I read critical comments on Cristiano Ronaldo’s comments after Iceland had the temerity to take a point from Portugal last night and recalled some of the heartfelt and genuine affection expressed last week for Muhammad Ali.
“Graceless”, “disrespectful” and “unsporting” was the general tone, which is pretty much what was levelled at Muhamad when he called Joe Frazier an “Uncle Tom”, surely the pinnacle of a career sending disrespectful barbs towards opponents.
I could listen to and watch Muhammad all day long, he was forever a treat to sport and the world, but had he shut his mouth and JUST boxed only actual boxing fans would know his name now.
Ronaldo sounds like he’s taken lessons from The Greatest. At first pass it doesn’t look like it, but when he reacts churlishly after a disappointment, he helps make football a bigger sport, just as Ali did for boxing. And just like Ali, many will want Ronaldo and Portugal to lose, just to take the smug grin off his face. That’s why sport engages so many, but if you loved Ali, be consistent and cheer on Ronnie.
I’ve read and enjoyed some of what this pantomime act they’ve signed across the city has been saying this month. Good luck to him, he’s sheer entertainment. Anyone who can give it thick to royalty, mix with certain councillors, shout for Celtic, then tell Newco to cheer for him as he takes millions from them, deserves some slack.
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Ali a racist ? As far as I could see he mixed well and repectfully with most whites.
I would say the real racists are the likes of white brit empire who enslaved the africans.
And the white american society that still on the whole treats the black as an inferior.
As for refusing to fight in Vietnam he was obviously right. Its pretty much accepted it was wrong war.
He was couragious and prepare to go to jail for his principles.
A larger than life character who certainly made his mark.
MoonbeamsWD on 15th June 2016 1:35 pm
Any comparison of Ronaldo to Ali is at best silly.
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He cost me a fortune last night.
On that performance I would more compare him to Ally than Ali.
Ally, the fat gardner.
As much as I dislike Ronaldo’s reaction last night I understand it only happened because he’s a spoilt,pampered man-child.He’s a human being and will have flaws as a result of his environment,like all of us.I’m sure he’s a decent bloke but when he pulls on a football shirt he becomes a petulent,arrogant ‘star’.
Although Ali showed some of the same traits as Ronaldo I felt different towards him.Just shows the contradictions in all of us.As has been posted,none of us are perfect.
As for Joseph Anthony;he’s a laugh.
In Bratislava. Local TV coverage has very horrible coverage of Russian ultras issuing threats to Slovak fans.
They don’t care about a ban.
Use of coverage twice. I blame my schooling.
probably the deliberate and constant use of the name Cassius Clay throughout that post delivered your opinion of the man than all the rest of the words put together
Today’s mad fun punt
Slovakia win
Romania draw
France win
£1 treble.
£13.56 if it comes up wi PP.
Ali’s views changed throughout his life.
Much like the rest of us.
Paul67 et al
Malcolm X was one inch taller than Muhammad Ali.
Fact!
Can’t say I’m surprised by Ronaldo’s reaction..
He is part of a growing cue of athletes who are paid millions of dollars to do something they love to do, well you would hope he loves to do it.
It is something that is a growing in our society like a weed and that is a sense of entitlement and pampering where in sports especially at a young age you are no longer taught how to win and lose with dignity but that there are no winners or losers for that matter.
We are raising a society that will not be able to cope with life’s hurdles because they have not learned that if at first you don’t succeed…… Our children of today do not know what “no” means and that you cannot have everything, Ronaldo is no different
HH
gsu
Ronaldos goalscoring exploits mark him as an extraordinary footballer.One of the greatest.Not a team player?.He has carried this Portugese team for years.
The man away from football.He was approached and asked to donate a signed strip to help towards raising money for a kids operation.He said no,I will pay for the operation.I think it was in the region of around 80,000 pounds.Does lots of good charity work,but thats not news.Ballotelli in the same boat.Fantastic money raiser for under priviledged,but seldom mentioned.
Maybe Ali had every right to be a ‘racist’ he grew up during a time when black people were still being treated like sub-humans by the white American. I don’t think it’s possible to compare Ali with Ronaldo. They came from totally different backgrounds and grew up in completely different environments. I doubt if Ronaldo has had any genuine experience of true racism.
One was a great sportsman the other a spoilt brat.
I don’t have a problem with Ronaldo’s reaction. Iceland have the right to play how they want and Ronaldo has the right to criticise it. I’ll always back the team wanting to play attacking football.
No surprise that the Iceland manager’s comments before the game re Ronaldo seem to pass as acceptable, whereas Ronaldo’s is seen as a slight.
