Thomas Alva Edison was born on February 11, 1847, in Milan, Ohio, U.S. He was the seventh and last child of Samuel and Nancy Edison. Thomas Edison was raised in a family where education was highly valued. He showed an early aptitude for science and invention, selling vegetables and newspapers as a child to fund his experiments.
Education and Early Career
Edison was homeschooled by his mother, who recognized his thirst for knowledge. He briefly attended school in Ohio but was primarily self-taught. In 1863, he began work as a telegraph operator, traveling the country and working for several railroad companies. It was during this time that he developed his love for invention and began to focus on finding ways to improve communication technology.
Invention and Business Career
Edison’s first major invention was the telegraphic printing system, which he patented in 1868. He went on to invent the phonograph in 1877 and the electric light bulb in 1879. Edison established the Edison Electric Light Company in 1878 to commercialize his electric light bulb and other electrical inventions.
In the following years, Edison continued to innovate and improve upon his inventions. He created a global communication network by establishing telegraph lines throughout the world and developed the first commercial electric power distribution system. Edison’s vast body of work earned him over 1,000 patents in his lifetime and made him one of the most well-known inventors of all time.
Philanthropy and Humanitarian Efforts
Edison was not just a brilliant inventor but also a caring philanthropist. He was known for his humanitarian efforts and was always ready to help those in need. Edison was a strong advocate for education and was involved in several initiatives aimed at improving the education system in the U.S. He also established the Edison Institute of Technology, which was dedicated to providing education and training to young people.
Edison was also a strong advocate for scientific research and helped to establish several institutions aimed at advancing scientific knowledge. He was a key supporter of the National Geographic Society and was also involved in several efforts to conserve the natural environment.
Personal Life of Thomas Edison
Edison married Mary Stilwell in 1871 and they had three children together. Despite his busy schedule and hectic work life, Edison was a devoted family man and always made time for his loved ones.
Death
Edison passed away on October 18, 1931, at the age of 84, due to complications from diabetes. His funeral was attended by thousands of people, including politicians, scientists, and everyday citizens, who came to pay their respects to this great inventor.
Legacy Of Thomas Edison
Thomas Edison’s legacy continues to live on to this day. He is remembered as one of the greatest inventors of all time, and his innovations have had a profound impact on the world. His electric light bulb, phonograph, and motion picture technology have changed the way we live, communicate, and entertain ourselves. His passion for science and innovation continues to inspire scientists and inventors today, and his legacy will continue to be remembered for generations to come.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Thomas Edison was a true visionary and a true pioneer in the field of science and technology. He dedicated his life to improving the world and making it a better place for all. His inventions, humanitarian efforts, and philanthropic work have had a lasting impact and will continue to inspire people for generations to come.
Dian Fossey was an American primatologist, conservationist, and anthropologist who is best known for her research on gorillas in the wild, which lasted over 18 years. She lived among gorillas in the Virunga Mountains in Rwanda, and her work was instrumental in increasing awareness of the endangered status of gorillas and the need for conservation efforts.
Early Life and Education
Dian Fossey was born on January 16, 1932, in San Francisco, California. She grew up in the San Francisco Bay area and was interested in animals from a young age. After graduating from high school, she attended San Jose State College where she studied occupational therapy. Fossey later went to the University of California, Santa Cruz where she studied physical anthropology.
Career in Primatology
Fossey’s interest in gorillas began in 1963 when she read about the work of anthropologist George Schaller in the Congo. She decided to follow in his footsteps and began her research in the Virunga Mountains of Rwanda, where she lived among gorillas for over 18 years. She established the Karisoke Research Center, which became a base for her research and conservation efforts.
Research on Gorillas
Fossey’s research on gorillas was groundbreaking and helped to increase awareness of the endangered status of gorillas and the need for conservation efforts. She observed gorillas in the wild and recorded their behavior, social structure, and ecology. She also studied the impact of human activities on gorillas and advocated for the protection of their habitat. Her work helped to change the way scientists and conservationists thought about gorillas, and her research provided valuable insights into their behavior, social structure, and ecology.
Conservation Efforts
Fossey’s research led her to become an advocate for the conservation of gorillas. She helped to establish the International Gorilla Conservation Programme (IGCP) and worked to increase awareness of the need to protect gorillas and their habitat. She also helped to establish the Digit Fund, which provided financial assistance to anti-poaching patrols in the Virunga Mountains.
Personal Life
Fossey was an enigmatic figure, known for her strong personality and her determination to protect gorillas. She lived alone in the Virunga Mountains for most of her career, only coming out occasionally to raise funds and awareness for her work.
Death
Fossey was murdered in her cabin at the Karisoke Research Center on December 26, 1985. The investigation of her murder remains open, but many suspect that it was related to her conservation efforts.
Conclusion
Dian Fossey was an American primatologist, conservationist, and anthropologist who dedicated her life to the study and conservation of gorillas in the wild. Her research was instrumental in increasing awareness of the endangered status of gorillas and the need for conservation efforts. Her work helped to change the way scientists and conservationists thought about gorillas, and her research provided valuable insights into their behavior, social structure, and ecology. She was known for her strong personality and her determination to protect gorillas, and her legacy lives on through the continued efforts of the organizations she helped to establish.
