Ali’s relationship with those before him?

I still can't believe that Sports illustrated named Ali their Sportsman of the year the late 1970s.. Muhammad Ali was a lot of things but a good sportsman wasn't one of them when you think about the things he did and said it's almost laughable. He conducted himself like an overgrown 4th grader.

 

He was much beloved by the majority of people I knew, at least in the 70s. I was there. He and MLK were two black men that white people weren't afraid to say they admired.

Ali was amusing, and had a wink and sense of dignity that (in my eyes) seemed to emanate from him. It turns out he was a hell of a man, as he was there for guys like Norton and Frazier, both in life and upon death. He did beautiful favors for both Holmes and Norton, men who most assuredly beat him, and asked nothing in return.

We could use another million Alis imo, and I'm not ashamed or afraid to say it.