MA: I need to get everything straight. One fella was going for a rock and another was picking up a stick and there wasnt no referees or judges and I got out of there real quick. With the help Yahoo! I was 21 years old, I was the Olympic champion but I hadnt started talking yet. Later I found out that this man worked for the show. Our shop has joined forces with Hatchit Co to launch a full service digital experience agency that challenges brands to embrace their creative confidence through web, video, and digital brand strategy. (AP Photo/Charles Harrity) AP Photo/Charles Harrity. All rights reserved. There aint no such thing as black Muslims. Because they were kinda dangerous. MP: You mentioned that you wrote poetry other than boxing - do you ever write about this other side of you? There is a characteristic mischievous pungency to Ali's remark, yet it also expresses a widely held sentiment. The eagles like to hang out in the mountains. MP: When is your first recollection, as a child, of being a second class citizen? I missed four but I predicted, which is almost a miracle. MA: Its aint sad that I want my child to look like me? MA: Let me tell you something - Ive never said this before. But its nature to be with your own. Back to all quotes. JEFF POWELL: Muhammad Ali's presence surrounded and pervaded us at the preview of 'I Am The Greatest,' the new exhibition about his life which opens on Friday at London's O2 Arena. It would have to be a holy war declared by God himself. Comment about George Foreman prior to the "Rumble in the Jungle" match, when referee Clayton warned Ali that if he didn't stop talking he would stop the fight. NmQ,#6J;qV7j}y Where you psyche them out. MA: I cant really say. What Im trying to say is - well, you say that but youre on a show you gotta say that. MA: Despair? Impossible is not a declaration. You couldnt get Joe Frazier or no boxer on this show and get interest in a subject like this. And you cant take no Chinese man and give him no Puerto Rican woman and talking like theyre in love and emotionally in love and physically. He might as well have joined the Ku Klux Klan. And I never could. I'm the double greatest. MP: But you refused to go and fight in Vietnam, was it because you disagreed with the war in Vietnam or because you disagree with fighting generally? Required fields are marked *. I beat people up. The nigger needs to go over." Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) spars with challenger Floyd Patterson in 1965. You been hearing about how bad I am since you were a little kid with mess in your pants! He dont say nothing. You my opposer when I want freedom. Do they have a lot of bathrooms in Heaven?. No woman can really identify with me and the way I act and the way I talk. Remember when presenting things that matter, its important to show whats in it for the world, not just you (our first commandment of public speaking). Subscribe and you'll know every time we have a new post. Interview with Michael Parkinson (1974), quoted by Adam Lusher in ". Takeaway: In this interview, Ali provides a great take on how he wants to be remembered in life after hes gone. In America they got two policemen, five policemen and one car watching each other, each has got a pistol, one has got a machine gun, one got a shotgun and two dogs growling at each other. Im not that big of a fool. MA: I dont pay much attention to it. Elsewhere on the show, we'll hear remembrances from the memorial service. To Foreman before the start of the "Rumble in the Jungle" as the referee is giving them instructions (30 October 1974). Not only do I knock 'em out, I pick the round. And he had Floyd Paterson in his room, he came to Las Vegas and he was singing in a nightclub and saying Floyd was his boy to whoop that old black Muslim. Impossible is nothing. The Puerto Rican, Hawaiians, just about everybody can do more than black people and are more respected. Muhammad Ali, born Cassius Clay was an African - American heavyweight boxer. Also remember that when presenting information, rhythm and timed pauses are key to retaining an audience and delivering an impactful message. Muhammad Ali, The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life's Journey. So many people of all races and nationalities. Real conceited and arrogant. If you dont believe it, then come down here and try it. I didnt cut Folley at all. And I always asked my mother, I said, Momma, how come is everything white? I said, Why is Jesus white with blond hair and blue eyes? Alright, well, this glass can't make itself. 