James May is a British television presenter, journalist, and writer. He is best known as one of the presenters of the long-running BBC series Top Gear and its various spin-offs. He has had a successful and varied career in the world of media and entertainment and continues to be a popular figure in the industry.
Early Life and Education
James May was born on January 16, 1963, in Bristol, England. He grew up in the town of Bristol and attended Caerleon Endowed Junior School, before moving on to Caerleon Comprehensive School. May has spoken publicly about his difficulty in school, particularly with math and science, but excelled in English and music. After completing his secondary education, May attended the University of Portsmouth where he earned a degree in Music. He has spoken about his love for classical music and how it had a great impact on him.
Career in Journalism
After completing his education, May began his career in journalism as a sub-editor for The Engineer magazine. He later became a freelance writer, contributing articles to several publications, including Autocar and CAR Magazine. In the early 2000s, he joined the BBC as a presenter and writer for Top Gear, where he quickly established himself as a popular and charismatic personality. He was known for his dry wit and his expertise in cars and quickly became a fan-favorite.
Top Gear and Beyond
May’s tenure on Top Gear spanned over a decade and he presented the show alongside fellow presenters Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond. The three of them became known for their comedic and often controversial on-screen banter, which helped to make the show a huge success. The show was known for its mix of car reviews, celebrity interviews, and ambitious stunts and challenges that took place around the world. After Clarkson’s departure from the BBC in 2015, May, Hammond, and the producer Andy Wilman moved to Amazon Prime to present the new show, The Grand Tour. The show followed a similar format to Top Gear, but with a greater focus on travel and adventure.
Other Ventures
May has also dabbled in other ventures outside of Top Gear and The Grand Tour. He has hosted several other television shows, including James May’s Man Lab, James May’s Toy Stories, and James May: Our Man in Japan. He has also published several books, including “James May’s Cars of the People” and “James May’s 20th Century”. May is also a regular contributor to newspapers and magazines, including The Daily Telegraph and The Spectator. He has written articles on a wide range of topics, including music, cars, travel, and technology. In addition, May is also a keen aviation enthusiast and holds a private pilot’s license, he even has flown some planes in his shows.
Awards & Recognition
James May has not won any major awards for his work on Top Gear or The Grand Tour, but he has been nominated for several awards throughout his career. In 2009, he was nominated for a Royal Television Society award for his work on Top Gear. In 2010, he was nominated for a BAFTA award for his work on the show. He also won the “‘Special Recognition” award at the National Television Awards in 2011. Additionally, he and his co-presenters Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond have won multiple awards for Top Gear as a whole, including a BAFTA for Best Factual Programme in 2014.
Personal Life
May currently live in Hammersmith, London, with his partner, dance critic Sarah Frater. He is a keen aviation enthusiast and holds a private pilot’s license. May is also a collector of classic cars, owning a variety of vehicles including a Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow, a Citroen DS, and a Fiat 126p. He also has a great love for motorbikes and has featured some of them in his shows. He is also known for his love of good food and wine and has spoken about his passion for cooking, and his love for traditional British recipes.
Summary
James May is a well-known and respected figure in the world of television and journalism. He has had a successful and varied career and continues to be a popular figure in the industry. He is best known for his work on Top Gear and its spin-offs but has also had a successful career in other areas, including writing and presenting other television shows and publishing books. He is well-known for his dry wit and his expertise in cars and has become a fan-favorite for his work on Top Gear and The Grand Tour. May is also a keen aviation enthusiast and holds a private pilot’s license, and has a great love for motorbikes, classic cars, good food, and wine.
In addition to his work in television and journalism, May is also known for his philanthropic efforts. He has been involved in various charitable organizations and has used his platform to raise awareness for various causes. He has also been known for his support of various environmental and conservation efforts.
Overall, James May has had a successful and varied career in the world of media and entertainment. He continues to be a popular figure in the industry and has made a significant impact on the world of car journalism and television.
Larry King was an American television and radio host. He hosted over 60,000 interviews in his career. Truly, the best television host of all time.
Early Life
Larry King was born Larry Harvey Zeiger on November 19, 1933, in Brooklyn, New York. He was born to his mother Jennie, who was a garment worker, and his father, Aaron Zeiger, who was a restaurant owner and a defense plant worker. Larry’s parents were Orthodox Jews who immigrated to the United States in the year 1930, from Belarus. Larry was just 9 years old when his father died of a heart attack at the age of 44. As a result, Larry, his mother, and his brother had to attain government welfare for their basic needs. Larry was deeply affected by his father’s death and subsequently lost interest in education. He finished high school and started working as a mail clerk, in order to support his mother. From a very young age, He always had a strong desire to work in radio broadcasting.
Radio Career
Larry King was looking for a job when he accidentally met a CBS staff announcer. He told Larry, that Florida has a growing media market, who were looking for inexperienced, possibly new talents, in broadcasting. King took his advice and went to Miami where he landed a job at a small radio station called WAHR. It wasn’t his dream job though. He was hired as a cleaner at the station, also assigned to do other petty tasks. But as fate would have it, one of the station’s announcers abruptly quit the job, and King was put on the air, as his replacement. His first radio broadcast was on May 1, 1957. King really impressed his station manager, and he was assigned the morning 9 to noon slot immediately. He was also allotted a couple of afternoon news broadcasts and a sportscast. All this for a $55 a week salary.
