# The Greatest of All Time has died. **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [June 4, 2016, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-of-all-time-has-died/756468 "2016-06-04T04:30:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2016, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-of-all-time-has-died/756468/1 "2016-06-04T04:30:05Z")
Reports are coming out that Muhammad Ali has died. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2016, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-of-all-time-has-died/756468/2 "2016-06-04T04:38:42Z")
AP and Washington Post have it. Not even sure how to react. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2016, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-of-all-time-has-died/756468/3 "2016-06-04T04:43:11Z")
That is a big one. IMO probably the biggest American sports Icon of the 2nd half of the 20th century. It was hard to watch him deteriorate, and saddest now that he is gone totally. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2016, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-of-all-time-has-died/756468/4 "2016-06-04T04:45:10Z")
He was the greatest. RIP. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2016, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-of-all-time-has-died/756468/5 "2016-06-04T04:47:33Z")
Yep. I’m deeply saddened by this. Ali was a great man. ---
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2016, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-of-all-time-has-died/756468/6 "2016-06-04T04:48:04Z")
Is it safe to say he was the single most recognizable athlete in the world ever? ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2016, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-of-all-time-has-died/756468/7 "2016-06-04T04:49:29Z")
> [@Laggard](#): > > Is it safe to say he was the single most recognizable athlete in the world ever? No doubt. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2016, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-of-all-time-has-died/756468/8 "2016-06-04T04:49:44Z")
☹ > [@](#): > > \*This here’s the story of Cassius Clay > Who changed his name to Muhammad Ali > He knows how to talk and he knows how to fight > And all the contenders were beat out of sight > > Sing, Muhammad, Muhammad Ali > He floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee > Mohammed, the black superman > Who calls to the other guy I’m Ali catch me if you can\* ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2016, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-of-all-time-has-died/756468/9 "2016-06-04T04:52:03Z")
> [@wolfman](#): > > That is a big one. IMO probably the biggest American sports Icon of the 2nd half of the 20th century. It was hard to watch him deteriorate, and saddest now that he is gone totally. I would posit that he was the biggest icon, period, worldwide, of the second half of the 20th century. ---
**Author:** ![Lantern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2016, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-of-all-time-has-died/756468/10 "2016-06-04T05:08:20Z")
Funnily enough I was watching this [video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkhpZoPOfZI)of Ali just yesterday. I don’t know much about boxing but anyone can appreciate the amazing skill on display here. And beyond that skill was the epic fortitude and stamina in his legendary battles with Foreman and Frazier. RIP. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2016, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-of-all-time-has-died/756468/11 "2016-06-04T05:09:29Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > Reports are coming out that Muhammad Ali has died. ☹ I live in Louisville. This is going to be huge when everyone wakes up and sees it. They cut into the local broadcasting to announce it, but a good portion of people were already asleep, I’d wager. CBS has a crawl on the bottom of the screen about it. I expect to see a LOT of local stories about him. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2016, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-of-all-time-has-died/756468/12 "2016-06-04T05:14:55Z")
The world is a smaller place now. He was the greatest man of my generation, the embodiment of courage, a true hero, selfless in his dedication to principle. He was a great boxer, he was the greatest of human beings. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2016, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-of-all-time-has-died/756468/13 "2016-06-04T05:40:49Z")
The 1996 Olympics brought me two of the most stunning and powerful videos that I’ve seen in my life. The first came during the opening ceremonies; [seeing him with that torch at the Atlanta Olympics was the most heart-wrenching sports TV moments that I have ever experienced](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEhNDUwksvU). RIP Mr. Ali; you were truly The Greatest of us. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2016, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-of-all-time-has-died/756468/14 "2016-06-04T05:55:36Z")
When I was a kid and teenager, I idolized him, and could not only name all the heavyweight champs from John L. Sullivan to him, I could give you their records and short bios. Now, I have no idea who the heavyweight champ is. Boxing just wasn’t the same without him. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2016, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-of-all-time-has-died/756468/15 "2016-06-04T05:58:42Z")
> [@Laggard](#): > > Is it safe to say he was the single most recognizable athlete in the world ever? Percentagewise, there’s no doubt, especially after he became a Muslim. In absolute numbers, probably Tiger Woods had more people who would recognize him, since there are a few billion more people now than in Ali’s prime. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2016, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-of-all-time-has-died/756468/16 "2016-06-04T05:58:51Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > I live in Louisville. This is going to be huge when everyone wakes up and sees it. They cut into the local broadcasting to announce it, but a good portion of people were already asleep, I’d wager. CBS has a crawl on the bottom of the screen about it. I expect to see a LOT of local stories about him. His funeral will be there, I read, and presumably will be a huge event. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2016, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-of-all-time-has-died/756468/17 "2016-06-04T06:00:31Z")
I presume that his funeral will be covered, and potentially broadcast, live. Most of the local channels, and probably one of the ESPN channels, too. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2016, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-of-all-time-has-died/756468/18 "2016-06-04T06:24:29Z")
> [@TonySinclair](#): > > Percentagewise, there’s no doubt, especially after he became a Muslim. > > In absolute numbers, probably Tiger Woods had more people who would recognize him, since there are a few billion more people now than in Ali’s prime. Those extra billions know who just passed away, as do their children. When Laila Ali went to China to box in 2000 a massive arena sold out and the vast population of the country followed the event. Only a tiny percentage of the Chinese people had ever seen Ali fight during his career, not even a video, but they and their children packed the hall and lined the streets just to catch a glimpse of the great man’s daughter. No mere athlete comes close to that. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2016, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-of-all-time-has-died/756468/19 "2016-06-04T08:07:55Z")
Truly one of the best of us has passed. And I’m certainly not just talking athletically but humanely as well. His devotion to his beliefs and principles and what he thought was right and his fight for those is a light for us all. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2016, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-of-all-time-has-died/756468/20 "2016-06-04T08:42:32Z")
> [@TonySinclair](#): > > When I was a kid and teenager, I idolized him, and could not only name all the heavyweight champs from John L. Sullivan to him, I could give you their records and short bios. Now, I have no idea who the heavyweight champ is. Boxing just wasn’t the same without him. You’re right. I too couldn’t tell you who the heavyweight champ is (especially as there are probably half a dozen with the alphabet soup of boxing organizations these days). I started following boxing when Patterson was king and still remember being stunned when Liston took him down. Then Clay/Ali turned professional and though I found his antics hilarious I really thought that Sonny Liston would demolish him in a couple of rounds. I still don’t know what happened to Liston the two times he fought (if you can call it that) Ali. Ali was to demonstrate over the ensuing years that he really was the greatest boxer ever to appear on this planet. And he did something else - he took boxing away from the Mob, who had controlled it for years. America and the world lost a titan today. Rest in peace, Ali. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-of-all-time-has-died/756468.md?page=2)