World Bids Farewell to Muhammad Ali

AS IT IS 2016-06-11 World Bids Farewell to Muhammad Ali

“The Greatest” boxer¹ in history, Muhammad Ali, was laid to rest in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky on Friday.

Friends and family transferred a red casket carrying Ali from a funeral home to a special limousine², or hearse.

Among those carrying Ali’s body were former boxers³ Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis and Hollywood star Will Smith. Also taking part were all of Ali's nine children, along with his wife, two ex-wives and other family members.

Ali, 74, died one week ago in an Arizona hospital after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease.

The hearse carried Ali’s body on a long and winding⁴ path through the streets of Louisville. The procession of limousines⁵ at one point drove along the street named for the champ, Muhammad Ali Boulevard.

The journey followed parts of the city that were important in Ali’s life. These included the small pink house where he grew up and the large museum and cultural center named after him.

Crowds gathered along the entire path to offer their final goodbyes. Some waved to the car, while others held up signs with personal messages for the boxing champion.

Some fans ran alongside the hearse and imitated Ali’s boxing moves and chanted. Many people placed flowers on the passing car.

Louisville police estimated that more than 100,000 people viewed the funeral procession throughout the city.

The procession ended in the afternoon at Cave Hill cemetery⁶, where a private graveside burial ceremony was held. A stone at the gravesite will be inscribed⁸ with a single word, “Ali.” A family spokesman said the simple design reflects the Islamic tradition.

After the burial, more than 15,000 people gathered for an interfaith memorial service at Louisville’s KFC Yum Center. Tickets to the event were free.

Attendees included former U.S. President Bill Clinton, boxers Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis, Jordan's King Abdullah II, actor Will Smith, comedian⁹ Billy Crystal and soccer star David Beckham.

One of the speakers was a pastor¹⁰ from a local Baptist church, Reverend Kevin Cosby. He said Ali “dared to affirm the power and capacity” of African Americans.

“Before James Brown said I’m black and proud, Muhammad Ali said I’m black and I’m pretty,” Cosby said.

“He dared to love America’s most unloved race. And he loved us all and we loved him, because we knew he loved us, he loved us all. Whether you lived in the suburbs or whether you lived in the slums,” he added.

Ali planned his own funeral with family members over the past 10 years, according to family spokesman Bob Gunnell. The family said the boxing legend wanted the service to honor his Muslim faith, while also fitting in to Western culture.

A traditional Muslim service was held Thursday at Louisville’s Kentucky Exposition Center. Thousands from around the world gathered there to pray and mourn the man they repeatedly called “the people’s champion.”

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended the Muslim service. He was also planning to take part in Friday’s funeral, but decided¹¹ to cut short his U.S. visit and return home. His office did not give an explanation for the change in plans.

Erdogan praised Ali as a "voice of the oppressed" during a dinner hosted by Turks and other Muslims living in the U.S., his office said.

Words in This Story

imitate – adj. to copy someone’s behavior or appearance

inscribe⁷ – v. write of carve works onto something

interfaith – adj. involving people of different religions

affirm – v. validate¹² or confirm

oppressed – adj. treated cruelly, usually under excessive authority of power

1 boxer   

n.制箱者，拳击手

参考例句：

• The boxer gave his opponent a punch on the nose.这个拳击手朝他对手的鼻子上猛击一拳。
• He moved lightly on his toes like a boxer.他像拳击手一样踮着脚轻盈移动。

2 limousine   

n.豪华轿车

参考例句：

• A chauffeur opened the door of the limousine for the grand lady.司机为这个高贵的女士打开了豪华轿车的车门。
• We arrived in fine style in a hired limousine.我们很气派地乘坐出租的豪华汽车到达那里。

3 boxers   

n.拳击短裤；（尤指职业）拳击手( boxer的名词复数 )；拳师狗

参考例句：

• The boxers were goaded on by the shrieking crowd. 拳击运动员听见观众的喊叫就来劲儿了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The boxers slugged it out to the finish. 两名拳击手最后决出了胜负。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 winding   

n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈

参考例句：

• A winding lane led down towards the river.一条弯弯曲曲的小路通向河边。
• The winding trail caused us to lose our orientation.迂回曲折的小道使我们迷失了方向。

5 limousines   

n.豪华轿车( limousine的名词复数 )；（往返机场接送旅客的）中型客车，小型公共汽车

参考例句：

• Elearor hated to use White House limousines because she didn't want people spying on her. 埃莉诺很不愿意使用白宫的小轿车，因为她不愿让人暗中监视她。 来自辞典例句
• Maybe they are seeking for spacious houses and limousines. 也许在追求阔宅豪车。 来自互联网

6 cemetery   

n.坟墓，墓地，坟场

参考例句：

• He was buried in the cemetery.他被葬在公墓。
• His remains were interred in the cemetery.他的遗体葬在墓地。

7 inscribe   

v.刻；雕；题写；牢记

参考例句：

• Will you inscribe your name in the book?能否请你在这本书上签名？
• I told the jeweler to inscribe the ring with my name.我叫珠宝商把我的名字刻在那只戒指上。

8 inscribed   

v.写，刻( inscribe的过去式和过去分词 )；内接

参考例句：

• His name was inscribed on the trophy. 他的名字刻在奖杯上。
• The names of the dead were inscribed on the wall. 死者的名字被刻在墙上。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 comedian   

n.喜剧演员；滑稽演员

参考例句：

• The comedian tickled the crowd with his jokes.喜剧演员的笑话把人们逗乐了。
• The comedian enjoyed great popularity during the 30's.那位喜剧演员在三十年代非常走红。

10 pastor   

n.牧师，牧人

参考例句：

• He was the son of a poor pastor.他是一个穷牧师的儿子。
• We have no pastor at present:the church is run by five deacons.我们目前没有牧师：教会的事是由五位执事管理的。

11 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

12 validate   

vt.（法律）使有效，使生效

参考例句：

• You need an official signature to validate the order.你要有正式的签字，这张汇票才能生效。
• In order to validate the agreement,both parties sign it.为使协议有效，双方在上面签了字。