The gunman, Omar Mateen, was a Muslim who was born in the United States but had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group, law enforcement officials said. There has been a sharp rise in anti-Muslim attacks across the country over the past year after terror attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, California, sparked fear and backlash against the American Muslim community.
Rabbi Steven Engel of the Congregation for Reform Judaism, the largest synagogue in Orlando, spoke with Imam Muhammad Masri, president of the Islamic Society of Central Florida, to plan a memorial service for victims of the Pulse nightclub massacre, the Forward, a Jewish news site, reported Monday.
“(We want) to support each other, to support the whole community,” Masri said outside the club.
After each new attack, Muslims in the U.S. have said they fear an increase in anti-Muslim rhetoric, and many Muslims rushed to condemn Sunday’s shooting. Last December, many Republicans urged the U.S. to stop accepting refugees from the Middle East — many of whom are Muslim — after the San Bernardino killings out of a fear that terrorists would sneak into the country amid refugees. Presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump responded similarly on Sunday, reiterating his previous call to ban all Muslims entering the United States.
Clinton, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, responded to Trump’s criticism following Sunday’s deadly mass shooting at Pulse Orlando during a telephone interview with NBC’s Today show.
“In my perspective, it matters what we do, not what we say,” Clinton said. “To me, radical jihadism, radical Islamism, I think they mean the same thing. I’m happy to say either, but that’s not the point.”
“I’m not going to demonize … and declare war on an entire religion,” she added. “That’s just plain dangerous and it plays into ISIS’s hands.”
Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, had slammed both Clinton and President Barack Obama for being “weak” for failing to describe the shooting as an act of “radical Islam.”
“In his remarks today, President Obama disgracefully refused to even say the words ‘Radical Islam’. For that reason alone, he should step down,” Trump said in a statement Sunday. “If Hillary Clinton, after this attack, still cannot say the two words ‘Radical Islam’ she should get out of this race for the Presidency.”
In a Today interview on Monday, the mogul again renewed his call for a ban on all Muslims entering the U.S. and reiterated his criticism against American leaders. “It’s insulting to our country that Obama doesn’t use the term radical Islamic terrorism,” Trump said. “He’s not addressing the issue, he’s not calling it what it is—radical Islamic terrorism.”
Clinton also pushed for gun control Monday in a separate interview with CNN’s New Day. Authorities say Orlando nightclub shooter Omar Mateen used a handgun and an assault-type rifle during his attack.
“Yes, there is a right for law-abiding, responsible Americans to own guns. And yes, there are reasonable common-sense measures to try to keep people safe from guns,” Clinton said. “We’ve got to figure out the best way to move forward on that.”
(SOMERSET WEST, South Africa) — Oscar Pistorius is going back to jail. The only question now is for how long? It could be 15 years.
The double-amputee Olympic runner’s sentencing hearing opens Monday after he was convicted of murder by South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal for shooting girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
It’ll be the second time Pistorius has been sentenced for the killing following an appeal by prosecutors. The three-year legal saga that began with the fatal gunshots in the pre-dawn hours of Valentine’s Day 2013 now appears to be near its end.
A recap of the case:
___
WHY IS PISTORIUS BEING SENTENCED AGAIN?
Pistorius was initially convicted of the lesser charge of culpable homicide, or manslaughter, at his 2014 trial for shooting Steenkamp through a closed toilet door in his home. He testified he mistook the model and reality TV celebrity for a nighttime intruder hiding in a bathroom, and shot with his 9mm pistol in self-defense fearing an attack. The trial judge accepted part of Pistorius’ story, and he was given a five-year jail sentence based on the judge’s ruling that he acted recklessly, but didn’t mean to kill. After serving a year in jail, Pistorius was released on parole in line with South African procedure and has been living under house arrest at his uncle’s mansion since October last year.
But following Pistorius’ manslaughter verdict, prosecutors appealed to the Supreme Court, saying that the former star athlete, a multiple Paralympic champion, should have been found guilty of murder. They argued that Pistorius intended to kill someone — even if he didn’t know it was Steenkamp in the toilet cubicle — when he shot four times through the door with no justification.
In December, a panel of Supreme Court judges agreed with prosecutors, overturned Pistorius’ manslaughter conviction, and raised it to a more serious murder conviction. Pistorius must now be sentenced for murder.
