BBC Sports Personality of the Century - Muhammad Ali (1999)

so the top contenders Muhammad Ali George best Don Bradman Jack Nicklaus Jesse Owens and Pele but one man has amassed far more votes on his own than all our other contenders combined we have an undisputed winner to present the award for Sports Personality of the century we have Evander Holyfield and to announce it our very distinguished former BBC colleague Harry carpenter for 20 wonderful working years of my life I've followed this man around the world and reported his achievements they were breathtaking not merely in the domination of his chosen sport but for the extraordinary influence he came to have in the world in which he lived he took boxing and in particular heavyweight boxing the heights never previously reached his talents out Shawn all those of his predecessors and when in 1967 he obeyed his conscience and refused allegiance to the American flag a direct criticism of his country's involvement in the Vietnam War he was sentenced to imprisonment and thrown out of his sport but when he returned from exile his sentence had been quashed American public opinion was now firmly with him and he took his career to sublime success today at 57 he's admired he's loved by people throughout the world who can never forget what he gave us a taste of magic excitement enjoyment exhilaration unmatched he coined his own epitaph I am the greatest he was and he is the people of Britain have voted Muhammad Ali the sports personality of the century thank the British people for giving us we welcome they called soon for the war I have a good time boxing and join it and I may come back a wonderful moment Muhammad Ali Sports Personality of the century Lennox Lewis our Sports Personality of the year from us all here in BBC Television Centre good night you

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Views: 484,127

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Id: 6W-eXmNl0KM

Length: 5min 14sec (314 seconds)

Published: Sat Jun 04 2016