This year's Che Guevara T-shit (GOAT related)

JuniorJunior 4,853 Posts
edited April 2006 in Strut Central
Muhammad Ali sells rights to his image
Some will see it as another stage in the poignant decline of the greatest boxer the world has known. Muhammad Ali, fabled for his grace in the ring and his political activism outside it, has sold the rights to his name and likeness to the company that owns the Pop Idol franchise.The retired heavyweight fighter originally known as Cassius Clay will receive $50m (??28m) from the New York firm CKX, in return for an 80% stake in his licensing company, Goat - an acronym derived from his self-chosen soubriquet, the Greatest Of All Time. He and his fourth wife, Lonnie Ali, will retain control of the remaining 20%.Ali, 64, who suffers from pugilistic Parkinson's syndrome, said the deal would "help guarantee that, for generations to come, people of all nations will understand my beliefs and my purpose".But profiting from his name without offending his admirers could prove a challenge for CKX, which has made most of its money from Pop Idol, American Idol and the rights to Elvis Presley's image[/b] , for which it paid $100m to Lisa Marie Presley in 2004.Out of respect to Ali's Muslim faith, CKX chairman Bob Sillerman said, his name would not be used to endorse alcohol or gambling. Rampant commercialisation was "not what Muhammad Ali is about", he told the LA Times. "Could we sell a coffee cup with a picture of Ali on it? Sure. Is it likely? Not at all."Mr Sillerman said the Ali family had made "a conscious decision to keep a pretty low profile". Only two companies are permitted to use Ali's image: Adidas, which markets Muhammad Ali Classic trainers, and computer game firm Electronic Arts, which sells simulations in which players can box against him.The tension in Ali's career between political campaigning and profit-driven marketing has long divided the boxing world. In a 2001 biography, the writer Mark Kram argued that the boxer was "no more a social force than Frank Sinatra". He was "not about the anti-war movement; that was peripheral, a college-kid issue that he tolerated and used. He was not about the counterculture and certainly not women's rights."His official biographer, Thomas Hauser, contends that Ali was a powerful social force - but that his political positions, which included support for racial segregation, have been sanitised in recent years for commercial reasons. In 1998 the boxer was appointed a UN Messenger of Peace, perhaps the ultimate symbol of uncontroversial goodwill."Great men are considered great," Hauser writes, "not only because of what they achieve, but also because of the road they travel to reach their final destination. Ali stood up for his convictions and sacrificed a great deal for them. So why hide the true nature of what his principles were?"CKX's licensing activities to date have not been so politically charged. Last year it acquired 19 Entertainment, the company formed by the pop impresario Simon Fuller, who brought the Spice Girls to prominence and created S Club 7.19 Entertainment recently entered into a marketing arrangement with David and Victoria Beckham which would, CKX said, create "an ideal opportunity to share in new and valuable content and relationships, each offering multiple revenue opportunities".
Expect Ali inflatable punching bags by Xmas.

  Comments


  • nzshadownzshadow 5,518 Posts
    shit.

    maybe Ali happy meals will follow.

    what a wonderful world.

  • MjukisMjukis 1,675 Posts
    It'll be the best thing since the Nike commercial featuring "Revolution"...

  • LamontLamont 1,089 Posts
    I figure the doctors told him he's about to take a trip to the big ring upstairs.

  • DORDOR Two Ron Toe 9,896 Posts
    I can't blame Ali & his family for doing it.


    Anyone else remember at the olympics, when Ali lit that shit? His one arm was shaking like crazy, but the hand that was lighting it was solid as a rock. One of my all time fav TV moments.


    "I'm so fast that last night I turned off the light switch in my hotel room and was in bed before the room was dark."

  • CousinLarryCousinLarry 4,618 Posts
    I can't blame Ali & his family for doing it.


    Anyone else remember at the olympics, when Ali lit that shit? His one arm was shaking like crazy, but the hand that was lighting it was solid as a rock. One of my all time fav TV moments.


    "I'm so fast that last night I turned off the light switch in my hotel room and was in bed before the room was dark."

    Yeah, I mean if someone offered me $50 million for the rights to my name I can't say I would turn them down. Ali is no fool and I am fairly certain that there are some provisions in the contract about what his name can and cannot be used for.