Supreme Court Justice Lorimer Leach said: “The accused ought to have been found guilty of murder on the basis that he had fired the fatal shots with criminal intent.”
___
WHAT IS HE FACING?
Possibly 15 years in prison. That’s the minimum sentence for murder in South Africa, which no longer has the death penalty.
Legal experts say a judge can reduce that sentence in some circumstances, and that Pistorius’ disability and the fact that he is a first-time offender could be taken into account. He has also already served a year in prison.
Pistorius will return to the same courthouse in Pretoria where his dramatic seven-month murder trial played out in 2014 to be sentenced again. The hearing has been scheduled to last a week and Pistorius’ punishment will again be decided by Judge Thokozile Masipa, who acquitted him of murder at his trial but had her decision overturned by the Supreme Court.
Pistorius appears set to be starting a long prison sentence when the 2016 Olympics and Paralympics — where he intended to end his acclaimed track career — take place in Rio de Janeiro.
In a statement ahead of the sentencing hearing, Pistorius’ family said they do not know “what the future holds for Oscarafter this week.”
___
DOES HE HAVE ANY CHANCE OF APPEALING?
No. Pistorius has exhausted all his options. After his conviction was changed to murder by the Supreme Court last year, Pistorius appealed to South Africa’s highest court, the Constitutional Court, to review his case. The Constitutional Court dismissed that appeal in March and Pistorius now has no chance of escaping the murder conviction.
___
WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING WITH PISTORIUS?
Pistorius last appeared in public in April at a brief court hearing that scheduled dates for his sentencing.
Other than that, the 29-year-old has spent almost all his time since being released from prison in October at his uncle’s luxurious house in an upscale suburb of the capital, Pretoria. Pistorius has remained under house arrest there and can only leave the home briefly and at set times. He needs permission from authorities to travel farther than 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the house.
Yet Pistorius is never far from the news. In March, police said they launched a sting operation with the help of Pistorius’ family to catch a man attempting to scam Pistorius out of money by offering to quash his murder conviction.
We spend a majority of our life working
to support ourselves and our loved ones. And while working hard and
being able to provide for our families gives us a great sense of joy,
getting to the part of life where we can just enjoy having every day to
ourselves sounds phenomenal. Retirement is what we call this life
altering event. A great way to start this stage of life is by finding a
great new place to live – for many who felt stuck in a place due to the
constraints of the employment, now is the time for change.
Everybody has a different idea of how
they want their retirement to look and therefore picking the 10 best
places in the US was not the easiest task. For the purpose of this
article, we took several things into consideration before deciding the
places to enjoy the golden years: climate, surrounding areas, living
cost, average housing cost, recreational activity options, cultural
diversity, and crime rates were taken into regard. We also tried to
cover as many regions of the country as possible. From cities to suburbs
to paradise, we have covered them all!
Bellingham, Washington
Bellingham is a great destination for the
active adults. The city is overwhelmingly scenic and caters pleasingly
to those who enjoy doing outdoor activities and the air is exceptionally
clean. With Western Washington University, and three other community
colleges, the city is a college town, extremely culturally active and
filled with amenities associated with an educationally active town. It
has a thriving, safe and interesting downtown. Winters are cold but
certainly beautiful this can be a plus if you enjoy skiing.
Unfortunately, the city’s average house cost is $250,000+ and the cost
of living is higher than nation’s average; but for those who can swing
the lifestyle, do keep Bellingham in consideration.
Con: Although, the rate
of violent crimes in Bellingham is quite below the national average, the
numbers are slightly higher for property crimes and houses are slightly
towards the expensive end.
Boise, Idaho
Statistically, Boise is below the
nation’s average in both violent and property crimes. It is a pleasant
experience for those that enjoy outdoor activity with a lot of outdoor
activities to offer. The average cost of housing is slightly below the
national average around $170,000 but the overall cost of living is
slightly higher than the average. The weather is dry throughout the year
and is temperate, so you don’t have to worry about extreme weather
here. Being the state’s capitol, it also has all the required amenities
and is pleasantly bustling.
Cons: Not as culturally blissful as large cities should be but recent attitude suggests that change is on the way.
Venice, Florida
Developed in 1925 by the Brotherhood of
Locomotive Engineers, Venice, Florida’s purpose was to create a
community for the retired and therefore all your needs are catered to.
