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You can imagine the MSM's collective gasp of horror if a Republican presidential candidate ever threatened to punch out opponents. It would be a field day for the psychologists, as one after another would be paraded across TV screens to speculate on the subconscious roots of such aggressiveness, and opine on the fitness for office of anyone harboring such pugilistic predilections. Lefty foreign policy mavens would be invited to fret over the way such knee-jerk hostility might lead us into war, etc. But NBC raised nary an eyebrow when reporting on Hillary having uttered just such a threat during...

Last week, many commemorated Muhammad Ali's sixty-fifth birthday with a zeal reminiscent of Roman pagans cheering a triumphant Caesar.  And as I ponder this, I'm reminded of how people are as quick to forget as they are to condemn. Don't get me wrong, I like Ali.  Although he knocked the veneer of invincibility off Sonny Liston before I was even a twinkle in my father's eye, I'm a great fan of history and have watched more boxing retrospectives than I care to mention.  I've probably seen all of Ali's notable bouts and, although I'm no Burt Sugar (you know, the...

Last Updated: Tuesday, 11 April 2006, 22:50 GMT 23:50 UK Muhammad Ali sells rights to name Ali dominated the boxing world in the 1960s and 1970s Entertainment and licensing firm CKX has bought the marketing rights to the name of boxing legend Muhammad Ali. The boxer, who was born Cassius Clay, sold the rights to his image and name in a $50m (£28.6m) cash deal which also covers certain trademarks. Ali, 64, and his wife are expected to "actively work with CKX to continue to promote his ... legacy throughout the world," the entertainment group said. CKX also controls the...

Why Sonny Liston didn't get up -------------------------------------------------------- Posted: February 10, 2006 1:00 a.m. Eastern Editor's note: In his eye-opening new book, "Sucker Punch: The Hard Left Hook That Dazed Ali and Killed King's Dream," Jack Cashill un-tells what may be the most mis-told story of the late 20th century – the heroic rise of boxer Muhammad Ali. This re-telling sheds bright new light on some slighted boxing greats like Joe Louis, Joe Frazier and George Foreman, and reveals the surprising role that Christianity has played in the sports culture. Today, we cover part 5 in this special 10-part series. By...

"Muhammad Ali, born Cassius Marcellus Clay in Louisville, Ky., on Jan. 17, 1942, grandson of a slave, began boxing at the age of 12, and, by 18, had fought 108 amateur bouts." In the very first sentence on Ali's life in her essay, "The Cruelest Sport," noted author Joyce Carol Oates shares with the reader one observation beyond the superficial: Ali was born the "grandson of a slave." Oates apparently sees this as the defining fact of Ali's existence. More influential than Oates or anyone else in interpreting Ali to the world was sportscaster Howard Cosell. In his 1973 book,...

Ailing boxing legend Muhammad Ali swapped wisecracks with President George W. Bush in his first public appearance in five months which dispelled recent fears over his health. Ali, 63, went to the White House to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States' highest civilian honor, from Bush. He appeared weak from his longstanding battle against Parkinson's Disease but attentive throughout the ceremony in the East Room of the White House, applauding each recipient. Ali's first public appearance in five months

Muhammad ALI may have just months to live, it has emerged yesterday. The 63-year-old boxing great, who has battled Parkinson's disease for 20 years, can no longer talk and is shutting himself away from those closest to him. His daughter Laila said: "It is painful for me because I would love to sit down and talk with my dad about the way he used to be when he was my age, when he was in his prime, because we are so alike. I can't really do that. I can't share a lot of things with him. "He likes doing simple...

In my previous column on pro-Al Qaeda rapper KRS-One (Kris Parker; hereafter, “KOP”), I cited the Daily News story from “Rush & Molloy’s” gossip column (the husband-and-wife team of George Rush and Joanna Molloy) that quoted him as having “cheered” when Al Qaeda attacked America and murdered 3,000 people on 911, liberally quoted from KOP’s rap/Hip-Hop (r/h) “songs,” and discussed r/h’s ties to black supremacist movements such as the Nation of Islam, the Five Percenters, and the New Black Panther party. Rap’s Treasonous Roots The longtime leader of the Nation of Islam, “the Honorable Elijah Muhammad” (Elijah Poole; 1897-1975), spent...

Saying Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Barack Obama was once a Muhammad Ali-like figure willing to debate any Republican rival and now is "running out of the ring" to avoid debates, GOP nominee Alan Keyes challenged his opponent Tuesday to debate anytime, anywhere.

Nearly four decades after he filled the Astrodome for a pair of championship fights, then relinquished his heavyweight boxing title by placing principles ahead of profession, Muhammad Ali will return to Houston next Tuesday to throw out the first pitch for the All-Star Game at Minute Maid Park. Ali's selection was disclosed Wednesday by Ed Goren, the president of Fox Sports, which will broadcast the game Tuesday night. "It should be one of the most historic moments fans will ever see at an All-Star Game," Goren said. This will not be the first time Ali has participated in the opening...

ALI: A lot of 'em got careers, working for and with their brothers, but you don't find 'em in no white man's office in downtown New York working behind secretarial desks. Too many black women been used in offices. And not even in bed -- on the floor. We know it because we got office Negroes who've told us this. So we protect our women, 'cause women are the field that produces our nation. And if you can't protect your women, you can't protect your nation. Man, I was in Chicago a couple of months ago and saw a white...

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — A daughter of Muhammad Ali was arrested on a charge of trying to shoplift bedding from a store in Rossford, Ohio, last week. Hana Yasmeen Ali, 26, of Berrien Springs, Mich., was scheduled to appear in Perrysburg Municipal Court on Wednesday on a misdemeanor charge of attempted theft. She identified herself as Ali's daughter when she was arrested, officer Craig Revill said. Employees at the store, Linens & Things, also reported that she tried to tamper with a price tag on a $69.99 picture frame. Ali, one of nine children of the former heavyweight boxing champ,...