Tim Mullin
crazy! So a little history lesson is in order. Pay
attention, class.
Way back in 1974, Muhammad stepped into the ring as a 7-1
underdog. He wasn't in the best of shape. His opponent,
George Foreman was unbeaten in 40 fights--a fierce, far cry
from the smiling grill and muffler salesman we know today--
had dispatched Joe Frazier and Ken Norton (both had beaten
Ali) in only two rounds. There were those seriously
concerned for Ali's safety.
As he stepped into the ring, no one, other than Ali,
expected he could win. "You think the world was shocked when
Nixon resigned?" Ali said. "Wait till I whup George
Foreman's behind."
For the first round, Ali did what was expected of him. He
danced around, showed his speed, and even taunted Foreman a
little. The second round saw the debut the "rope-a-dope."
Ali covered his head, lay back against the ropes, and
motioned for Foreman to come and get him. For the next four
rounds, brutalized Ali, hammering his un protected ribs and
gut. Much of the time the ropes were the only thing keeping
Ali upright. It
in the seventh round Foreman began to tire from his effort,
and Ali leaned against him and said, "Is that all you got,
George?" Apparently, it was. At the begining of the eighth
round Ali did not not retreat to the ropes, instead
launching a viscious attack on the exhausted Foreman,
Ali wasn't playing some head game with his opponent....he
was winning the only way he could. Had he come out and faced
Forman head-to-head in the early rounds, he would have been
killed. It was a very risky strategy, but he really didn't
have any other options.
It should be noted that the strategy is brilliant only if it
works. Had Ali lost, it would all seem so stupid.
Is Armstrong playing head games here? Perhaps....or maybe
not. I don't really care. What pisses me off is when the rope-a-
dope is compared to a head game, `cause it's not the same
thing. If you don't win, it doesnt count. And 2 minutes down
on GC clearly isn't winning.
Jesus Christ, people....Armstrong said he's not here to win,
so what's the problem? What's the point of making all the
excuses? It sounds like
invincable....but only when he's supposed or wants to be.
attention, class.
Way back in 1974, Muhammad stepped into the ring as a 7-1
underdog. He wasn't in the best of shape. His opponent,
George Foreman was unbeaten in 40 fights--a fierce, far cry
from the smiling grill and muffler salesman we know today--
had dispatched Joe Frazier and Ken Norton (both had beaten
Ali) in only two rounds. There were those seriously
concerned for Ali's safety.
As he stepped into the ring, no one, other than Ali,
expected he could win. "You think the world was shocked when
Nixon resigned?" Ali said. "Wait till I whup George
Foreman's behind."
For the first round, Ali did what was expected of him. He
danced around, showed his speed, and even taunted Foreman a
little. The second round saw the debut the "rope-a-dope."
Ali covered his head, lay back against the ropes, and
motioned for Foreman to come and get him. For the next four
rounds, brutalized Ali, hammering his un protected ribs and
gut. Much of the time the ropes were the only thing keeping
Ali upright. It
in the seventh round Foreman began to tire from his effort,
and Ali leaned against him and said, "Is that all you got,
George?" Apparently, it was. At the begining of the eighth
round Ali did not not retreat to the ropes, instead
launching a viscious attack on the exhausted Foreman,
Ali wasn't playing some head game with his opponent....he
was winning the only way he could. Had he come out and faced
Forman head-to-head in the early rounds, he would have been
killed. It was a very risky strategy, but he really didn't
have any other options.
It should be noted that the strategy is brilliant only if it
works. Had Ali lost, it would all seem so stupid.
Is Armstrong playing head games here? Perhaps....or maybe
not. I don't really care. What pisses me off is when the rope-a-
dope is compared to a head game, `cause it's not the same
thing. If you don't win, it doesnt count. And 2 minutes down
on GC clearly isn't winning.
Jesus Christ, people....Armstrong said he's not here to win,
so what's the problem? What's the point of making all the
excuses? It sounds like
invincable....but only when he's supposed or wants to be.