Quality Time in the last race at Ascot,I’m sticking 2 pounds each way on it,
Pogmathonyahun aka Laird of the Smiles on 15th June 2016 2:21 pm
Maybe Ali had every right to be a ‘racist’ he grew up during a time when black people were still being treated like sub-humans by the white American. I don’t think it’s possible to compare Ali with Ronaldo. They came from totally different backgrounds and grew up in completely different environments. I doubt if Ronaldo has had any genuine experience of true racism.
One was a great sportsman the other a spoilt brat.
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Ronaldo’s upbringing was pretty rough from what I’ve read.
My understanding is that the Englishman with the Masters in French has not actually put pen to paper yet and has just agreed to sign for the zombies. I said this to my son who promptly looked up the relevant UEFA site and confirmed that there was no record of him having signed so far. A bit like that article a few weeks ago in the Daily Bumwipe which said that the amazing disappearing man had signed a new contract with them.
Pog
The transfer window isn’t open yet. Signings can’t be registered until 1st July. That doesn’t stop contracts being executed meantime.
POGMATHONYAHUN AKA LAIRD OF THE SMILES on 15TH JUNE 2016 2:28 PM
Can’t actually put pen to paper until the window opens.
Interesting that his tweet this morning about getting excited about fixture list then remembering you’ve left EPL to go to Scotland ended “…”
Happy, as ever to be corrected by TBB. Although it does end the fun ;(
Yaaahaaay
The wee Slovak Hun Monkey gets ma bet off yo a flyer :)
THE_HUDDLE on 15TH JUNE 2016 2:24 PM
I’ll take your word for it but I think that there is a big difference between a black individual growing up in the USA during the Forties, Fifties and Sixties and a Portuguese national growing up in Funchal, Madeira.
Off TO a flyer
Weeminger
Lots of deals going down atm. Like Barton, Conor Sammon has just signed for an SPFL team (Hearts) from an English Championship (Derby) team.
Registration is a different matter.
TBB, Weeminger, I bow to your superior knowledge.
Still, watch this space ;-)
I was also under the impression that Ronaldo was nothing less than a pampered brat but the more I read about him outside football made me rethink my initial response..
The medical incident earlier and another involving a trade union might make him one of the good guys despite the peacock comparisions
Wee Hun Jobbie scores a beezer… Weasel Weiss
soundofmusiccsc
In contrast with Ronaldo, Lionel Messi has grace and character.
He has made two appearances off the bench for Argentina in the Copa America.
No tantrums. No outbursts.
He acknowledge the adulation with a smile.
And when he made his appearances to the adulation of everyone in the stadium, Including the opposition I suspect, he played for the team and not himself.
Compare and contrast.
CLINK\O/ on 15TH JUNE 2016 2:00 PM
probably the deliberate and constant use of the name Cassius Clay throughout that post delivered your opinion of the man than all the rest of the words put together
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Probably?
Aye.
You Sir, are an ignoramus.
I’d really appreciate it if you just don’t read or respond to any of my posts on here, in future.
Only wasting your time you are.
You need to understand this – I don’t give a flying fk about you, or your opinion.
Understand?
Now get off your politically correct high horse, and give my head peace.
Cheerio the noo.
THE BATTERED BUNNET on 15TH JUNE 2016 2:39 PM
I should know better. Considering it’s an argument I’ve made many a time when shouting at sports headlines.
Its a well known fact that when Ali came back from the Olympics with the heavyweight boxing gold medal, he went in to a cafe in his home town for a cup of coffee and they threw him out because he was black. Ali was young and impressionable at the time but that type of experience marked him for life – as it would any one of us.
Bye the way,Ronny could not lace Messis boots.
The way this game is shaping up may not improve the mood of the Russian Rioters.
I hope innocents do not get caught up in any Slovak on Slovak fisticuffs later tonight.
If I had been black and brought up where and when Ali was I reckon I might have been less than agreeable towards whites.
His name was Muhammad Ali,everyone should respect that.
Ronaldo will always be second best….and thats what annoys him.
Messi makes him look like Carlton Cole:)
HH
Who remembers this wan? Comin’ hame fae school, ye ask yer da, “where’s ma ma?”…. She’s ran away wae a darkie!
you call me an ignoramus yet yet expect me to ignore this.
Polital correctionest my arse.
Ali was the mans name . Delibrately changed from his slave name.
Living in Belfast I thought you might have a little empathy with this seeing the anglicication of every Irish surname because some English clerk being unable to spell.
Maybe you refer to that well known blogger as Phil McGilloway.
Lots of posters have met you and would probably vouch for you but your posts betray you for what you are
Is it me , or has the taxpayer funded old bee bee sea got the biggest squad at this year’s euros!!!.
The old gravy train alive and well!.
Turkeybhoy…why would Ronaldo want to lace Messi’s boots when he can well afford to get someone else to do it for him?