Well, since we have been talking about Joe Louis here, and many of use have brought up certain segments of Joe's darker side, I thought I'd see if anyone here has read the new book out about Ali? I can't even recall the title of it off-hand, but I do know that it takes a rather less-glorifying view of Ali, especially his purported sexual escapades involving teenagers and his many sexual orgies/trysts.......... It's supposed to be similar in tone to the "Ghost's of Manila" book penned by Jack Newfield.........Not for any die-hard Ali fans I'm sure!
I've read plenty of articles on how athletes and even people in positions of power have boosted testosterone levels from their level of activity and or power, which leads to them being sexual and sometimes violent. Even Martin Luthor King supposedly gave into that, being hyper sexual and sometimes violent with women. *Shrugs* You've got to consider that boxers are at the peak of human condition when they're in shape, so there are ungodly amounts of testosterone and aggression there. Hence why even the "good" people in boxing like Louis and Ali seem to have vented their anger at women.
..............I think it's a sign of our sad times that our induced cynicism is fed by things like this; the need to tear every public figure down given the chance. I'm not trying to suggest that truths shouldn't be told. I believe a fair, accurate portrayal of any historical figure is a valuable document, but it's in vogue nowadays to rip everyone to shreds, in a manner that often seems just as unrealistic and sensationalized as the books or films or whatever depicting these people in a glorified light. Neither is fair. They are, after all, only people.
It's just the other side of the coin, Sanchez. For how many decades was Ali a demi-god in the public's eye, where he could get away with things like tearing apart Joe Frazier to the point of disrupting his home life with the guys kids?
..............I'm sure "representing the fair and balanced other side of the coin" wasn't what was intended, though. It's a slash piece, designed to sensationalize and make money. Now if this author had written a full biography, showing all facets of Ali's nature, that's one thing, but this is just Daily World News tabloid stuff.
Who knows if it sensationalizes anything. Ali was larger then life, it's hard to say much of anything about him without exaggeration or hyperbole. That's the summary of Ali and his exploits, really.
I haven't read the book so cannot comment on it ,just one question which would sell better a book giving a positive side to its subject ,or one concentrating on the frailties and fallibilities of same ?Ali was neither a saint nor a sinner he was ,is ,a man a pretty good one I think, but that's by the way sensationalism sells.
................Exactly; I guess that's my point. I'm just bemoaning the need for all these "exposes" in today's culture. Just an observation. I'm sure it WILL sell more because of the likely inflammatory nature of the book. And I think that's a discredit to our society.
Good analysis. You are probably more right than you are wrong. I tend to feel that people in such prominent high positions invite a certain level of scrutiny by virtue of their public profile and persona. But in terms of guys like Ali, or Louis, or even Martin Luther King - guys who are built up into almost saint-like proportions - they should be held to a higher standard than the average Joe on the street. It's ok to glorify their positive qualities and assets, but the bad stuff is supposed to be suppressed or glossed over? Average Joe six pack is not out on t.v or in a highly-public venue marketing and promoting himself; therefore, his misdeeds are under the radar. But when you are on center stage, I guess the doors tend to be opened - or pried open I should say.
Oh, come on, so he liked to bone underage chicks and enjoyed a good orgy every now and again. Who doesn't?
Not to nitpick but I don't think Newfield wrote Ghosts of Manila ... AS far as the Ali book goes, if it was the recent one by Thomas Hauser, it was not ment to slam Ali but to objectively redefine the ridiculous saint like image he has had placed on him since the 1996 Olympics ... Hauser is an Ali scholar and his position is that if Ali is positioned so disproportionately his true significance will be distorted over time ... for the record I completely agree with him ...
Mark Kram did. But it's sometimes difficult to take 'new revelations' seriously, when Ali's dies there'll probably be some new 'gay' story about him and Rudi Lubbers getting it on in the bedroom before- and after- their fight. :hey However, the Ali hagiography has to stop sometime. The gold medal in the river lie particularly grates on me if i'm honest. The story didn't surface until a book in 1975. I can't believe people lapped it up like it was the truth. It starts to become embarrassing. PS. Hauser's book was written a good few years before the 96 olympics- I read it in 91.
