 |
 |
Even in cyberspace, Ali still a presence The Arizona Republic March 4, 2001 While he is unable to communicate with the flamboyance that once defined him, there is no denying Muhammad Ali's magic presence, even when it comes via the Internet. Ali, 59, can barely mumble these days, but he will return to the Valley in two weeks, ready and eager to appear at Celebrity Fight Night, which is now in its seventh year. Before the celebrities climb into the ring at the Biltmore with their funky, oversized boxing gloves to gently spar with each other for the already sold-out event on March 18, Ali will have stolen the show with his mere attendance. There never has been, and probably never will be, anyone quite like Ali. To many, he is the athlete of the 20th century. Arguably, it's a title he deserves attached to his name, because unlike any other sports icon Ali transcends generations and racial lines. "It's hard to believe, and it makes me feel real good," Ali said in an Internet question- and-answer session last week when asked about being considered the most influential athlete of the past century. "The reason I'm recognized all over the world is because all the Muslim countries recognize me, plus the English and European countries." Ali can't walk anywhere on the planet without being identified. Wherever he ventures in his countless endeavors to help struggling people, Ali is welcomed like no one else. The last time he attended a Suns game at America West Arena, Ali received a standing ovation from the fans and the players themselves, fully aware they were in the presence of royalty. "It was an amazing sight," said Jimmy Walker, who once again will chair Fight Night's festivities, which last year netted $1.5 million - all of which stayed in the local community - for the battle against Parkinson's, the terrible disease that virtually has stripped Ali of his ability to speak. "I can't do anything about it," Ali said of his disability. "You have to learn to live with it. Before I was told about Parkinson's it bothered me, and now it doesn't. I just shake, rattle and roll." Even in his current condition, Ali's sense of humor still manages to shine through. Considered one of sport's most controversial figures, Ali was always a lightning rod. While boxing provided Ali with his stage, it was his mind and mouth that elevated him onto a global pedestal. Along the way he made enemies, most notably when he refused to be drafted for duty during the Vietnam War because of his religious beliefs. While his stance wound up costing him nearly five years in the ring, Ali came back stronger than ever on the world stage. These days, Ali lives on a ranch in southwestern Michigan. Despite his advanced stage of Parkinson's, he refuses to stop doing charity work. "I help people any way I can, because one day we are all going to die and we are going to heaven or hell," he said. "To get to heaven you need to do good deeds. God is watching, and I'm trying to do as many good deeds as I can." Ali responded to a dozen questions. His answers were mostly short. Even so, the interview opportunity was too tantalizing to decline. Asked how he would like to be remembered, Ali put together this response: "He took a few cups of love, a teaspoon of patience. He mixed it up and stirred it well, and served it to each and every deserving person he met." Reach Gomez at [log in to unmask] or (602) 444-2364. Copyright 2000, The Arizona Republic. All rights reserved http://www.arizonarepublic.com/sports/articles/0304gomez0304.html ********* ********