Bob Feller: Ali shouldn't have been honored

[pappajacks 0]

Feller: Ali 'shouldn't be honored this way'

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ESPN.com news services

 

 

 

HOUSTON -- The sellout crowd at Minute Maid Park gave Muhammad Ali a hero's welcome Tuesday, but Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Feller would rather the former boxing great not have been invited.

 

 

Ali received a roaring ovation from the crowd for being an honored guest for the ceremonial first pitch at the All-Star Game, but Feller came away angered by Ali's presence.

 

 

"I object very strongly to Muhammad Ali being here to throw out the first pitch, and you can print that," Feller was quoted as saying in Wednesday's Boston Herald. "This is a man who changed his name and changed his religion so he wouldn't have to serve his country, and, to me, that's disgusting."

 

Born Cassius Clay in 1942, Ali changed his name after converting to the Muslim faith.

 

 

Commissioner Bud Selig dismissed the criticism of Ali, who returned to the city where he fought four times and relinquished his heavyweight boxing title by refusing to join the military during the Vietnam War.

 

 

"Muhammad Ali is one of the sports legends of our generation," Selig said before the game. "I don't think that that's valid criticism."

 

 

Feller won 266 games during his career, all with the Cleveland Indians, but lost nearly four seasons while serving with the U.S. Navy in World War II. He received eight battle stars.

 

 

"A man who turned his back on his country shouldn't be honored this way," Feller told the Herald.

 

 

Ali became known for much more than being a terrific and mouthy heavyweight champion in April 1967, when he moved his legal residence to Houston to fight induction into the military at the downtown U.S. Armed Forces Examining and Entrance Station.

 

 

He was roundly criticized for the decision around the country, and was indicted 10 days later by a federal jury for violating the Universal Military Training and Service Act. He was convicted in Houston on June 20, 1967, and was sentenced to five years in prison and a fine of $10,000.

 

 

Ali never went to prison as his case went through appeals, but was stripped of his titles and forced to stop boxing for more than three years. His refusal gave more steam to the growing anti-war movement, and the U.S. Supreme Court overturned his conviction in 1971. Ali returned to the ring shortly thereafter.

 

 

He became the world champion twice more, and eventually retired in 1981.

 

 

"I protest his being here [at the All-Star Game]," Feller told the Herald. "I don't like the message he sends out, and [Major League Baseball] shouldn't have invited him."

 

 

Ali has returned to Houston several times over the years, including a 1997 benefit for Parkinson's disease, the ailment from which he now suffers.

 

 

"He's a national treasure as far as I'm concerned," AL and New York Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "Sometimes when people are going through some physical problems, they tend to hide out. But I think he realizes how much good he does just showing up places."

[Guest Anglesault]

I agree.

 

Ali isn't the best choice to bring out, especially when there are teams go out of their way to honor the troops these days.

 

But forget that, what in the hell does the man have to do with baseball? Nolan Ryan was right there. Send him out.

[NoCalMike 0]

I agree.

 

Ali isn't the best choice to bring out, especially when there are teams go out of their way to honor the troops these days.

 

But forget that, what in the hell does the man have to do with baseball? Nolan Ryan was right there. Send him out.

plenty of non-baseball stars throw out first picthes in pivotal games. Did you hear the crowd's reaction to Ali? Sure sounded like they wanted him to be there....

[Highland 0]

A racist Major League ballplayer? Who'd of thunk it?

 

Ali had valid reasons for not wanting to go to war, and he stated it quite eloquently, "No Viet Cong ever called me nigger!" and in any case I question whether Feller's objection is that Ali dodged the draft or that he changed his name to something non-Christian.

 

Ali's done more good for his community and country than people give him credit for, and his decision to not participate in a war that he feels is wrong should be no means detract from the good he has done.

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

Feller wasn't racist when he toured with Satchel Paige in the 40s.

 

It's not a race deal.

 

Although Ali's draft deal was sorta based in Houston, if I recall correctly

[Dangerous A 0]

Looks like Feller is bringing a personal beef with him and making it a baseball issue, which doesn't fit to me.

[Guest GreatOne]

So a guy who toured with Paige and played with Doby is a racist? OK........................

[Guest Anglesault]

So a guy who toured with Paige and played with Doby is a racist? OK........................

That's the way life is today.

 

A white man said something bad about a black man.

 

That makes him racist.

 

Sure, he didn't say anything bad about his race, but whatever. He's still a racist.

[Hogan Made Wrestling 0]

Would Feller have the same opinion if Bill Clinton or George Bush was throwing out the first pitch?

[Guest MikeSC]

So a guy who toured with Paige and played with Doby is a racist? OK........................

That's the way life is today.

 

A white man said something bad about a black man.

