Boxing legend dead at 74.

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/n ... 37657.html

30 years of suffering from Parkinson's Disease and an upper respiratory infection took their toll. I had no use for the brash kid we knew as Cassius Clay; but Ali, as a mature adult and father, gradually became a class act. He fought Parkinson's from his early 40s with all his might--and with no complaints.

He had one essential weakness--pretty women.

I will say I liked him from the beginning - I had him in his first fight against Liston as me and my friends sat and listened on the radio - I think I won a quarter (0.25) - I can live with "big-talkers" as long as they back it up - He did both !!!

I was in a bar n Blowing Rock when he lost to Frasier. Listened to all his fights. I didn't appreciate the balls he had standing up to the government and racism until I was much older. He was the greatest.

I lost plenty of $$$ betting against him. A man ahead of his time both physically, verbally and socially. I did not like him when I was in my teens but grew to respect his immense talents. Easily one of the greatest boxers of all time and pushed our country toward social justice. RIP Muhammad.

Always had great respect for Ali as an athlete. I count being there at '96 Olympics ceremony and witnessing him light the flame as a special memory.