Muhammad Ali’s first sounds were “Gee-Gee, Gee-Gee.” His beautiful mother Odessa Clay called her son “G-G” for the rest of her life, and years later, Ali would say, “After I won the Golden Gloves, I told Mama that from the very beginning, I was trying to say, ‘Golden Gloves.’ ” So began the life of Muhammad Ali, who celebrates his 70th birthday today.
Though many know him as the greatest boxer of all time, few know that it was actually the theft of his bicycle at age 12 that began his boxing career. After the bike was stolen, Ali ran to the police station, threatening to “whup whoever stole my bike.” Joe Martin, a white Louisville, Ky., policeman, told him he had better learn to fight, and in his spare time, he took Ali under his wing and taught him the ropes. Ali won his first fight six weeks later. When the referee raised his arm in victory, Ali shouted the iconic words that would become a self-fulfilling prophecy: “I’m gonna be the greatest of all time!”
But what was so incredible about Ali was all the courageous and selfless things he did beyond boxing. In 1975 I called Ali to talk to him about the campaign I was doing for Rubin “Hurricane” Carter, whose book convinced me that he was an innocent man in the slammer. Muhammad was so happy to hear I thought Rubin was innocent. He said, “Absolutely, I’m with you.” Ali literally stopped doing a million things to help someone — a fellow fighter — get out of jail. It was so heroic, and of all the times we worked together, it is still my favorite memory of him. I also can’t tell you how many times, when we were driving on the road, he’d see a school and make me pull over. He’d meet all 200 schoolkids and sign 200 autographs, often with a kid on his lap. That was just his personality, to be so giving of his time. It seriously got to the point that when I saw a school, I’d think, “Oh my God, here we go again. We’re in trouble.”
About 15 years ago, I was a juror in court in downtown Manhattan. After the case was over, the judge asked the jury to enter and talk to him. We go in, and he explains that one of the jurors was a man who changed his life. We’re looking at each other, and he goes, “The juror is George Lois.” Everyone is looking at me, and I’m looking at him like he’s crazy. He told me he was a student at Columbia University in the ’60s, when there were furious debates about Vietnam and draft dodgers, and how that 1968 Esquire cover of Ali as St. Sebastian solidified the argument for Ali’s decision to not participate in the draft. The judge said it changed Columbia University students’ understanding and point of view about the war. I remember that because it speaks to the influence of Ali. From a narcissistic self-promoter who eventually became a man of enduring spirituality through a journey of formidable tests, Ali emerged as a true superhero in the annals of American history and a worldwide ambassador of courage and conviction. A boxing legend who courageously spoke up for black men and civil rights throughout his life! Ali, above all, is the sweetest, nicest person I’ve ever met in my life. And on his glorious 70th birthday, I am privileged to salute him, with the rest of the world.
George Lois is one of advertising’s most famous art directors and cultural provocateurs. From 1962 to ’72, he art-directed several iconic covers for Esquire magazine.
Muhammad Ali vs. Cleveland Williams at the Astrodome, Houston, 1966Neil Leifer: "I think this is the best picture I ever made. It's the only picture of mine that I have in my home. I could go on for a long time about the technical aspects of the shot, how I studied the Astrodome, planned the photo for weeks before the fight, pictured the shot in my head, rigged up the remote trigger that I used to get the shot from above while I was physically down at ringside shooting the fight — but what makes this so special to me is that it's as close as I've ever gotten to a perfect shot. Ali, Williams, the referee, the reporters, the symmetry, the drama — it's the one photograph I've taken where, looking back, I'd change nothing."
NOTE: Leifer is visible here, wearing a light blue shirt and seated near the top along the left-hand side of the ring, with his camera resting in front of him.Neil Leifer is a photographer for Sports Illustrated.Neil Leifer—Sports IllustratedMuhammad Ali vs Oscar Bonavena at Madison Square Garden, New York City, 1970Dustin Hoffman: "In December 1970, I met him before his fight with Oscar Bonavena at Madison Square Garden. I think it was pretty soon after he was allowed to fight again after being suspended for not going into service— which, I think was a huge statement. I remember in an interview with Muhammad Ali, in 1969, after he refused to fight in the Vietnam War, Ali said, 'I ain't got no quarrel with them Viet Cong. No Viet Cong ever called me a nigger.' It would have been sacrificing years of his career at a pivotal time— atheletes have such a short shelf life and it would have put his body in compromise. That night before the fight, Muhammad recognized me and called me over and started announcing to everybody, 'Midnight Cowboy! Midnight Cowboy!' He took me with him as we walked into the arena, and he spotted some college kids practicing basketball. He signaled for them to pass him the ball, and Muhammad, at mid-court, swept the ball over his shoulder and it swished into the basket. I watched his face very carefully for his reaction— to see if he was a surprised as everyone else was— but he contained his expression, like it was an everyday event for him. He was simply magical.
Dustin Hoffman is a renowned film and television actor.APMuhammad Ali listens intently to his leader, Elijah Muhammad, Chicago, 1966Maya Angelou: “I met Muhammad Ali in Accra, Ghana. I invited him to my house for dinner. He accepted and reminded me that he was a Muslim and ate no pork. I told him I was a Southern black woman who knew how to fry chicken. I told a person who works for me that I would like him to help me that evening because Muhammad Ali was coming for dinner. I warned him not to mention it to anyone. As the hour approached, I opened my door and heard shouts: "The Greatest! The Greatest! The Greatest" — my block was filled with thousands — and he was. Happy birthday.”
Maya Angelou is a renowned author, poet and activist for civil and women’s rights.Paul Cannon–AP Muhammad Ali, far right, in Toronto, 1966George Clooney: “I grew up in Kentucky, so Muhammad Ali was a very big figure — not just in the world. He was the most famous athlete, and one of the most famous people in the world, but he was also a Kentuckian. We were very proud of that. It made a very big difference to us. For those of us who had grown up in the culture of the antiwar movement and the civil rights movement, and all those things were going on, he became such a big player when he stood against the war. I remember Pat Boone recorded an album, a record — I can't remember the actual song, but there was one line that said, 'Oh, I know you're not scared, you're a real brave guy, you're a regular Cassius Clay' — it's all about going to war. They really tried to make [Ali] out to be a coward — he ended up going to the Supreme Court and risked going to jail — for his stance on the war. You could point to Muhammad Ali and Walter Cronkite as two of the biggest iconic figures that had the largest effect on ending the war. For all of his accomplishments, that may end up being one of his greatest. He suffered a lot for it."