 

That makes him racist.

 

Sure, he didn't say anything bad about his race, but whatever. He's still a racist.

Hell, Charlton Heston has been called a racist in spite of all of his civil rights work. You don't even need to say things about race to get tarnished.

-=Mike

[Guest GreatOne]

Would Feller have the same opinion if Bill Clinton or George Bush was throwing out the first pitch?

You mean as the president, or as the "AWOL Bush" myth the left's eaten up for like the last year (or since 2000 for some)?

 

Clinton threw out the first pitch at the Jake in '94 when the M's were there, no uproar from Feller there. So to answer your question, no to either................

[Vyce 0]

So a guy who toured with Paige and played with Doby is a racist? OK........................

That's the way life is today.

 

A white man said something bad about a black man.

 

That makes him racist.

 

Sure, he didn't say anything bad about his race, but whatever. He's still a racist.

I suppose now would be a good time to point out the fact that, on at least one occasion, Muhammad Ali has gotten in trouble for making jokes about Jews which would be, by most audiences, considered anti-Semetic.

 

People have given him a free pass because, yeah, at this point he's half-retarded.

 

But yeah - Feller is the racist one.

[The Mandarin 0]

When I came into this thread, I assumed they threw Chemical Ali a birthday party.

 

I was sadly disappointed.

[Jobber of the Week 0]

I'm sorry, I don't give a fuck about someone's politics when they're in something as politically irrelevant as sports.

 

Same with music.

[Highland 0]

So, Ali changed his name and his religion simply to avoid the draft and to betray his country? Riiiiight.....

Edited July 16, 2004 by Highland

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

Cool. Maybe Feller would want to join my club...

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

Also not news.

[Damaramu 0]

Bush threw out a first pitch this year as well.....at a Cardinals game I believe. His arm wasn't to bad either....

[Brett Favre 0]

Yeah. Stupid Ali didn't want to go to Vietnam to kill children. Shame on him.

[godthedog 0]

Yeah. Stupid Ali didn't want to go to Vietnam to kill children. Shame on him.

i was unaware that my uncle went to vietnam to kill children. thank you for enlightening me.

[JHawk 0]

I love Bob Feller, but honestly, who cares?

 

But I agree with Anglesault (there's a shock). Nolan Ryan is right there. Hell, the shape Ali's in these days, I don't think he even realized he threw out the first pitch.

[The Czech Republic 0]

I agree with Anglesault too, which has been somewhat of a trend recently, for whatever that's worth. Watching Ali just tremble like that is really discomforting, and it almost feels exploitative, like somehow this is more for the benefit of Bud Selig than Ali himself. I think a steady arm is necessary for pitching but hey, who knows.

 

I agree, it should've been Nolan Ryan. That's who I thought it would be.

[the max 0]

Could have also been a good spot for the living members of the 500 homerun club to each throw one out rather than waste that on the homerun derby.

 

Or as others have said, Nolan Ryan was right there. So was Bush Snr.

[Guest Redhawk]

So if Ali only changed his name and religion to avoid the war, why didn't he change back afterwards? And why, now that's he's too old to ever get drafted, does he still practice Islam?

[Gert T 0]

Cool. Maybe Feller would want to join my club...

HI-larious

 

And I really don't care who throws out the first pitch really.

[Vyce 0]

Yeah. Stupid Ali didn't want to go to Vietnam to kill children. Shame on him.

It's morons like you that daily make me lose my faith in humanity.

[Guest Choken One]

The only thing here i took offense to here was an utterly convulting statement made by Vyce.

 

 

Clearly, He knows nothing about Parkinson's Disease. He is not Half-Retard.

 

It's a PHYSICAL disease. His mind is still mentally strong as a normal 62 year old man is (the only damage would be from years of boxing).

 

Is it disnerving to see Ali in his condition? For some, it is. For me? I find it fucking beautiful.

 

Ali has done a great deal of good for his community and the sports world and for someone whom the world admires so much to openly admit and show his vulnerability; esp. considering how much pride he took in himself as an athelete; to the world. It's a great message to send to the our new generation that is slowly and sadly suffering diseases and showing you don't need to hide in your wheelchair or in your home away from the public life, that you can fight your disease/cancer/illness and make the most of life.

 

but go back and dicuss your little political talk right now.

[Guest Anglesault]

Yeah. Stupid Ali didn't want to go to Vietnam to kill children. Shame on him.

It's morons like you that daily make me lose my faith in humanity.

Hold out.

 

I lost mine a long time ago.

[Guest Choken One]

I'm sure it was because of something stupid like Jeff Weaver or something because it's all you are fixated on.

[Guest Anglesault]

I'm sure it was because of something stupid like Jeff Weaver or something

Or something.