Boxing’s greatest-ever bout, the Thrilla in Manila took place on this very day in 1975.
Having just returned from a visit to Manila yesterday it is hard for me not to think about Muhammad Ali today.
Pure skill was much of it. The brutal delicacy of the ring-craft, so rare in the heavyweight division. Among the lumbering sloggers he dodged and danced, floating like a butterfly, stinging like a bee. Faced with a solid, flat-footed opponent, as all seemed to be compared with him, he would circle, torment and mesmerise, throwing short punches at speed. All that weaving, skipping, leaning leisurely away, before coming in for the kill.
Muhammad Ali was The Greatest. For sure in the history of boxing. Maybe even the greatest in sports ever. Loved by the people all over the world. Mourned by many when his life ended recently.
An athlete, preacher, politician, larger-than-life charachter. He is missed. His voice is missed in the turbolent world of terrorism, nee types of conflicts, contradictions and growing hatred – that we live in today.
Here is The Economists tribute article to Ali (click here): The Economist: The Greatest
Yesterday night Swedish exceptional soccer superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic did it again, scoring the only goal when Manchester United beat Zoraya Luhansk in the UEFA Europe League Group Round, 1-0 at home on Old Trafford in Manchester.
The goal was number 57 for Ibrahimovic in the European tournaments, same number of goals as legendary Italian striker Alessandro Del Piero. Zlatan has now scored goals for seven different clubs in the European cups. Nobody has scored goals for more clubs in the European tournaments.
In Vigo Swedish national team striker, John Guidetti (The Next One) scored the decisive first goal in the 84th minute when Spanish Celta Vigo beat Panathinaikos 2-0 also in the UEFA Europe Legaue Group Round.
In Napoli the home team won 4-2 against Benfica, but the real story was the singing of the Napoli fans before the game.
At the last line of the pre-game song the fans – in all 42,000 spectators – screamed so loud that it was registered at the local seismological institute as a minor earthquake, according to the Corriere dello Sport. This is what sport and soccer means to people.
Time to take another plane after a tour in Asia this week. I have had great meetings.
I have really no idea how many airmiles I have done this year, but I do know that there is a lot of agencies out in the world that needs advise. I am on my way.
It is hard work being away from home, but I really do think that I make a difference.
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