How Muhammad Ali secured the release of 15 US hostages in Iraq

A lot of them aren't woke like Ali. It was a different during Ali's time. The government endorsed racism was out in the open. Now it's hidden. An athlete would have to be conscious to understand what' really going on now. I'm not going to condemn 20 something year old men because hey aren't fully aware of how the system works. I know I was foolish when I was their age. They've been catered to since it was discovered they could make a shot or throw a football. The world they've lived in isn't the same world we lived in. I'm not ready to give up on our youth. Especially when I see so many more of them engaged in social justice than there were when I was their age. if your 20 or older and you cant see whats REALLY going on you probably got some sort of learning disability regardless of what color you are

http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/SNJOUFac60Cv25gkVToIOA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3NfbGVnbztxPTg1O3c9NjMw/http://media.zenfs.com/en/blogs/sptusnbaexperts/wadecover.jpg.jpg Police angry at 'hands up' gesture by St. Louis Rams players http://www.msnbc.com/sites/msnbc/files/styles/ratio--83-34--830x340/public/-30t183428z_190688012_nocid_rtrmadp_3_nfl-oakland-raiders-at-st-louis-rams.jpg?itok=JOs8A8yW In the last 20yrs and all you could find was 7 articles of black athletes taking a stand and most of those were on twitter accounts that were deleted soon after smh. No you stay woke my brother..... The type of $$ these black rappers and athletes make they could do so much more but insted they"ll rather slit one anothers throat in the pursuit of a Kardashian

A lot of them aren't woke like Ali. It was a different during Ali's time. The government endorsed racism was out in the open. Now it's hidden. An athlete would have to be conscious to understand what' really going on now. I'm not going to condemn 20 something year old men because hey aren't fully aware of how the system works. I know I was foolish when I was their age. They've been catered to since it was discovered they could make a shot or throw a football. The world they've lived in isn't the same world we lived in. I'm not ready to give up on our youth. Especially when I see so many more of them engaged in social justice than there were when I was their age. Always racism! Won't you guys ever stop whining?!

A lot of them aren't woke like Ali. It was a different during Ali's time. The government endorsed racism was out in the open. Now it's hidden. An athlete would have to be conscious to understand what' really going on now. I'm not going to condemn 20 something year old men because hey aren't fully aware of how the system works. I know I was foolish when I was their age. They've been catered to since it was discovered they could make a shot or throw a football. The world they've lived in isn't the same world we lived in. I'm not ready to give up on our youth. Especially when I see so many more of them engaged in social justice than there were when I was their age. I'm in my mid 20s and I know exactly what is happening. I understand the point you make about them being pandered to and mollycoddled but it's not an excuse, especially not now with so much information at out fingertips. Plus, most American athletes spend their youths in the worst parts of the country, forget making political change, they need to push for social change .And use the podium fame has granted them to speak out on the issues facing black Americans in impoverished ghettos, which to me, as an outsider, look like 3rd world nations.

Pay attention to the reaction the media had to their stance instead of criticizing their stances. The media hated Ali too but he stuck with what he believed in because what he believed in was right. None of your modern day heroes stick to anything but the money. Their word ain't worth ****.

Ali became loved by America when Parkisons shut him up. Just stop...... He was loved in the 70s

In his day Ali was more hated than Floyd. The media was ruthless towards him. there has been a lot of revisionist history when it comes to Ali and his image was made over in the '80's. This is true. You have to think about why he was hated though. On the surface the phrase, "draft dodger" is as bad as they come. A lot of people thought he was a coward. The truth is he would never have had to truly fight in the war because of his celebrity. They would have kept him safe and used him to promote the war. So what he did by risking jail was worse for him. He stood up for a cause. He was the voice of millions of people who felt the same way. In retrospect he was legend for what he did. I think most people realize that now. My only beef with Ali was his treatment of Fraizer. He was brutal in his words to Joe. It wasn't right.

