What impact has Muhammad Ali had on America?

Question

What impact has Muhammad Ali had on America?

Answer 1

During his time, Muhammad Ali was boxing.  The whole world stopped whenever he fought.  Some wanted him to get beat for all the taunting and the crazy things he said to hype his fights.  But regardless, they all watched him.  Everyone, from fighters to promoters and advertisers wanted a piece of him because it meant money for all of them so from that standpoint, he impacted America's economy a great deal.  This paved the way for lucrative deals and endorsements for star athletes that came after him, Michael Jordan included.

However, Ali was bigger than boxing.  What he did outside the boxing ring was equally legendary.  No athlete in his right frame of mind would sacrifice his fame and money for his beliefs and principles.  But Ali did just that and so he became a hero to many, especially the black people.  He became as important as Martin Luther King and all those civil rights leaders.  And when he returned to the ring, he accomplished even more greater things that made us all believe that he actually was and still is the greatest.

Answer 2

Ali showed us that you could come full circle in your career and in life. lets face it when he was young most people watched his fights just to see him lose. later he fought people that were supposed kill him and won the hearts of the people. unfortunately, he also showed us that boxing is a young mans sport . after winning our hearts, they were ripped out watching' his last couple of fights.  he gave us more than just great fights, consider his impact as a humanitarian. from loud mouth radical to lighting the Olympic torch, that's full circle. he's the greatest!!!!

Answer 3

muhummad ali was a person nobody had seen before of since he came along most fighters with alis style were in lighter weights billy conn who was really a light heavyweight and gene tunney who was also really a lightheavyweight were the closest things to ali prior to his amazing career and even they werent as fast as ali ali was a freak of nature out of all the heavyweights he could also take a punch and hit harder than people give him credit for he certaintly hit harder than both tunney and conn and knocked out guys who could take a punch no dought ali was the best heavyweight ever and the top three best fighters pound for pound of all time

Answer 4

He taught America that you can be a coward and dodge the draft and get away with it.

Answer 5

He represents the war-hating sector of the american society. His refusal to be drafted isn't cowardice....he's never gonna be on the war frontline anyway. He just doesn't like the idea of young men going to old politicians' wars. It takes more courage to make a stand on that than to hold a gun.

Answer 6

none

Answer 7

Do you mean positive or negative?

Positive:

1. He was a role model for many when none was to be found.  Unlike any other athlete, he was willing to participate in the civil rights movement despite the negative impact on him.  He thought that discrimination was wrong and was vocal about it.  This had an obviously negative impact on him.

2. He was self sacrificing for his beliefs.  He gave up his best years for religious beliefs.  How many of our current political leaders avoided service and gave up their best years...there are none.  He still practices the very religion that was supposed to be his "draft dodging" excuse.  That's a long time to put up an act.

3. He participates in hunger and poverty relief.  The guy has spent more time doing this than most people...not to mention giving more money than most of us will make in a lifetime.

4. Social impact.  There is no denying that he was as important a social figure as he was an athlete.  He used his athletic fame to further civil rights in this country.

Negative:

1. He was bolsterous.  This is not necessarily bad if, like Ali, you wanted to beat the best.  Unfortunately, high profile athletes (in most sports) after Ali used this ploy in mostly negative ways and to increase income.  If you are good at talking smack, then you deserve to be paid.  

2. He commanded large purses for each fight.  Again....not a negative, but athletes after him felt that they also deserved a lot of money and for doing a whole lot less than what Ali ever did.  

Ali set the mold that most modern day athletes broke as soon as they found out that they could not measure up to his legacy.  Nowadays, athletes do all of the superficial things that Ali did to garner attention and want to be paid buckets of money, but do not have the same level of talent that Ali had.  

Wether or not that is a negative, his example was diluted to the point were all that was significant and positive is now gone.  

He is an original and I doubt there will be any athlete that will ever have the social impact Ali has had......it too much work to be that principled.

Answer 8

he was a great boxer

Answer 9

In boxing he is probably regarded as the greatest boxer ever.   He probably changed the sport more than any other man.