Wilma Rudolph, Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali), Peter Snell and Herb Elliott were the brightest stars in Rome
Sixty years ago this week, the Summer Olympics kicked off. From Aug. 25 to Sept. 11, Rome was the centre of international sporting attention as athletes from more than 80 countries competed for glory. And there was more happening than athletic competition. The Second World War had only concluded 15 years previously and the selection…
Where Ali was flamboyantly boastful, Louis was studiously modest and where Ali was outspokenly defiant, Louis was respectfully deferential
Muhammad Ali’s recent death brought to mind another famous 20th century black American boxer. In his own way and in his own time, Joe Louis was just as famous as Ali. And by some estimations, he was an even better fighter. Born Joseph Louis Barrow in 1914 rural Alabama, Louis moved with his family to…
"I’ve never been treated so nice in my life (as in Canada)"
Muhammad Ali was a larger-than-life figure with masterful oratorical skills, innate intelligence and a quick wit. Still, it’s Ali’s unusual link to Canada that has intrigued me the most. The three-time world heavyweight champion, who died June 3 at age 74, had two epic battles with Canadian George Chuvalo. They went 15 rounds at Toronto’s…