  • Birdman9Birdman9 5,417 Posts


    Expect Ali inflatable punching bags by Xmas.

    As someone who is old enough to remember when they actuall sold Ali inflatable punching bags and lunch boxes, I can't say I see why this is a big deal. I think I still have the comic where Ali battles Superman!

    This will no doubt generate much money for the family and their charitable foundations and causes.

  • JuniorJunior 4,853 Posts
    I don't begrudge the man getting his dues and I ceertainly wouldn't sniff at 50 million but I think claiming that selling your likeness to a marketing company would "help guarantee that, for generations to come, people of all nations will understand my beliefs and my purpose" is pushing credibility somewhat.

  • soulmarcosasoulmarcosa 4,296 Posts
    As someone who is old enough to remember when they actuall sold Ali inflatable punching bags and lunch boxes, I can't say I see why this is a big deal.

  • sabadabadasabadabada 5,966 Posts

  • As someone who is old enough to remember when they actuall sold Ali inflatable punching bags and lunch boxes, I can't say I see why this is a big deal.

    Co-co-sign.

    Anyone hating on The Illustrious and Praiseworth Mr. Ali for this should be ashamed.

  • dayday 9,612 Posts

    I think I still have the comic where Ali battles Superman!

    I used to have that as a kid! They drew all kinds of hidden celebrities on the cover and had a "who's who" grid inside. Man I wish I still had that. I'm pretty sure someone just flipped that cover for an album, too.

  • batmonbatmon 27,574 Posts

    I think I still have the comic where Ali battles Superman!

    I used to have that as a kid! They drew all kinds of hidden celebrities on the cover and had a "who's who" grid inside. Man I wish I still had that. I'm pretty sure someone just flipped that cover for an album, too.





    I was @ that fight. Check me up front!

  • JuniorJunior 4,853 Posts
    I read somewhere that when the producers were searching around for a suitable candidate to play Superman in the Seventies version one brainstorm came up with using the current World Heavyweight Champion of the world for the part. Which was, of course, Ali.

    Edit: Google has found proof:

    `We`re sitting in this bar, and before we get down to business, we`re having small talk and someone says, `What`s new, Sir Jarvis?` And he said, `Well, I made a bloody fortune with this Ali-Wrestler fight. We made millions and millions of pounds.` Alex hears this and says, `Who is this Mr. Ali?` And Ilya says, `He`s the heavyweight champion of the world. He`s on the cover of every magazine in the world.` Alex says, `Why he couldn`t play Superman?` And there was just silence. Nobody dared speak. Part of the deal was that DC had general approval over the image of Superman. DC never really interfered, but they had some approval rights so their character wouldn`t be screwed up. So there was this long silence. Sir Jarvis doesn`t give a shit because it`s another opportunity to make some money. He said, `I`ll get Muhammad on the phone. It`s a great idea.` And finally--finally--Jarvis is halfway to the phone to call Muhammad Ali, who I`m sure would have loved to play Superman, and all of a sudden Ilya says, `Maybe it`s not such a good idea, Dad. Before he was Muhammad Ali, he used to be Cassius Clay.` And Alex says, `Oh`--the light bulb goes off--`that`s a colored fellow. Okay, not such a good idea.` I swear to you, there was five minutes there where we saw this whole project blowing up sky high with Muhammad Ali as Superman.`

    Ali As Superman

  • jamesjames chicago 1,863 Posts


    Howard,
    the strangest things
    have happened lately when I
    take a good swing at all my dreams
    they pivot and slip
    I drop my fists and they're back
    laughing

    Howard,
    my intention's become
    not to lose what I've won
    Ambition has given way to
    desperation and I've
    lost the fight from my eyes

    Boxing's been good to me, Howard
    now I'm told, "you're growing old"
    The whole time you knew
    in a couple of years I'd be through
    Has boxing been good to
    you?

    Howard,
    now I confess
    I'm scared and lonely and tired
    They seem to think I'm made of clay
    Another day
    I'm not cut out for this
    I just know what to say
    I say

    Boxing's been good to me, Howard
    now I'm told, "you're growing old"
    The whole time you knew
    in a couple of years I'd be through
    Has boxing been good to
    you?

