Muhammad Ali - for want of a bike
Odessa and Cassius Clay's first child, Cassius Clay jr., was born on January 17, 1942. Their second son, Rudolph Clay, was born two years later in September. Odessa Clay made a living as a domestic Helper, while Cassius Clay painted billboards and signs around their hometown in Louisville. The parents named their baby "GG" because he made that sound when they played with him as he lay in his crib (Ali later jokes that what he was really trying to say was "Golden Gloves"). Clay jr. Lived a relatively normal life until he was 12 years old. In the summer of 1954, Clay and his little brother went to the summer festival in their town, and Clay parked his brand new bike near the festival. But as they were heading home, the bike was no longer there. Clay surveyed the neighborhood for the bike, crying and threatening to break the offending hand. His friends advised him to go see Joe Martin, a Black police officer who taught boxing at a local gym. C...