The idea of a hero has always been something of great importance to my upbringing.
Although my biggest role models are my parents, they always stressed the idea of having positive role models and people to emulate and look up too, whether it be a coach who shows me the importance of leadership and team building, or a teacher who shows me the importance of remaining focused and the importance of education. Overall it is crucial to have these sort of people in one’s life.
Another type of role model is someone that the person does not know personally, but still looks up to greatly. One of these people for me was a man by the name of Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. better known by the name Muhammad Ali. Cassius was born was born in Louisville, Kentucky,
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who was a billboard and sign painter and his mother Odessa Grady Clay who was a household domestic. Growing up in this time, Cassius and his family faced a great deal of racism and prejudice because, at this time, African Americans were still regarded at a very low level in societal position. Throughout his life, Cassius became more and more passionate on the issue of racial prejudice and became very vocal about this issue. A large part in Cassius life and ultimately, his rise to fame was his boxing career, which started with humble beginnings When Cassius Clay was twelve, his bike was stolen. That led him to take up boxing with the help of a Louisville policeman named Joe Martin. Clay advanced through the amateur ranks at a staggering pace, winning a gold medal at the age of eighteen at the 1960 Olympics in Rome” (Gilder Lehrman) Thought his career, he reached the ranks of heavy weight world champion shortly after Cassius announced …show more content…
He continues to be an inspiration for many athletes because of his inspiring qualities of never getting down on himself after a loss instead he would come back twice as hard he quoted "I never thought of losing, but now that it's happened, the only thing is to do it right. That's my obligation to all people who believe in me. We all have to take defeats in life." This attitude continues to inspire many. Thomas Hauser stating “More than anyone else of his generation, Muhammad Ali belongs to the world. He encouraged millions of people to believe in themselves, raise their aspirations, and accomplish things that might not have been done without him. He wasn’t just a standard-bearer for black Americans. He stood up for everyone.”
Winning the heavyweight boxing championship many times and an olympic medal, Muhammad Ali, proved to the world that he really was the greatest. After having his bike stolen at 12, Ali began training in boxing for revenge with cop he complained to, going on to win many novice tournaments. Honing his craft and utilizing his stature Ali, with his quick feet went to the Olympics for America in 1960 and came on bearing a gold medal, when trouble reared its head. Ali, converted to Islam with the radical Black Muslims, refused to fight against the “Viet Cong” and was arrested, and was suspended from his sport for 3 years. However, Ali, came back to sport in the 70’s but took a loss before his big “Rumble in the Jungle” and “Thrilla in Manila”, but
Muhammad Ali, aka “The Greatest of All Time”, aka “The People’s Champion” and aka “The Louisville Lip”, is one of four athletes who graces my sports Mount Rushmore, a place reserved for athletes considered bigger than the sport they participated in. The other three include Babe Ruth, Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan. Each of their faces can be carved in that mountain, because we’ll likely never see anyone like them again. Whether you respect his wishes and refer to him as Muhammad Ali, or don’t and take the “His momma named him Clay, I’mma him Clay” approach from Coming to America and call him Cassius Clay, there’s no denying that he influenced a myriad of athletes after making his mark on the world.
Muhammad / A : Growing as a kid in Louisville, Kentucky I looked up to the boxer named Sugar Ray Robinson. I used to think he was the greatest boxer of all time and was so cool driving around in a lavender-colored Cadillac convertible. When I was eighteen, coming back for the Olympics, I visited Harlem, New York for the first time. I got to met Sugar in New York that year and couldn't believe it. He would drive slow down the streets of Harlem stopping
He met and fought opponents from around the world. He would tell them that he was the greatest boxer of all time. They all had different styles, but Cassius was lightning fast on his feet. He earned the right to brag as he defeated every opponent and earned the right to fight for the gold medal against the Polish champion, Zbigniew “Ziggy” Pietrzykowski, and this fight was one of his most challenging, Cassius had never fought a left handed boxer. After a hard fought battle against the polish champion, Cassius Clay became the Olympic champion.
Born of the name Cassius Clay in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1942,Muhammad Ali is among one of the greatest athletes in the world. Winning an Olympic gold medal in 1960 and the World Heavyweight Boxing Champion in 1964 at a time where racism was pinacle. “The moment that launched the career of the greatest athlete the world has ever known very nearly didn't happen. A fear of flying meant Cassius Clay tried to withdraw from the 1960 Olympic Games just weeks before the US team travelled to Rome” (Cassius Clay Wins Gold in 1960). Muhammad Ali is an American former boxing heavyweight champion and one of the greatest and well known sporting figures of the 20th century.