In fact, Florida in general has been notorious for being inhabited by
retirees but Venice is one of the most cost effective cities in the
state. It has an average living and housing costs just a little under
the rest of the state, especially compared with the extremely high
property values in Fort Lauderdale and Napa. There is a beautiful beach
in the vicinity and 31 municipal parks. It is not far too far from
bigger cities, quite peaceful, and warm throughout the year. Also, the
crime rates are impressively low.
March 4, 1993:
Bobbi Kristina Brown is born in Livingston, N.J., the first and only
child of singers Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown.
Feb. 11, 2012:
Bobbi Kristina’s mother, Whitney Houston, is found unconscious in the
bathtub in her suite at the Beverly Hills Hilton. Paramedics pronounce
her dead at the scene at 3:55 PM PST. The Los Angeles County coroner’s
office reports drowning as the official cause of Houston’s death,
listing heart disease and cocaine as contributing factors.
Jan. 9, 2014: Bobbi Kristina reportedly marries boyfriend Nick
Gordon. While the couple claims to be married, and cites January 9 as
their wedding date, Bobby Brown’s lawyer states in February 2015 that Bobbi Kristina "is not and has never been married to Nick Gordon."
Jan. 31, 2015: Bobbi Kristina is found unconscious
in a bathtub at her home in Georgia by Nick and a friend. Nick begins
CPR until police and paramedics arrive. Bobbi Kristina is transported to
North Fulton Hospital, reportedly stabilized and breathing. She is
later placed in a medically induced coma and on a ventilator.
"Bobbi Kristina is fighting
for her life and is surrounded by immediate family," the Brown family
tells ET in a statement. "As her father already stated, we are asking
you to honor our request for privacy during this difficult time. Thank
you for your prayers, well wishes, and we greatly appreciate your
continued support."
Feb. 1, 2015: The Brown family is told to prepare for the worst
and advised that the longer Bobbi Kristina remains in the coma, the
more likely it will be that she will not regain consciousness.
"Privacy is requested in
this matter,” Bobby Brown says in a statement. “Please allow for my
family to deal with this matter and give my daughter the love and
support she needs at this time.”
Feb. 2, 2015:
Bobbi Kristina is moved to Emory University Hospital, where she remains
on a ventilator and in a medically induced coma.
Feb. 9, 2015:Hundreds of supporters gather in Riverdale, Ga., for a vigil in Bobbi Kristina’s honor.
Feb. 10, 2015: Bobby Brown’s nephew Shayne Brown and his mother sit down for an exclusive interview with ET to offer an update on Bobbi Kristina’s condition.
"She's progressing," Shayne
says. "She's getting better. We just ask for people to continue to
pray."
Feb. 17, 2015: The Brown and Houston families meet
to discuss removing Bobbi Kristina from life support and the
ventilator. Legally, the final decision is up to Bobby Brown and a
source tells ET that he was upbeat and gave no indication that he was thinking of removing his daughter from life support.
"She loves celebrating with a
small group of friends," a family member tells ET exclusively. "So, in
her honor, we will celebrate in a small setting with family."
"My pain is horrible,"
Gordon tells Dr. Phil in their interview, during which he begins to
hyperventilate several times and expresses his distress at not being
allowed to see Bobbi Kristina in the hospital. "My heart hurts. I have
panic attacks."
Dr. Phil describes Gordon's behavior
during the interview as "erratic" and believes substance abuse is to
blame. After the interview, Gordon checks into rehab.
March 10, 2015: Dr. Phil sits down with ET’s Kevin Frazier to discuss his interview with Nick Gordon.
"He would go from being able
to talk like we're talking right now to just all of a sudden collapsing
and just wailing, and then he would pull out his phone and turn on a
Whitney [Houston] song and just start crying," Dr. Phil says, adding
that Nick addressed suicide threats he had reportedly made, saying,"If
anything happens to Krissy, I will."
A video posted by #EkonnectGlobal🌍 #CUBS☁️🏢 (@iamdmobe) on
Sources close to Brown tell
ET that Brown often claims his daughter is "aware" that her family is
there when they visit.
April 28, 2015: Nick Gordon leaves rehab
after seven weeks of treatment following his meltdown while filming the
Dr. Phil interview. The 25-year-old reportedly moves back home with his
mother, Michelle Gordon.