1968 Shirley Chisholm becomes the first African American woman to be elected to Congress. Read Muhammad's poem aloud and then write your own poem that describes how you are "The Greatest!" Perhaps, you're the greatest at a sport or perhaps you're the greatest at a school subject. Now, all of a sudden, the man tells me, come on - I want you to leave the galley because I want you up here to have something to drink and giving me number one spot. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. I was nervous for him. One punch. Theres a bunch of agitating blood-thirsty people saying, my man can whoop your man and yall get in there and fight. And I was due to fight him in Las Vegas and I was on television saying something like this. But then I saw all those people coming through the door to see Gorgeous George get beat - and they all paid to get in - thats the thing - and I said, this is a good idea. ", "I've wrestled with alligators. Id had about 35 fights so I came up on this show. Should I let those rattle snakes come down, hoping that those one thousand get together and form a shield? I'm the greatest thing that ever lived. Muhammad Ali was a global superstar when he was interviewed by Michael Parkinson in 1971. Discusses the life of Cassius Clay later known as Muhammad Ali Includes bibliographical references (page 126) and index Learning the ropes -- Somebody special -- In training -- Going for the gold -- Training and fighting -- The greatest -- A new direction -- Another kind of fight -- Regaining the title -- The hardest battle ALI: He is the greatest. But as soon as I heard the truth that Elijah Muhammad teaches us in America, it made me accept it. 4 0 obj I said, Momma, why dont they call it whitemail? Muhammad Ali - one of the most well-known athletes to have walked this earth. Listen. MP: What about the other thing that can happen in a fight: brain damage. Ali comes out to meet Frazier but Frazier starts to retreat, If Frazier goes back an inch farther hell wind up in a ringside seat. MA: The truth. He knocked me down in the fifteenth round. Heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali was known for taunting opponents with colorful rhyming trash. I had my style of moving and dancing and whatever I do. Many of Muhammad's boxing matches coined some now very well-known catch-phrases: "Fight of the century" - Ali and Frazier at Gardens on the 8th of March 1971. Also, play our mobile quiz app at deadoraliveapp.com Links: Transcript of this episode Famous & Gravy official website Dead or Alive Quiz Game Follow our show on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn New York Times obituary for Muhammad Ali The Simpsons supercut video of all Muhammad Ali references Muhammad Ali lights the Olympic torch at 1996 Atlanta I . And Im not going to deny I believe everything he teach and for white people in the country who are not devils, then they should prove they are not devils. When I came to the stage on election night to give my acceptance speech[, a]fter thanking my supporters, I'd said this: (At the time of the episode's airing, Muhammad Ali was known as Cassius Clay, so the use of the fighter's name is likely a coincidence even though the two later appeared together in the comic book. Some of Muhammad Ali's children have found their own fame. "It isn't the mountains ahead to climb that wear you out; it's the pebble in your shoe.". "Muhammad Ali was The Greatest. I Am the Greatest: The Adventures of . Ali was honest enough to admit it. Gorgeous George, a famous American wrestler who is deceased now, was there talking before myself. Not for my freedom. Let me know by voting on our poll below! MA: During my time, my era, things have changed. \$0__`x~:MC?eb-3J _P4qRM.rJd=/M/8g~0i&1?Ap_d$:e[}@WVU6a(Biac)Qe~uKMuDG/GGCyJxO4vFfa;|MtwXx@4`l[EPZ0,'BlX And a lot of time Ive been lucky enough to predict 17 times what round. Impossible is potential. Are you going to make a prediction about your return? Clay showed me that I'll get locked up for murder if we're ever matched. And none of those good white folks can be found to help us. Because he was brainwashed by the establishment. How come the Chinese can go where I cant go in America? Im not ducking and running from nothing. Nobody was hurt. Check out Muhammad Ali's I am the Greatest highlight reel and speech! If youre just looking for presentation services though, please just exit out this box and continue along. It was the first of four TV interviews he did with the chat show veteran - in 1974, 1975 and 1981 - but . Jonathan Eig author of the upcoming biography Ali: A Life was part of the study as well and he found Ali's speech slowed by 16 percent after a 1977 fight against Earnie Shavers that saw him absorb 266 punches. Because I look at two other men fighting and I think, I must be a fool. I fear aeroplanes. MP: Thats because societys fault. were just human beings. Period," the first family wrote of the cultural legend, who died at 