In Memory of Muhammad Ali and Gordie Howe

As I was putting the wraps on this column and telling you what an awesome summer we’re having in San Diego, a breaking newsflash came out stating that the family of Muhammad Ali were gathering at a Phoenix medical facility where "The Greatest" was under observation. Hours later, his passing was announced. Love him or hate him, Ali was an illuminating figure for over 50 years throughout the world, right up until his passing.

After winning the gold medal at the age of 18 in the 1960 Olympic Games, then winning the Heavyweight title by upsetting Sonny Liston just four years later, Ali became a source of pride for the African-American community. Two years after winning the Heavyweight title, Ali was stripped of his title for citing his religious beliefs in opposing America’s involvement in the Vietnam War. Ali was charged and convicted of draft evasion; his conviction was later overturned by the Supreme Court, but it had cost him four peak years of his career.

To this day, Ali is the only person to have won the Boxing Heavyweight title three times. His fights with George Foreman and Joe Frazier remain some of the greatest in boxing history. This is a man who lived his life against all odds and walked to the beat of his own drum. It has been said that Ali took around 29,000 blows to the head and body throughout his career; these blows are thought to be the leading cause of his Parkinson’s Disease that affected Ali throughout the later stages of his life. One of my fondest memories of Ali’s life outside of the ring was at the 1996 Olympic Games, where he carried the torch to light the arrow that was used to ignite the flame. As the behind the scenes story goes, Ali’s arm began to tremble while holding the torch during the transfer, and he burnt his arm in an effort to not drop it.

Then, as I was finishing this revised column, news broke of the passing of "Mr. Hockey" Gordie Howe. Gordie Howe was the first player to score 1,000 career goals in the NHL, and he led the Detroit Red Wings to four Stanley Cups over the 25 years he played with the Michigan club. Gordie Howe had one of the longest careers in hockey history when he once again strapped on his skates at the age of 52 and played with his son for the Houston Aeros in WHA. Howe had one of the greatest careers in sports and was a legend in his own time.

It’s not often we have two of sports’ greatest figures passing so close together. These are men that helped to redefine their respective sports as we know them today. These are the figures that all athletes strive to become and children dream about meeting one day. So here’s to keeping that dream alive and pursuing excellence even after the passing of Ali and Howe.