I remember the Thrilla in Manila which was the epic bout between Muhammand Ali and Joe Frazier held at the Araneta Coliseum in October 1, 1975 in the Philippines.
Before the bout, there was huge brouhaha among the students and faculty of Ortanez University ( a small university based in Manila ) when they awarded Muhammad Ali an honorary doctorate ( Doctor of Humanities Honoris Causa ).
Many people felt that Ortanez was lowering its standards by awarding a doctorate to a practically unschooled boxer whose only claim to fame was being a world famous sports personality. Huge protests and written denunciations followed that decision 30 years ago. The university ignored the protests.
Well, well, well it looks like that small Manila University was 30 years ahead of its time.
Seeing as even Idi Amin collected a few honorary doctorates during his reign (he immediately required that “Doctor” be added to the honorifics that others had to address him by) I would not get too excited over this particular one.
I have always been amazed that Ali receives any honors, not because he refused to serve in ‘Nam; but because he was a member of one of the most racist (and weird) religious cults on earth:The Nation of Islam (which later split and one part became Farrakhan’s group). The Nation had (has?)some very strange theological ideas, and always referred to whites (an inferior species) as “white devils”. Now I am just wondering if any white guy had Ali’s background, he would be adulated by all, and given honorary degrees anywhere. Not a chance.
Ali sure was something in his hayday....remember him with Howard Cosell, what a duo!
Well, he was a good boxer, but he never was an academic. In fact, based upon his IQ, he is borderline mentally retarded.
I read that he has an IQ of 80, and thats before the Parkinson’s. Nothing like an honorary degree, is there?