74 in a Phoenix-area hospital Friday night. Mainly he talks about the American white man. Muhammad Ali. <> The world has lost a legend. Could I first start of by asking you, youve been the champion of the world three times, and youre now the ex champion, do you feel that people are treating you differently now that you are the one-time champion? He was getting all mad and saying. And I lost the eleventh round - he shook me pretty good. MA: Its a little bit of showbiz and helps the crowd. Tony Galento was a little heavy-set fella who hit real hard to the body. It happens every day. 2: I am the Greatest from the Cassius Clay albumI am the Greatest, Favorite quote: So dont bet against me, Im a man of my word. I want everybody out there to know. Ladies and gentlemen, Muhammad Ali. A man who is not courageous enough to take risks will never accomplish . God made us different. More interest. Im the champion of the whole world. MA: Second class? If you knew it was God calling you would fight for God. And I said, Im not going to be that kind of a fighter. I Am the Greatest is a comedy album by boxer Cassius Clay, released in August 1963 - six months before he won the world heavyweight championship , publicly announced his conversion to Islam, and changed his name to Muhammad Ali. And when you say integration, that comes with a marriage too, right? But Im sure a lot of them would. I'm the double greatest. He didnt mention anything about Europe or Sweden or Canada. <> I am the greatest! I shook up the world, I am the greatest, I'm king of the world, I'm pretty, I'm pretty, I'm a bad man, you heard me I'm a bad man. I dont talk no more. Sellin' out shows, I'm on that . <>>> But Ali himself would reject many of the absurd superlatives heaped upon him in the days since he died. MP: What about also being a champion, a thing that Ive often wondered about, do you get people coming up to you and wanting to take a swing at you? I was just joking - I heard hes a pretty good upcomer. Id think, this ship must be sinking, right? MP: You hear it from some champions, saying that every guy thinks they can fight you or take you on. True Muslims know or should know that it goes against our religion to try and force Islam on anybody. So you got black people in an all-white country and they dont know nothing about themselves. MA: Well, I have a poem. The fight goes like this: Ding! The big fight is coming up Ali and Frazier. He became the first boxer to win the heavyweight title three times. And when we land, would I be able to get my life raft out? IXl@T BC`)3Ml=g=3lV~R6X3AIr ]79U w8IK"# c~a}U#[v>Ku=o J1Ghf=43P' is3zqM6M^pA)_]NE]P1%'mc%;-&N_`v@)zEHzW /+pDMXLT But weve been there 600 years and there aint no peace between black and whites because the cultures are different - like the Chinese and Mexicans cannot integrate: the music is different, the eating is different. Elijah Muhammad teaches separatism, the two races shall live separately and the blacks should have their own. Ali dominated the fight and won the bout through a unanimous decision on points. I livened the game right up. Those rattle snakes didnt want to bite me and I knew they were good. Why is the Lords supper all white men? MA: Right. Ali won the fight, and upon returning to the United States, he was asked by a reporter, "Champ, what did you think of Africa?" How theyve been taught to love white and hate black, how weve been robbed of our names in slavery. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. We should have more intelligence than them, right? This kid fights great. Boxing is good for the livelihood but mainly, money dont really mean nothing - cos I proved that by gave up the title, not knowing that I wouldnt be back for four years. Look at my beautiful blond hair. Something to think about, aint it? He thought that Joe Louis was the greatest heavyweight champion of . American boxer, philanthropist, and activist, On George Foreman and the "Rumble in the Jungle", "Muhammad Ali was also great for civil rights" by Mark Wiedmer, in, Ali: The Official Portrait of "The Greatest" of All Time, Muhammad Ali In His Own Words: Six of His Best Quotes to Live By, 'The white man is the devil' what the Nation of Islam taught Muhammad Ali, Presidential Candidates Proposing to Ban Muslim Immigration to the United States, David Frost interviews Muhammad Ali (video clip), "When Clay shook up the world" (24 February 2004), Regarding the Vietnam War and conscription (1967), The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life's Journey, "Cassius Clay Booed As He Gets Decision Over Jones; No More Forecasts", "'Living legend' still commands respect of peers" by Andrew Baker in, https://en.wikiquote.org/w/index.php?title=Muhammad_Ali&oldid=3210825. But my main