At this time, Larry was still known as Larry Zeiger. However, the station’s general manager was not particularly happy with his last name “Zeiger”. He thought that the name was difficult to remember. Minutes before his broadcast, Larry saw an advertisement in the Miami Herald newspaper for the King’s Wholesale Liquor. He then decided to choose “King” as his last name. Two years down the line, he legally changed his name to Larry King.
Larry King started conducting interviews for the radio station WIOD. The venue was the Pumpernik’s Restaurant at Miami Beach. Having heard King’s interviews, American singer, Bobby Darin, walked into the restaurant and became King’s first celebrity guest for an interview. King soon found popularity in South Florida. Soon after, in the year 1960, King premiered his first television show called “Miami Undercover”. He instantly gained a lot of following in Miami. He was allotted a column in the entertainment section of the leading newspapers, Miami Herald and Miami News.
In 1964, television legend and comedian, Jackie Gleason, was taping a national television variety show in Miami Beach. Larry King met Jackie and they spent hours talking about television production, studio lighting, etc. Larry King considered Jackie Gleason as a mentor of his and credited him for teaching the art of television production.
In the year 1970, WIOD gave Larry King more exposure as an expert commentator for Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. Everything was going smoothly for his career, until, 20 December 1971. Larry King was arrested after being accused of grand larceny by a former business partner, Louis Wolfson. Larry was dismissed by WIOD and also as the sports commentator. He also lost his weekly column in the Miami Herald Sun newspaper. In the following year, Larry was acquitted of all charges, but, he was now in debt and publicly disgraced. Hereon, Larry tried to rebuild his career by writing articles for magazines. WIOD hired him again after the verdict and he hosted a sports talk show for the station, called Sports-a-la-King.
Larry King Show
The Larry King Show was a nightly coast-to-coast program on the Mutual Broadcasting System. It was first broadcasted on January 30, 1978. The show was broadcast live, Monday to Friday, from midnight to 5:30 in the morning. The program started where King would interview a guest for the first hour, followed by questions from the callers for the guest for another two hours. At 3 a.m. the segment called “Open Phone America” would commence, where King allowed his callers to discuss any topic they pleased. The show quickly gained a lot of popularity, so much so, that the fans called themselves “King-aholics”. The show had 28 affiliates when it commenced, but the number grew to above 500 affiliate stations in a very short span of time. The show was a great success until Larry King decided to step down in the year 1994.
Larry King Live
Larry King Show was a great success and caught the attention of media mogul, Ted Turner. In June 1985, he hired Larry King to run his own television show on Cable News Network (CNN). Larry interviewed variety of people, including politicians, entertainment industry celebrities, scientists, president, sport stars to even psychics and conspiracy theorists.
King was known for his soft, direct, non-confrontational approach. People would open up to him, without any hesitation. He never used to read about the celebrities or guests before interview and then would approach them with easy, open-ended questions. Everyone felt at utmost comfort talking to him. According to CNN, Larry King conducted over 30,000 interviews in his whole career.
Larry King Live was recognized by The Guinness Book of World Records, as the longest running television show, hosted by the same person, on the same network, in the same time slot. Larry King retired in 2010, after taping his 6000th episode, after successfully running the show for 25 years.
Larry King Live was last aired on December 6, 2010. He thanked his audience for watching him and supporting him over the years. He also confirmed that he will remain with CNN to host occasional specials, until, on February 17, 2012, when CNN and Larry King confirmed that they were parting ways.
Larry King Now
A moth after retiring, in March 2012, Larry King co-founded Ora Tv, along with a Mexican business tycoon, Carlos Slim. Later in July same year, they launched an interview talk show hosted by Larry King, called Larry King Now. On January 16, 2013, they celebrated it’s 100th episode. King later stated, that he does not plan to retire and will host his shows till the day he dies.
Side Projects
Larry King had a booming career as a radio broadcaster and a TV talk show host. But outside his career, he did several movies and TV series. He did cameos in “Ghostbusters”, “Shrek 2”, “Shrek The Third”, “John Q” and “Bee Movie”. He played himself in the movie “The People v O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story”. He also appeared on TV series such as “30 Rock”, “Arthur”, “Gravity Falls’ and “Law & Order”.
In 1987, Larry King suffered a heart attack. He then founded the “Larry King Cardiac Foundation” which is a non-profit organization, providing life-saving cardiac treatments to the less fortunate who otherwise cannot afford the treatments.
King has always been an active writer. He published his autobiography in the year 2009, named “My Remarkable Journey”.
Personal Life
Larry King was married eight times to seven women. He had been in and out of marriages throughout his adult life. He married Freda Miller, his high-school sweetheart in the year 1952. However, their parents reportedly got their marriage annulled, just the following year.
He briefly married his second wife, Annette Kaye and had a son, named Larry Jr. in November, 1961.
In 1961, Larry married her third wife, Alene Akins, who was a Playboy Bunny. He also adopted Alene’s son, Andy. Again the marriage lasted only for a year.
In the year 1963, King married Mary Francis Sutphin. The marriage ended soon after, when Mary divorced him.
