The Greatness Of Muhammad Ali

“I ain’t got no quarrel with them Viet Cong…No Viet Cong ever call me Nigger.”

On this date April 28, 1967, Muhammad Ali was stripped of his WBA Heavyweight Title after refusing to be inducted into the U.S. Army. Muhammad Ali took this stance based on his religious beliefs and personal beliefs. He took this stand against a war that he did not believe was right, refusing to fight against people that have done nothing to him, refusing to fight for a country that treated him as a second class citizen simply because of the color of his skin. Muhammad Ali was supported in his protest by fellow athletes, actors, civil rights leaders and other opponents of the Vietnam War.  April 26, 2014 an audio recording is released from the girlfriend of Los Clippers owner, Don Sterling, filled with racist comments about minorities and his disdain for black people being associated with his girlfriend or coming to his basketball games that were allegedly made by him. The irony of this release is that it afforded the current roster of Los Angeles Clippers basketball players and coaching staff to at the very least make a vocal statement voicing their own concerns with the remarks made by Sterling; yet the players and coaching staff refused to make any significant statements. From head coach Doc Rivers to superstar players Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, the emphasis has been placed more on the basketball end of the spectrum, rather than on the issue of the racial disdain that their boss has for them as black people. Superstars have power, power that is greater than money that can be used to make a change for the better.  Matt Barnes was quoted as saying "That's all that matters right now: basketball,” when asked about the comments made by Sterling. Silence is not always the solution, especially when you are in a position to make a difference. Reversing a practice jersey is not enough of a statement to facilitate any type of progress. Words make an impact, actions make an impact. Had Ali not taken a stance, would be talking about him today? No we wouldn’t. Right will always be right, wrong will always be wrong. Today’s superstars have to realize to whom much is given, much is expected; not just on the court or playing field, but in life.