This might sound weird, but I'm glad he lived as long as he did. Same goes with Magic Johnson. To bring so much awareness to a disease you have, with the honor he did, is legendary. I am way too young to see any of his boxing live. I still know a lot about the man without ever watching the Will Smith movie.
I was trying to explain to my daughter, who is 12, just how important a figure in American history he was. Not just as an athlete, but as a human being.
Actually teared up when I was explaining the moment in the 96 Olympics when they turned the spotlight on him and he was handed the torch, arms trembling, and the look on his face as the crowd erupted.
I pulled up some YouTube videos and showed her just how graceful and athletic he was, and then showed her the torch lighting video, and cried a little more .
The shocker of the day for me came when I turned on the tv and saw an interview with Elena Dementieva. First I just thought it's a normal one after a regular match at the Championships, but they showed highlights of her career, and then it hit me:
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