Muhammad Ali

Ali is 70 today. A "proper" sportsmen. He was the real deal and made a massive impact - not only in his own sport but also in a political sense. This was a man who, with the power of his character, changed the sporting psyche of his nation and our own.

His birthday today also leads me me to follow-on from my "Hate" post a few days ago. Peter from http://red-to-green-machine.blogspot.com/ argued that we probably hate certain sportsmen not, as I asserted, simply because they always won, but because they lacked charisma. And I think Peter is absolutely correct. Muhammad Ali of course had charisma oozing from every pore. Not only was he an amazing boxer but he was larger than life, intelligent, bright, bubbly and intriguing. When he spoke everyone wanted to hear what he had to say.

Compare him to some of today's sportsmen and it is stark indeed. Where have all the characters gone? Where is the controversy? Where is the banter? Where is the rivalry that boils over? Back in the day we had people like Ali, McEnroe, Nastasie, Cantona, Connors. Nowadays we have... erm, well we have Andy Murray, Wayne Rooney and Ashley Cole. Not exactly a glittering array is it?

Look at Andy Murray: a man with all the charm and charisma of a wet cardboard box. I mean, really. Could he be any more dull? If the man displays any less life and spark he'll need defribrillating. And then there is Wayne Rooney, another tosspot with a one-dimensional character. I realise that he's not the sharpest knife in the block but that shouldn't really matter. He should still be able to demonstrate that he does indeed have a personality. Instead the only way he's able to show us anything is by swearing into the cameras.

Yeah great. Thanks Wayne.

So, happy birthday Ali.

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Wayne Rooney's is browsing in a department store when a particular item catches his attention.
"What's that?" asked Rooney of the store assistant.
"It's a thermos flask." answered the assistant.
"What's a fermos flask?" he asked again.
"... Well, it keeps hot things hot and cold things cold." she explained as simply as she could.
Rooney was fascinated by this miracle invention and went right ahead and purchased one. He then rushed home to show Colleen.
"What's that?" asked Colleen when he showed it off.
"It's a fermos flask."
"What's a fermos flask?"
"Well, it keeps hot things hot and cold things cold". Rooney was barely able to hide his excitement.
"Oh great", said Colleen, "So what have you got inside it then?"
Rooney smiled smugly. "I've got a choc-ice and two cups of coffee in it."