    Well sometimes I punch myself
    hard as I can, yelling
    "Nobody cares!"
    hoping some one will tell me
    how wrong I am
    Howard,

    Boxing's been good to me, Howard
    Now I'm told
    "you're growing old"
    The whole time you knew
    in a couple of years
    I'd be through
    has boxing been good. . .
    has boxing been good. . .
    has boxing been good?

  • DrWuDrWu 4,021 Posts

    I think I still have the comic where Ali battles Superman!

    I used to have that as a kid! They drew all kinds of hidden celebrities on the cover and had a "who's who" grid inside. Man I wish I still had that. I'm pretty sure someone just flipped that cover for an album, too.





    I was @ that fight. Check me up front!

    Doods,

    Cher and Donna and Marie in the hot spot. Things were really happening on TV back then. In addition I got Lucille Ball, Hal Linden (Barney Miller), Jackson 5, Woody Allen w/ a goatee, Peter Falk aka Columbo, Juan Epstein the puerto rican jew from Welcome Back Kotter, Wolfman Jack, The Fonz, Orson "I will sell no wone before its time" Welles, Jacquline SMith, maybe Andy Warhol and Ruth Buzzie.


  • batmonbatmon 27,574 Posts
    Stevie Wonder
    Dick Grayson
    Johnny Carson
    Wally West
    Charo
    Jose Feliciano
    Wolfman Jack

    And the brova in tha' corner iz PELE.....!!!!

  • Alfred E

  • G_BalliandoG_Balliando 3,916 Posts

    Doods,

    Cher and Donna and Marie in the hot spot. Things were really happening on TV back then. In addition I got Lucille Ball, Hal Linden (Barney Miller), Jackson 5, Woody Allen w/ a goatee, Peter Falk aka Columbo, Juan Epstein the puerto rican jew from Welcome Back Kotter, Wolfman Jack, The Fonz, Orson "I will sell no wone before its time" Welles, Jacquline SMith, maybe Andy Warhol and Ruth Buzzie.


    how about dude from MAD magazine creepin' by the ring...

  • batmonbatmon 27,574 Posts
    Oliver Queen - Green Arrow
    Hal Jordan - Green Lantern

    I have this at home w/ the full list.

  • sabadabadasabadabada 5,966 Posts
    Donnie and Marie

  • nzshadownzshadow 5,518 Posts
    Alfred E. Newman (Ringside)

    Batmons ruling this shit.



  • I think I still have the comic where Ali battles Superman!

    I used to have that as a kid! They drew all kinds of hidden celebrities on the cover and had a "who's who" grid inside. Man I wish I still had that. I'm pretty sure someone just flipped that cover for an album, too.





    I was @ that fight. Check me up front!

    Doods,

    Cher and Donna and Marie in the hot spot. Things were really happening on TV back then. In addition I got Lucille Ball, Hal Linden (Barney Miller), Jackson 5, Woody Allen w/ a goatee, Peter Falk aka Columbo, Juan Epstein the puerto rican jew from Welcome Back Kotter, Wolfman Jack, The Fonz, Orson "I will sell no wone before its time" Welles, Jacquline SMith, maybe Andy Warhol and Ruth Buzzie.


    Add Kurt Vonnegut, Sinatra, the guy who ran Mad Magazine (with Alfred E. Neumann), Gerald & Betty Ford, Raquel Welch, Wayne Rogers, Jackie Gleason & Ron Palillo (Horshack).

  • DrWuDrWu 4,021 Posts
    President Carter extreme bottom right and you know Shields and Yarnell gotta be in the house.

  • batmonbatmon 27,574 Posts
    Tony Orlando next to Marie Osmond

  • DrWuDrWu 4,021 Posts
    Oh shit President Ford and Betty in the house right by the turn buckle.

  • rootlesscosmorootlesscosmo 12,848 Posts



  • SwayzeSwayze 14,705 Posts



  • parsecparsec 5,087 Posts



    As someone who is old enough to remember when they actually sold Ali inflatable punching bags and lunch boxes.

    Never seen or heard of an Ali lunchbox in 12 years of collecting pails. Not in either of the guides either, that would be cool though. Me wants...
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