Larry Brown Sports

Over the weekend, a report from The Sun claimed that legendary boxer Muhammad Ali could have only days to live. Muhammad’s brother Rahman Ali reportedly said that the former heavyweight champion was not only beginning to lose his battle with Parkinson’s disease, but that he was also in the middle of a bitter family feud.

Rahman said that Ali’s wife of 26 years, Lonnie, has driven a wedge between the brothers and other members of the family. He explained that Ali’s health is declining and that he cannot speak and does not recognize him. He also said Lonnie has blocked his access to a trust fund that Muhammad wanted Rahman to have after he dies.

“Before he got sick he told me, ‘Rahman, I’ve set up a trust fund for you after I die, you get the money,’” Rahman claimed. “But she’s put a stop to it. If he knew what was happening and where I’m living now, he’d be as mad as hell, so angry. He’d divorce her. If he saw what was happening with his children, he’d go crazy.”

Contrary to the report, Muhammad’s daughter Laila Ali tweeted a photo of her dad on Sunday and said that he is doing just fine and watching the Super Bowl.

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Jim Brown is one of the most competitive athletes to ever live. We know this because the Cleveland Browns legend has never been one to turn down a challenge — no matter what the contest. As crazy as it may sound, there was a point in the mid 1960s where Brown wanted to box Muhammad Ali.

No, he wasn’t joking. Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated recently sat down with 80-year-old Bob Arum, who is the most powerful promoter in boxing today and one of the most influential in fighting history. It was Brown who introduced Arum to Ali, and Brown who decided a fight between one of the greatest athletes in sports history the greatest fighter of all-time would bring home a fortune. Arum proposed the idea to Ali, and this is how it went from there.

“So I went to talk to Ali,” Arum recalled. “He says, ‘Jim wants to do what? Bring him here.’ So I took him to Hyde Park in London, where Ali used to run. Ali said, ‘Jimmy, here’s what we’re going to do: You hit me as hard as you can.’ So Brown starts swinging and swinging, and he can’t hit him. He’s swinging wildly and not even coming close. This goes on for, like, 30 seconds. Then Ali hits him with this quick one-two to his face. Jimmy just stops and says, ‘OK, I get the point.’”

That sounds about right. Brown is all about challenges. Remember the time he played and lost to Andre Agassi when Agassi was only 9 years old? He may be the greatest running back of all time and the greatest lacrosse player to ever live, but it’s no surprise to hear he backed down from Ali after realizing he wouldn’t last 15 seconds. Would everyone involved have made a lot of money? Yes. Would it have been worth the embarrassment for the Cleveland legend? Probably not.

Glove tap to Yahoo! Sports Boxing Experts Blog

Former boxer Chuck Wepner was featured in an ESPN 30 for 30 documentary that aired Tuesday called The Real Rocky. The New Jersey native went 35-14 in his career, and he’s known for his 1975 fight against Muhammad Ali. Though Wepner lost that fight in 15 rounds, he managed one knockdown, and his performance helped inspire the Rocky character.

During the documentary, Wepner explains that Ali wanted him to go to great lengths to promote the fight. He even wanted Wepner to make a racist statement to help turn the fight into a black-white issue. Wepner recalled a promotional appearance the two made and how Ali tried to get him to make a racial comment on TV.

“We’re in the green room, and all of a sudden the door opens, and in walks Ali,” Wepner recalled. “And he says to me ‘Chuck, when we go out on stage, I want you to call me a n*****.’

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Like any team would do in their situation, the Dallas Mavericks enjoyed plenty of special moments after winning their first NBA title in franchise history last month. Dirk and the boys went on a drinking binge that was quite the opposite of the one they subjected themselves to five years ago.  Mark Cuban treated his players to a $100,000 celebration in South Beach and took the Larry O’Brien Trophy with him everywhere he went — no, really.

Amidst all the partying and sleepless nights, Dirk Nowitzki received probably the most humbling gift an athlete in any sport could ever receive.  According to I Am GM via Spiegel, Muhammad Ali sent Dirk a boxing glove with the inscription: “You are the greatest.”  Although Dirk asked that he not be pressured into explaining the political meaning of the gift, it is easy to understand why something like that would be so special.

From Larry Legend saying he was honored to be compared to Dirk to the most conceited athlete of all-time calling him the greatest, I think it’s safe to say the Hall of Famer has reached the highest point in his sensational career.  People can argue until their blue in the face about LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan, but as far as we’re concerned the debate has been put to rest by Cassius Clay.