Muhammad Ali, a different kind of sports hero

When Muhammad Ali burst onto the scene, no one knew what to make of him

Muhammad Ali.
(Image credit: AP Photo/John Rooney)

Editor's note: Muhammad Ali, one of the world's greatest boxers and one of the 20th century's biggest personalities, died on June 3, 2016 in Phoenix, after being hospitalized for respiratory problems. This article was originally published on May 20, 2011.

Muhammad Ali was my first Big Story. He put my name on Page 1. He made me a columnist. He was also the single most important sporting lens through which I learned about politics, religion, race, and hero worship. Loving Ali has been easy. It's grasping what he stands for at any given moment that's been hard.

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