While trolling for a Muhammad Ali video that I remembered from years ago (the video is affixed in the previous post) I wandered across his Wikiedia page and found out, serendipitously, that today is the GOAT's 68th birthday!
I was not around for much of Muhammad Ali's career and am not totally sure if he is really worthy of all the gaudy positive press he gets for being a great human being (which is not say he isn't a great human being - I just am not sure, that's all). That's because I have always thought of him as a carefully self-constructed media creation who managed to parlay his charismatic personality into that of a lovable, huggable bear while getting away with a long history of belittling his opponents.
Anyway, I digress. During my searches, I came across this video of the famous Sonny Liston-Muhammad Ali fight. It featured the controversial "phantom punch" and probably the most iconic photo ever taken of Ali. The fight was completed in the first round itself and exhibits the qualities that made Muhammad Ali famous - the dancing, the nimble feet and the blindingly quick hands. Also noteworthy in the video is the commentary (or lack thereof) while the action takes place. It is so refreshing to not have to listen to a voice tell me what I am watching. Enjoy!
If you want to read more about the man on this significant personal day, you should go here.
Showing posts with label Muhammad Ali. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Muhammad Ali. Show all posts
Sunday, January 17, 2010
A hymenopteran's sting
Not surprisingly, Virender Sehwag is the subject of some ridicule from the press and other Bangladeshi supporters for the tone of his pre-game interview. Bangladesh went out and scuttled India's "famed" batting line-up but all those stories of misplaced ego are too funny.
So, all these years, while Bangladesh sucked eggs and went through coaches and captains, what they really needed was to be disrespected publicly? That's what it took to get these fellows to play well! Being insulted somehow magically gave them the ability to get Indian wickets. Give me a break!
It is not uncommon for teams, especially in the US, to play the we-get-no-respect card but it will take more than an 8 wicket burst on day 1 of a Test to convince me that Sehwag's assessment did not have a ring of truth to it. One swallow does not a summer make. Repeat the feat a couple of times and I will concede it, I promise. Not too long ago, Australia was scuttled out for 127 and yet is on the verge of winning that series 3-0.
If you thought Virender Sehwag was belittling his opponent, take a look at this clip of the self-proclaimed Greatest Of All Time. Virender Sehwag ain't got nothing on Mohammad Ali:
So, all these years, while Bangladesh sucked eggs and went through coaches and captains, what they really needed was to be disrespected publicly? That's what it took to get these fellows to play well! Being insulted somehow magically gave them the ability to get Indian wickets. Give me a break!
It is not uncommon for teams, especially in the US, to play the we-get-no-respect card but it will take more than an 8 wicket burst on day 1 of a Test to convince me that Sehwag's assessment did not have a ring of truth to it. One swallow does not a summer make. Repeat the feat a couple of times and I will concede it, I promise. Not too long ago, Australia was scuttled out for 127 and yet is on the verge of winning that series 3-0.
If you thought Virender Sehwag was belittling his opponent, take a look at this clip of the self-proclaimed Greatest Of All Time. Virender Sehwag ain't got nothing on Mohammad Ali:
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