Ali named BBC sports personality of century
About the article
This is a digitised version of an article from The Cayman Compass's print archive. Occasionally, the digitisation process introduces transcription errors, or other problems.
See the article in its original context from December 1999.
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``I had a good time boxing. I enjoyed it and I may come back," Ali joked as he accepted his award, presented by boxer Evander Holyfield. Ali, 57, gave Holyfield a playful punch as they posed for pictures with world heavyweight boxing champion Lennox Lewis, who'd earlier picked up a BBC award for sports personality of the year.
Ali was born Cassius Marcellus Clay on January 17, 1942, in Louisville, Kentucky and over the decades inspired millions with his fighting skills and his stand against racial discrimination.
He won the light-heavyweight gold medal at the Rome Olympics in 1960, then snatched the world heavyweight crown from Sonny Liston four years later.
In recent years he has suffered from Parkinson's Disease, which some believe was caused by staying in boxing too long.
Other contenders for the BBC's top award included Brazilian soccer star Pele and American track athlete Jesse Owens.
British boxer Lennox Lewis scooped his award from Manchester United football star David Beckham, who finished second.
``It has been ten years of trials and tribulations trying to achieve my goal. For all the young athletes may my trials and tribulations be a level of success for them," said Lewis.
Manchester United's football team were named BBC team of the year, and their manager Sir Alex Ferguson was also honored. An award for overseas Ali personality of the year was presented to world indoor sprint champion Maurice Green.
Racehorse trainer Jenny Pitman won the BBC's first Helen Rolison award, named for a BBC presenter who died in August following a two year battle with cancer. Pitman, 52, retired earlier this year after a 25 year career that included Grand National and Gold Cup victories. She is best remembered as the first female trainer of a Grand National winner, Corbiere.
