Muhammad Ali was a great boxer, philanthropist and activist. However, before Parkinson’s syndrome muted him, he spewed blistering audacities, “I’m handsome. I’m fast. And can’t possibly be beat.” 

His bravado veiled the disorder that tried and tortured him throughout his life. His high school academics earned him an attendance certificate. In 1964, Ali took the U.S. Armed Forces qualifying test — his failure was catastrophic. 

Marc D. Greenwood is a Camp Hill resident and weekly columnist for The Outlook.