The Young Champion

[H2O Man]

(Note: This was Cassius Clay's poetic prediction before his title bout with Heavyweight Champion Charles "Sonny" Liston. If we substitute "Barack Obama" for "Cassius Clay," and "John McCain" for "Sonny Liston," we have a fair description of what we will witness in an hour.)

Clay comes out to meet Liston,
and Liston starts to retreat.
If Liston goes back an inch farther,
he'll end up in a ringside seat.
Clay swings with a left, Clay swings with a right.
Just look at young Cassius carry the fight.

Liston keeps backing,
but there's not enough room.
It's a matter of time
until Clay lowers the boom.
Then Clay lands a right --
what a beautiful swing!
And the punch raised the bear
clear out of the ring.

Liston is still risin'
and the ref wears a frown,
for he can't start counting
'til Sonny comes down.
Now Liston disappears from view --
the crowd is getting frantic,
but our radar stations picked Sonny up
somewhere over the Atlantic.

Who on earth would have thought
when they came to the fight
That they would witness the launch
of a human satellite?
Yes, the croud never dreamed
when they put down their money
That they would see
a total eclipse of the Sonny.

[Gregorian]

1. I'm excited.

Funny how Ali never struck me as arrogant. He sure was confident.

I feel the same way about Barrack.

Now I've got that silly Mohammed Ali song in my mind!

Here we go for another round...


Edit- Here you go.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqMk-AuTDZE

[H2O Man]

2. When he was young,

Ali said thaty he wasn't arrogant -- he was just convinced!

[Gregorian]

3. I absolutely love that attitude.

To me there is nothing greater than that knowing. I see it in musicians. Or bright comedians. Being able to control the game. I know little of it. I'll take both sides of an argument.

By the way, I've never been hit. I do my best to avoid confrontation.

Also, I would love to hear Ali's experience of the convention. It's a shame that we don't hear more from our older heroes.

Well, back to the madness. :)

[bigtree]

4. Barack maintained his principles throughout

. . . just like Ali.