George Clooney is an Academy Award–winning actor, film director and producer.Bettmann/CorbisEsquire cover, April 1968George Lois: "In 1967, when Muhammad Ali refused induction into the U.S. Army as a conscientious objector because of his new religion, he was widely condemned as a draft dodger and even a traitor. A federal jury sentenced him to five years in jail, and he was stripped of his title and denied the right to fight in the prime of his fighting years. This incredibly controversial Esquire cover became an iconic symbol of a period of nonviolent protest in those turbulent times, tying together the incendiary issues of the Vietnam War, race and religion in one unforgettable image. My statement depicting Ali as the martyr St. Sebastian nailed down the plight of many Americans who took a principled stand against an evil war." George Lois art directed several iconic covers for Esquire from 1962 to 1972 and is one of advertising's most legendary creatives.Carl FischerMuhammad Ali and Joe Frazier in New York City, 1971Michael Jordan: “I was just a kid when Ali fought some of his greatest fights against Joe Frazier and George Foreman, and I remember thinking that he was just larger than life and that he had such incredible style. I might not have known the words global icon back then, but that’s what he was and will be for all time.” Michael Jordan is a six-time NBA champion.Philadelphia Inquirer/MCT/ZumaAli in Florida, 1970Derek Jeter: "It is easy to respect Muhammad Ali for his impressive accomplishments in the ring and his status as the pre-eminent boxer of his time. It is even easier to respect him for his dedication to charitable interests, his generosity in sharing his time and resources, his mission to positively impact the world’s youth and his strength of character. I have been inspired by the example he’s set and incredibly grateful for his help with my Turn 2 Foundation and its youth participants."
Derek Jeter plays shortstop for the New York Yankees.Danny Lyon—MagnumAli at the Summer Olympics in Rome, 1960Marvin E. Newman: "I was photographing the 1960 Olympics in Rome for Sports Illustrated. I was assigned to cover boxing the night Cassius Clay was fighting for the heavyweight gold medal. I was stationed at press ringside, listening to the boxing writers complaining that Clay wasn't landing any punches. I was watching the same fight and saw the machine-gun rapidity of his blows destroying his opponent. During his early years, Ali continued to be underestimated by the press, but that night he took home the gold medal for the United States." Marvin E. Newman is a contributing photographer for Sports Illustrated and previously was for LIFE magazine.Marvin E. Newman–Sports IllustratedMuhammad Ali after knocking out Archie Moore, Los Angeles, 1962Whoopi Goldberg: “The thing I love most about Ali is that he is a one of a kind and I'm pretty sure he can't be duplicated. I love him and even though he says he's 70 I'm not buying it. Happy Birthday Mr. Ali.”
Whoopi Goldberg is a comedian, actor, singer-songwriter, political activist, author and talk show hostAPAli lights the Olympic flame, Atlanta, 1996George Foreman: "I remember seeing Muhammad Ali light the torch at the Olympic Games in 1996. When he was holding the torch, it was like he was saying 'I'm still pretty. It was never about my footwork, my fast hands or poems — it was about me. I'm the greatest of all time.' It was at that moment that I realized Ali really was the greatest."
George Foreman is a two-time former world heavyweight boxing champion.Clive Brunskill—Getty ImagesAli training in Deer Lake, Pa., 1974Ken Regan: "I was on assignment for TIME magazine to shoot Muhammad Ali at his training camp in Deer Lake, Pa. I wanted to photograph Muhammad running early in the morning because there was always a lot of fog on the river where he used to run; I thought it would make a interesting visual. The problem was, Muhammad didn't like to get up in the morning and train that early; he only liked to train in the afternoon. After numerous conversations with Muhammad and his manager, he reluctantly agreed to do it for me. I was following him that morning in a car with a retractable roof. We were out about 10 minutes, and Muhammad turned around toward me and said, 'Are we done yet?' That is the photograph that I ended up using. He immediately went back to his camp and went to bed." Ken Regan is a photographer and filmmaker.Ken Regan—Camera 5Mohammad Ali vs Ernie Terrell , Houston, 1967Lance Armstrong: "I first met the Champ in the year 2000 and have been blessed to spend time with him and his lovely wife Lonnie.I was honored to be included with him and others as a founding member of Athletes for Hope. A
photo of him defeating Ernie Terrell in the Astrodome in Houston sits on
a book shelf in my office."
Lance Armstrong won the Tour de France seven times in a row and is the founder and chairman of the Lance Armstrong Foundation nonprofit
organization.Herb Scharfman–Sports Imagery/Getty ImagesAli with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Cleveland, 1967Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: "Muhammad Ali is the epitome of the concept of the living legend. He has inspired and thrilled generations of fans around the world as an athlete and humanitarian. Throughout his life he has been one of a kind. They truly threw away the mold when he was born. "
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is a retired American professional basketball player.Tony Tomsic–Sports IllustratedAli and Michael J. Fox, New York City, 2004Mark Seliger: "After the shoot [above], the champ was signing a Neil Leifer print of his legendary fight with Sonny Liston that I have hanging in my house. He wrote, 'Love is the net where hearts are caught like fish' across the bottom of the print, and when he made a mistake, he would fix it by inking in the miswritten letter with a big black heart."
Mark Seliger is a renowned portrait photographer.Mark Seliger Ali jumping, Chicago, 1966Thomas Hoepker: "One day we drove over the Chicago River, when I remarked that this was a great view of the skyline. Muhammad stopped the car and got out. 'Could you please climb on that railing?' I asked. Ali jumped onto the banister, took his shirt off and shouted, 'I'm the greatest! Want me to jump?' A split second later I had my picture — just this one click, one chance — and we drove on." Thomas Hoepker is a photographer represented by Magnum.Thomas Hoepker—MagnumAli's home, Berrien Springs, Mich., 1996Walter Iooss Jr.: "I wanted to do an Annie picture that day — Annie Leibovitz, that is. As we drove into his estate, the fence was the first thing to catch my eye, but I wasn't sure how to incorporate it into a photograph. Then Ali came out on a bike, and the image came together. Serendipity at its best." Walter Iooss Jr. is a Sports Illustrated photographer.Walter Iooss Jr.—Sports IllustratedAli vs. Cleveland Williams, Houston,1966Steve Fine: "There was a time when no one was more photographed than Muhammad Ali. The pictures from the '60s and early '70s helped define sports in America. I tried to stay away from the iconic images that everyone knows — the one I picked is the one that hangs in my office. I love the way Jim Drake captured the look on Ali’s face during this weigh-in (ironically, this was before the Williams fight and foreshadows what was about to happen to poor Cleveland). There’s something defiant but also comical in Ali’s demeanor, which is how I remember him. And the lighting is just about perfect. He seems serious about his work, which was to knock people out, but as with every Ali press conference, he is the ultimate showman.
