Tribute to Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali the boxing legend died on June 3, 2016 at age 74. He wasn’t only one of the greatest sportsmen but one of the greatest humanitarians who ever lived. My first knowledge of boxing was of Joe Louis the Brown Bomber.

He was black, American and the world champion boxer. The fascinating story about him was the bouts with the German, Max Schemling or some such name. In his first bout staged in Germany during World War II, he was knocked out in the early rounds by the German. In the return match in the US, the Brown Bomber dispatched the German in under three minutes. The story that spread in youth circles was dramatic in tone: Late-comers to the stadium met the punctual fans exiting the stadium. It was, game over! I relished the story of a Niger humiliating an Aryan in the boxing ring.   

A black knocking out a white racist in the ring implied blacks would one day overcome white oppression. It was a good omen for oppressed blacks; that was my interpretation of the event. Our boarding school was ecstatic. We started hoisting self-made punching bags on tree branches on the school premises to practise boxing skills, until the principal discovered the bags and ordered them to be dismantled! Later when I went to live in the township, I made new friends who had genuine punch and pedestal bags on residential premises.

Editor's Comment
Congratulations Anicia Gaothuse!

The contest had 10 beautiful young girls as finalists and unfortunately only one could wear the crown.The judges picked Anicia Gaothuse. To all those who feel their contestant should have won ahead of Anicia for whatever reason, hardly; the judges found Anicia to be the best among the best, so desist from disrespecting our newly crowned queen on social media or anywhere else, for that matter! Each of the 10 beautiful young women had supporters...

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