fight is for freedom and equality. All the beautiful brown women in America, beautiful sun tans, beautiful shapes, all types of complexions, but she always was white. As thousands of people mourn Muhammad Ali at his funeral in Louisville, Ky., NPR remembers his 1963 poem, "I Am The Greatest.". The second, after Nixon. It's just a job. Because you said to me Frazier was under intensive treatment. MP: But youre involved in a political struggle, a power struggle, between black and white and youre a leading member of that. And shoot them for what? They caused many people to laugh, some to cringe. Things are getting much better, but I always wondered when I went to church on Sundays. The teachings of Elijah Muhammad on how black people have been brainwashed. Im invited to all of their homes all over the world and Im invited to Muslim countries. Who would thought only of themselves and kill their race? P.S. And when a pilot says its going to be bad, its going to be rough. I would say to my mother, Momma? I didnt run with a gang - I didnt have time. Im sure we all have this built-in radar of what we predict and when it happens, we feel I knew it. It's a lack of faith that makes people afraid of meeting challenges, and I believe in myself. "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.". Pakistanis love their culture. 1942-2016: Muhammad Ali's Life in Pictures, Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion, Muhammad Ali Remembers the Rumble in the Jungle, Muhammad Ali Jabs at Donald Trump After Muslim Exclusion Plan, "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. Who would have thought when they come to the fight. And all of the Africans, hes beating them up and breaking the lions jaw, and heres Tarzan, talking to the animals. Oh man, if we were second class citizens wed be driving old Cadillacs and living good. I took my gold medal, thought Id invented something. Tonight, I'm gonna whip you till you cry like a baby. Ali was drafted by the United States military in 1966 and called up for induction in 1967. Im flying every day and think, its time for a plane crash. The three-time World Heavyweight Champion boxer died this evening," Bob Gunnell, a . RIP, We will miss you. The government wanted him to. And when Gorgeous George came down the aisle he had these two blonde beautiful girls carrying his robe so it wouldnt get dirty. As you said, the black Muslim movement. Introduction. The lyrics are . You cannot lynch and rape and kill and urn and castrate a man and rape his women for 400 years and slave em and burn em and still mistreat em causing trouble everywhere they go and then youre going to say hes not the devil? Never happened to you? If the white folks is in Heaven too, then the black angels were in the kitchen, preparing the milk and honey.. Boxing is just going to be another year. ", "I'm not the greatest. I pulled off him deliberately, blood pumping and gushing. If he hits you once, you're asleep for the night. Id rather be reading to my own: I have a beautiful daughter, beautiful wife. Cos the war got unpopular and so many black militants were trying to do all they could. Sir Michael who has described Ali as the most extraordinary man I have met questioned the boxer on his views on religion and race and he was as outspoken outside of ring as he was on it. Fraziers still rising but the referee wears a frown. MP: How do you travel when youre in the States then? And the angel fruit cake was the white cake and the devil food cake was the chocolate cake. Cassius Clay can sing, but singing didnt help him to become the heavyweight champion of the world; swinging helped him become the heavyweight champion. Chapter one . And Elijah Muhammad was taught by Allah, who we refer to as God, to teach us the truth that will free us. And Jack Johnson had this great boxer style. I mean it but I put emphasis on it. I have no racial problems, I dont go where Im not wanted. You dont shoot yourself. 2 0 obj No sir. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Subscribe to Iconic: http://bit.ly/zVEuIYMuhammad Ali makes his legendary 'I Am The Greatest' speech to reporters ahead of his 1964 world title bout with Son. Every time I read the paper they say, Joe Frazier, he played an area that held ten thousand and 37 people showed up. An illustration of text ellipses. But that was his right, he could have that job. MP: Well its in every article Ive ever read about it. June 4, 2016. To be "The Greatest of All Time," boxing legend Muhammad Ali said you have to believe in yourself. Barack Obama led tributes to the incandescent athlete, activist, humanitarian, poet and showman with a statement that caught the mood of many. MA: Well, you wouldnt. 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