San Franscisco: Tributes to Muhammad Ali poured in from across the sporting, cultural and political world after his death at age 74 with many saying there would never be another one like “The Greatest”. He did not regain the ability to communicate before he died Friday, according to Porsche, who lives in the Los Angeles area and said she got periodic reports about Ali’s health from her daughters. Words can not begin to describe the loss we all face in the passing of one of the greatest citizens this world has ever known.
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Last, Ali’s funeral will be held on Friday, June 10 at the KFC Yum!
Ali’s body is expected to be transported to his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, where he will be laid to rest on Friday in a public funeral service.
“Everything that we’re doing here was blessed by Muhammad Ali, and was requested”, Mr Gunnell told journalists.
Ali’s close friend Tim Shanahan said: “Muhammad handled any setback with dignity”.
Particularly meaningful was a message shared by actor Michael J. Fox, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 1991, just seven years after Ali learned he was battling the neurodegenerative disorder.
“The champ would have been very proud of his family”, Gunnell said.
However, could it be said that Ali was “The Greatest”, as in “the greatest fighter of all time”, as he so frequently liked to proclaim?
Soharwardy says the memorial was also a way to remind Muslim youth, who made up most of the gathering at the mosque, of how Ali inspired a generation.
The memorial service will be open to the public and streamed live on the internet for those unable to attend. They will be followed by speeches from Ali’s wife, Lonnie Ali; daughter Maryum Ali; former USA president Bill Clinton; actor Billy Crystal and sportscaster Bryant Gumbel.
On Saturday, Louisville Mayor ordered that American flags be flown at half-mast at all government buildings in the city until Ali is buried.
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Thursday’s Islamic funeral prayer program at the Freedom Hall arena in Louisville will accommodate up to 18,000 people. “I think he saw that through Muhammad Ali, that at least one could be that”.