He later remarried his third wife, Alene Akins. They had a girl named “Chaia” in 1969. The marriage ended in 1972.
On September 1976, Larry King married his fifth wife. Sharon Lepore was a mathematics teacher and a production assistant. They got divorced in 1983.
In 1989, Larry King met a businesswoman named Julie Alexander. He proposed to her on their very first date and the couple got married four months later in October 1989. King and his sixth wife got divorced in the year 1992.
Larry King got engaged to “Land of the Giants” actress, Deanna Lund, but they never got married.
In 1997, he married his seventh wife, Shawn Southwick who is a singer, actress, and television host. Together they had two children, Chance (born March 1999) and Cannon (born May 2000). He was also a stepfather to Daniel Aaron Southwick, who is an American Football quarterback. Larry and Shawn filed for divorced in 2010 but reconciled. However, in 2019, they filed for divorce again.
So, Larry King had seven wives, five children, nine grand children and four great grand children.
Larry King resided in Beverly Hills, California.
He was a Dodgers fan throughout his life.
King did not believe in God. He was fully atheist and a proud Jew.
Death
Larry King had a major heart attack on February 24, 1987. To monitor his heart condition, he got annual chest X-rays. In the year 2017, during one his medical examinations, doctors discovered a cancerous tumor in his lungs. With timely and proper treatment, the tumor was successfully removed.
King underwent angioplasty in April 2019. He also had stents inserted in his heart. Later that year, King admitted that he had a stroke in March and was in a coma for weeks. He even contemplated committing suicide after the stroke. He said “I thought I was just going to bite the bullet. I didn’t want to live this way.”
In January 2021, Larry King got tested positive for COVID 19 virus. He was able to recover from the coronavirus, but succumbed to sepsis as complication. Larry Harvey King breathed his last on January 23, 2021. He was 87.
Achievements
Larry King won the “Peabody Award for Excellence” for radio broadcasting (1982) and television shows (1992).
He was inducted in “National Radio Hall of Fame” in 1989, and “Broadcaster Hall of Fame” in 1992.
In 2002, Talkers Magazine named King, the top television host of all time.
Muhammad Ali was an American boxing legend, a social activist and a philanthropist. He is considered the most notable and celebrated sports athlete of the 20th century. Arguably, he is also the greatest known boxing heavyweight champion of all time and was nicknamed “The Greatest”.
Early Life & Amateur Career
Muhammad Ali’s birth name was Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. and was born on 17 January 1942 to parents Cassius Marcellus Clay Sr. (1912-1990) and Odessa O’Grady Clay (1917-1994). His father was a billboard and sign painter while his mother worked as a domestic helper. He also had a sister and four brothers.
Ali attended Central High School in Louisville. He suffered from dyslexia which troubled him a lot with reading and writing in the school and even later in his life. Moreover, he grew amid racial discrimination. His mother recollected one such an incident when he was not allowed to have a glass of water at a store. She said “They wouldn’t give him one because of his color. That really affected him.”
Ali was 12 years old when he met Joe E. Martin, who was a policeman and a boxing coach. It was fate that brought them together. Ali’s bike got stolen and when he met the police officer, he told him that he wanted to beat up the thief. “I want to whup the thief”, he said. Martin replied, “Well, you better learn how to fight before you start challenging people.” Ali didn’t take boxing seriously at this time, so he rejected Martin’s offer. But after a few days, he watched amateur boxing on television. He really got interested in boxing since that. So he started training with Fred Stoner at a local gym and this is how he began his boxing career. He credits Stoner with giving him the “real training”, eventually molding “my style, my stamina, and my system.”
In Muhammad Ali’s first amateur bout in the year 1954, he won the fight by a split decision. He then went on to win the “1956 Golden Gloves Tournament” for amateurs in the light heavyweight category. Later in 1959, Ali conquered the “National Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions”, and also the “Amateur Athletic Union” title for the light heavyweight category. In 1960, he got his gold medal in boxing light heavyweight category in the Summer Olympics, Rome. Muhammad Ali’s amateur boxing record stood at 100 wins and only 5 losses. After his Olympic triumph, Muhammad Ali was declared as an American hero. Louisville Sponsoring Group backed Ali with the sponsorships, so he decided to turn professional.
Professional Career
Muhammad Ali made his professional boxing debut on October 29, 1960, against Tunney Hunsaker. He won the bout in six rounds. For the next six years, Ali went on to win 19 matches without losing any match. 15 of those matches were won by knockouts. These weren’t small fights by any means. He defeated several distinguished boxers including Jim Robinson, Tony Esperti, Donnie Fleeman, Alonzo Johnson, George Logan, Willi Besmanoff, LaMar Clark, Doug Jones, Henry Cooper, and his former trainer Archie Moore.
In each of these bouts, Ali used to vocally belittle his opponents and bragged about his own strength. He once referred to Doug Jones as an “ugly little man” and called Henry Cooper a “bum”. He also said that getting in the ring with Alex Miteff was very embarrassing for him and that the popular arena “Madison Square Garden” was “too small for him”. Later in an interview, Ali admitted that he was motivated by the professional wrestler “Gorgeous George Wagner” and it was him who inspired Ali for using such provocative wrestling lingo when he did all the interviews. At the same time, Ali used to refer himself as “the greatest”. He always used to boast about his strengths before a fight. His one such self-praising phrases became an instant hit when he said that he could “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” in a boxing ring.
