Ali- Happy Bday Champ! Who today would risk it all for a belief????

Yesterday (Tuesday, January 17th) The Greatest Of All Time, Muhammad Ali celebrated his 64th birthday.
He may have fought professionally for 21 years, won the world heavyweight title three times and paid a heavy physical price for his labours, but Ali was so much more than that.
It still remains an unequivocal point of view that Ali was the most charismatic sportsman of all-time and retains a place in the hearts of millions.
Ali was not only one of the greatest to ever lace up a pair of boxing gloves, but an individual who gave up the best years of his career because of a belief.

Which brings me to the point of my latest rant..
What Superstar Athlete would give up the best years of their career today for a belief.

Think of all the greats, from Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson to whoever you consider a superstar today. Who would be willing to fight for their beliefs even at the point of jailtime and lost of the right to do what you do at the height of their career.
Im sure some will name Pat Tillman, the former Arizona Cardinals safety who left football to become an Army Ranger, was killed in southeastern Afghanistan in April 2004. While that was a very brave and patriotic move and I in now way want to undermind the importance of that, but he wasnt a superstar, a champion, a household name.

What superstar athlete today would give it all up, Ali was striped of his championship title, and denied the right to fight and earn a living doin what he does. But he would not go to war to fight against an someone he didnt percieve as an enemy. He also would not denouce the Nation Of Islam when the government tried to get him to. He even through his Olympic Gold Medal in a local lake in disgust of this countrys actions.

Ali still appears at major events, like the 1996 Olympics and even as far back as 1991, he put his life on the line by going to Saddam Hussein and asking him to release American prisoners. Not to mention when he went to Iran years earlier when President Carter and the United States Government couldn't negotiate the release of the hostages, Ali went and was successful.

What superstar athlete today would put it all on the line for what they believe, holla back

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHAMP!!!