The death of Muhammad Ali saw an outpouring of tributes across the sports media spectrum. His passing prompted tears among many pundits who described his lasting impact on boxing, sports and entertainment.
· In a statement, HBO Sports noted that “Ali’s charisma, grace, and genius transcended all races, religions, nationalities, and generations. His spirit will inspire people forever,” adding that “HBO is honored to have known Muhammad Ali as a fighter of beauty and a man of principle. We experienced the joy of working with him in support of initiatives he passionately cared about including, most importantly, his never-ending desire to teach tolerance and understanding of others to all people.
· Sports Illustrated pays tribute with Ali gracing its cover for the 40th time for its June 13 issue, which is out on June 8. “Muhammad Ali was a singular force of athletics, humanitarianism and social equality unlike anyone in our history. He was a fighter, and a champion, yet many of his most important victories came outside the ring. His legacy defines the very best of who we are and aspire to be,” said Paul Fichtenbaum, Sports Illustrated Group Editor.
· On ESPN, the company recalled ABC Sports commentator Howard Cosell’s Ali fight calls and interviews. ESPN Films has produced six projects regarding Ali’s life, including the 30 for 30 film “Muhammad and Larry” and the 30 for 30 Short “Ali: The Mission.” “We are sad to hear of the passing of Muhammad Ali,” ESPN President John Skipper said. “However, we revel in the memory of his athletic excellence in the ring, we recollect with pleasure the charm of the charismatic young man from Louisville who would shock the world and we celebrate the dramatic achievement of a champion of civil rights who changed the world. In many ways, he was truly the greatest of all time.”
· The UFC ran a pair of tributes to Ali during UFC 199 during the FOX Sports telecast, including one narrated by UFC President Dana White. FOX Sports 1, meanwhile, showcased a slew of tributes before commercial breaks.
· Bounce TV celebrates Ali’s life today with a special presentation of The Greatest at 10p.