Headline July 3rd, 2012 / 'The Warrior'

The Performance Artist, The Poet, The Tactician, 

The Original Rapper: 'The Warrior'

One beautiful afternoon prior to the kick off of the Louisville-Penn State football game at Cardinal Stadium on Kentucky Fairgrounds: 'Ladies and Gentlemen,' rang the public address office,'at the fifty yard line, please welcome the heavyweight champion---' But the announcer didn't get to finish his sentence; the swell of the roar blotted out the words. 

Forty thousand people were on their feet singing his name in a two-syllable mantra: ''A-LI!'' The look on his face was the fat and happy near smile topping the fat and happy body of all the renderings of Buddha you've ever seen. It is an expression of bemusement and contentment and wonder at the beauty to be found in the simplest thingss. It is not supposed to be Buddha. 

It is supposed to be Allah, because it is Allah who has ruled his life since even before Liston, and Allah who controls it now more than ever before. So, Ali in front of a camera was something to behold. He was a natural performer a natural talent. You could never tell where the axtor Ali stopped and the person Ali began. Usually, an actor takes on a character, but with Ali, he was the character. 

Most fighters play it very close to the vest, but Ali was never afraid to show a bit of himself. His ability to be himself in front of people led people to love him. And what has surprised the whole world over the years that even past his public image, he is completely without animus. He never had and doesnt have a case against anyone. Despite his religion and the stance he took on the draft, despite the many disagreements he had, nothing was ever personal. It was never 'me against them.' 

He was always available to everybody. A man who can take a stand and still do that is a remarkable, remarkable Man! A Roman Catholic Nun who cared for Liberian children at a missionary centre in the Ivory Coast, once wrote to Ali, asking for help. After a few weeks she was surprised to see him there in person, giving out food and love. 

But skimming back a little, what stands out is the spiritual gauntlet Ali had to run, when he responded to his draft notice by saying : ''Man, I ain't got no quarrel with them Vietcong.'' His world was turned upside down.There would be no-conscientious-objector status for him on religious grounds; instead he was hit with the loss of his championship and a Federal conviction in 67, for refusing induction into the Army. 

As far as boxing went, the next three and half years vanished, but Ali persevered, touring College campuses, to speak out on Vietnam, race and religion. President Kennedy had been assassinated, and Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King were fated to cross paths with lunatic killers, and still Ali forged ahead, working the same territory as those indomitable souls!! 

The Bottom line and the singular honour is that Ali has always stood for what is right. He was born with that. He had a 'Warrior's' heart when he was born. He looked around to see how black people were treated, and he couldn't tolerate it. He would never tolerate it. And the people perceived him as very special because he had no bitterness about him. 

He had a quick wit, a way of summing up things around him and a way to talk to the people. Muhammad Ali had a love not just for black people, but for all good people---which did not get reported much. Powerful people have a love for all people--teats how they have the strength to be true warriors. The strongest warriors are those strong from the inside, not from their physical strength. 

You don't become a warrior because of your occupation. You become a warrior in Your soul. Ali didn't let his occupation curtail his soul! He remained deeper than anyone else. So with his sweet speech, that had a melody; he almost sang when he spoke: ''Float like a butterfly and sting like a bee.'' Those words were the most famous rap lyrics ever! 

With thanks to !WOW! and best wishes for you all as we warm up to the game. 

Good night & God bless!

SAM Daily Times - The Voice Of The Voiceless