I was pleased to see Ali receive his due on American soil... Still, it
seems important to point out that as a victim of Parkinson's disease
(brought on by his blood sport) he has become a figure of sympathy in the
sports world and is no longer the strong Black nationalist figure who
posed such a threat to American patriotism.
Matthew Countryman
mcountry@umich.edu
[2]
Sender: Candida Ellis <cellis@uclink.berkeley.edu>
Subject: Re: Olympics
Am I misremembering PEOPLE Magazine-type accounts of Ali's infirmity, one
that I had been led to believe also impaired his judgment in varying ways.
Even if I am misinformed about his illness having a direct bearing on his
judgment, I think it unreasonable to assume that a man whose body has always
been a source of power and a vehicle for calling attention to his
intelligence would be able to exercise the same political judgment when
stripped of control over that body. I guess that the best human impulses
would be to accept that Ali has changed and has perhaps a lot more reason to
change than most who do, and to accord him respect for the tremendous
courage he showed in challenging racism.
But to be sad that he is no longer in a position to resist being
appropriated by corporate consumerism. What does it matter why?
Candi Ellis
[3]
Sender: 00aoedmonds@bsuvc.bsu.edu
Subject: Re: Olympics
I came in on the tale end of the Ali torch lighting on opening night, but
I think I heard one of the commentators say that he had "misplaced" or
"lost" his original gold medal. I know that in __The Greatest__ he says
he threw it in the Ohio River as a protest. I'm I just dreaming about what
the commentator said?
Tony Edmonds
Ball State University