I hate it that someone with the personality and intelligence and character of Muhammad Ali had to become famous though punching other, mostly black men, and being punched by them for the entertainment of, mostly, white men.   I don't have any idea what role that played in the long, progressive illness that robbed him of years of health and the ability to fulfill his potential but I can't imagine it's entirely unrelated.   Boxing is a horrible form of entertainment, one of a number of sports which are promoted by the same media and on air personalities who are, this morning, speaking about his death in such cloying and maudlin phrases. 

May his family and his friends find comfort in who he was and what he dedicated himself to doing with his fame.   May future generations of young people not be attracted to or need to gain fame through boxing and other such destructive sports.