It was with mounting annoyance that I read a Fox Sports article about Muhammad Ali and his “sickening appearance” at a Marlins game the other day.
Fox Sports journalist Robert Craddock described the scene as “quite sickening”.
“The Kentucky-born superstar with the lightning-fast hands – and even faster tongue – is barely a shell of his former self,” read a News Limited commentary.
Ali’s appearance at a Marlin’s game involved him being driven around the ground in a golf cart, with his hands shaking from Parkinson’s disease, and meeting some of the players.
Why am I annoyed? Because the tone and text of the article suggested that Ali should stay out of the public eye and stop making any more public appearances because his condition makes people uncomfortable.
Excuse me?
That Ali has Parkinson’s is no secret. Indeed, he and Michael J. Fox are the most famous sufferers in the world.
That Parkinson’s causes uncontrollable tremors is again no surprise, thanks in a large part to the work that Ali and Fox have done to publicise and promote research into the disease.
I can remember watching Ali lighting the Olympic flame at the opening ceremony of the Atlanta Olympics in 1996.
That was 16 years ago. His hands were shaking then.
If anything, Ali’s appearance on the weekend demonstrates that the disease has not beaten him, that his formidable will power and strength have not left him.
These are positive things.
There is also a sense of a reality about it.
Ali’s Parkinsons is suggested to be linked to the blows to his head he suffered as a boxer. It is a very real consequence. Why should that be hidden away?
I think Craddock’s comments are first and foremost an insult to anyone with a disability. As if they should be hidden away lest their disability makes us uncomfortable?
Secondly – does this rule apply to all sufferers of Parkinsons, or simply to those who were big and strong in our memory? We don’t want to deal with the reality of their mortality, do we?
That commentators on Fox Sports are not astute should not come as much of a surprise. What does come as a surprise is that they would disrespect the champ and all sufferers of Parkinson’s disease like that.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Look it was what it was. The crowd didn't flinch or turn away when Ali's hands were trembling, his minder pinned them down. Ali never played baseball so I don't know why they dragged him out there. The Marlins are from Florida aren't they ? What connection does Ali have to Florida ? And that's the problem that I had and why I felt uncomfortable - it looked like he was being dragged around a stadium, not that he was marching with pride. As I said above Michael J Fox's speech was confronting but also inspiring. ANZACs marching down George st is inspiring. Ali getting driven around a stadium in a golf cart and having his hands pinned down and his missus getting cranky when his hands were shaking had none of that upside to it, looked exploitative and was very uncomfortable.
League_coach101
Roar Pro
Exactly. Or should we tell them not to come because someone watching might feel 'uncomfortable'?
AndyS
Guest
Well, I can only hope that anyone he upsets stays away from the ANZAC march - some of those veterans look in a bit of a state too. Thankfully, the rest of us are able to see him and them for who they are, who they were and what they did.
Rhys
Guest
Ali has always been a hero of mine, and he remains so. He is a flawed human being, but his illness is by no means a flaw. I have had personal experience of caring for someone with Parkinson's, and it can be confronting to see someone who you knew as a physically active person suffer so badly, but it is important to see past that and remember the person within. He may no longer be able to physically float like a butterfly, or sting like a bee, but Ali is still 'the greatest'.
League_coach101
Roar Pro
Both. It looked to me like Ali was taking the game ball out to the pitcher but i might be wrong. It appeared that the owner of the team had organized the appearance.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Did you see the footage or just read the article ? My understanding is that Ali struggles to communicate at the moment. If you saw the state he was in, then there is no way he could stop this taking place if he didn't want to. Nothing to do with being talked into it. He was very, very frail and trembling badly. When his hands started shaking particularly badly his 'minder' grabbed both of his hands and pinned them down. The whole thing looked exploitative and with very little upside. If the audience feels uncomfortable, why bother presenting him ? Isn't the whole point of doing something like that at a packed baseball stadium the reaction it will get from the audience ? Why baseball ? What is the relevance ? What is the message ? What is the point ? None of this was explained clearly.
League_coach101
Roar Pro
From what I had heard Ali's mind is as sharp as ever. I seriously don't think he could be talked into anything unless he wanted to do it. Whether or not he should still be making these appearances in terms of his health is up to him and his family. What i take offence to is the suggestion that he shouldn't be appearing because the audience would feel uncomfortable. Whether we should feel uncomfortable about watching Ali and other boxers getting their brains smashed again and again is our problem - not his.
The Barry
Roar Guru
I saw the footage and it made me uncomfortable not for the fact that Ali has Parkinsons but it seemed like he was being taken advantage of. He looked frail and his hands were shaking and it was quite confronting to watch but then a female member of Ali's entourage started gesturing towards Ali and the man sitting next to him grabbed them and appeared to pin them down to stop the shakes. It might be my interpretation of events but it just looked very exploitative and uncomfortable. Michael J Fox appearance at a senate enquiry without medication was also confronting but equally inspiring. The Ali footage didn't have that inspirational aspect to it.
sheek
Guest
I've never been a fan of Craddock. Never forgiven him for daring to suggest Glenn McGrath was a greater fast bowler than Dennis Lillee. Statistics might slightly favour McGrath, but Lillee scared the bejesus out of opposing batsmen, while McGrath bored them to sleep! Anyway, Ali is a legend no matter what. Yes, we know he is riddled today with disease, & in his heyday he wasn't a saint, but he's a legend nevertheless.
samwise
Guest
I share your outrage. Seems that Fox sports news can be as offensive as their political news!
Millz
Guest
Who are the Marlins?
manalien
Roar Pro
Great article...the plight of Parkinson's sufferers should be publicised not shunned...
BigAl
Guest
I have not read the Craddock article, but the point - '...disability makes us uncomfortable', could be due to the widely held opinion (guilt) that he was reduced to this state by just providing us with some fantastic entertainment over the years, particularly with Joe Frasier...
Bondy
Guest
I initially was disappointed to see a great sporting legend in such a public circumstance ,I also realise I have no right too decide how and when somebody conducts themselves in a public place .
Mals
Guest
If Ali truly wants to be there & is enjoying himself then I have no problem with it. However, if it is his limelight loving wife that is pushing these public appearances then shame on her.
rl
Guest
I just figured out why Craddock is called "Crash" - clearly he (Craddock) has an acquired brain injury.
Stumpy
Roar Rookie
Yeah the whole style of the commentary was pretty weak, who give a rats flaming ass if his disorder makes you feel uncomfortable. Who's to say what benefits him most He is what he is one of the greatest sportsman of all time and his post career struggle with Parkinson's is just as much his story as any other part of his life. Life's not fair even to the greatest of us, so look at this "MAN" and honour his "GREATNESS" as he lives out the last great battle of his life. If you don't have the stomach to look his struggle or the man in the eye, look away for you are undeserving.