Muhammad Ali —
how does being ‘the greatest’
feel? — it’s a gone thing
— now he sits defeated by
his own slow progress through time
1973-74 I would have been sixteen or seventeen, my bedroom had a very low, large armchair and I have vivid memories of sitting in that armchair on my own, often — feeling defeated by the whole business of being alive, the whole business of being a teenager, the whole business of being me. In my dream, it was Muhammad Ali sitting in that chair. Much the age he must be now — an old man — and I was very interested to know how he felt about himself. What was it like looking back over his life? Ali was never a personal hero of mine, and in general, boxing leaves me completely cold. The only boxer I ever felt a flicker of interest in, was Barry McGuigan. Yet Ali is a complete and utter legend. A god if you like. I was wondering yesterday what to think about Yuval Noah Harari’s website with its prominent strapline: History began when humans invented gods, and will end when humans become gods. I’m fine with the first part of that statement, but have no idea what the second part means.
sciencegoodmagicbetter 