May 8, 2015: Bobby Brown and Bobbi Kristina’s aunt, Pat Houston, are appointed as co-guardians of Bobbi Kristina, as she remains in a medically induced coma.
"Both Mr. Brown and Ms.
Houston are jointly responsible for decisions related to Krissi's care
and medical needs," reads a statement from Brown and Houston’s lawyers,
which also announces the appointment of Bedelia Hargrove as Bobbi
Kristina's conservator. "Ms. Hargrove is responsible for Krissi's
assets, including her likeness, rights and legal claims.”
May 9, 2015: Bobbi Kristina’s grandmother, Cissy Houston, sits down with ET’s Kevin Frazier for an exclusive interview.
"She's the same, she's not
progressing at all," Houston tells Frazier. "She's not gone yet, but you
know, whatever the Lord decides, I'm ready for her... I have nothing to
do with that. That's His job. It's His territory, you know? And I
understand it."
June 24, 2015: Bobbi Kristina’s court-appointed conservator, Bedelia Hargrove, files a lawsuit accusing Nick Gordon
of assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and
transferring money from Bobbi Kristina’s account into his own without
authorization.
June 24, 2015: Bobbi Kristina is moved to hospice care.
A source close to the family tells ET exclusively that Bobbi Kristina
is now off all medications and could pass away at any moment. Another
source tells ET that her organs are failing.
"Despite the great medical
care at numerous facilities, Bobbi Kristina Brown's condition has
continued to deteriorate," Pat Houston told ET in a statement Wednesday.
"As of today, she has been moved into hospice care. We thank everyone
for their support and prayers. She is in God's hands now."
Brown sat down with Robin Roberts for 20/20on Tuesday, and the "My Prerogative" singer was very open about his and Houston's drug and alcohol abuse problems, and blamed their youthful fame and fortune for starting them down a dark path.
"At such a young age for us both to have any and everything that we wanted was both a blessing and a curse," Brown shared.
According to the 47-year-old musician, the couple's drug use was at its height during "the last few years of our marriage."
After struggling with sobriety for years, Brown says he has been drug free for over a decade, but still has a number of demons that he's battling. "I'm clean from narcotics, yes. I haven't done narcotics in 10 to 12 years," he said, adding, "Alcohol has been a problem."
"I go back often to reboot, but s---, that's life. Everybody drinks. Sometimes I drink," Brown admitted.
Brown was candid about his substance abuse issues, but denied that he was ever abusive towards his late ex-wife.
"They've said that, you know, I've harmed Whitney. That I was violent towards her," he recounted. "It was just lies. I've never been a violent man towards a woman. Ever."
However, in Brown's upcoming memoir, Every Little Step, the singer confessed that he did hit Houston once during their marriage.
Brown confirmed the account in the interview, telling Roberts that the incident occurred while Brown was trying to battle his substance abuse issues. "Me, at the time, trying to maintain [my] sobriety [while] the person that you're in a relationship is not going along with it... it was rough," he recounted.
The famous couple met at the Soul Train Music Awards in 1989 and sparked a romance two years later, eventually tying the knot in July 1992. In March 1993, they welcomed Bobbi Kristina, their only child together.
Their scandal-plagued marriage came to an end in 2006, when Houston filed for separation and later, divorce. The split was finalized in April 2007, with Houston getting full custody of Bobbi Kristina, who was then 14 years old.
According to Brown, the marriage crumbled because of Houston's refusal to get sober and stop using drugs. "She just wasn't ready to go that direction," Brown said.
Brown also claims to have not gotten any money from their divorce, and denies claims that he was secretly after the beloved singer's fortune from the start of their relationship.
"I've been rich since I was 17," said Brown, who formed R&B group New Edition with his childhood friend at the age of 9. "I came into the marriage with money. I left the marriage with nothing."
On Feb. 11, 2012, Houston was found dead in a hotel room bathtub at the Beverly Hilton at the age of 48. On Jan. 31, 2015, Bobbi Kristina was found unresponsive in a bathtub at her home in Atlanta, Georgia. After spending almost six months in a coma, Bobbi Kristina died on July 26. She was 22.
In the emotional interview, Brown spoke candidly about the couple's drug use, revealing that the first time Houston offered him cocaine was before the two tied the knot in the backyard of Houston's New Jersey mansion. Brown argued, "It wasn't me that started her [on drugs]."
Popular mixed martial arts fighter Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson has died. He was 42.
