I’ve sadly written way too many RIP posts this year. It seems 2016 hasn’t been kind to many of the greats in entertainment. Muhammad Ali, formerly known as Cassius Clay, truly transcended his role as the Greatest Heavyweight Boxing Champion of All Time. His stance against the Vietnam War and subsequent stripping of his title for refusing to enter the draft on religious grounds (he converted to Islam shortly after winning his first title) made him a divisive character during the tumultuous 1960’s and cost him three prime years of his career. He came back and won the championship twice and, love him or hate him, no one could deny his skills in the ring or the strength of his convictions.

Ali was a flamboyant showman in a sport full of monosyllabic bruisers. He made outlandish predictions (“Count on me, he won’t last three”), spouted poetry (“I float like a…