Erstellt am: 17. 1. 2012 - 17:11 Uhr

"The greatest" at 70

Reality Check: Diplomatic passports, Israeli cyber attacks, Romanis protests, Hungary-EU, Muhammad Ali is 70

One of the greatest sporting legends of all time, Muhammad Ali, celebrates his 70th birthday today. The self proclaimed and many times proved "Greatest" was not just an iconic boxer, he was also a civil rights capaigner, philosopher, and philanthropist. Had he been born 40 years later, he would probably have added "rapper" to his list of persona - Ali was rapping before the word was invented. His habit of answering questions and addressing press conferences in apparently spontaneous rhyme was one of this trademarks.

'Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee
His hands can't hit what his eyes can't see.'

This was one of his famous taunts, and his lightning reactions and fast footwork were, indeed, keys to his success.

Ali was born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. in Kentucky, and started boxing at the age of 12. At 18 he won won gold in the 1960 Olympics Games in Rome. At 22 he challenged world heavyweight chamption Sunny Liston - and depite his youth, was bragging in characterisic form

"..now Clay swings with a right, what a beautiful swing
And raises the bear straight out of the ring;
Liston is rising and the ref wears a frown
For he can't start counting 'til Liston comes down;
Now Liston disappears from view, the crowd is getting frantic
But our radar stations have picked him up somewhere over the Atlantic;
Who would have thought when they came to the fight
That they'd witness the launching of a human satellite?
Yes the crowd did not dream when they laid down their money
That they would see a total eclipse of the Sonny.'

In the following years, Ali converted to Islam and changed his name, abandonning Cassius Clay as a "slave name". He also refused to be conscripted into the US Army to serve in Vietnam on religious grounds, which led to him being stripped of his world title and boxing licence. It was a few years before his appeal against this was eventually upheld by the Supreme Court - and he returned to the ring to become the first and only 3 time lineal World Heavyweight Champion.

Ali's mixture of aggressive rhetoric and humour sometimes made it hard to be sure when he was joking and when he was serious. However, his wit and extraordinary sense of comedy made him a big hit on chat shows, especially with Britains's Michael Parkinson, who was one of his favourite verbal sparring partners.

His quick turn of phrase also made him a controversial character. His famous "trash talk" included the goad to his arch-rival "Smokin'" Joe Frazier before the so called "Thrilla in Manilla" fight..

"It's gonna be a thrilla, and a chilla, and a killa, when I get the Gorilla in Manila."

Today, calling a black man a gorilla would be taken as a very serious form of racism - but even back then, it was considered politically incorrect, despite the fact it was one
black man talking about another.

His most famous fight was, perhaps, the so called "Rumble in the Jungle" - the title fight against George Foreman in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo), which Ali won, despite being widely considered the underdog. But one thing was, and is, true of Muhammed Ali - he should never be written off.

After his retirement from boxing in 1981, Ali has since devoted his life to philanthropy. Despite being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1984, he is still an active campaigner and supporter of his chosen causes, including the promotion of sport and boxing, and the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Centre.

He has received almost every sporting recognition and honour there is, including being the athlete chosen to light the Olympic Torch at the Atlanta games in 1966.

Of his 9 children, only his daughter Laila followed him into the sport of boxing, and despite his previous commentsagainst women boxers, he was clearly proud of her highly successful career in the ring.

In today's Reality Check, Steve Crilley looks back at the life of "The Greatest".

Diplomatic passports

The government is discussing changes in the laws on diplomatic passports. John Cummins talks to the director of the Diplomatic Academy in Vienna, Hans Winkler, what diplomatic passports really mean for the holders.

Cyber attack on Israel

The Israeli national airline, El Al, and the Tel Aviv stock exchange have been distrupted by cyber attacks, believed to have come from a Saudi computer hacker. Our Jerusalem correspondent, Iris Makkler, reports on the attacks and their likely sources and significance.

Protests in Romania

Demonstrators have been out in force protesting against austerity measures in Romania. But as political analyst Alina Mungui-Pippidi told Joanna King, this is not the only issue enflaming public anger.

Hungary-EU

EU Commission is expected to announce legal action against Hungary for laws it says make the country like a dictatorship.
Our Budapest correspondent, Nick Thorpe, tells Joanna Bostock how this is being seen in Hungary.

FM4 Reality Check

Monday to Friday from 12.00 to 14.00, and after the show via Podcast or fm4.orf.at/realitycheck.