Ali the peoples champ. This man was so lovable, I seen when he would go to other countries, like the Philippines and his presence he could mingle with anyone of any race, the kids loved him everywhere he went, they knew he was a good man. If he never had parkinsons he would have done so much more like this.

The greatest societal loss of Ali having Parkinson is that we lost the opportunity to have this man's voice in the political discourse as he aged. I believe he would have been an incredibly positive influence on society today. Too bad athletes today separate themselves so insistently from societal issues. Athletes are the most idolized people in America and they could do so much good if they were involved. That's a good point. In his youth Ali made some hugely positive contributions to political and social discourse, and others that were on the Tyson Fury level of naivity, but that's the headstrong foolishness of youth for you. As an older man, there was wisdom and compassion in everything he said and did. If he'd been able to express those qualities with the eloquence and energy of his youth, he could have done a lot of good in the world.

Which athletes today have cost themselves big money for a cause? Let me see....that's a big fat ZERO

The greatest societal loss of Ali having Parkinson is that we lost the opportunity to have this man's voice in the political discourse as he aged. I believe he would have been an incredibly positive influence on society today. Too bad athletes today separate themselves so insistently from societal issues. Athletes are the most idolized people in America and they could do so much good if they were involved. Agreed. They are worried it will earn their earning potential which it does. Look at Ali being bankrupt by the time 1970 rolled around. http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/greg-cote/llamjv/picture4407924/ALTERNATES/FREE_640/Cavaliers%20Nets%20Basketball.JPG http://a4.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=%2Fphoto%2F2012%2F0323%2Fnba_lebron1_300.jpg http://kctv.images.worldnow.com/images/9202438_G.png Richard Sherman: 'Racism Is Alive And Active' In NFL And America Floyd Mayweather says racism still exists in boxing, MMA http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/480/mcs/media/images/65100000/jpg/_65100443_65100442.jpg #notonOUrcampus pic.twitter.com/ipMwJbvHKF— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) March 9, 2015 Stay very woke my brother This is all well and good but none of these athletes have the reach of Ali or say these things when it matters and most importantly, they do not act upon it. In fact, most of these statements ring hollow because they are there to garner attention, not change. Ali provided change. Saddam knew who the A side was when he met The Champ. Damn straight lol

Which athletes today have cost themselves big money for a cause?

The greatest societal loss of Ali having Parkinson is that we lost the opportunity to have this man's voice in the political discourse as he aged. I believe he would have been an incredibly positive influence on society today. Too bad athletes today separate themselves so insistently from societal issues. Athletes are the most idolized people in America and they could do so much good if they were involved. Indeed. The problem with athletes and celebrities these days is they're not willing to risk what they have to speak out. To be honest, i doubt many even take an interest in what's happening in the world. Like most people, they live insular lives, maybe more so. And the ones that might be educated on what's going on outside of their bubble probably don't want to rock the boat on their careers. That's why Ali was a rare breed. There isn't many like him. Infact he's proof that if you go against the system, you'll pay for it, as he did with his title and license to fight or and earn a living. The media is even more powerful and ruthless today with the ability to reach the world in seconds with the power of the internet. I don't think many would dare go against the system openly to the levels Ali did, their careers would be over, the brainwashing media and powers behind it would see to that.

The greatest societal loss of Ali having Parkinson is that we lost the opportunity to have this man's voice in the political discourse as he aged. I believe he would have been an incredibly positive influence on society today. Too bad athletes today separate themselves so insistently from societal issues. Athletes are the most idolized people in America and they could do so much good if they were involved.

This is great. Fantastic read.

10.40 in the video, the freed hostage thanks Ali and Ali tells him, "Thank Allah and thank God. God works through people. It's not me. That gave me goose bumps the first time I heard it and again today.

Even Saddam could not resist that charisma Saddam knew who the A side was when he met The Champ.

Even Saddam could not resist that charisma