Like the passing of a head of state, the death of Muhammad Ali has sounded across the entire globe and focused the world’s attention on The Man as it has so many times before. As someone with a blog devoted to sports, politics, and entertainment, I can think of few people so ingrained in all of these areas as the late Muhammad Ali, who died Friday at the age of 74.

I’ve often wondered what I would think of Ali had I grown up in his heyday rather than a generation removed. After all, the man was not without controversy. (And this in an era without Twitter!) By the time I knew who Muhammad Ali was he was not only passed his prime but suffering from a severely debilitating disease. He was also a legend and absolutely beyond reproach, his godlike status secure. My only real memory of Ali in action (as is the case for anyone under 40) is of his torch lighting at the ’96 Olympics. More than all his moments in the ring, that’s the one people remember most. It was one of the great moments in the history of sports.

For all his ego and grandstanding and unorthodox views on race and religion and politics, Muhammad Ali was nothing if not honest and resolute. Those are qualities to be admired. And his political views? Rightly or wrongly the world came around to him, did it not?

Often overlooked is Ali’s prowess in the ring, three times the Heavyweight Champion of the World and an Olympic gold medalist.

How great was he?

The Greatest.