why such dislike for ali?

Could you please explain your last line there, about 'pity reared its ugly head'?

 

This is an interesting piece.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgcEy3WLNf8&feature=related[/ame]


Ali comes across as thoughtful and intelligent, but all the talk about respect for black women comes across as the height of hypocrisy when from most accounts he was getting through dozens of women a week in his womanizing prime. He was single-handedly encouraging promiscuity and groupie-ism. Cheated on all the wives (except his current/last), got a teenaged girl pregnant in his 30s.
I guess he's an example of a "great man" who believes the rules he preached to others don't apply to himself.

 

The Ali-haters, now felt sorry for him,,,,,,,as he now was a shell of an
athlete.

Much like Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays in their last year on the playing field.
Embarrassing themselves on the athletic stage, for all to see.

 

Because "familiarity breeds contempt"....and he's the most familiar boxing name around here.

 

The Ali post to many posters today who conveniently overlook his past is like the elephant in the room, "what elephant" ? They disregard the cruelty he displayed to his opponents,disregard calling people of my race,and other caucasians insulting remarks, when the vast, vast majority of fans supported him in the ring and NEVER HURT him or his race. Joined a hate group in the NOI,and refused to serve in the services when called, as MILLIONS of other poor souls DID. But to the worshipers of the Ali, of those times, their motto
is , "so what" ? Give me a Louis, Ezzard Charles, Joe Walcott,personality anytime, I say !. Boxing is boxing, but character TRUMPS !

 

Yeah burt, the one thing Ali hadnt got was character eh?

 

J m, You are mistaking PERSONALITY for character. Are you not ? Some of the greatest "rogues" in history had personality indeed, not CHARACTER, a world of difference, I believe...in that distinction ,young Ali lacked...Cheers...

 

Really BB? Do you think he had no character? I know exactly what you mean, theres a world of difference between personality and character. I believe he had it in abundance to be honest.

 

Ali had a narcissistic personality.
His funny charming (some might say childish or silly) way almost veils the serious drive he had to tell people how great and good-looking he is. It's done 'in jest' but he absolutely lives to get recognised as the greatest, the prettiest, a demi-god, and needs to be the centre of attention, even if he has to belittle others to achieve it.
Many famous and ambitious people are of that type, and it's not all bad. It can get seriously out of hand though.
And I can see why many people didn't like that crap.
The Dempseys and the Louis's kept their egos to themselves, and let admirers come to them. They were supremely confident but acted like men.
Clay/Ali projected his ego for miles around, and told anyone who would listen how great and handsome he was, he didn't care if he came across as an idiot, he loved the attention. The kid was downright hyperactive.