Slice was stricken at his South
Florida home and taken Monday afternoon to the Northwest Medical Center
in Fort Lauderdale, a spokeswoman for the Coral Springs, Fla., Police
told Yahoo Sports on Monday. He later died.
Bellator president Scott Coker confirmed Slice's death in a statement:
"We are all shocked and saddened
by the devastating and untimely loss of Kimbo Slice, a beloved member
of the Bellator family. One of the most popular MMA fighters ever, Kimbo
was a charismatic, larger-than-life personality that trancended the
sport."
"Outside the cage, he
was a friendly, gentle giant and a devoted family man. His loss leaves
us all with extremely heavy hearts, and our thoughts and prayers are
with the entire Ferguson family and all of Kimbo's friends, fans, and
teammates."
Sgt. Carla Kmiotek of the Coral
Springs police told Yahoo Sports no foul play is suspected. She said the
department dispatched a team of officers to Slice's home because he is a
public figure in order to control whatever crowd might gather.
.
Kimbo Slice (L), shown during a 2010 UFC fight with Matt Mitrione, died late Monday. (Getty)
"At 8 p.m. (ET) we received a call from TMZ," Kmiotek said. "Our
communications department confirmed with Northwest Medical that he is
there. We did not receive a police or EMS call from the residence. There
is no foul play suspected and there is no investigation. It is being
handled as a medical incident.
Slice burst into prominence a little more than a decade ago, when
videos of his infamous street fights were viewed millions of times on
YouTube. He initially signed with Elite XC and drew huge ratings for his
fights on CBS.
In 2009, he signed a deal with the UFC to appear on Season 10 of "The
Ultimate Fighter." He was eliminated by Roy Nelson in the opening
round, but appeared on the season finale and defeated Houston Alexander.
He fought once more in the UFC and was knocked out in the second round
of UFC 113 by Matt Mitrione.
Slice fought his last two fights
in Bellator and drew huge television ratings for each. He defeated Ken
Shamrock at Bellator 138 on June 19, 2015, and Dhafir Harris, aka Dada
5000 at Bellator 149 on Feb. 19. However, Slice tested positive for an
anabolic steroid following that fight and the victory was turned to a no
contest.
He had been scheduled to rematch
James Thompson at Bellator 158 in London on July 16. Slice was 5-2-1 as
a professional mixed martial artist. He also had seven pro boxing
matches and was 7-0 with six knockouts.
Muhammad Ali, the charismatic three-time heavyweight boxing champion of
the world and Olympic gold medalist who transcended the world of sports
to become a symbol of the antiwar movement of the 1960s and ultimately a
global ambassador for cross-cultural understanding, died Friday night
at a hospital in Phoenix, where he was living. He was 74.
The
Associated Press and other news outlets confirmed the death. The boxer
had been hospitalized with respiratory problems related to Parkinson’s
disease, which had been diagnosed in the 1980s.
Mr.
Ali dominated boxing in the 1960s and 1970s and held the heavyweight
title three times. His fights were among the most memorable and
spectacular in history, but he quickly became at least as well known for
his colorful personality, his showy antics in the ring and his standing
as the country’s most visible member of the Nation of Islam.
When
he claimed the heavyweight championship in 1964, with a surprising
upset of the formidable Sonny Liston, Mr. Ali was known by his name at
birth, Cassius Clay. The next day, he announced that he was a member of
the Nation of Islam, a move considered shocking at the time, especially
for an athlete. He soon changed his name to Muhammad Ali.
“I
know where I’m going and I know the truth, and I don’t have to be what
you want me to be,” he said at the time, signaling his intent to define
his career on his own terms. “I’m free to be what I want.”
Mr.
Ali came to represent a new kind of athlete, someone who created his
own style in defiance of the traditions of the past. Glib, handsome and
unpredictable, he was perfectly suited to television, and he became a
fixture on talk shows as well as sports programs. RELATED: SI's 100 Greatest Photos of Muhammad Ali
He
often spoke in rhyme, using it to belittle his opponents and embellish
his own abilities. “This is the legend of Cassius Clay, the most
beautiful fighter in the world today,” he said before his 1964 title
bout. “The brash young boxer is something to see, and the heavyweight
championship is his destiny.”
