ali

i never really got muhammad ali. don't know why. i just never got it.
but then i am not sure i really understood boxing as a sport (the exception being the first few rocky movies - those i got, those i loved).

but i realise that ali was a great sportsman, and that he has become an icon for not just sporting greatness but also for being a great person. he basically walked the talk.

ali suffers from parkinson's disease.
he has just been awarded the highest award that america gives to civilians: the presidential medal of freedom. there is no doubt that he deserves it.
what he doesn't deserve is to have george w bush to grab a dull photo opportunity of bush throwing a mock punch at ali.
you have to think that if ali had a pound for every time he was photographed with someone posing with a mock punch at him he would be richer than bill gates.

ali joins doris day and jp2 as holders of this medal. this august company is somewhat ruined as alan greenspan has also been award it.