Muhammad Ali – The Man that Shook The World

In history very few have the right to not only say they were the best but also prove that they were best. This was the case with world famous boxer Muhammad Ali who would constantly say, “I am the greatest” and had proved it time and time again in his boxing career as presented by the article “He is simply The Greatest.” In the following article the author goes in debt describing why Muhammad Ali was the greatest both inside and outside the ring. Schwartz builds credibility through Ali’s accomplishments, at first reporting on accomplishments in his boxing career and why they are so impactful to the history of boxing, and then using emotional appeals to further express the hardships that Ali had go through; wrapping up the article once again referencing how Ali continues to achieve great things in life far after his retirement with only makes his argument more affective.

Schwartz talks about Muhammad Ali or known previously as Cassius Clay and who he was from the very begging of his career in boxing, reporting on the many accomplishments that Muhammad Ali had in his career. Logos being the main focus of the article using factual examples of what Ali was able fulfill to convince us that his triumphs are what made him the greatest after all. He also includes the many trials in life Ali had to go through because of his religion and his beliefs in the government. The article then explains how that only made him greater after reclaiming everything he had lost despite being seen as a national villain. The author makes the claim that it was because Ali had stood up for what he believed in was what made Ali succeed and is what made him the greatest.

The article begins using many examples of logos throughout the text and very briefly touches upon pathos to depict Ali as the greatest. At first the article uses various examples such as how Ali right after graduating from high school had won the light-heavyweight gold medal at the 1960s Olympics in Rome. The article also mentions how Ali was the first boxer in history to be the three-time heavy weight champion reclaiming it every single time he lost it. Even claiming that Ali was the man who revitalized the boxing world through his charisma and predictions in rhyme. Ali made himself the champion of the people by stirring up new excitement in the ring. With his unique fighting style, he and personality he became the center of the boxing world. The examples of Logos in the article or facts are used as concrete evidence of Ali’s greatness, using examples of Ali’s accomplishments that no other boxer in history has been able to achieve.

As the article continues it begins to report on Ali's life outside of boxing and focusing mainly on his political issues which mostly stemmed from Ali joining the Nation of Islam. A religion at the time that as the author explains was something that was seen as a “Hate Religion”. Schwartz states how Ali's next opponent was not a boxer but Uncle Sam referring to the government. Depicting how everyone saw Ali as a national villain for refusing the call of his name to the Vietnam draft. For Ali did not wish to fight for a nation that did not fight for his own believes. Schwartz further reinstates this by quoting Ali, “I ain’t got no quarrel with them Viet Cong”. Covering how because of his beliefs he was then vilified by the government and soon after the people that would cheer him on. The author then goes on to explain how Ali was stripped from his boxing title and banned from boxing by the New York State Athletic Commission. Two months later the jury found Ali guilty of draft evasion with imposing maximum sentence of five years. Yet somehow through Ali’s actions people's opinion of the war were turned against it and support for Ali grew. This portion of the article uses pathos in some of if its descriptions of Ali's trials in life. The author did this to further convey the emotions of injustice that Ali had to face in his life. Almost to get the reader to feel sorrow for Ali who had lost everything he had worked so hard to achieve and to further show the impact that Ali had during his times. Showing correlation with Kairos in the passage when Schwartz mentions the public’s view of the Islamic religion in the 1960’s as well as how looked down upon draft evasion was in the eyes of the government and the public and the impact it had in Ali’s life.

In the final portions of the article, the article transitions once again to using logos and pathos and addressing Ali’s resolve after being incarcerated. How he continued to fight for what he believed in. Despite being the so-called villain of the nation. Schwartz once again uses Logos motioning Alis refusal of giving up and his comeback in the boxing world. Beating Forman in eight rounds as Ali had predicted. As well as when Ali had lost his championship in 1978 to Leon Spinks. Then 7 months later reclaiming his title from Spinks winning through an anonymous decision. Becoming the first heavyweight champion in history to claim the title three times after being banned from the boxing association. The article then describes how Ali had regained the love of his fans as well and had become America’s champion once again. Describing him as the most vilified athlete of the 60’s but the most heroic of the 70’s. A man who was even invited to the white house in 1974 after being branded as a traitor to the nation. The usage of pathos is used in the very end to essentially wrap up the article in a positive demeanor. As the article has showed that through Ali’s determination, he was able to regain what he had lost all through not losing himself and his beliefs.

Schwartz concludes the article with reflection on everything that Ali had fought for both inside and outside the ring. Even mentioning how even the now retired Ali continues to fight. Schwartz explains the illness that belittled Ali and explaining how all the punches that Ali had suffered in his career had taken affect, which then followed in to Ali’s retirement in 1981 after finding out he had Parkinson's disease. He then mentions how even that does not stop Ali’s he continues to fight that illness and intends spreads good in the world. Referencing Ali’s appearance in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta and how composed he was despite of his Parkinson. Describing Ali as the man who never stopped fighting, the man who divided the nation but was now loved by all because he never stopped fighting.

Schwarts uses many affective examples of how capable Ali was which only puts further emphasis in how accomplished he was. Due to their being so many that he touches upon. As well as it constructs his argument because they are accomplishments no other individual has ever been able to fathom. Schwartz further builds his argument by also covering the hardships that followed Ali in his life and how that did not stop Ali. He is able to use so many events in Ali’s life that drove him to be the greatest to then construct an argument filled with facts that make his argument very affective.

Works Cited

1. Larry Schwart. He is simply … The Greatest. ESPN (Accessed 21 September 2019), ESPN Internet Ventures, https://www.espn.com/sportscentury/features/00014063.html.