Muhammad Ali was rising to the top, still undefeated. In 1963, he became the top contender for Sonny Liston’s title, who was the boxing World Heavyweight Champion. Liston was a dominating boxer and intimidating as well. He was favored to win the bout between him and Ali. However, that did not stop Ali from making provocative comments before the fight. He said that Liston was “the big ugly bear” and “he even smells like a bear”. He further added that “after I beat him I’m going to donate him to the zoo.” Just before the fight, in the ring, Ali shouted at Liston saying “someone is going to die at ringside tonight.” Most of the spectators believed that Ali was afraid and all the trash talking was out of fear. Ali was clearly the underdog in the match with odds stacking 7-1 against him. But Ali rose to the occasion and defeated Liston in the 7th round by TKO (Technical Knockout). The outcome was a major upset. Ali became the youngest (22 years) boxer ever to take the title of a Heavyweight Championship from a reigning champion. After the fight, Ali paced towards the ringside press and shouted “Eat your words! I am the greatest! I shook up the world. I’m the prettiest thing that ever lived.” Liston and Ali had a rematch again in the year 1965. The whole fight lasted for less than 2 minutes as Ali knocked out Liston in the very first round. Ali’s impressive professional boxing record now stood at 21 wins and 0 losses.
In 1966, Muhammad Ali refused to be inducted in the armed forces, which was obligatory in those days. Leading to his refusal from the draft, boxing associations of every state in America, systematically, refused boxing license to Ali and also stripped his passport. As a result, Ali was not able to fight in his prime time from the year 1967 to 1970. He had to give away his heavyweight championship. He was granted a boxing license by the City of Atlanta Athletic Commission in August 1970, where he fought and bested Jerry Quarry in three rounds. A few weeks later, New York State Boxing Commission had to reinstate Ali’s license after losing the case in Federal Court. Ali fought Oscar Bonavena in Madison Square Garden and won the match by a technical knockout. Muhammad Ali raised his tally to a remarkable 31 wins from 31 fights and was again a contender for the championship against Joe Frazier.
Before the fight, Joe Frazier had fought 26 bouts and won all 26. The whole world got so excited and enthusiastic about the bout between the two undefeated boxing stars, that the match was nicknamed “The Fight of the Century”.
Ali started training for the match at a farm at Reading, Pennsylvania. He loved training in the countryside so much that he decided to build a real training camp in Deer Park, Pennsylvania. This camp was named “Fighter Heaven” and Ali trained here for all of his fights for rest of his career from 1972 to 1981.
Days leading up to the fight with Frazier, Muhammad Ali started with the trash talking and name calling. He described Frazier as a “dumb tool of the white establishment.” Often referring to him as “Uncle Tom”, he also said that “Frazier is too ugly and dumb to be champ”.
It was March 8, 1971, the night of one of the biggest fights in boxing history. The bout was broadcasted in 35 countries outside America. The match started with Ali constantly engaging Frazier and putting him under pressure. Frazier, however, kept on attacking Ali’s body in particular and scoring regularly. In the first few rounds, the score looked even, but Ali had never taken this much beating in his entire career. Ali showcased what was to become his famous rope-a-dope strategy for the first time in this match. He leaned upon the ropes and absorbed as many hits as he could from Frazier, in order to tire him. In the final round of the match, Frazier knocked down Ali with a fierce left hook. The match referee asserted, “that was as hard as a man can be hit”. Ali though got back on his feet in just three seconds. After the final round, Frazier stood triumphant by a unanimous decision, giving Muhammad Ali, his first ever defeat in his professional career.
After losing to Joe Frazier, Ali went on to win a total of 9 fights in the year 1971 and 1972. In March 1973, American boxer, Ken Norton broke Ali’s jaw, resulting in the second loss of his career. Ali was 31 years old and he considered retiring from the sport, but instead, he got himself a rematch with Ken Norton, which he won by a split decision.
On January 28, 1974, a rematch was set between Muhammad Ali and his old rival, Joe Frazier. Frazier had already lost his World Heavyweight Championship, a year back, to George Foreman (nicknamed, The Big George). This fight was as intense as the first one. Ali attacked and shocked Frazier in the initial rounds, but Frazier came back strongly in the middle rounds to level up the scores. Ali was aware of Frazier left hook and moved swiftly to avoid the mistake that he made in their first fight. The last four rounds saw both fighters head to head, advancing and attacking and the momentum continued to shift from one to another. After the final round, Muhammad Ali was declared the winner by the judges, unanimously.
The victory against Joe Frazier set the stage for Muhammad Ali to fight for the heavyweight champion title which was being held by George Foreman. The match was set at Kinshasa, Zaire, on October 30, 1974. The bout was nicknamed “The Rumble in the Jungle.”
George Foreman was recognized as one of the hardest punchers in boxing history. According to analysts, Muhammad Ali, even though more popular with the boxing fraternity and fans, was not favored to win the fight. In the past Joe Frazier and Ken Norton, both had defeated Muhammad Ali in some grave encounters. But both of them were knocked out in the second rounds by George Foreman. Moreover, Ali was not the young guy anymore. He was 32 years old now and he clearly had lost his speed and reflexes, compared to what he had in his twenties. So, almost no one thought that Ali stood a chance in this bout against the Big George.
