XXX. MUHAMMAD ALI LED A PERFECT LIFE ...hen

          Muhammad Ali led a perfect life... most people who watched his career won't agree but I guess he got his wish - after retirement, to devote himself towards knowing God. He said this in one of his interview.  He was thankful for all the blessings he received in his early life, knowing that despite the millions of aspiring boxers who wanted to excel in the sport he, at least could lay claim to the title of being "the greatest." Very few experts and boxers could dispute that claim. He was well known and well loved in almost every part of the world, and it would take a long time for someone to be able to match the drama and excitement he generated in his generation.

          When he was diagnosed with "Parkinson's Disease", he told the world that he should not be pitied for he had a life that very few had ever experienced. He never asked God why him - humbled and in bended knees he accepted the will of the Lord. He knew how it is to be loved and adored, and there is no denying that he was able to touch the lives of a lot people.  He served as an inspiration to all aspiring athletes and championed the cause of the blacks' struggle for equality.  He preached not only through words but also thru example - that of  a willing servant to his Islamic faith.

          Billy Crystal was able to comically sum up his life in a little less than 15 minutes but it goes far beyond that.  He redefined boxing not as a mere brutal sport but also as a mind game where you not only try to out-muscle and out-hustle your opponent but also out-smart them.  Three and a half years, he was not allowed to box and travel out of the US, robbing him of the glory he could have gained while in his prime. God must have willed it for it was the reason why he was universally accepted as the champion of black human rights movement in his era. With him as spokesman, the country had to listen, and it created ripples around the world. It could not be denied that most of the privileges enjoyed today by the blacks, they owed some from the Louisville Lips.

         His loss to Joe Frazier and then to Ken Norton only heightened the drama of him regaining it from the almost invincible George Foreman. With the way Foreman was demolishing his contenders, he could have ruled the heavyweight division for decades,

But as faith would have it, it closed the door for George's boxing career and opened his heart to a new found faith. The 3 of them formed the most dramatic era of heavyweight boxing, never equaled to this day.  Add to that the fact that the contenders, namely, Ken Norton, Ron Lyle, Ernie Shavers, Jimmy Young, Jerry Quarry and Joe Bugner were able protagonists.  Ali regaining the crown also paved way to one of the greatest fight in the 20th century better known as the "Thrilla in Manila."

          Ali's win over Leon Spinks cemented his legacy as the first heavyweight to win the title 3 times. Then followed his decline, so after losing consecutively against Larry Holmes and Trevor Berbick, he finally concluded his professional boxing career that spanned for 21 years.  Ali then devoted his later life to religious and charitable works. A lot of issues surfaced about his not-so-friendly relationship with Joe Frazier, but George Foreman tried hard to shield  the two rivals from squaring off for the fourth time. 

          Despite all the issues raised, I still believe that Ali led a perfect life,  pre-designed  and pre-arranged. Through his life, we have seen that dreams do come true, and defeats are not permanent unless you give up trying.  Fate may have been hard on him the later part of his life but it proved that anyone, no matter how great, is but a speck in God's eyes.  Anyone who had been down will tell you that in the darkest hour of our life, only our faith can bring back the light.  I may not be able to explain it the way people can understand, but there's no better feeling than being able to see that life is not so bad after all.