Does the Morality of Champions Matter?

It is a cop out. Because for every street thug who tries to improve his lot by taking up boxing, there are 50 who prefer to be street thugs. So much for peers.

Slightly off topic, I'm always intrigued by the amount of fighters who obviously need to rely on hand, foot, and eye co- ordination, plus very quick reflexes for their living, who can't seem to drive a car, or ride a motorcycle worth a sh it. Either killing or maiming themselves or some poor innocent bystanders into the bargain.

I can understand the fearlessness a fighter needs to do his job might come into play, but how does that not apply to other people whose jobs also require a high level of fearlessness, such as fire fighters, special forces soldiers, those kind of people?

 

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Yeah, Turpin was a true kunt, disturbed or not.

Dempsey actually turned out to be good guy but he wasn't to start with... his background wasn't exactly what the modern pc'ers would call privileged... OK, they would argue his whiteness opened many a door, but you get my drift. The universe wouldn't have blinked an eye had he died after one of those shoot fights as a teenager (something that almost happened).

People who look for heroes are complete idiots...unless Frank Sinatra is their hero, then it's cool.

 

I have flaws, but I'm not a ******, a murderer, or a child molester. I have no qualms about judging those who are. In my opinion, people who can't judge evil when they see it are spineless relativists with a severely broken moral compass.

 

It wasn't me who said that. Ali has never recanted anything he said and there is no evidence he saw the error of his ways. He left N.O.I. because there was a power struggle after the old man died and the faction that Ali sided with lost.

 

Soon after completing "Gentleman Jim," Flynn became embroiled in an infamous **** trial. During screenings of "Gentleman Jim," his closing line of "I'm no gentleman" was met with laughter and derision.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0034778/trivia

 

Actually it was a smear on Turpin's name for many. But we are human, and a hero to some had died too young. He had his demons, but thankfully his daughter survived.

 

Is there any strong evidence that he was a "vicious pimp" ?

 

First, "only following his leaders" is a shaky defense, as history shows us.

Secondly, not everyone thinks Ali made himself look like an idiot. In fact, he's portrayed by the media as having intelligent beliefs and principles, far beyond what is common for an athlete.
Actually he's revered for "speaking out" on political/racial issues ... yet it seems people who revere him have never studied the content of what he said.

 

There have been several disturbed fathers who have attempted or succeeded in killing their kids before killing themselves.

It's hard to be sure what goes on in their minds, and their motives, but I wouldn't put much stock in those (racial) rumours about his motives.

Either way, it's evil, yes.

 

I think Ali's charm came from not being an intellect, but someone who thought at a level of the 'common man', and was articulate at putting his views across. He was also anything but a 'black or white' character. Ali had plenty of grey areas that his fancy could not ignore, but neither could his critics.

 

Ali was a funny, charming, charismatic guy. He makes people smile.

Honestly, when he appears on TV in recent years (London Olympics, for example) the commentary about him portrays him as almost the opposite of what he was. Saying the things he said, then coming out being portrayed as a champion against racism is a remarkable achievement.