A day prior to the fight, Ali appeared in front of the press, brimming with confidence. He said, “If you think the world was surprised when Nixon resigned, wait ’til I whup Foreman’s behind!” In another statement, he said “I’ve done something new for this fight. I done wrestled with an alligator, I done tussled with a whale; handcuffed lightning, thrown thunder in jail; only last week, I murdered a rock, injured a stone, hospitalized a brick; I’m so mean I make medicine sick.” Muhammad Ali had an immense fan following in Zaire. Everywhere he went, the masses chanted “Ali, Kill him”.
The fight started with Ali moving swiftly, throwing right crosses on Foreman’s head, in the first round. To everyone’s dismay, Ali moved towards the corner and executed the rope-a-dope strategy. He invited Foreman to hit him. While he defended and counter-attacked him, he was verbally taunting Foreman. This infuriated Foreman as he started throwing wild punches that landed nowhere. Soon he started getting tired, and at this moment, Ali started advancing and attacking him much more frequently, with flurries of effective and hard-hitting punches. The crowd went berserk at this spectacle. Foreman was clearly exhausted and Ali knocked him down in the eighth round. The jubilant crowd cheered as Muhammad Ali, regained the World Heavyweight Champion title.
After the fight, George Foreman said: “I thought Ali was just one more knockout victim until, about the seventh round, I hit him hard to the jaw and he held me and whispered in my ear: ‘That all you got, George?’ I realized that this ain’t what I thought it was.”
After becoming the world heavyweight champion, Muhammad Ali agreed to another fight with Joe Frazier. The bout was scheduled for October 1, 1975, in Manila and was nicknamed “Thrilla in Manila”. In the first round, Ali moved aggressively and swiftly and attacked Frazier regularly. But again he decided to opt for rope-a-dope strategy. Ali took a heavy toll from Frazier’s attacks but did some effective counter-punching during this time. By the 12th round, Frazier seemed exhausted and Ali advanced and scored some fierce blows, that closed Frazier’s left eye and opened a cut above his right eye. He could barely see now as both his eyes were shut, but he kept on fighting. Ali dominated rounds 13th and 14th. Joe Frazier’s coach asked the fight to be stopped before the beginning of round 15, despite Frazier’s protests. Muhammad Ali won the match by TKO.
Reflecting on the fight, Ali said that this bout “was the closest thing to dying that I know”. He praised Joe Frazier as “the greatest fighter of all times next to me.”
Muhammad Ali fought Ken Norton for the third time on September 28, 1976, at Yankee Stadium, New York. Ali won the bout by a unanimous decision but it was a fiercely competed fight and the audience booed at the decision by the judges. Soon after, Ali announced his retirement from boxing, to practice his faith. However, he came out of retirement in May 1977 to fight the Uruguay boxer, Alfredo Evangelista. Ali won the fight after 15 rounds by a unanimous decision. Later that year he fought Earnie Shavers and won that fight too. Ali’s professional boxing record now stood at 57 bouts, 55 wins, and 2 losses.
Ferdie Pacheo, Ali’s longtime doctor was concerned with Ali’s condition, especially after his bout with Earnie Shavers. He reported that Ali’s kidneys were not working perfectly and advised Ali to consider retirement. He tried to convince Ali’s trainer, his wife and Ali himself but was ignored. Pacheo decided that enough was enough and called it quits.
Next year, on February 15, 1978, a fight was scheduled with Leon Spinks at Hilton Hotels, Las Vegas. Spinks, who started his professional boxing career in 1977, only had seven professional fights to his name out of which he won 6 and drew one. Ali took it lightly and didn’t do much training or preparations prior to the fight. Ali lost the match to Leon Spinks by a split decision, resulting in his third ever loss. He also lost the heavyweight champion title. On September 15, 1978, another match was set between Ali and Spinks at Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. Ali won the fight by a unanimous decision and regained the title for the heavyweight champion. Ali became to first boxer ever to win the heavyweight championship belt, three times. Again, Ali announced his retirement from the sport, on July 27, 1979, with 56 wins and 3 losses under his name.
Muhammad Ali desired to be the first boxer to win the heavyweight championship for the unprecedented fourth time. So he announced his comeback to fight Larry Holmes for the title. Ali was though, really out of shape. He had been taking thyroid medication to lose weight. He also started struggling with vocal stuttering and trembling hands at this point. Boxing writer Richie Giachetti wrote “Larry didn’t want to fight Ali. He knew Ali had nothing left; he knew it would be a horror.”
The fight between Muhammad Ali and Larry Holmes was set for October 2, 1980, at Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada. Larry dominated the fight since the first round. Angelo Dundee stepped in to stop the fight before the commencement of 11th round. Ali lost a match for the first time via stoppage. The fight was described by many as “awful”. Actor Sylvester Stallone who was at the ringside described the bout like watching an autopsy on a man who is still alive. This fight was later said to have contributed to Ali’s Parkinson’s disease.
