The Greatest?

Artful Dodger

Ok, I will go ahead and say it - especially when it appears no one in the press will as they are fawning over Ali's death as if Jesus just died again. Why are we celebrating this man in such a demonstrative way? As a boxer and pop icon - yes, I agree. But on ESPN and other news stations they make it sound like Ghandi died again.
Let's face it - this man was a draft dodger - he was a fighter, but he wouldn't fight for his country. Elvis did. Gary Cooper did. Jimmy Stewart did. But this guy didn't - and somehow he's a hero. I never got it back then and still don't get it now. The Greatest? Pfftttt. He certainly wasn't a patriot.
As for fighting - I hated the 'rope-a-dope' - just because he could take a punch he would let us watch 10 rounds of unwatchable boxing before he would score points at the end over a exhausted boxer. Good boxing? No thanks.
There is no question that he was a remarkable pop icon and sports hero all meshed into one during an amazing time in America. No question. But he was no hero to me. And this over the top memorial over the weekend is pathetic. (If you want to remember him show some boxing - not air tired tropes from talking heads everywhere).