The 2016 ESPYS had a special tribute to boxing legend Muhammad Ali, honoring “The Greatest.”
During the 2016 ESPYS, a special tribute was given to the late Muhammad Ali, the legendary boxer who passed away on June 3 of this year. Regarded as the greatest boxer of all time, it was Ali’s personality and courage that outweighed his prowess in the ring, as he is thought of as the most significant and celebrated sports figure of the 20th century.
Ali stood for what he believed in, even if that meant going to jail for dodging the draft. He was as outspoken outside of the ring as he was in it, and he became the role model of what athletes should be like. He was a political activist, a global humanitarian, and spent his life loving people no matter their background.
The ESPYS tribute was presented by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, a fellow activist who spoke of his relationship with the former champ. Jabbar met Ali 50 years ago, and the first time he met him, he was actually performing magic tricks on the street. To Kareem, it was a small sample of who Ali was.
Abdul-Jabbar then spoke of Ali’s “magic,” which was his ability to make the impossible look real. He said his friend knew how to handle fame, spoke fearlessly, and sacrificed for his principles.
Kareem stated that we will never see someone like Ali again, and his hope was that his death would spur his successors to be like him. It was a touching tribute by one of Ali’s closest friends.
Following Abdul-Jabbar’s words, Chance the Rapper performed to a montage of Ali’s life. The performance was breathtaking, and it was a fitting tribute to “The Greatest.”
While the memory of this night may fade, the legacy of the man who wore the gloves never will.
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