One
of his assistants, Drew “Bundini” Brown, captured his lithe, graceful
presence in the ring, saying Mr. Ali would “float like a butterfly,
sting like a bee.” The description entered the popular lexicon.
A
funeral for Mr. Ali will be held in his hometown of Louisville,
Kentucky, according to The Associated Press. City officials scheduled a
memorial service Saturday.
Mr.
Ali appealed to people of every race, religion and background, but
during the turbulent, divisive 1960s, he was particularly seen as a
champion of African Americans and young people. Malcolm X, who recruited
Mr. Ali to the Nation of Islam, once anointed him “the black man’s
hero.”
In 1967, after Mr. Ali
had been heavyweight champion for three years, he refused to be
inducted into the Army during the Vietnam War. Despite the seeming
contradiction of a boxer advocating nonviolence, he gave up his title in
deference to the religious principle of pacifism.
“Why
should they ask me to put on a uniform and go 10,000 miles from home
and drop bombs and bullets on brown people in Vietnam,” Mr. Ali said in
1967, “while so-called Negro people in Louisville are treated like dogs
and denied simple human rights?”
His
title was immediately taken away, and he was banned from his sport for
more than three years. He was sentenced to five years in prison, but a
prolonged appeals process kept him from serving time.
Mr.
Ali’s decision outraged the old guard, including many sportswriters and
middle Americans, who considered the boxer arrogant and unpatriotic.
But as the cultures of youth and black America were surging to the fore
in the late 1960s, Mr. Ali was gradually transformed, through his sheer
magnetism and sense of moral purpose, into one of the most revered
figures of his time.
A casual statement he made in 1966 — “I ain’t got no quarrel with them Viet Cong” — distilled the antiwar views of a generation.
“Ali, along with Robert Kennedy and the Beatles in the persona of John Lennon, captured the ’60s to perfection,” writer Jack Newfield told Thomas Hauser, the author of a 1991 oral biography, “Muhammad Ali: His Life and Times.”
“In
a rapidly changing world,” Newfield added, “he underwent profound
personal change and influenced rather than simply reflected his times.”
Later,
as Mr. Ali’s boxing career receded into the past, and as neurological
infirmities left him increasingly slowed and silenced, he became a
symbol of unity and brotherhood, someone whose very presence and image
acquired an aura of the spiritual. He was greeted by thousands whenever
he toured the world.
He “evolved from a feared warrior,” Hauser wrote, “to a benevolent monarch and ultimately to a benign venerated figure.”
In
1996, Mr. Ali stood at the top of a podium during the opening
ceremonies of the Summer Games in Atlanta in what became one of the most
indelible moments in Olympic history. Shakily holding the torch as an
estimated 3 billion people watched on television, Mr. Ali lit the
Olympic flame, marking the official beginning of the Games. He stood
alone before the world, a fragile, yet still indomitable demigod.
Quotes from around the world about the death of three-time heavyweight champion Muhammad--------"He's
the most transforming figure of my time, certainly. He did more to
change race relations and the views of people than even Martin Luther
King. It was a privilege and an honor for me to know him and associate
with him." -- Bob Arum, who promoted 26 of Ali's fights.--------Ali,
Frazier & Foreman we were 1 guy. A part of me slipped away, "The
greatest piece" -- tweet by George Foreman, Ali's opponent in the
"Rumble in the Jungle"--------"Muhammad Ali is a legend
and one of the world's most celebrated athletes, the fighter who ushered
in the golden era of boxing and put the sport on the map. He paved the
way for professional fighters, including myself, elevating boxing to
become a sport watched in millions of households around the world" --
Boxer Oscar De La Hoya, who won titles at six different weight classes.--------"We
lost a giant today. Boxing benefited from Muhammad Ali's talents but
not nearly as much as mankind benefited from his humanity. Our hearts
and prayers go out to the Ali family. May God bless them." -- Boxer
Manny Pacquiao, a champion in eight weight classes.--------"Passing
the Olympic torch to Muhammad to light the cauldron at the Atlanta
Games in 1996 was the defining moment of my career, and a memory I will
treasure forever, as much as any of the medals I won. As Olympians, our
role is to inspire others to achieve their dreams, and no person has
ever lived that role more than Muhammad Ali." -- swimmer Janet Evans.--------"Without
question his legacy is one that he defied the odds because he stood up
for what he believed in and when he was put to the test he took personal
harm rather than go against his beliefs and what he stood for." -- Don
King, promoter of "Rumble in the Jungle" and "Thrilla in Manilla."
