Happy Birthday to the Champ

Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali turns 70 today. And yes, his birthday should be cause for celebration.

Why? Because even though nearly 30-years have passed since the last time he competed as a boxer, he is still considered by many, if not most as "The Greatest of All-Time".

Sure, we all understand that he is not what he was, but at age 70, who is? The battle with Parkinson's disease has left him a shell of what he was, but he still is who he is.

He's the man who began his life as Louisville boxer Cassius Clay and was an Olympic Hero. He's also the man who became Muhammad Ali and refused to participate in the Vietnam War. And from there, the legend just grew.

His legend was made after his fights with Joe Frazier and those were in the early 1970's. His legend was sealed after fights with George Foreman and Larry Holmes. He became perhaps the most revered athlete of all time.

It's because he was so good with people.

It's because he knew how to make people smile. He knew how to make them laugh. And he still does. Albeit slowly. And sometimes not-so-clearly. But he is loved. He's now loved pretty much universally. He's done what nobody thought could be done. He's changed perceptions. He's changed beliefs and most importantly he's become a celebrated man.

Happy 70th birthday champ, celebrate well and we look forward to saying this again...next year.

If you have some time, check out "The Thrilla in Manila" from 1975:

Smokin' Joe Frazier moves on

Young Joe Frazier vs. Ali

A sad story to report about a legend in his own sport.

67-year-old Joe Frazier, a former heavyweight boxing champion from Philadelphia passed away Monday after a battle with liver cancer.

Frazier will forever be remembered by people my age and fans of boxing as the 1st person to beat Muhammed Ali. Frazier won the title from Ali in a fight at Madison Square Garden in 1971. Their battle throughout that decade were the stuff...and stories of legend.

The two were rivals...and foils for each other for years. Though there was an underlying respect, it rarely showed in public until much later in both legendary fighters lives.

Frazier would lose his title as the heavyweight champ after holding it for 3-years. He lost to George Foreman in Jamaica in 1973. He would only fight two more times after that before retiring in the early '80's.

I got a chance to meet and interview Joe Frazier at a book signing about 4-years-ago at a Barnes and Noble. He wasn't a large man, but he commanded the room, even in his late 60's. He didn't move very well and his speech didn't flow like it did back in the day.

But he still had the mischievous smile of someone who knew more than you did. Someone who was happy with where he now was. It was an honor to meet him and a thrill to get an interview. My only regret was that I didn't get a photo.

Our prayers, thoughts and respect goes out to the entire Frazier family.

Enjoy this video, highlighting his 1st fight with Ali: (Thanks primeboxers)