Steve Fine is Sports Illustrated's director of photography.James Drake—Sports IllustratedAli and Sonny Liston, Miami, 1964Kurt Andersen: "As a little boy, I was not a sports fan, but I was a huge fan of my father and of staying up late on Friday nights, so when I was 5 I watched a lot of boxing on The Gillette Cavalcade of Sports. Therefore, at age 9, three months after JFK's assassination, I gathered with my family around the giant antique radio to listen to Clay box — and beat! — Sonny Liston in Miami. That first world-championship fight was more riveting to me than watching the Beatles on Ed Sullivan, which we'd spent the previous three Sunday nights doing. 'I shook up the world!' Clay declared afterward. My '60s had begun."
Kurt Andersen is a novelist and journalist. He was the founder of Spy magazine and the former editor of New York magazine.Herb Scharfman—Sports IllustratedAli greets a fan, Los Angeles, 1971Oscar De La Hoya:: "I was 9 years old and training in East Los Angeles at the Resurrection Boxing Gym, which is a very old, grungy gym. Mainly kids would train there. Eighty, 90 kids skipping rope, hitting the heavy bag. One day a man — wearing a gray sweatsuit, from head to toe — comes in. He is carrying a little tote bag. We don’t really think anything of him. He starts hitting the heavy bag, and then all of a sudden he calls a group of us over. 'I want to teach you how to hit the heavy bag,' he says. He kept saying, 'Stay on your toes, stay on your toes.' It so happened that the man was Muhammad Ali. What struck me about him was that when he taught us, he always made us laugh. He went out of his way to make us laugh. He wanted us to enjoy ourselves, to enjoy the game of boxing. I can still see him, the man in the gray sweatsuit, like it was yesterday. As I have grown older, I've started to realize, Here is a man who reached great success in the ring — the greatest of all time, an icon — but he walked into that gym alone, as humble as someone who failed at everything. It has crossed my mind lately: maybe I should show up at a gym one day, just to make a kid feel like Muhammad Ali made me feel."
Oscar De La Hoya is an Olympic-gold-medalist boxer with world titles in six different weight divisions.Chris Smith—Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesJoe Frazier and Ali, New York City, 1971Elliott Erwitt: “I never met Ali or was much interested in boxing but was always impressed by his personality and his wit and keen intelligence. He is and remains a refreshing antidote to a brutal sport.”
Elliott Erwitt is a photographer represented by Magnum. Elliott Erwitt—MagnumAli in Chicago, 1966Michael Wilbon: “I grew up on the South Side of Chicago. Ali was living there part of that time. You could see him shooting dice with kids, talking to kids, hanging out. When I was 3, we ran into him at Sears on the South Side. I got my picture taken with him, with my mom and brother. He was always approachable. There was an independence [about him] we don’t often see in public life. People go along to get along. I remember all of it. I don’t know if it resonates with young people now. I don’t know if they know the controversy, how reviled he was. Who in the culture now starts out that reviled and becomes that beloved? You don’t see it. And that’s not just the boxing — it’s the independence, the standing for something. He chose to do difficult things. People don’t want to do that anymore. I thank him for it, and that’s something he did underscore for me. He chose to do difficult things. That’s not a path people take voluntarily. It’s a heavy price. I’m glad he did it.”
Michael Wilbon is an ESPN commentator.Thomas Hoepker—Magnum Ali in Deer Lake, Pa., 1974David King: "Muhammad Ali's back is massaged by the hand of his Cuban masseur, Louis Seria, at Ali's training camp in the Pennsylvania mountains in December 1974, before the second Ali-Frazier fight. Ali was to win the bout on points some 48 hours later." David King is the former art editor of London's Sunday Times and a portrait photographer.David KingAli at the Alvin Theater, New York City, 1968James Earl Jones: "This young American man! To all of us he is forever young — young in brash, bold self-proclamation! When he came and saw The Great White Hope, he mounted the stage and proclaimed, 'This is my story!' And when I see his eyes now, the twinkle still shines through."
James Earl Jones is a Tony Award–winning actor.Bob Gomel—Time&Life Pictures/Getty ImagesAli in Paradise Valley, Ariz., 2009Platon: "I never thought I would get to meet and photograph Muhammad Ali. I remember feeling overwhelmed as I rang the doorbell. Looking down, there was a giant doormat, with a capital letter A woven into the fabric. It occurred to me that there were two things that make Ali 'the Greatest' — perhaps the greatest man that ever lived. Firstly, his physical power, beauty, speed and agility, and secondly, his unique skills as an orator. Sadly, as I stepped over the letter A, I realized that Parkinson’s disease had robbed the man of these two strengths. How in the world could I take a portrait of Muhammad Ali that is a fitting tribute to his contribution to the 20th century? As he silently shuffled into the room, my path became clear. Though robbed of his physical armor, he revealed to me that most important thing of all: his spirit and strength of character. It was, after all, his heart that informed his political, competitive and spiritual quests. In this picture, I focus entirely on Muhammad Ali the human being. Here there is no playacting or gimmicks. As the modernists always said, less is more. As his eyes closed, his hand gently rose to caress his brow. No one ever thought that Muhammad Ali could be so tender and sensitive. As we finished the shoot, he was helped into his soft leather chair. His nurse switched on the TV — Muhammad loves to watch westerns and Elvis movies. A tray was placed on his lap, and a box of dominoes was opened — I was told it is his favorite pastime. I knelt by his feet, and together, we played dominoes for a few last minutes. As I made a cheeky connection with two dots on the domino pieces, his enlarged hand grabbed my shoulder, and he grunted a mischievous appreciation. I left his house feeling so honored that I had experienced a true connection with the legend, but more important, the man — Muhammad Ali." Platon is a renowned portrait photographer.Platon Ali in Las Vegas, 1965Chuck D: "Muhammad Ali taught us to transcend our mere social categories and represent the highest level of human being. His ability to rewire widespread attention into mass thought still remains unmatched."
Chuck D is a rap artist and founder of Public Enemy.Walter Iooss, Jr.—Sports IllustratedAli in Miami Beach, 1980Lori Grinker: “I was 22. At Dundee’s Fifth Street Gym, I persuaded them to take down the sign on the door that read, 'No Women Allowed.' It was quite a scene – in front of a small group of spectators, Ali was running, skipping, dancing, holding up four fingers and shouting that for the fourth time, he would make history. This photograph is the one moment when I found him pensive, perhaps self-reflective, and as he looked in the mirror, I wondered, What was he thinking?”
Lori Grinker is a documentary photographer.Lori Grinker–Contact Press ImagesAli with his brother Rahaman, 1963Rahaman Ali: “We could see the greatness in him when he was 12. The way he moved. He was great, even as a small child. He was a happy, jolly, gay, beautiful, kind, sweet person. He was loving of everyone, black or white. He taught me to love all kinds of people. He protected me. He never tried to hurt me. He was always gentle, a big sweetheart. As small children, we predicted we’d one day be here. We’re just grateful to God."
