November 4, 200520 yr http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9831638/ Ali 'may only have months to live' Close family friend says boxing legend's health deteriorating rapidly Gary Hershorn / Reuters file Boxing great Muhammad Ali, who long has suffered from Parkinson's disease, is getting worse, according to his daughter, Laila. NBCSports.com news services Updated: 12:51 p.m. ET Nov. 4, 2005 Former heavyweight boxing legend Muhammad Ali "may only have months to live" and is losing his fight against Parkinson's disease, the London Evening Standard reported Friday. "His condition has worsened. At this point he may only have months to live," the friend told the newspaper. Added Ali's manager, Howard Bingham, "Laila feels she is losing him." Laila Ali, the ex-boxer's daughter, told the Los Angeles Times last week, "I feel like the disease is progressing. Different things start happening as you get older. I have noticed a change in him, something that goes along with Parkinson's. "It's painful for me because I would love to sit down and talk to my dad about the way he used to be when he was my age, when he was in his prime, because we are so much alike. I can't really do that. I can't share a lot of things with him." Laila Ali, 27, who lives in Los Angeles, is an undefeated professional boxer (21-0 with 18 knockouts) and wants to discuss the sport with the three-time former heavyweight champ, according to The Times. "We don't talk about boxing," she told The Times. "He might come to a fight and say, 'You're bad.' But he was never one to talk much about boxing with us. That was not him. And he doesn't talk much these days anyway. It takes him too much energy to talk. "He has his good days and his bad days. He's taking a lot of different medications. Sometimes, his speech is so slurred, you can't hardly understand him. But he definitely knows what's going on. That's for sure. He sees everything. "It's his motor skills that Parkinson's affects. So it's like he's trapped inside his body. He can think. He has things he wants to say, but his lips sometimes just don't move to get it out. "He's just taking life easy. He likes doing simple things. He loves to draw, he likes to color, he likes to clip pictures out of magazines. And he likes to do magic tricks. It doesn't take a whole lot to keep him entertained. But his attention span is very short when the subject is something more than that." "He doesn't feel sorry for himself, so it's hard to feel sorry for him." for the Ali family.
November 4, 200520 yr i had an uncle with parkinson's. it is not pretty near the end. the sad thing is that much like lou gehrig's disease, parkinson's does not extensively affect your mind, just your motor skills. you end up trapped in a deteriorating body, aware of everything yet powerless to help yourself. i wish ali nothing but the best. my prayers go out to him.
November 4, 200520 yr QUOTE(Steff @ Nov 4, 2005 -> 08:53 PM) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9831638/ Ali 'may only have months to live' Close family friend says boxing legend's health deteriorating rapidly Gary Hershorn / Reuters file Boxing great Muhammad Ali, who long has suffered from Parkinson's disease, is getting worse, according to his daughter, Laila. NBCSports.com news services Updated: 12:51 p.m. ET Nov. 4, 2005 Former heavyweight boxing legend Muhammad Ali "may only have months to live" and is losing his fight against Parkinson's disease, the London Evening Standard reported Friday. "His condition has worsened. At this point he may only have months to live," the friend told the newspaper. Added Ali's manager, Howard Bingham, "Laila feels she is losing him." Laila Ali, the ex-boxer's daughter, told the Los Angeles Times last week, "I feel like the disease is progressing. Different things start happening as you get older. I have noticed a change in him, something that goes along with Parkinson's. "It's painful for me because I would love to sit down and talk to my dad about the way he used to be when he was my age, when he was in his prime, because we are so much alike. I can't really do that. I can't share a lot of things with him." Laila Ali, 27, who lives in Los Angeles, is an undefeated professional boxer (21-0 with 18 knockouts) and wants to discuss the sport with the three-time former heavyweight champ, according to The Times. "We don't talk about boxing," she told The Times. "He might come to a fight and say, 'You're bad.' But he was never one to talk much about boxing with us. That was not him. And he doesn't talk much these days anyway. It takes him too much energy to talk. "He has his good days and his bad days. He's taking a lot of different medications. Sometimes, his speech is so slurred, you can't hardly understand him. But he definitely knows what's going on. That's for sure. He sees everything. "It's his motor skills that Parkinson's affects. So it's like he's trapped inside his body. He can think. He has things he wants to say, but his lips sometimes just don't move to get it out. "He's just taking life easy. He likes doing simple things. He loves to draw, he likes to color, he likes to clip pictures out of magazines. And he likes to do magic tricks. It doesn't take a whole lot to keep him entertained. But his attention span is very short when the subject is something more than that." "He doesn't feel sorry for himself, so it's hard to feel sorry for him." for the Ali family. One of my son's most prized possessions is a framed and autographed color picture of the Ali/Liston fight. He also has a boxing glove signed by Ali. Saying he was the greatest isn't enough - it's not often that a sports figure can change how we feel about people - Ali stood up for what he thought was right - that's what makes him the greatest!!!!!
November 4, 200520 yr My grandma had Parkinson's. Sucky disease. What gets me worried is when I see my dad shaking a little bit or if/when I notice if my hand starts shaking a little.
November 5, 200520 yr Very sad indeed. Boxing is a dangerous sport, not saying that boxing was the reason it happened, but I'm sure it didn't help any. The boxer I worry about getting something one of these days is Evandor Holyfield.
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