Muhammad Ali put on life support

[PorkChop]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/boxing/mu ... ly-8110536

Doesn't sound too promising

[AkydefGoldberg]

I just it's similiar to the past times he's been in hospital and it's conflicting reports coming from different elements of his family but will be gutted if there was bad news

[DBSoT]

Muhammad Ali dead at 74. One of the most important sports figures of the 20th century for sure.

[Circled Square]

Rest in power Muhammed Ali.

[Everlong]

Man. Perhaps the most dominant athlete of all time, just gone. What a life he lived. RIP, what a loss to sports.

[Circled Square]

Man. Perhaps the most dominant athlete of all time, just gone. What a life he lived. RIP, what a loss to sports.

It just feels weird being in a world without him.

[PorkChop]

This absolutely sucks, but at least he doesn't have to suffer anymore. He's lived a half-life for years due to his Parkinson's and it must be comforting to his family to know he's finally at peace.

The word 'legend' gets thrown around a lot, especially in the event of someone's death, but it couldn't be a more fitting description of Ali. He'll always be remembered.

[VaderBomb]

RIP to the real ultimate warrior.

[CMPUNKFAN]

RIP Champ

[AkydefGoldberg]

I really hoped that rumours of his imminent passing last night were just conflicting stories coming from the family (remember the last time he was in hospital and his brother said he was near the end also which later turned out incorrect) but incredibly sad hearing the news.

He was without doubt the most recogniseable face on the planet at one point and even though he kept a low profile over the last few decades, his name would still be recognised anywhere in the world. He still had an impact, his words still meant something to everyone.

Boxing wise, he was the greatest. It's open to debate and don't think that's the right place here but he was able to pick boxing up when he did, and transform its fortunes and riches, not only for himself but for his opponents who picked up a good pay cheque. It was a shame he stayed on after the third Frazier fight and his career ending on those two, hard to watch, defeats to Larry Holmes and Trevor Berbick.

Add to that the era he boxed in, and outside of boxing, the determination he had to try and change the lives of Afro-Americans. He said things that might have not been easy to swallow for some people but he also realised and evolved his views as he grew older (quietly leaving the Nation of Islam in 1975 to practise orthodox Islam), showed regret with his behaviour to Frazier and Malcolm X. He lost three years of his career when he should have been at his peak, yet returned like the hero he was, to reclaim the title at 32.

He battled Parkinsons valiantly, raising awareness for the condition and rather than spend time soliciting sympathy for himself, he generated money for research for the disease.

It's been sad whilst listening to all the memories of people who fought him, wrote about him, and reading opinion pieces from journalists who were there when he was at the top of his game.

Quite simply, his legacy will live forever.

[AkydefGoldberg]

Ali's funeral took place yesterday, an Islamic funeral called the Janazah, attended by 14,000 people.

Today his memorial service which was preceded by his burial, seems to have incredibly amazing and fitting for Ali. Some wonderful speeches I've seen excerpts of and look forward to watching.

[AkydefGoldberg]

If anyone has a spare hour, watch some of the touching, emotional, funny speeches given by various people at Ali's memorial service. Billy Crystal's hit a lovely balance between humour and seriousness but the Rabbi Michael Lerner's speech was powerful - a speech even Ali would have been captivated by.