Ali Quotes
A biography of sports legend, Muhammad Ali, from his early days to his days in the ring.
Muhammad Ali: I ain't draft dodging. I ain't burning no flag. I ain't running to Canada. I'm staying right here. You want to send me to jail? Fine, you go right ahead. I've been in jail for 400 years. I could be there for 4 or 5 more, but I ain't going no 10,000 miles to help murder and kill other poor people. If I want to die, I'll die right here, right now, fightin' you, if I want to die. You my enemy, not no Chinese, no Vietcong, no Japanese. You my opposer when I want freedom. You my opposer when I want justice. You my opposer when I want equality. Want me to go somewhere and fight for you? You won't even stand up for me right here in America, for my rights and my religious beliefs. You won't even stand up for my right here at home.
[in an interview about a possible title fight with Joe Frazier]
Muhammad Ali: But if I ever was to get in the ring with Joe, here's what you might see. Ali comes out to meet Frazier, but Frazier starts to retreat. If Joe back up an inch farther, he'll wind up in a ringside seat. Ali swings with his left. Ali swings with his right. Just look at the kid carry the fight. Frazier keeps backin', but there's not enough room. It's only a matter of time before Ali lowers the boom. Ali swings with his right. What a beautiful swing. But the punch lifts Frazier clean out of the ring. Frazier still rising, and the referee wears a frown 'cause he can't start countin' till Frazier comes down. Frazier's disappeared from view. The crowd is getting frantic. But our radar stations done picked him up. He's somewheres over the Atlantic. Now, who would've thought, when they came to the fight, they was gonna witness the launching of a black satellite? But don't wait for that fight. It ain't never gonna happen. The onliest thing you can do is wonder and imagine.
Muhammad Ali: But if I ever was to get in the ring with Joe, here's what you might see. Ali comes out to meet Frazier, but Frazier starts to retreat. If Joe back up an inch farther, he'll wind up in a ringside seat. Ali swings with his left. Ali swings with his right. Just look at the kid carry the fight. Frazier keeps backin', but there's not enough room. It's only a matter of time before Ali lowers the boom. Ali swings with his right. What a beautiful swing. But the punch lifts Frazier clean out of the ring. Frazier still rising, and the referee wears a frown 'cause he can't start countin' till Frazier comes down. Frazier's disappeared from view. The crowd is getting frantic. But our radar stations done picked him up. He's somewheres over the Atlantic. Now, who would've thought, when they came to the fight, they was gonna witness the launching of a black satellite? But don't wait for that fight. It ain't never gonna happen. The onliest thing you can do is wonder and imagine.
Cassius Marcellus Clay, Sr.: [to Ali] I need to talk to you!
Muhammad Ali: You can stay, Brother Herbert.
Cassius Marcellus Clay, Sr.: Brother? He ain't your brother! Your brother's taking your wife back to Chicago! She crying like a widow!
Muhammad Ali: Yeah, well I ain't dead!
Cassius Marcellus Clay, Sr.: Well you may as well be! You don't remember your name or who you are!
Muhammad Ali: You can stay, Brother Herbert.
Cassius Marcellus Clay, Sr.: Brother? He ain't your brother! Your brother's taking your wife back to Chicago! She crying like a widow!
Muhammad Ali: Yeah, well I ain't dead!
Cassius Marcellus Clay, Sr.: Well you may as well be! You don't remember your name or who you are!
Judge Ingraham: Are you prepared to apologize about your un-patriotic remarks about the war?
Muhammad Ali: No.
Judge Ingraham: No? You say you are the people's champion.
Muhammad Ali: Yes, sir.
Judge Ingraham: Do you think you're acting like you're the people's champion?
Muhammad Ali: Yes, sir. I am not going to apologize to you. This is not a courtroom and I do not have to sit here and answer your questions.
[he gets up and leaves]
Muhammad Ali: No.
Judge Ingraham: No? You say you are the people's champion.
Muhammad Ali: Yes, sir.
Judge Ingraham: Do you think you're acting like you're the people's champion?
Muhammad Ali: Yes, sir. I am not going to apologize to you. This is not a courtroom and I do not have to sit here and answer your questions.
[he gets up and leaves]
