Islam has often been projected in a very negative manner. While the negative certainly exists, Ali is important, because he is the positive face of Islam.

[H2O Man]

8. Ali!

Keith is talking about him, as MSNBC shows film of him there. Chris is saying nice things about him, too.

[mucifer]

9. Ali just showed up. Visuals on MSNBC they are discussing him.

[H2O Man]

19. It was a high point.

I am thankful that Ali was there.

[babylonsister]

10. Ali on m$nbc now; it's so great they're giving him kudos! nt

[H2O Man]

20. Both Keith and Chris

have an appreciation for how Ali was so important outside of sports; as Keith noted, he represents a high form of patriotism, in that he questioned his government.

I think that Chris also appreciates what it meant to get into the ring with guys like Liston and Foreman.

[mtnsnake]

12. Muhammad Ali has been a hero of mine practically all my life

Here's the video of him lighting the torch in Atlanta to open the 96 Olympics:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seF7noys9QQ

[H2O Man]

21. That was an intense scene.

Those of us who remember how controversial he was in the 1960s -- and who saw him as heroic -- were pleased to see the country had come to respect and admire him. And Ali was absolutely correct in his opposition to Vietnam.

[BrklynLiberal]

13. I just saw him walking into the ceremonies. The MSNBC guys were all

in awe of him. Chris Matthews was like a little kid. He was a big fan. While Keith was going on about Ali's early entrance into the civil/human rights arena, Chris said "And he beat Sonny Liston!!"

[H2O Man]

23. Right.

Liston was, when Ali fought him, considered to be unbeatable. Add to that, the fact that few "experts" considered Ali to be a serious contender.

At the time, a lot of boxing writers were saying that Liston should be considered with Joe Louis, as at the top of the all-time great heavyweight champions. Looking back today, I'd put Louis, Liston, and Foreman at the level below Ali, but above any of the others.

It shocked people when Ali TKOed Liston. That obviously made a big impression on Matthews!

[xiamiam]

15. I listened to that fight with my Dad on the radio...I think I was 11 or 12..strange thing for a girl

my Dad and brother taught me to appreciate the sport...although instinctively I dont like punching or fighting or even football..or even folks threateningly getting in your face...but Ali was just so cool to a young white girl from Western Pennsylvania in the early 60's (should say it all)...float like a butterfly, sting like a bee...the greatest....man of conviction...I have always been awed by Ali...I dont have many celebrity heroes....but Ali?...he is a true hero...happy to hear he is well enough to be there..

[H2O Man]

16. Ali & football

Vince Lombardi once told Howard Cosell that Ali would have made "the perfect tight end in football." (See: Cosell, page 202) Luckily, Ali viewed football as a violent sport, and made a career of boxing!

[Me.]

18. Must Also Take The Moment To Note

The end of the shadow government

[nc4bo]

22. He was there to see this day.

From http://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/fotostrecke-39003-19.html. Thanks to the DUer who posted the link.

[H2O Man]

25. Thanks!

Beautiful picture!

[AspenRose]

24. Did you see the picture of him in Der Spiegel?

[H2O Man]

26. The only one

that I've seen is the one posted above. Is it a different photo?

[AspenRose]

27. Yep, that's it

Sorry I was distracted :blush:

[H2O Man]

28. No distraction.

Any photo of Ali should be mentioned at least a dozen times.

[jberryhill]

30. Another

One of my all time childhood heroes:

[H2O Man]

36. That is a

wonderful picture of The Champ! Thank you!

[myrna minx]

29. I did actually see the Champ on television today. What a sight!

Thank you so much for your heart and wisdom, lo these may years. What a day. Yes we can! K&R

[H2O Man]

35. In the new

Evan Thomas book about the 2008 election, the author tells about when, at Coretta Scott King's funeral, Ethal Kennedy told Obama that the torch was being passed to him. And reading that the other night, I found myself thinking about how so many of the good people from the 1950s, '60s, and '70s would be so proud of the movement that elected Barack Obama. Too many of them are not here for it. So it is especially important to see a man like Ali there.

[jberryhill]

31. Ali will always be The Greatest /nt

[H2O Man]

37. Yep.

A lot of people were happy to see Ali there.

[sandnsea]

32. I missed your post

I did see someone post that Ali was there, and saw him later in news reports. I asked whether you had gotten to see that and am so glad you did. The comments from his wife - WOW. Amazing.

What an amazing day, all the way around.

And the rest of your post, maybe I'm being presumptious, but

:loveya:

:cry:

:loveya:

[H2O Man]

38. I was looking

to see if you saw this. I was really glad when my brother told me that yes, Ali was there!

He also told me the sad news about Jose Torres dying. Jose was one of the boxers who played a role that went well beyond "sports." He was friends with Robert Kennedy, and had introduced the Attorney General/ NY Senator to the poverty in NYC that was "hidden" from the view of most politicians.

[Cha]

33. I saw Ali walking into

be seated. He was wrapped up warmly.

[H2O Man]

39. My daughter said

that it seems odd to see him as "an old man." She is more used to the Ali that she sees on film here. It reminded me of something that my brother had told me about when someone said something about feeling sorry for him, because of his physical condition. Ali said, "Don't feel sad for me. Me and this body have been through some adventures." It was good to see him participating in this American adventure.

[Cha]

41. And what an historic adventure

it was to have a VIP view. Except Ali had a nice gray Fedora on.

[H2O Man]

42. I liked the hat.

I have a collection of hats, including one similar to the one Ali was wearing. My only problem, my wife says, is finding one big enough for my head.

[mmonk]

34. It's great he was there.

I was busy earlier and missed this thread.

[H2O Man]

40. It adds

to the event. A lot of people have memories of the struggles from the 1960s, and associate the image of The Champ with that time in their lives. Having Ali there puts the election and inauguration in a larger context for us.