Ali was diagnosed with pugilistic Parkinson's syndrome in 1982, following which his motor functions began a slow decline.Despite this, he remains a hero to millions around the world. In 1985, he was called upon to negotiate for the release of kidnapped Americans in Lebanon. In 1996, he had the honor of lighting the Olympic flame in Atlanta, Georgia. At the same Olympics, Ali was also presented with a replacement gold medal. He had supposedly thrown the previous one, won in 1960, into the Ohio River after being refused entry to a restaurant, confirming his own suspicions that even with a gold medal, he would not be treated any different in the South. His daughter Laila Ali also became a boxer in 1999, despite her father's earlier comments against female boxing in 1978: "Women are not made to be hit in the breast, and face like that... the body's not made to be punched right here [patting his chest]. Get hit in the breast... hard... and all that."
The $60 million Muhammad Ali Center is scheduled to open in downtown Louisville, Kentucky in the fall of 2005. In addition to displaying his boxing memorabilia, the center will focus on core themes of peace, social responsibility, respect, and personal growth. Muhammad Ali currently lives in Michigan with his fourth wife, Yolanda Williams.
Personal life
Muhammad Ali has been married four times. His first wife was Sonji Roi, whom he married on August 14, 1964, and she had his first two children, they divorced on January 10, 1966. His second wife was Khalilah 'Belinda' Ali, whom he married on August 17, 1967; and she had four of his nine children, they divorced in 1977. His third wife was Veronica Porche Ali, whom he married on August 19, 1977, and she had two children with him, one of which was Laila Ali; they divorced in July, 1986. His fourth and current wife is Yolanda Williams, whom he married on November 19, 1986, and they adopted a son named Asaad. His children are: Rasheedah, Jamilla, Maryum, Miya, Khalilah, Hana, Laila, Muhammad Jr. and Asaad.
Pro Wrestling
Ali had a "boxer vs. wrestler" match against Antonio Inoki in June, 1976, in Nippon Budokan in Tokyo, Japan. The match was declared a draw.
Ali also refereed the main event at Wrestlemania I in 1985.
Books
1) Sting Like a Bee, by Jose Torres (with significant contributions from Bert Randolph Sugar and Norman Mailer).
2) King Of The World, by David Remnick — An account of Ali's rise to greatness, focusing on the two fights with Sonny Liston
3) Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life's Journey", by Muhammad Ali and Hana Yasmeen Ali. 2004.
4) Muhammad Ali: His Life and Times", by Thomas Hauser with the co-operation of Muhammad Ali. 1991
5) THE GREATEST: Muhammad Ali", by Walter Dean Jones. 2001.
Films
The Greatest (1977, starring Ali as himself)
Ali (2001, directed by Michael Mann, starring Will Smith)
When We Were Kings (filmed 1974, released 1996, documentary about the "Rumble in the Jungle" by filmmaker Leon Gast.)
I Am the Greatest: The Adventures of Muhammad Ali, an animated television series
Music
Black Superman - Muhammed Ali, by Johnny Wakelin & The Kinshasa Band
Ali Shuffle, by Alvin Cash (1976)
Urban legends
There is a story that Ali had visited the remains of the World Trade Center in New York City after the September 11, 2001 attacks and was asked by reporters how he felt about having the same religion as the people who did this. He then allegedly responded with the question "How do you feel about Hitler sharing yours?"