Happy Birthday, Muhammad Ali !!!

[H2O Man]

The Greatest was born on January 17, 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky.

ESPN-Classic is featuring an all-day tribute to Ali. There is a lot of good stuff on there. I hope DU sports fans enjoy watching some of it.

I'm hoping that people will post some of their memories of Ali. Thanks.

[Jack from Charlotte]

1. I have his autograph...............

In 1964 right before the Liston fight in Miami Beach he spared against 3 guys, 3 rounds each. The last one was his brother Rudy. My dad took me to see him for my 14th birthday. At the end he stood in the ring and signed autographs for the very few of us who asked. I've got it on the back of my dad's business card. Signed.............. Cassius Clay. 2 weeks later he became Ali and never signed that name again.

Saw him again in about '69 or '70 at The University of Florida. While he was suspended from fighting awaiting his Supreme Court decision on his draft case, he gave speeches at colleges. UF Student Govt paid him to speak at Florida Field. Saw him that night, too. He signed photos for a $1 donation which went to the fledgling Black Student Union.

[H2O Man]

2. I had some

photos, from when my brother used to be in his training camp. I'll look for them, and post them here at some point. He gave one of my nieces a book on Islam, that he autographed and wrote a beautiful message in.

Ali gave millions away. Often, it was to poor people on the streets of cities, where he would "do his rounds." He really was "The People's Champ."

You must have met him about the time the Beatles were in the Miami gym with him.

[TSIAS]

3. I love watching Ali

I have a picture from the Ali/Liston fight right above my bed from May 1965. I still cry whenever I see Ali attend an event, even if it is as mediocre as the Orange Bowl between Louisville and Wake Forest a few weeks ago in Miami Gardens.

[H2O Man]

5. My son has a

2' by 5' poster that is a collage of beautiful, color Ali pictures. One of my brothers had a lot of magazine covers, etc that he had collected over the years. They had been passed down to my son.

[bmbmd]

4. Muhammed Ali, Anton Chekhov,

Benjamin Franklin, and of course BMBMD-not a bad day.

[two gun sid]

6. Happy Birthday, Muhammad!

and thank you for all the great memories in and out of the ring.

[mr_hat]

7. My all-time hero. Bless his heart. n/t