Rahaman Ali is Muhammad's younger brother.Evening Standard/Getty ImagesAli in Miami Beach, 1970Ziggy Marley: "My father loved Ali. He was the one who introduced me to boxing and to Muhammad Ali. Ever since then, Ali has been one of my inspirations. The conviction to his ideas and discipline to his art are things that I emulate. He is and will always be one of my heroes. I remember the first time I put on a pair of boxing gloves to spar with my friends, I became Ali — he was the one to be. I danced around, throwing jabs and talking smack. I had fun being Ali, and it kept me from being hit for the most part. It was so sad to see my hero being beat by Larry Holmes, but it didn't matter to me. The greatest will always be the greatest. To me, Ali is more than a boxer — he is a life teacher. He is bigger than boxing itself."
Ziggy Marley is a musician and the son of Bob Marley.Chris Smith—Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesDanny Lyon and Ali in Miami, 1970Angelo Dundee—collection of the artist; courtesy Magnum Ali with Will Smith, far left, on the set of Ali, 2001Michael Mann: "When we first were talking about making Ali, Ali wanted me to know that he wanted no glamorization of his life. He didn’t want errors and mistakes excluded. It was his history, and he wanted nothing taken from it. One incident he never could rectify was the coldness of his rejection of Malcolm X. Elijah Muhammad had exiled Malcolm from the Nation of Islam in 1963 for mostly political reasons and succeeded in co-opting Ali to his side. When Ali and Malcolm's paths crossed accidentally in Accra in 1964, Ali turned his back on his mentor. After Malcolm returned from Africa, Nation of Islam gunmen assassinated him in the Audubon Ballroom. The sad and tragic rejection and assassination was a scene in the film. I had Malcolm's daughter Attallah Shabazz working as a consultant. Attallah bore so close a physical resemblance to Malcolm, it was disconcerting. When you looked at her, you saw his ghost. I asked Ali. He said he wanted to meet her. When she walked in the room and he saw her, he took her hand in his, bowed his head and told her, 'You don't know how many times I've hoped that your father knew how much I still loved him.' "
Michael Mann is a film director, screenwriter and producer.Frank ConnorAli, 1963Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini: "I met Ali when I was 8 years old. He came to Youngstown, Ohio, for a benefit for a local fighter. I was just a little guy, and I can still remember him coming into the room. He was bigger than life. Then in May 1982, I was in Milan, Italy, and we were on a TV talk show together with Tommie Smith, the guy who did the black-power salute at the Olympics. We became friends. I have a lot of respect and love for the man. As a boxer, he brought psychological warfare to the sport. Forget his physical skills — he beat more men psychologically before they got into the ring. He is the only man bigger than the sport. But he never turns anyone down, never shrugs someone off. He takes time to give people a personal touch, a hug, to touch people's lives, to give them a moment, and he has done it forever. I have respect for that, and I respect him because he stuck to his convictions. Good, bad or indifferent, he was willing to take a stand and be a man about it. I have had a chance to spend some time with him. He has been wonderful to me, and I will always have that. He always tells me, 'You remind me of Elvis. Elvis was cooool. Staaaay pretty.' " Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini held the World Boxing Association lightweight championship from 1982 to 1984.Pix Inc./Time & Life Pictures/Getty ImagesAli in London, 1963Brian Seed: "Cassius Clay went on a shopping spree in June 1963, when he was in London to fight British boxer Henry Cooper. Cassius won the fight. Here he is being fitted for a bowler hat. The hatter told Clay that his head was lopsided." Brian Seed is a photographer whose work has appeared in TIME, LIFE and Sports Illustrated magazines.Brian Seed—PicadeSugar Ray Robinson, Sugar Ray Leonard and Ali in Las Vegas, 1977Sugar Ray Leonard: "When I think of Muhammad Ali on his 70th birthday, I think another year has gone by for me to thank Muhammad for showing me his blueprint of what a champion is, inside and outside the ring! Happy birthday, Champ! Your friend, Sugar Ray Leonard."
Sugar Ray Leonard is a retired professional boxer.Michael GaffneyAli playing Monopoly at home in Louisville, Ky., 1963Steve Schapiro: "In 1963 I played Monopoly with Ali, then Cassius Clay, at his parents' house in Louisville. Ali did not want me to lose at the game, because if I lost, all my remaining money and property would go back to the bank. He kept loaning me Monopoly money so that at the end of the game he, not the bank, would have won everything on the board. Ali carried his Monopoly set all around town, finding people to play with him, young and old." Steve Schapiro is a photographer who extensively covered the civil rights movement. Steve Schapiro–courtesy of Fahey/Klein GalleryAli standing over opponent Sonny Liston in Lewiston, Maine, 1965Evander Holyfield: "I was told at the age of 8 that Ali was the greatest! I was also told that I could be just like he was. I believed. Happy birthday, Muhammad Ali!" Evander Holyfield is a professional boxer and a five-time world heavyweight champion.George Silk–Time & Life Pictures/Getty ImagesAli in New York City, 1984Michael Tighe: "I shot this photo in 1984 when the world was just starting to learn about his affliction with Parkinson’s syndrome. I had shot him 10 years earlier when he was the champ, so it was very difficult seeing him like this, our hero. I shot him a third time in 1999 for Athlete of the Century at his farm in Indiana. When the shoot was over, my assistants and I were invited to have lunch with him and his family at their house. I brought a print of this photo, which I presented to him after lunch. He had never seen it. I handed it to him. He stared at it quietly for a long beat. His eyes watered up, and he handed it back. Everyone got very quiet and uneasy. Then he gestured with the most beautiful smile for me to sign it for him. I got teary-eyed. It is the most cherished moment of my photographer’s life." Michael Tighe is a portrait photographer.Michael Tighe Ali before a fight in Chicopee, Mass., 1965Chuck “the Iceman” Liddell: “I never make a big effort to meet celebrities, but I was at a charity event, and Ali was there, so I made sure I introduced myself. It was just for a second. I don’t know if he really knew me, but he said my name. It was such an honor. As a fighter, he was just the complete package — as a ring strategist, his timing, footwork, speed and how he played the mental game and promoted his fights. I would have loved to have seen him fight in person. He was just the best. And to think he gave it up for something he believed in? That says everything about Ali, the man. I’d like to say I would do the same thing, but I don’t know if I would. All of us who fight for a living are brothers. It’s too bad about the Parkinson’s. We don’t know if boxing caused it. But if he would have known that boxing would cause Parkinson's, he probably would have done it all again. It was in his blood to be great. As fighters, we make sacrifices to be the best, and he was the best.”
