So farewell then...

[Wolfman]

The Greatest.

RIP.

[The Fly]

[Eminence Grise]

Playwright Peter Shaffer, of Equus and Amadeus fame. Haven't seen the plays, but the film versions are superb.

http://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2016...-dies-aged-90/ (What is it with Cork that it gets to many thesp types?)
https://www.theguardian.com/stage/20...-equus-amadeus

[BonnieShels]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThJbZR8M9a0

That's a wonderful piece.

We are all of an age where we remember the end of boxing's golden age and some of us are still just young enough to be told of the age of Ali, Frazier and Foreman by parents and grandparents... simply put they were the greatest.

---

Also this photo:

Always always gets me.

[DannyInvincible]

Muhammad Ali was a fascinating human being. So utterly charismatic, majestic and captivating. In a brilliant New Yorker piece documenting his life, David Remnick asked: "What modern athlete, much less one at Ali's level, has ever talked with such political complexity, ambiguity and engagement?" I can't think of one who comes close.

Ben Carrington astutely observed: "The significance of Ali isn't so much that he 'transcended' sport into politics but that he showed how sport itself was inherently political."

Of course, there are the detractors too. Piers Morgan, the fool, claimed Ali said "many more inflammatory/racist things" than Donald Trump. Presumably Morgan was referring to Ali's comments with regard to the "White Devil" and the self-preservation of his own marginalised, stigmatised and brutalised people. To equate Ali's words in the '60s and '70s with Trump's displays a profound and contemptible ignorance of Ali's life, experiences and cultural memory on the part of Morgan. Ali never oppressed anyone for their race.

Ali said: "Hating people because of their color is wrong. And it doesn't matter which color does the hating. It's just plain wrong."

Ali and his people were the victims of some of the worst injustices and oppression known to man; this was all at the hands of dominant white society. On the other hand, Trump is a white billionaire who has enjoyed an upbringing steeped in privilege. That's the key qualitative difference that one must consider when interpreting Ali's statements about white people and when interpreting Trump's statements about Mexicans or Muslims. Ali was talking about how he and his people were mistreated by whites. He was speaking for the disenfranchised and punching up. He was expressing valid anger. He wasn't talking about people he wanted to mistreat or prejudice, nor was he trying to manipulate through stoking division. That's what Trump does. Trump punches down. There's a world of difference.

Challenging oppression isn't racist. If Morgan thinks challenging oppression is inflammatory, I think that says more about Morgan than it does about Ali who he's trying to discredit.

Ali was entirely right to take on white America, it's privilege and its prejudice. He wasn't so much the embodiment of the "American Dream". He exposed it for the nightmare that it was. He shone a light deep into its dark core.

Here is a section of his 1972 interview with RTÉ's Cathal O'Shannon where he speaks of struggle, solidarity and culture upon his visit to Ireland:

This is one thing I love and I admire about the Irish people. I studied a little bit of history since I've been here. I found out you been underdogs for years. Hundreds of years. People dominating you and ruling you and you can identify with this freedom struggle. You understand, but I just have mine on the other side of the water, but we're all fighting for the same cause and idea, but we have different reasons and different approaches.

I feel honoured he had that to say of us. Sure, Ali mightn't have been perfect - who doesn't have flaws? - but he had immeasurably more insight to disclose to America and the world than the likes of Donald Trump could ever dream of. What a ludicrous comparison.

Rest in peace, the Greatest.

[tetsujin1979]

Kimbo Slice, not the best known MMA fighter, but relatively young at 42.

[Eminence Grise]

RTE are reporting that former u-21 Eamonn Dolan has passed away, aged 48. Far too young, but he battled cancer for a long time

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2016/...n-passes-away/

[pineapple stu]

Pat Dolan's brother, and the one at the centre of the slighty controversy around the Kevin Doyle (or was it Shane Long) transfer.

Didn't know he'd been ill.

[nigel-harps1954]

Musician and owner of the famous Leo's Tavern pub in Donegal, and father of Enya and Clannad, Leo Brennan, died today at the ripe old age of 90.

A sad loss to Donegal today.

[The Fly]

The UK state.

[BonnieShels]

No loss.

[Eminence Grise]

Just as Brexit throws Northern Ireland up in the air again, Patrick Mayhew, secretary of state when the Downing St Declaration was signed, passes away.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2016/0625/798...k-mayhew-dies/

[OwlsFan]

Theresa Saldana: ‘Commish’ & ‘Raging Bull’ Actress Who Survived Stalker Knife Attack dies at the age of 61

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz...ies-age-61.htm

[BonnieShels]

Theresa Saldana: ‘Commish’ & ‘Raging Bull’ Actress Who Survived Stalker Knife Attack dies at the age of 61

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz...ies-age-61.htm

Everytime I see the Commish mentioned I always get blown away cos I always felt like I was the only one who watched it.

[BonnieShels]

Basketball revolutionary Pat Summitt

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/bl...asketball-ncaa

---

I remember reading about her before and it always struck me that her maiden name was Head and she married to become Summitt. Mad.

[nigel-harps1954]

She really reached the top.

[nigel-harps1954]

Scotty Moore, aged 84. Most famous as Elvis Pressleys guitarist in the early rock 'n roll years

[Eminence Grise]

Caroline Aherne, Royle Family, Mrs Merton and voice of Gogglebox. Only 52.

http://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2016...e-aherne-dies/

[Eminence Grise]

Two directors, with barely a handful of films between them - but what a cinematic legacy they left.


Robin Hardy, best known for The Wicker Man.
http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-36693545

Michael Cimino, The Deer Hunter and Heaven's Gate.
http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-36696560

[BonnieShels]

You beat me to it. Also, 915 on a Sunday is no time to be awake never mind coming in here.