Muhammad Ali

 Even if you have never been a fan of boxing, you should understand how huge an impact Muhammad Ali had on the world. He was an exceptional athlete whose trash talking started out like WWE lunacy to hype his boxing matches.

He was an international figure who changed his name from Cassius Clay to Muhammad Ali after winning the Heavyweight Championship of the World.  Conversion to Islam was controversial back then and his own personal conversion seemed even more controversial given his friendships with Malcolm X and Elijah Muhammad.  The long-term views of his beliefs were very sincere. It also connected him to people on a worldwide basis.

He spoke forcefully in favor of civil rights not only in the United States but on a worldwide basis. His refusal to be drafted and conviction for draft evasion during the Viet Nam War made him one of the most important spokesmen against the war. Being stripped of his titles and restricted from boxing, his personal sacrifices were real.  The Supreme Court voted 8-0 to void his conviction for draft evasion. Public opinion of the war had changed.

Ali on his arrest for draft evasion said the following: "I strongly object to the fact that so many newspapers have given the American public and the world the impression that I have only two alternatives in taking this stand: either I go to jail or go to the Army. There is another alternative and that alternative is justice. If justice prevails, if my Constitutional rights are upheld, I will be forced to go neither to the Army nor jail. In the end I am confident that justice will come my way for the truth must eventually prevail.".

 Ali was the last member of a recognized, peaceful religion to face draft evasion charges. Ali regained his boxing title in 1974 from George Foreman.