Chuck “the Iceman” Liddell is a former Ultimate Fighting Championship light-heavyweight title holder.Fred Kaplan—Sports IllustratedAli with his trainer Angelo Dundee in New York City, 1962Angelo Dundee: “I first met Ali in 1958. I was in Louisville, Ky. I get a call from the lobby. I start talking to this kid who says his name is Cassius Clay and that he is going to win the Olympics. He was 16. I am wondering, Who is this nutcase? But we met. He was a student of boxing. He asked about what my fighters ate, when they stopped road work before a fight. He was hungry to learn about boxing. A few hours later we stopped talking. I didn’t really train amateurs. He asked about training with me. Other people were offering him money and cars. I said, 'All I can offer you is me.' He came down to Miami. He kept asking me to spar with my fighters. One day, I have him spar with one of my champions. My fighter didn’t look good against Ali, and when he came to the corner, I told him, 'You’re going stale!' He said, 'No, I just couldn’t hit the guy.' I had 16 fighters in my gym, and he became one of the guys. Someone started calling him Big Mouth. He liked to talk. And that was important. I made him accessible to the reporters. I had more fun with Ali than anyone in my life.
No, I don’t consider him a son. A trainer can’t ever be his fighter’s father. Never consider a fighter a son — you can’t help him. You can’t do the right thing by him.You can’t take care of your own child if they have a cut, or your hand starts shaking. He is my friend. Ali has so many qualities as a human being. Back then, I had him to my house three Christmases in a row. He entertained everyone. He was the first to arrive and the last to leave. One of the greatest things that happened to the human race, having Ali around.” Angelo Dundee, 90, was Ali's trainer and was in his corner for more than 20 years, from 1960 to 1981.Dan Grossi–APAli in Chicago, 1976Harry Benson:: "It was 1976, America's bicentennial. I asked Ali to pose as George Washington for a portrait. When I arrived in Chicago, Ali changed his
mind and said, 'I won't pose as Washington, he had slaves. I want to be a slave.' I had to find an authentic slave costume with no zips or buttons, just tied together with rope, in two hours on a Sunday. My taxi driver knew of a seamstress who came to my rescue. Ali was pleased with the outfit and said he knew exactly where he wanted the photo taken. So off we went to a park on the South Side of Chicago. As we walked into the park, I carried the chains around Ali's legs so he
wouldn't trip. We walked up a slight hill. Looking down into the ravine below we saw several young black men with stocking caps on their heads, drinking beer and talking. Ali looked at them and started shouting at the top of his lungs, 'Look at me! Look at what this white man has done to me! Brothers, he has me in chains! Why are you standing there? Look at me!' I hesitated as their expressions changed from surprise to serious, and I must say, a bit menacing. I looked around to see if I could out-run them, but there was no way. Finally Ali broke into laughter and hugged me, and the tension subsided. After the shoot, as we were walking to the car, a young boy came up to Ali who graciously and quietly shook his hand. A memorable day if I do say so!"
Harry Benson is a world-renowned photographer.Harry BensonAli in Louisville, Ky., 1961Freddie Roach: “As a kid, I was always a Joe Frazier fan. But I became a fan of Ali later in life. Ali never went by the book. He was an unorthodox fighter. He did everything technically wrong in the ring, but he won. He changed the game of boxing. He brought big money to the sport. Several years ago, Ali came to my gym, the Wild Card. He flirted with the girls. He talked with everyone. He was there for hours. I didn’t call anyone. The regulars just came in, and there was Ali hitting the bags. It was the greatest moment my gym has ever had. He hit the heavy bag, and the tremors went away, just like when I get in the ring to work the pads, my tremors go away.” Freddie Roach is a Boxing Hall of Fame member and five-time Trainer of the Year.Art Shay–Polaris Ali and Sonny Liston in Miami, 1964Mark Kauffman–Sports IllustratedAli in Miami Beach, 1970Dana White: "Ali has always been a hero to me. Here is a kid from Louisville without an education, who was a fighter, and he captivated the world. Fighting is in our DNA. Guys who are fighters are born to it, and he was a great fighter — the way he moved for such a big guy — but I can pop in a DVD and sit for hours and just listen to Ali talk. I love to listen to the things he said — the trash-talking was hilarious — but he was also a man who talked about things and did things. He stood up against the Vietnam War, and he stood up against racism. No one will ever be like Ali. There is one and only one Ali. He will go down as one of the greatest human beings to ever walk on earth."
Dana White is the president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Gordon Parks—Time & Life PicturesMuhammad Ali vs. Sonny Liston, Miami Beach, 1964LL Cool J: "My fondest memory is his representative reaching out to me to ask me why my album was titled The G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time). And since this was the first time G.O.A.T. was used in hip-hop, we had to explain to them that Ali is the greatest of all time in boxing and I am the greatest of all time in hip-hop. His reps understood and let me roll." LL Cool J is a rap artist and actor.APBert Sugar and Ali in Deer Lake, Pa., 1973Bert Sugar: “One of the reasons Muhammad Ali was so remarkable was that the boxing fraternity did not immediately recognize what he was doing. This wasn’t the standard pose, style, nor approach to boxing. Theoretically, it's supposed to be near fatal to pull your head straight back. He was fast enough to get away with it — moving faster backward than the rest of us could move forward. They'd never seen that before. I went in myself to see what the hell he was doing and got the bejabbers kicked out of me. It wasn't exactly white man's revenge, but he was something special. You really had to see him at work — to explain is really to do it and the reader an injustice. There had never been a heavyweight that fast. There had never been a heavyweight with the moves he had. You had no precedent to judge it by. We had never seen anything like this before. That night he fought Joe Frazier on March 8, 1971 — it wasn't a fight. It was an event! You couldn't get into New York that day, there was so much traffic. The limousines went from Madison Square Garden on 33rd Street all the way up to 120th Street, lined up to let people off. This is a man that means so much to us, and I've been privileged to know him through the years.”
Bert Sugar is a boxing writer and sports historian.Courtesy of Bert SugarAli and Joe Frazier in Philadelphia, 1971John Shearer—Time & Life PicturesAli in Washington, D.C., 1976Diana Walker: "I was just starting out as a freelance photographer when I took this picture of Ali — or was he Cassius Clay then? It was April 1976. I knew nothing about boxing. I had never photographed a boxer. I knew nothing. I just knew, when I saw him that day in the ring and heard him declare he could 'float like a butterfly, sting like a bee,' that he was a true star: he had it all over him. He was sparring for the press, talking in rhymes about his upcoming fight with Jimmy Young. I was there with a great friend who was doing a freelance piece for the Village Voice. You could say neither of us was very experienced or seasoned ... maybe not knowing the rules very well helped us get closer to Muhammad Ali!"Diana Walker is longtime contributor to TIME magazine.Diana WalkerAli landing a shot on opponent Joe Frazier in Manila, 1975Manny Pacquiao: “Growing up, I was aware of what the legendary Muhammad Ali achieved in and out of the ring. Filipinos have a special place in their hearts for Ali because his greatest win took place in the Philippines in 1975. Although I was not yet born when he fought the very best, I learned from watching his fights on television and the stories that I heard of how great he truly was during his prime. Nobody can doubt his achievements in the ring. He did not back away from any fight. There is no doubt that he influenced me as a fighter because of the things that he did inside and outside the ring. He is a classy competitor and, more important, a true human being. I can say that he had a hand in making me what I am today."