Ali fought one last time against Canadian boxer, Trevor Berbick on December 11, 1981, which he lost after 10 rounds by a unanimous decision. In his last 4 bouts, Ali had lost 3 matches. At this moment, Ali was 39 years old and he decided to retire from the sport, once and for all. By the end of his career, Ali had absorbed more than 200,000 hits. His final professional record stood at 61 bouts, 56 wins, and 5 losses.
Conversion to Islam
Ali was aware of “Nation of Islam” (often referred to as Black Muslims) since 1959 when he was still an amateur boxing athlete. He first attended their conference in 1961 and kept on doing so until later, but decided not to publicize his involvement. However, when he decided to join the Nation of Islam, he was refused entry into the group due to his carrier in boxing. Things changed when he won the championship title from Liston in 1964. Nation of Islam was more than happy to have him aboard as a member. Soon after the fight, it was announced on a radio show by the leader of Nation of Islam, Elijah Muhammad, that formerly known Cassius Clay would be renamed as Muhammad Ali.
Ali later announced that “Cassius Clay is my slave name”. Just to let Americans know him further, he added “I am America. I am the part you won’t recognize. But get used to me. Black, confident, cocky; my name, not yours; my religion, not yours; my goals, my own; get used to me.”
Most of the white folks in America and some African American people use to consider Nation of Islam as a black separatists hate group who had the tendency to get violent. Muhammad Ali used his influence to spread Nation of Islam’s teachings. He said, “My enemy is the white people, not Viet Cong or Chinese or Japanese.”. When talking about integration, he said “We who follow the teachings of Elijah Muhammad don’t want to be forced to integrate. Integration is wrong. We don’t want to live with the white man; that’s all.” It was ironic, however, that while the Nation of Islam considered white people as some sort of devils, Ali on other hand had more white colleagues than any African American man, during those times. And he continued to have great relations with them, throughout his career.
In 1972, Ali went on to Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca where he met people of different colors from around the World. Here he gained different perspective and outlook towards life and gained much spiritual awareness. In 1977, he said that when he retires, he will dedicate rest of life to getting “ready to meet God” by helping people, charitable causes, uniting people and helping to make peace.
Later in his life, Muhammad Ali started developing an interest in Sufism, after reading the books of Inayat Khan. In the year 2005, he converted into Sufi Islam as he felt that was most inclined to Sufism teachings out of all Islamic sects. However, a few years later, the traditional Sunni-Sufis criticized the teachings of Inayat Khan as being contradictory to the true teachings of Sunni Islam. Ali then distanced himself from Inayat Khan’s teachings and instead sought guidance from various Sunni-Sufi scholars such as Grand Mufti of Syria Almarhum Asy-Syaikh Ahmed Kuftaro, Shaykh Hisham Kabbani, Imam Zaid Shakir, Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, and Dr. Timothy J. Gianotti.
Dr. Timothy J. Gianotti was at Muhammad Ali’s bedside throughout his last days and also assured that Ali’s funeral was in accordance with Islamic rites and customs.
Personal Life
Muhammad Ali was married four times. He had 9 children – seven daughters and two sons.
Ali met Sonji Roy who was a cocktail waitress and asked her to marry him on the very first date. A month later, on August 14, 1964, they got married. However, soon they started quarreling a lot. Specifically, as Sonji would not accept the Nation of Islam’s dress codes and customs. She also questioned the teachings of Elijah Muhammad. Their marriage failed and they got divorced on January 10, 1966. They did not have any children. Reflecting on the failed marriage, Ali said “She wouldn’t do what she was supposed to do. She wore lipstick; she went into bars; she dressed in clothes that were revealing and didn’t look right.”.
Ali got married for the second time to a 17-year-old girl named Belinda Boyd on August 17, 1967. Soon after the wedding, Belinda got converted to Islam, just like Ali. She officially changed her name to Khalilah Ali. Together they had four children. Maryum (born 1968), twins Jamillah and Rasheda (born 1970), and Muhammad Ali Jr. (born 1972).
Ali was still married to Khalilah Ali when he began an illicit extramarital affair with a 16-year-old, Wanda Bolton. They together had a daughter named Khaliah (born 1974). Wanda Bolton subsequently changed her name to Aaisha Ali. Muhammad Ali married Aaisha Ali as per Islamic rituals, but their marriage was legally not recognized as he was still married to Khalilah Ali (Belinda Boyd). Ali had fathered another daughter, Miya (born 1972), from an extramarital affair with Patricia Harvell.
In 1977, Muhammad Ali and Khalilah Ali got divorced. At this time, Ali was openly seen in public with his girlfriend, Veronica Porché, who became his third wife. At the time of their marriage, they already had a baby girl named Hana, and Veronica was pregnant with their second child, Laila Ali. Laila went on to follow Muhammad Ali footsteps and became a boxing champion, and remained undefeated throughout her career. Veronica Porché and Muhammad Ali separated in 1986.
On November 19, 1986, Muhammad Ali married his fourth and final wife, Yolanda (“Lonnie”) Williams. Ali and Lonnie had been friends since 1964. Ali was 21 years old and Lonnie was six years old when they first met. Their mothers lived on the same street in Louisville and were best friends. After their marriage, they decided to adopt a five-month-old son, Asaad Amin. They remained married until Muhammad Ali’s death in the year 2016.