--------
"We
are proud to call Ali not only a member of Team USA, but an Olympic
champion. With unparalleled grit and determination, he left a legacy
that will continue to inspire generations of Americans for years to
come." -- Scott Blackmun, CEO of the U.S. Olympic Committee.
--------
"Hillary
and I are saddened by the passing of Muhammad Ali. From the day he
claimed the Olympic gold medal in 1960, boxing fans across the world
knew they were seeing a blend of beauty and grace, speed and strength
that may never be matched again. We watched him grow from the brash
self-confidence of youth and success into a manhood full of religious
and political convictions that led him to make tough choices and live
with the consequences. Along the way we saw him courageous in the ring,
inspiring to the young, compassionate to those in need, and strong and
good-humored in bearing the burden of his own health challenges. I was
honored to award him the Presidential Citizens Medal at the White House,
to watch him light the Olympic flame, and to forge a friendship with a
man who, through triumph and trials, became even greater than his
legend. Our hearts go out to Lonnie, his children, and his entire
family." -- President Bill Clinton.
------
"He was an
athlete who touched the hearts of people across the globe, an athlete
who was engaged beyond sport, an athlete who had the courage to give
hope to so many suffering illness by lighting the Olympic cauldron and
not hiding his own affliction. He was an athlete who fought for peace
and tolerance - he was a true Olympian. Meeting him in person was an
inspiration. He was a man who at the same time was so proud and yet so
humble." -- IOC President Thomas Bach.
------
"Muhammad Ali
was not just a champion in the ring - he was a champion of civil rights,
and a role model for so many people." -- tweet by British Prime
Minister David Cameron.
------
"Rip the greatest of all times in many different ways" -- tweet by world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.
------
"He
sacrificed the heart of his career and money and glory for his
religious beliefs about a war he thought unnecessary and unjust. His
memory and legacy lingers on until eternity. He scarified, the nation
benefited. He was a champion in the ring, but, more than that, a hero
beyond the ring. When champions win, people carry them off the field on
their shoulders. When heroes win, people ride on their shoulders. We
rode on Muhammad Ali's shoulders." -- Rev. Jesse Jackson, founder and
president of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, and longtime friend of Ali.
------
"HBO
is honored to have known Muhammad Ali as a fighter of beauty and a man
of principle. We experienced the joy of working with him in support of
initiatives he passionately cared about including, most importantly, his
never-ending desire to teach tolerance and understanding of others to
all people." -- HBO Sports.
------
"Muhammad Ali transcended
sports with his outsized personality and dedication to civil rights and
social justice. He was an inspirational presence at several major NBA
events and was deeply admired by so many throughout the league. While we
are deeply saddened by his loss, Muhammad Ali's legacy lives on in
every athlete who takes a stand for what he or she believes." -- NBA
Commissioner Adam Silver.
------
"Muhammad Ali has not only
been a sports legend but also an outstanding man, whose values transcend
his fantastic boxing career. We will always remember him also for his
full commitment for the values of equity and brotherhood. We're proud he
started his unique sports career winning the Olympic gold medal in Rome
1960, a story that still emotions me very much. He'll be forever `The
Greatest' to all of us." -- Rome 2024 bid President Luca di Montezemolo.
------
"Ali
was not afraid of anything. He made up his own rules inside the ring
and out, and he told the world that is how he acted even (if) they
didn't like it ... He was suspended for political reasons, he was
arrested, he lost, he once boxed 12 rounds with a broken jaw, but he
always came back. We learned from him that victory is the ability to
stay on your feet after everyone else has raised their hands and given
up." Yair Lapid, head of Israel's centrist Yesh Atid party and a former
amateur boxer.
Donald J. Trump
![undefined]({"default":{"load":"default","w":"64","h":"36","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AAgMXHo.img?h=360&w=640&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f&x=327&y=152"},"size3column":{"load":"default","w":"62","h":"35","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AAgMXHo.img?h=351&w=624&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f&x=327&y=152"},"size2column":{"load":"default","w":"62","h":"35","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AAgMXHo.img?h=351&w=624&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f&x=327&y=152"}})
"It was terrible. Both of us, you know, trying to be clean, or one of us trying to be clean and the other one don't wanna be clean. It's a big struggle," he explained.