Manny Pacquiao is the first eight-division world-champion boxer. He is also a Congressman in his native Philippines, where he is hailed as "the national fist."Lawrence Schiller—Contact Press ImagesAli avoids a punch by George Foreman in Kinshasa, Zaire, 1974Larry Merchant: "Like many writers of that day, I had a professional and personal relationship with him. He was a great athlete and a pied piper who everyone wanted to follow. He was the biggest kid and the strongest man. We were flying to Zaire for the fight with George Foreman; he sat down next to me and said, 'If he doesn't get me in seven, his parachute won't open. If I can stay in there with him, he'll come apart.' He used the rope-a-dope tactic, which was improvised, and he found that Foreman was inescapable. He was informed by this observation that Foreman would wear himself out. Ali knocked him out in the eighth round. There was no one else on the planet who could have done it. He could do magic tricks. He has this twinkle in his eye — it is his playfulness, bombast and politics, all of which were virtually unique in an elite athlete."
Larry Merchant is a former sportswriter and longtime commentator for HBO Sports.Abbas–Magnum Ali in Chicago, 1966Richard Stengel: "Muhammad Ali was one of the great inventors of the 20th century. He invented a new way to box ("float like a butterfly, sting like a bee"), he invented a new way for athletes and celebrities to talk about themselves (the heck with modesty: "I am the greatest"), and he essentially invented the modern way for public figures to have a social cause for which they made a true sacrifice (Ali's conscientious-objector status during the Vietnam War took him out of the ring for nearly three years in his prime). So much of the world we live in was pioneered by Muhammad Ali."
Richard Stengel is the managing editor of TIME magazine.Thomas Hoepker—MagnumAli and Etta James in Zaire, 1974Lynn Goldsmith: "I made this image of Muhammad Ali and Etta James in Zaire, Africa, in September of 1974. There was a music festival that was going to be on at the same time as the Ali-Foreman "Rumble in the Jungle" fight. It was intended to promote racial and cultural solidarity between African-American and African people. Artists like James Brown, B.B. King, the Spinners, Bill Withers, the Pointer Sisters, etc,. were scheduled to perform. Often after a day of training at his camp, Ali would hang out with some of these musicians. His strong, charismatic personality overwhelmed them. He always took control of the room because he was the Greatest. The only exception was with Etta. Unlike the bravado he had around other artists, Ali seemed like a little boy looking for her approval. He knew just how to get into anyone's heart." Lynn Goldsmith is a celebrity-portrait photographer. Lynn GoldsmithAli weighs in, Toronto, 1966Bob Arum: "I met Muhammad Ali in 1965 and promoted my first fight — Muhammad Ali vs. George Chuvalo — in Toronto, Canada, in March of 1966. Ali epitomized all of the momentous changes happening in the country, and because he was so outspoken, he had a leadership role in those changes. His stance against the Vietnam War and his refusal to serve in the military was a brave and principled decision. It was made at a time when the people in the country had not turned against the war, and it turned Ali into a pariah with most of the public. His outspokenness concerning the treatment of black people in the United States caused many people to reflect on the intolerable situation that most black people found themselves in. While many recognize Ali as a great athlete and boxer, he was to me representing a defining voice in a significant era of history."
Bob Arum was Ali’s boxing promoter. Herb Scharfman—Sports IllustratedJoe Frazier and Ali at Frazier's gym in Philadelphia, 1971George Kalinsky: "This photo of Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier head to head was taken in Joe Frazier's gym in February 1971, one month before the "Fight of the Century," Ali-Frazier I. I was alone in Joe's gym with the two undefeated heavyweight champions, and I asked them to go head to head and nose to nose, which was the first time it ever had been done — nobody had ever thought of posing fighters like that before. As I started taking photos of both fighters, I asked them to start looking like they would the night of the fight. Joe started with a tap, then Ali followed ... they started jabbing, and all of a sudden Joe hit Ali in the midsection so hard that he briefly stunned Ali, who fell against the wall. Ali, being the ultimate showman, quickly pulled his trunks up to his neck and said, 'Joe Frazier, you can really hit.' Joe replied, 'Clay, that's the way it's going to be the night of the fight.' "George Kalinsky is an award-winning photographer.George Kalinsky Ali on horseback in Deer Lake, Pa., 1974Anton Perich: "When I took this picture of Ali on a horse, it brought back a mythical experience from my childhood. In the little chapel in my village, there was an altarpiece depicting St. George on horseback, slaying the dragon. In front of Ali, I was so moved — the champion had the dignity, elegance, strength and beauty of the saint. Ali’s horse, like St. George’s, lacked none of that. It was a majestic moment, when reality meets mythology." Anton Perich is a filmmaker and photographer.Anton PerichAli training in Kinshasa, ZaireAbbas: "Muhammad Ali during a training bout in Kinshasa, Zaire. Ali is lean and fast, a magnificent athlete in his full mature glory. I cannot help but wonder if his running around the ring is not also an exercise in deliberate disinformation, a trick to disorient his adversary. Before the match, Ali had everyone believing he would 'float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.' He did exactly the opposite. He played the ropes, letting Foreman exhaust himself by throwing punches Ali took in because he had hardened his body during training. On that celebrated night, Ali did not win with his fists only. He won with his mind. My photo suggests the alliance of the body with the mind." Abbas is a photographer represented by Magnum. Abbas—MagnumMalcolm X and Muhammad Ali in Miami, 1964Dr. Todd Boyd: "On Feb. 25, 1964, the former Cassius Marcellus Clay shook up the world. Two months later, I would make my own entrance into the world that he had shaken. Let's just say that I was born under the sign of Ali. Over the course of my life, as I came to appreciate his, I would be inspired by the walk that he walked and the talk that he talked. Ali taught me that in spite of the haters who may diligently attempt to stagnate my own progress, I could still mount a defiant resistance to the dictates of the conformity with style, swagger and a prodigiously poetic mouthpiece. In other words, Muhammad Ali taught me that in a land often filled with imitators, one could still manage to be an original. And for this I am eternally grateful."
