Clay/Liston 50 Years Ago Today

[Tugg Speedman]

50-years ago yesterday (Feb 25, 1964) a young Cassius Clay shocked the sporting world by defeating Boxing Heavyweight Champion Sonny Liston.  Soon after Clay, who lived on the Southside of Chicago, changed his name to Muhammad Ali and thus launched one of the greatest sports careers in human history.  Ali celebrated this event by doing what we all do in 2014 ... he sent out a tweet:

‏@MuhammadAli  I shook up the world against Liston, now 50 years later I'm taking it to Twitter  

He also included this iconic picture (aren't all pictures of Ali iconic?)



Will sports ever see another personality like Ali?  If I had to guess, the closet we have to him today is Usain Bolt.  But Bolt is no Ali.

[brandx]

A man of honor. Unlike most of us, he was willing to put his money where his mouth was.

[Galway Eagle]

50-years ago yesterday (Feb 25, 1964) a young Cassius Clay shocked the sporting world by defeating Boxing Heavyweight Champion Sonny Liston.  Soon after Clay, who lived on the Southside of Chicago, changed his name to Muhammad Ali and thus launched one of the greatest sports careers in human history.  Ali celebrated this event by doing what we all do in 2014 ... he sent out a tweet:

‏@MuhammadAli  I shook up the world against Liston, now 50 years later I'm taking it to Twitter 

He also included this iconic picture (aren't all pictures of Ali iconic?)



Will sports ever see another personality like Ali?  If I had to guess, the closet we have to him today is Usain Bolt.  But Bolt is no Ali.

I'm not letting this one go! The greatest what careers?! Mr "I think Boxing is an exhibition!" This is a Freudian slip and you just flushed your point down the drain!

[GGGG]

This picture is from the second fight.

[Tugg Speedman]

A man of honor. Unlike most of us, he was willing to put his money where his mouth was.

amateur boxing is different from pro boxing.  I'm not going to continue this anymore so go ahead and respond if you want, I will not reply.

[Tugg Speedman]

This picture is from the second fight.

Changed it above ... better?

[brandx]

amateur boxing is different from pro boxing.  I'm not going to continue this anymore so go ahead and respond if you want, I will not reply.

What does that mean? I never even mentioned amateurs or pros. I agreed with your original post so I am clueless to what this is.

[GGGG]

Changed it above ... better?

Oh I wasn't trying to correct you.  Sorry if it came off that way.

[Spotcheck Billy]

50-years ago yesterday (Feb 25, 1964) a young Cassius Clay shocked the sporting world by defeating Boxing Heavyweight Champion Sonny Liston.  Soon after Clay, who lived on the Southside of Chicago, changed his name to Muhammad Ali and thus launched one of the greatest sports careers in human history.  Ali celebrated this event by doing what we all do in 2014 ... he sent out a tweet:

‏@MuhammadAli  I shook up the world against Liston, now 50 years later I'm taking it to Twitter 

He also included this iconic picture (aren't all pictures of Ali iconic?)



Will sports ever see another personality like Ali?  If I had to guess, the closet we have to him today is Usain Bolt.  But Bolt is no Ali.

report today that the fight was fixed based on FBI wiretaps on the Mob
http://www.cbssports.com/general/eye-on-sports/24456858/the-fix-was-in-fbi-suspected-ali-liston-bout-in-64-was-rigged

[Galway Eagle]

amateur boxing is different from pro boxing.  I'm not going to continue this anymore so go ahead and respond if you want, I will not reply.

your first argument was that professional boxing was an exhibition like pro wrestling. you insulted my sport one of the only two things I care about, a sport you clearly know nothing about. I will continue this for as long as I live till I at least get a retraction that it's anything like pro wrestling.  

[brandx]

your first argument was that professional boxing was an exhibition like pro wrestling. you insulted my sport one of the only two things I care about, a sport you clearly know nothing about. I will continue this for as long as I live till I at least get a retraction that it's anything like pro wrestling.  

I have no clue what you are talking about. My post was "A man of honor. Unlike most of us, he was willing to put his money where his mouth was."

So apparently Heisenberg wants to attack me for something Piper said? OK

[GGGG]

your first argument was that professional boxing was an exhibition like pro wrestling. you insulted my sport one of the only two things I care about, a sport you clearly know nothing about. I will continue this for as long as I live till I at least get a retraction that it's anything like pro wrestling. 

He should retract his opinion?

[Galway Eagle]

He should retract his opinion?

It's not an opinion it's an insult.  He's comparing a legitemate athletic competition that tests your body to it's limits to a theater production for rednecks and preteen boys. 

