Two of the Greatest

All my life I’ve enjoyed watching sports and growing up as a kid, I had many sports heroes. But if I had to choose my all-time favorite, it would be Muhammad Ali.

As a kid I read every book or magazine on Ali that I could get my hands on-- and of course, I watched him on TV.

Back then title matches were broadcast on network television-- there was no pay-per-view or HBO. It was Wide World of Sports and Friday Night Fights.

But back then also, it wasn’t just about watching the fights themselves-— it was the coverage leading up to the fights.

And with Ali, those moments were always very entertaining. He was poetic, and he was witty. He was clever, and he was profound.

But those classic TV moments would not have been the same without Mr. “I just tell it like it is,” Howard Cosell.

Cosell had become famous (or infamous) through his work on Monday Night Football, but it was his role as Muhammad Ali’s side-kick that will forever be ingrained in my childhood sports memories.

The amazing thing looking back at that time is the social impact those two men had on this country during a very turbulent period in our nation’s history.

The civil rights movement was gaining momentum in the early 1960s, but discrimination and racial prejudice was prevalent throughout America.

And both Ali and Cosell knew discrimination very well. Ali is African-American, but at the height of his fame, he was also brash and boisterous and he never shied away from speaking out on issues such as race, social injustices, or the Vietnam War. But doing so was considered very controversial during that time period.

Now Howard Cosell was loved by some, but hated by many. He too also never hesitated to speak out on controversial issues. Cosell was Jewish, and often received anti-Semitic mail, as well as hate mail from racist fans who despised his support of African-American athletes.

In 1967, Ali refused for religious reasons to be drafted to fight in the Vietnam War. He was subsequently arrested for draft evasion, stripped of his heavyweight title, and his boxing license was suspended.

Cosell was outraged by those events. He claimed Ali was being singled out because he was an outspoken African-American who opposed the Vietnam War.

Ali's license to fight would eventually be reinstated and he would go on to regain his heavyweight title in 1974 when he knocked out George Foreman in the 8th round.

Now the 1960s and '70s were a turbulent time in our country's history when issues such as race and equality often caused a divide in this country.

I don't believe there is a better example of any two men, two completely different, yet very similar men, whose relationship and friendship impacted the issues of race and equality greater than Muhammad Ali and Howard Cosell.

Eagles Tame Cats for First SoCon Win

Antonio Hanson redefined the phrase “on-fire!” against Western Carolina on Saturday, hitting six three-pointers in the 1st half in an amazing display of outside shooting. The first three shots he drained were critical as the Eagles fell behind 6-0 early, but were quickly back in it thanks to the red-hot shooting of Hanson.

Rory Spencer played by far his best game of the season, going 7-8 from the floor for 18 points. Spencer has great ability, but has disappeared at times during critical moments in games when his inside presence is much needed. He maintained great intensity throughout the game, scoring 12 points in the 2nd half in addition to his four rebounds and three blocked shots.

The Eagles led by six at the half even though Willie Powers had zero points. That is unbelievable in itself. Powers was clutch in the 2nd half, however, netting 19 points including 10-12 from the free-throw line down the stretch. His dribble penetration created opportunities for him to get to the line and end several WCU runs in the 2nd half.

The “Glue-Man” award (the player who was the glue that tied everything together, “Mr. Intangible” if you will) goes to Johntavious Rucker. It is obvious why Coach Young calls Rucker the heartbeat of the team. His intensity alone on Saturday might have willed the Eagles to victory. His four steals and five rebounds came at critical times on Saturday and his communication on the court with his teammates earn Johntay this week’s Glue-Man award.

Hanner Fieldhouse was alive on Saturday, even though students were still returning to campus from Christmas break. This win should give the Eagles some much-needed confidence as conference play begins to heat up. The Eagles play two games on the road (beginning this Thursday at Wofford) before returning to Hanner Fieldhouse for four straight home games.

The Lady Eagles dropped their 4th straight Southern Conference game on Saturday, falling 53-57 against the College of Charleston. GSU held a 10-point lead mid-way through the 2nd half, but the team played too tentative offensively down the stretch.

I for one would like to see Krista Tate get more aggressive with the ball-- she only took 2 shots in 26 minutes. The team needs 8-10 points per game from her if they’re going to make a run for the conference title.

The Lady Eagles look to bounce back tonight at home versus Furman— I’ll be there, you should be too.