Dr. Todd Boyd is an author and a professor of critical studies at USC. Bob Gomel—TIME Life Pictures/Getty ImagesAli and Antonio Inoki in Japan, 1976David Burnett: "After Ali's crazy bout with Japanese wrestler Antonio Inoki in June 1976, he was encouraged by Taekwando impresario Jhoon Rhee (then of Washington, D.C.) to visit Korea. I was approached in the lobby of the hotel in Tokyo by Rhee, who invited me and another photographer friend to join the entourage the following day — he'd pay the air ticket. It seemed like a great chance. On the flight to Seoul, I did what was probably the world's quickest interview with Ali. (PEOPLE had asked me to get a quote.) 'Help me out, Champ,' I implored him, and while my notebook doesn't survive today, I'm sure his response was enough to make my editors happy. What we sometimes forget is that during the 1970s, when he was still the Champ (whether he had the title or not), Ali was the most recognizable, most famous person in the world. In the streets of Tokyo, in the throngs awaiting him in Seoul, were faces filled with excitement at seeing or perhaps even shaking hands with this most amazing of personages. Shaking hands with Muhammad Ali was about as good as it gets."David Burnett is a photojournalist and co-founder of Contact Press Images.David Burnett—Contact Press ImagesAli, 1972Michael J. Fox: "When he declared himself 'The Greatest,' he didn't say the greatest boxer, athlete or horse's ass for that matter — he didn’t care. He supplied the adjective; selecting the appropriate noun was your business. He just said, 'The Greatest of All Time.' And I agree."
Michael J. Fox is an Emmy Award–winning actor and Parkinson's activist.Getty Images Ali with the photographer’s son Corey in Lewiston, Maine, 1965Bob Gomel: "Ali has two personas — one public, one private. With my wife, two boys and our German shepherd in tow, I covered the preparation for his rematch with Sonny Liston in Lewiston, Maine, for LIFE magazine. Ali could not have been more solicitous and caring. He and his brother Rahaman kept a kosher Muslim kitchen at Jack Paar's hotel and provided sterilization of the reusable milk-bottle nipples for our youngest son Barry. The braggadocio and histrionics were strictly for show. The Ali we knew was a considerate and warmhearted man." Bob Gomel is a former LIFE magazine photographer.Bob Gomel–courtesy of Monroe GalleryAli in San Pedro, Ivory Coast, 1997Ann Curry: "This man has committed himself in a way most people don’t fully realize. I think it’s hard to quantify humanitarian impact. You win a title, and they give you a fancy belt and your name up in lights. When you make children less hungry, when you ease suffering, when you make people less afraid, when you increase equality in the world, there’s not as much fanfare or attention, but the impact actually is deeper and long lasting. I'm here to say that and stand up for him on his 70th birthday.”
Ann Curry is a news journalist, NBC Today show anchor and Dateline NBC host.David Guttenfelder—APAli during a weeklong protest against the Vietnam War draft in San Francisco, 1968Tommie Smith: "The blink in his eye when he was socially bound and stripped from his heavyweight boxing title." Tommie Smith is a former Olympic athlete in track and field.Bettmann/CorbisAtlanta Braves outfielder Hank Aaron and Ali in Los Angeles, 1969George Washington: “Two African-American sports icons showing the ultimate respect for the work and achievements of the other by exchanging autographs in this July 8, 1969, image taken in Los Angeles. Hammerin’ Henry Aaron, raised in the deep South, overcame tremendous racism to become baseball’s home-run king. In many circles, folks believe his mark of 755 is still the best of all time. On the subject of all-time, while Aaron delivered his message with his bat, Muhammad Ali did it with his fists, his feet and his ability to speak out. He is the Greatest of All Time. The most photographed man on the planet, Muhammad Ali is and was the inspiration for an entire race, and his charisma, wisdom and courage had the strength to jolt and awaken this country and the rest of the world at a time when we needed it most. This image says so much to me. It makes me proud to be an African American and helps me recognize the levels of achievement that are possible in character first, well before we get to sports. It is my hope that one day my young children will see this picture, feel this picture and appreciate the influence that these men made on our society.”
George Washington is the deputy picture editor of Sports Illustrated.Bettmann/CorbisAli after a fight with Leon Spinks in Las Vegas, 1978Michael Gaffney: "Muhammad Ali's easy smile hid the humiliating pain he felt for the shocking loss of the heavyweight title to Leon Spinks, as the legend faced the world media in a postfight press conference at the Las Vegas Hilton. Gracious in defeat, a stunned Ali congratulated Spinks and said to reporters, 'I lost fair and square to Spinks. I did everything right, and I lost. I lost simply because Spinks was better, that's all. It's just another experience in my life, nothing to cry about.' This rekindled the fight within the fighter, and seven months later, Muhammad Ali would beat Leon Spinks to win back the heavyweight championship for an unprecedented third time, and the world recognized this extraordinary man as 'The Greatest.'" Michael Gaffney was Muhammad Ali's personal photographer in 1977.Michael GaffneyAli in action at Yankee Stadium, New York City, 1976 Lennox Lewis: "He's the greatest fighter who ever lived. I used to sit with my mother in front of the TV and watch Ali fight. I always got mad if I didn't see the Ali shuffle. It always inspires me."
Lennox Lewis was the undisputed world heavyweight champion from 1999 to 2004.Jerry Cooke—Sports IllustratedAli in an elaborate robe made for him by Elvis Presley, 1973Billie Jean King: "Muhammad Ali is one of the few people who can say they are the greatest in the world ... and really back it up. He transcends time, remains relative to people of all ages and truly is an American treasure. Our careers played out together, and often we spent time side by side at awards banquets, and to this day, every time our paths cross, he leans close to me and says, 'Billie Jean King, you’re the Queen.' Yes, Muhammad Ali, you truly are the greatest ... and you’re the King." Billie Jean King is a professional tennis player.Isaac Sutton–Ebony Collection/APAli before his match against Leon Spinks in New Orleans, 1978Bill Walton: "Happy birthday, Champ! And after all these years, how remarkable it is that you still remain, simply, 'The Greatest.' We are eternally grateful for your sacrifice, vision, leadership and courage. We salute you for your power, finesse, intellect, creativity, imagination and the ability to deliver inspiration and peak performance on command. But mostly we want to say thank you!"