Muhammad Ali, previously known as Cassius Clay is a world champion elite boxer who is was known for his speed, agility, power and his might. He was known for his way of words and his willingness to talk about topics most athletes in America wouldn’t even stumble over. He fought the greatest to become the greatest and anyone that dare stepped in the ring with him never saw his fist coming. But what happens when a hero’s power is taken from them? What happened to Ali when his gloves were taken off due to standing for what he believed in?
Leonardo Marques Ms. Bryan Grammar and Composition Period 3 22 Novemberf 2016 Muhammad Ali Muhammad Ali’s impact from his denial of the draft was that he respected his religion, he regained his title back, he showed how African Americans can do great things during times of segregation. “I know where I'm going and I know the truth, and I don't have to be what you want me to be. I'm free to be what I want (Muhammad Ali).”
During the 20th century, the sports industry rose as a soon to be boxing champion, Muhammad Ali,was born. Muhammad Ali was a great American boxer from the 20th century and could be called the sports icon of the 1900’s. He wasn’t always called Muhammad Ali, his actual birth name was Cassius Clay Jr. Born on January 17, 1942, in the state of Louisville, Kentucky, Clay was the offspring of Cassius Marcellus Clay Sr. and Odessa Grady Clay. As recalled by history.com,”It was a red-and-white Schwinn that steered the future heavyweight champion to the sport of boxing.”At the age of 12, he lost that exact bicycle ; reported it to a Louisville police officer named Joe Martin. Martin was also a boxing trainer and trained Clay
In 1960 he decided it was time to take his skills to the Olympics. In order to do so he had to get a job to pay for all the expenses that the Olympics entail. He worked as a "houseboy" for Billy Reynolds, the heir to the Reynolds aluminum foil fortune (Conklin 26-27). The eighteen-year-old was now six feet, two inches tall and weighed 178 pounds of pure muscle. Clay easily beat the European champion, Zbigniew Pietrzykowski, to win the light-heavyweight gold medal. All that was left was to go pro.
Ali began turning heads as people were highly intrigued by the young boxer’s unorthodox fighting style and bold persona. Six weeks after entering Martin’s gym, the 89-pound boy one his first fight by split decision in his debut. One observer reported that “Cassius Clay (Ali) boxed like no else. He was fast.
Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. was born on January 17, 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky. From a young age, Cassius made it clear that he was not afraid of fighting. This showed when his bike was stolen at the age of twelve and he told the police officer that he wanted to fight the guy who stole it. Coincidentally, the police officer
racism was a social normal, an accepted way of life. It was not socially accepted that a black boy from the ghetto, compete against Americans favorite white fighters, then win! He put his entire body and soul into boxing since he was twelve years old, and it payed off. His push beyond the struggles of being unwanted turned into a life of example, activism, and pride. He changed the face of his sport, giving encouragement and inspiration to the dreams of thousands. Once holding the heavy-weight championship of the world, now he holds a crippling
Overall, Cassius Clay was not only a heavyweight champion, he was a leader who wanted to do everything right. He was a role model to both blacks and some whites. Ali grew up in the segregated south, and racism led him to the join the National of Islam. After refusing induction in the Army, Ali took a stand appealed to the Supreme Court, although he was imprisoned for five years, stripped from his heavyweight title and was fined $10,000. Ali took a stand to fight for what is right not
Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. later known as Muhammad Ali, was a black boxer, and was proud of it. Many African Americans were ashamed of their color, but Ali was different. He was the first boxer to win the Heavyweight Championship 3 different times. He had a great personality and was liked by the people. During his life, he made big decisions that changed the course of his life completely. Muhammad Ali's journey through life was a great inspiration for African American people, but Ali himself deserves the admiration of everyone.
Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. better known as Muhammad Ali was born January seven tenth, 1942. He was born in Louisville, Kentucky during a time where segregation was a major factor; one where blacks weren’t able to drink from the same water fountain as whites,use the same restroom or eat within the same restaurants. When Cassius was twelve years old his bike was stolen while reporting what happened to police officer Joe Martin Clay said that he “wanted to beat up whoever had stolen his bike” and it just so happened that Martin trained young boxers at a local gym. Clay won his first amateur bout in 1954 by split decision, By the age of eighteen he won an Olympic medal at the 1960 Olympics. By the time he was eighteen Clay already had achieved