Muhammad Ali Net Worth
By the time, Muhammad Ali retired, his total fight purse earnings were estimated to be approximately $70 million. However, in 1978, Ali confessed that he is broke and analysts scrutinized his net worth to be around $3.5 million. Analyst determined several factors that led to a decline in his wealth, like taxes which accounted for nearly half his income and the management that took a third of his income. The rest of the money he spent on his lavish lifestyle, on his family, religion, and charities.
In 2005, Muhammad Ali sold the rights to his name and image to Robert Sillerman for $50 million. After his death, his total wealth was evaluated to be around $60 to $80 million.
Philanthropy
Muhammad Ali was known for being a humanitarian and devoted much of his time to philanthropy, especially after his retirement. He focused on charities and good deeds as he considered it his Islamic duty. Over the years, he donated millions to charity organizations and disadvantaged people from all religious backgrounds. He supported the Special Olympics and the Make-A-Wish Foundation, among many other organizations. It has been determined that Ali helped feed over 22 million people afflicted by hunger, across the entire world.
Ali’s work as a humanitarian and philanthropist knows no boundaries.
In 1974, Ali visited South Lebanon and declared his “support for the Palestinian struggle to liberate their homeland.”
After his loss to Leon Spinks in 1978, Ali went to Bangladesh where he was presented with an honorary citizenship. The same year, Ali participated in “The Longest Walk”, which was a protest march in the United States in support of Native American rights.
In 1989, Ali visited India, for a charity event for the Muslim Educational Society, along with the Bollywood actor, Dilip Kumar.
An year later, he traveled to Iraq, to meet Saddam Hussein, in an attempt to negotiate the freedom of American hostages, which Saddam willingly allowed.
In 1994, Ali appealed to the United States government to aid the refugees afflicted by the Rwandan genocide and also to donate towards the organizations that were helping Rwandan refugees.
Later in 1996, Ali had the honor to lit the Olympic cauldron at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia.
In 1998, Ali collaborated with the actor, Michael J Fox, to raise awareness and fund research for the study and find a cure for Parkinson’s disease.
In November 2002, Ali was elected by U.N. as their “messenger of peace” and was sent to Afghanistan for a three-day goodwill mission.
In 2012, he was presented the “Philadelphia Liberty Medal” in honor of his lifetime efforts in activism, philanthropy, and humanitarianism.
Parkinson’s Disease
In the year 1984, Muhammad Ali announced that he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, a condition in which parts of the brain become progressively damaged over the years. Ali remained positive and active during his progression with Parkinson’s disease and the onset of spinal stenosis. He established and inaugurated Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center in Phoenix, Arizona and raised funds for the same to create awareness and to find the cure. Just a few years before his death, Ali underwent surgery for spinal stenosis, a condition that was responsible for limiting his mobility and restricting his ability to communicate.
Muhammad Ali Death & Memorial
Muhammad Ali was admitted in hospital for a mild case of pneumonia on On December 20, 2014. He was once again admitted to hospital on January 15, 2015, for a severe urinary tract infection, but was released the next day.
On June 2, 2016, Ali was again hospitalized in Scottsdale, Phoenix, Arizona, due to respiratory illness. His condition was initially described as “not serious”, but it worsened over a few hours. Muhammad Ali passed away the next day in the hospital on June 3, 3016. At the age of 74.
Muhammad Ali along with Dr. Timothy J. Gianotti and other Islamic scholars had preplanned his memorial many years prior to his death. In Ali’s words, he wanted to be “inclusive of everyone, where we give as many people an opportunity that wants to pay their respects to me”.
The memorial service commenced in Louisville on June 9, 2016, with an Islamic Janazah prayer service, at the Kentucky Exposition Center.
On June 10, 2016, the funeral procession traveled around 20 miles in the streets of Louisville, Kentucky, passing by Muhammad Ali’s childhood home, his school, his first gym, and the Muhammad Ali Boulevard. Thousands of people gathered on the streets and tossed flowers on to his hearse and cheered his name. The procession ended at Cave Hill Cemetery, where Ali was interred in a private ceremony including only his family and friends.
Later in the day, a public memorial service was held at Louisville’s KFC Yum! Center. The pallbearers included Will Smith, Lennox Lewis, Mike Tyson, George Chuvalo, Larry Holmes and George Foreman. Over 20,000 people attended the memorial service, and an estimated 1 billion viewers across the world watched the broadcast.
Religious leaders of various faiths, along with Attallah Shabazz, Bryant Gumbel, former President Bill Clinton, Billy Crystal were the chief speakers. Muhammad Ali’s daughters Maryum and Rasheda and widow Lonnie Williams also spoke at the memorial service.
Lonnie said, “Muhammad indicated that when the end came for him, he wanted us to use his life and his death as a teaching moment for young people, for his country and for the world. She added “In effect, he wanted us to remind people who are suffering that he had seen the face of injustice. That he grew up during segregation, and that during his early life he was not free to be who he wanted to be. But he never became embittered enough to quit or to engage in violence.”
Muhammad Ali, nicknamed “The Greatest”, was not only the best at his athletic skills, but he also showed the world, his courage to stand up against any challenges (whether political or social) and his willingness to speak his mind. He will always be remembered as the best boxing champion, there ever was.
No Comments
Post A Comment 