[GGGG]

It's not an opinion it's an insult.

His opinion may insult you, but it's still an opinion. 

[Galway Eagle]

His opinion may insult you, but it's still an opinion.  

Ok an opinion can have some basis on it.  My opinion is ----- for politics my opinion is that there is/isn't a god etc.  There is no basis for the comparison that Boxing is anything like professional wrestling and he has now flipped on the issue.  I really don't care if he thinks it's a sport, if he wants to call it a competition or something then whatever but Wrestling is theater and until he's stepped foot into the ring to find out boxing's not, studies to become a boxing ref or judge, which would qualify him to have that asinine opinion, or admits it is nothing like pro wrestling I will not let it go.  

[ATWizJr]

It's not an opinion it's an insult.  He's comparing a legitemate athletic competition that tests your body to it's limits to a theater production for rednecks and preteen boys. 

Hey, I think your opinion just insulted rednecks and hurt the feelings of preteen boys everywhere.

[Galway Eagle]

Hey, I think your opinion just insulted rednecks and hurt the feelings of preteen boys everywhere.

Look up the marketing demographics for professional wrestling... the study I saw was old but rednecks and preteen boys about sums it up. 

[keefe]

His opinion may insult you, but it's still an opinion. 

Pork Eating Crusader?

[Spotcheck Billy]

Look up the marketing demographics for professional wrestling... the study I saw was old but rednecks and preteen boys about sums it up.  

for sh!ts and grins I just googled "marketing demographics for professional wrestling". From the top return:

The NBC Television Network announced the results of a national survey last February in which it listed the "top viewer sports" in America as:
 1.National Football League
2.Professional Wrestling
3.Major League Baseball
4.National Basketball Association

Professional wrestling is true family entertainment with demographics ranging from ages 3 to 93, 40% female, and very heavy in the 21 to 49-year old male market as well. In addition, 35 million people watch professional wrestling on TV every week. Millions more flock to sold out arenas to see it in person

http://www.bplans.com/wrestling_entertainment_business_plan/executive_summary_fc.php


no mention of rednecks at all

[Galway Eagle]

for sh!ts and grins I just googled "marketing demographics for professional wrestling". From the top return:
http://www.bplans.com/wrestling_entertainment_business_plan/executive_summary_fc.php


no mention of rednecks at all

Huh interesting stuff.  I still maintain my point that it's fake theater and not comparable to boxing in the slightest. 

[Skitch]

His opinion may insult you, but it's still an opinion. 

I think the problem may be that in the other thread he said that boxing wasn't a sport and in this one said that Clay/Ali had one of the "greatest sports careers."  You can't have it both ways, either boxing is a sport, or Ali's wasn't a "sports career." 

[Tugg Speedman]

I think the problem may be that in the other thread he said that boxing wasn't a sport and in this one said that Clay/Ali had one of the "greatest sports careers."  You can't have it both ways, either boxing is a sport, or Ali's wasn't a "sports career." 

Ok, I'm back on this.  In the other thread I said that sports that are decided by a judge are arbitrary and more an exhibition than a sport.  I never said those that participate in these sports are not athletes.

Among the examples i cited were figure skating, free style skiing, gymnastics and boxing.  Of all these examples boxing is a tough one because it has both an objective way to win (knockout) and a subjective way to win (judge decision).  Knockout is more a professional boxing thing than an amateur boxing thing.

Now, I'm done with this subject, it was covered in the other thread.  Piper disagrees with me.  He is not the first or the last that will hold an opinion opposite me.

[Galway Eagle]

I think the problem may be that in the other thread he said that boxing wasn't a sport and in this one said that Clay/Ali had one of the "greatest sports careers."  You can't have it both ways, either boxing is a sport, or Ali's wasn't a "sports career."  

That's half the battle the other half was the comparison to pro wrestling that set me from disagreement to being flat out pissed.  Not even UFC but pro wrestling! Unless he believes pro wrestling is real which is pretty sad quite frankly. 

[brandx]

That's half the battle the other half was the comparison to pro wrestling that set me from disagreement to being flat out pissed.  Not even UFC but pro wrestling! Unless he believes pro wrestling is real which is pretty sad quite frankly. 

Professional wrestling is show business. Boxing is a sport.

[Galway Eagle]

Professional wrestling is show business. Boxing is a sport.

I agree and I think anyone with half a brain knows that.  Which is why I'm all worked up that Heisenberg said boxing is in the same category as pro wrestling.  (in the other thread)