American Icon
An American Icon It is hard to believe that a sports character with both images of a hero and dissenter would one day become one of the most recognizable athletes of any era. ... A self-proclaimed poet and pastor, he engaged in several entertaining battles with some of the best boxers of his time, fights like “Rumble in the jungle” in Zaire and “Thrilla in Manila” in the Philippines were some of the highlights of a career that earned Ali status as a cultural icon and American original. ... Frontier, opportunity, winning and more has been the American trinity from the very start (Shames). ... It can be said that his disagreements with the war and the refusal to join the Army during a time when every American was needed, was a blow to his country. ... He paid the price though, after he was suspended from boxing and in the way losing the best years of his career, he went to court and fought the system the American way, he spent millions of dollars on lawyers to keep him out of jail, but he could care less about the money he figured it was all about his principles, eventually the U.