Bill Walton is a former ABC, ESPN and NBC basketball announcer and NBA All-Star basketball player.Patrick Frilet—SIPAAli during the filming of When We Were Kings in Zaire, 1974Leon Gast: “I watched the first-ever televised heavyweight championship fight in 1946, between Joe Louis and Billy Conn, at my uncle Billie's house in Jersey City, N.J. From that early experience I became a lifelong boxing fan. Ten years later I moved to New York City, just eight blocks from St. Nick's Boxing Arena on 66th St. — a smoky, small venue — where I saw some of the greatest fighters of the era, including Cassius Clay against Billy Daniels. I was in the cheap seats at Madison Square Garden for Ali-Frazier I [in 1971] and Ali-Frazier II [in 1974]. I couldn’t have dreamed of meeting Muhammad Ali. Then in 1974, I heard about a dream project that was searching for a director. It was an Ali–George Foreman documentary. I contacted Ali’s representatives, and I was invited to Deer Lake, Pa., where he owned a 22-acre training camp. There were so many people around him — his entourage, his children; he sparred with Larry Holmes. I have many memories of Ali, but I always remember him saying, 'Be truthful.' He would always tell journalists and members of his entourage, 'Tell the truth.' The next thing I knew, I was in New York with him and then on a plane with my cameraman as we went to Paris, Spain, and then Kinshasa, Zaire. He gave me complete access for a film that would become When We Were Kings. He is a mesmerizing subject on many different levels, and I was lucky enough to have a front-row seat to one of the most important sports figures ever. When We Were Kings changed my life. It opened doors for me. It always goes back to that first time I met Ali, in Deer Lake, Pa. There was Ali, with that magical smile, saying, 'Be truthful.'"
Leon Gast directed the 1996 documentary When We Were Kings about the epic "Rumble in the Jungle” match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. Gramercy Pictures/Courtesy of Everett CollectionAli vs. George Foreman in Zaire, 1974Al Sharpton: "I chose this photo because it took place in 1974 in Zaire, Africa, where Ali regained his title of heavyweight champion of the world after having been stripped of this title for refusing to serve in the war in Vietnam and being persecuted for his religious beliefs. He returned in triumph to prove he was great and that night became a hero across the world."
Al Sharpton is a Baptist minister, civil rights activist and television and radio talk-show host.Tony Triolo—Sports IllustratedThe Rev. Jesse Jackson and Ali in New York City, 1978The Rev. Jesse Jackson: “Ali is a champion but moreover a hero. I met him with Dr. King – Ali declared himself to be champion and proved it by knocking out his opponents. But champions stand on the people’s shoulders. They are fairly common. He was a hero because he was a social transformer. People stand on heroes' shoulders. Ali used the platform of the ring to make real his religion and apply a principle with great sacrifice to his career and resources: to end the war. Muhammad Ali is a noble human being, one of the finest our culture has ever produced. Happy birthday, Ali.”
The Rev. Jesse Jackson is a civil rights activist and Baptist minister. Bettmann/CorbisAli, right, fights Joe Frazier in Manila, 1975Mitsunori Chigita–APAli at his training camp in Pennsylvania, 1978Dr. Harry Edwards: “As a 1960s sports activist, I stood in profound awe and admiration of Muhammad Ali as he steadfastly risked everything in deference to his religious beliefs and political convictions. For me and millions around the world, his courage and commitment elevated him from the greatest boxer of his era to a transcendent and enduring cultural hero and icon whose life and contributions helped define the character of a generation both within and beyond the sports arena. It has been an honor and a privilege to know him.”
Dr. Harry Edwards is a sociologist whose work focuses on the experiences of African-American athletes. He is a professor emeritus at the University of California, Berkeley.Gunther/mptvimagesAli in Louisville, Ky., 1976Bill Luster:: "Muhammad Ali comes to Louisville, Ky., his hometown, a lot. One week in 1976, he came to participate in the Black Expo of Louisville. As part of the expo, he held an exhibition fight at Louisville Gardens in downtown Louisville. Before the fight, he invited reporters and photographers into his locker room. I stayed around for a few minutes after everyone else was ushered out and was able to make the picture of him sitting in a hallway of the locker room before he changed for the exhibition. Ali is a photographer's dream. He is very conscious of his image and loves to have his photograph made. I like the photograph because of of its simplicity and his persona." Bill Luster is a staff photographer at the Courier-Journal in Louisville, Ky.Bill Luster—The Courier-JournalAli in Atlanta, 1970Larry Bird: “To say you are ‘The Greatest’ and then back it up is not only a sign of self-confidence but of having the talent and will to do it. Ali became a champion in his sport, a worldwide-recognized figure who, when you thought of boxing, and maybe still do so today, you think of Muhammad Ali.
On a side note, Ali visited our locker room a few years ago after a game. A loud, boisterous room became extremely silent in reverence. Then our players, one by one and like little kids, all went to shake his hand and get a picture. I’ve been with the Pacers 18 years and never seen one man take over a room without saying a word."Larry Bird is a retired NBA player for the Boston Celtics and former head coach of the Indiana Pacers.AP Ali's mountaintop training camp in Deer Lake, Pa., 1977Michael Brennan: "I had attempted this picture on numerous previous occasions, with no success. Ali and I both needed to be precisely where we were at that exact moment for this image to exist. As he prepared for his 1977 collision with the dangerous and fearsome puncher Earnie Shavers, it all came together in one moment for this ever inspiring image. The picture was taken at Muhammad's mountaintop training camp at Deer Lake during his preparation for his Sept. 29 bout with Shavers held at New York City's Madison Square Garden. It was probably taken on Sept. 17. Ali was down on most of the judges' cards going into the last rounds. However, he produced a masterful final three minutes to pull off a controversial victory. Many years later, he ran his right index finger over the photo and whispered to no one in particular, 'I can feel the texture of all the sweat and hard work. I can feel my life.' The portrait, titled 1977, is now part of the permanent collection of the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C." Michael Brennan is a documentary and celebrity photographer.Michael BrennanAli after knocking down Sonny Liston in Lewiston, Maine, 1965Don Delliquanti: "Attorneys have a rule to never ask a question to which they already do not know the answer. Unfortunately for me, I did not learn this rule until I had asked such a question. In October of 1971, I was riding in a rented station wagon back to New York City with some Sports Illustrated photographers who had finished photographing the final World Series game. One of the photographers was the late Herb Scharfman, a veteran who was equally skillful photographing both baseball and boxing. Somewhere along the New Jersey Turnpike, I began talking boxing with Herb and happened to ask if he was the SI photographer who shot the famous photo of Muhammad Ali standing over Sonny Liston. Herbie answered with an icy 'No,' and our conversation ended abruptly. A few days after we returned to New York City, I noticed the Neil Leifer photo hanging on a wall at SI, and there was Herbie Scharfman in the photo on the opposite side of the ring between Ali's legs, exactly 180 degrees away from one of the greatest photos ever taken ... and then I knew!"
Don Delliquanti is the former deputy picture editor and a 25-year veteran at Sports Illustrated.Neil Leifer—Sports Illustrated
