Yeah because they mismanaged the campaign, suffered embarrassing defeats and decided it was an emergency.
Ali was a heavyweight boxer, probably tipping the scales at over 17 stone, despite this he was very quick for a heavyweight. He's judged on his weight division ultimately, which is only fair, because 11-12 stone guys would be putting him to sleep within 30 seconds of a fight if given the opportunity to fight him. He's one of the best heavyweights for sure and he had the skills and class to beat any heavyweight in the history of the sport, but so did other boxers. Like Disco says, it's subjective, but no footballer is judged on their ability to raise money for charity, or act in a Pepsi advert, they're judged on the pitch, so I'm gonna judge Ali in the ring, I don't care what he did outside of it, he wasn't unbeatable inside of it, he was just like McGregor, big mouth that eventually got shut down.
Had no business being there the silly ****ers. Good that we learnt our lesson after Korea. The Aussies can't say the same. As a general rule of thumb you don't follow the US into war or expect a great deal of help when you're at war.
It was all a bit of a set-up anyway. Every heavyweight champion to enter the army since 1939. including Joe Louis and Rocky Marciano had been used as PT Instructors anyway and rarely left the USA. He was never going to Vietnam but he used the Vietcong - - "they never called me ******" - to highlight the way blacks were treated in the USA at that time. People with nasty minds labelled him a coward but he wasn't because he knew fine well he would never have been sent to Nam in the first place. He used the whole draft issue to work for his civil rights activity.. And they said a man as lucid and quick witted as that had an I.Q. of 78. Do you believe that?
I don't believe it no. He wasn't a well educated man but he was a very bright man, naturally intelligent. They'd have used him as a PR trick to try and get people behind the war as you say doing near enough **** all. I respect him completely for not letting them use him and using them right back.
What a ****ing load of unadulterated crap! Pompous ****ing bullshit. Let me give you a little history lesson. In 1938-39 we were the 17th largest military in the world you dumb ass. Smaller than Bel;gum. We were isolationist's as well, not the the big bad policeman of the world. We were also tired of your European ****. Once it kicked off, could FDR have moved a little faster? Maybe, maybe not. We aren't an antiquated self-important Monarchy over here. We're a democratic republic, which has political consequences. FDR knew how long all this would take, so he helped how he could, thru Lend Lease and more. He also geared up the war machine THAT DIDN'T ****ING exist you ungrateful bastard. We converted our factories. We drafted our young men into service and encouraged volunteers. We answered the ****ing call you little twat. My family's history, the worst part of it, is directly connected to that war. My Uncle flew 25 missions as a rear gunner in a B17 out of your country to save your ass you little prick. It cost him his life. It ruined my Father and his other brother, who also served (my father volunteered at 17, lying about his age), and his Father for years. All to save your asses. I prefer you just said Thank You, to borrow a line. And @Safc83..,.you hold a grudge? **** you too, on behalf of my Uncle who has more medals defending your dumb ass than probably anyone you know. And, as this is an Ali thread, thank you, you hypocritical European ****s for introducing the slave trade to North America and the Caribbean. Well done, Cheerio. The Portuguese started it, but the ****ing British Aristocracy perfected it in the 13 Colonies. About 165 years before we got wise and kicked your asses out of here. So, we bailed you out with our servicemen's lives, in two European wars and you ****ing hate us for it. **** You. Cest was right...lots of you would have German names right now if it wasn't for us. Ungrateful bastards.
I have nowt against the USA, but lots in this article which is just not true...The USA only entered the war after they were attacked by Japan, although once they did so they undoubtedly turned the tide. As for kicking the UK's ass out of America, this was only done with the help of the French, Spanish and Dutch. Also the fact that the British dealt with the slave trade in the distant past, should not have had any bearing on the humiliation black Americans were still suffering in the 1960's..
I would have preferred a German name to be honest. Bastian - that'd do me. Bloody yanks giving me a crap French name.
USA = ****e always did, always will. The ****er of the world. Always telling the rest of the planet what they can & can't do. Plus, their soldiers are **** - never won a war yet. The worlds police force A bit news for the Ham Shankers - NOT EVERY COUNTRY WANTS TO BE LIKE YOU TWATS. IS THAT CLEAR? So **** off, hope the Russians nuke you. ****ing detest America & everything it stands for. Goodnight.
Having a likable personality isn't be all when you reflect on someones life for me. Nobodies perfect, many of my hero's are far from it. In death I like to reflect on the positives which in the case of Ali outweigh him being a dick. If you push a side race and look at overall values and old fashioned view points from back then a majority could be considered as dicks as values tend to mold a society not individuals. Modern day political correctness paints most people in history as dicks. Bigoted, ignorant attitudes weren't that then. So there's no point focusing on it and judging yesterdays values with todays values(within reason of course, hard to ignore killing 6 million Jews for example). Imo anyway. Ali was arguably the best in his field, Stood up for himself, the people who were happy to be represented by him. Even if he was a nob, he was truly great. RIP
Wasn't a particularly good boxer though. Incredibly weak puncher. Tough as leather though. That chin carried him a long way. If their weight matched it may well have gone the distance but there's no chance in hell he'd come close to beating Ali imo. Not by knocking him out and not on points.
