--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was right to back Muhammad Ali, but it…" description: "\"I was right to back Muhammad Ali, but it caused me major enmity in many areas of this nation.\" — Howard Cosell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6aa/howard-cosell-29573_areas_i-was-right-to-back-muhammad-ali-but-it_3067953.png" --- # I was right to back Muhammad Ali, but it caused me major… ![“I was right to back Muhammad Ali, but it caused me major enmity in many areas of this nation.” quote by Howard Cosell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6aa/howard-cosell-29573_areas_i-was-right-to-back-muhammad-ali-but-it_3067953.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6aa/howard-cosell-29573_areas_i-was-right-to-back-muhammad-ali-but-it_3067953.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6aa/howard-cosell-29573_areas_i-was-right-to-back-muhammad-ali-but-it_3067953.png) > “I was right to back Muhammad Ali, but it caused me major enmity in many areas of this nation.” [Howard Cosell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-cosell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Supporting a champion can bring personal backlash despite its merit. **In simple terms:** Support can cause conflict. Key Takeaway Stand by convictions despite opposition. Themes courage loyalty controversy sports Mood reflective defiant Type historical personal When to use this quote - political activism - team loyalty - public statements Key Concepts Ethics public opinion personal risk Questions to Reflect On - Why did you support Ali? - What risks are you willing to take for belief? A Different Perspective Backlash may damage relationships and career. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Muhammad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/muhammad/) [Wrestling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrestling/) ## Related quotes > [The time may have come to say goodbye to Muhammad Ali, because very honestly, I don't think he can beat George Foreman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-cosell/the-time-may-have-come-to-say-goodbye-to-muhammad-ali-because-very/) [Howard Cosell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-cosell/) > [I didn't expect one day I become world champion in the United States. I'm very proud to be together with boxing legends. It's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vitali-klitschko/i-didn-t-expect-one-day-i-become-world-champion-in-the-united-states/) [Vitali Klitschko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vitali-klitschko/) > [One of my favourite fighters to watch ever, and of course before I was a ring announcer, was Muhammad Ali.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-buffer/one-of-my-favourite-fighters-to-watch-ever-and-of-course-before-i-was/) [Michael Buffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-buffer/) > [The fight for the Muhammad Ali trophy is about the best fighting the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oleksandr-usyk/the-fight-for-the-muhammad-ali-trophy-is-about-the-best-fighting-the/) [Oleksandr Usyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oleksandr-usyk/) > [As for my all-time sporting hero? There is one who towers above all. I first knew him when he was called Cassius Clay but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-kerr/as-for-my-all-time-sporting-hero-there-is-one-who-towers-above-all-i/) [Jim Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-kerr/) > [“It ain't braggin if you can back it up...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dizzy-dean/it-ain-t-braggin-if-you-can-back-it-up/) [Dizzy Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dizzy-dean/) > [Once I beat Gervonta Davis like I've been calling it, that's going to be like history repeats itself with Sonny Liston and Muhammad Ali.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-garcia/once-i-beat-gervonta-davis-like-i-ve-been-calling-it-that-s-going-to/) [Ryan Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-garcia/) > [Muhammad Ali was a god, an idol and an icon. He was boxing. Any kid that had the opportunity to talk to Ali, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/muhammad-ali-was-a-god-an-idol-and-an-icon-he-was-boxing-any-kid-that/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [If I could've made Muhammad Ali smaller I would have fought him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-martinez/if-i-could-ve-made-muhammad-ali-smaller-i-would-have-fought-him/) [Sergio Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-martinez/) > [To me, Muhammad Ali, he was the greatest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-baffert/to-me-muhammad-ali-he-was-the-greatest/) [Bob Baffert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-baffert/) > [And I remember leaving my place in L.A. and - my father is a big fight fan - and I said, 'Dad, I got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilt-chamberlain/and-i-remember-leaving-my-place-in-l-a-and-my-father-is-a-big-fight/) [Wilt Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilt-chamberlain/) > [There were three people I always wanted to meet: Michael Jackson, Muhammad Ali, and Nelson Mandela.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-prince-boateng/there-were-three-people-i-always-wanted-to-meet-michael-jackson/) [Kevin-Prince Boateng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-prince-boateng/) > [When I converted, people suggested that I change my name to Muhammad Ali but I turned down the idea as I had already fought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-inoki/when-i-converted-people-suggested-that-i-change-my-name-to-muhammad/) [Antonio Inoki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-inoki/) > [I used to watch old clips of Muhammad Ali, where he'd be talking the jive during interviews, you know, 'Float like a butterfly, sting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-buffer/i-used-to-watch-old-clips-of-muhammad-ali-where-he-d-be-talking-the/) [Michael Buffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-buffer/) > [I respect Muhammad Ali... he was the greatest, he was the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-ruiz-jr/i-respect-muhammad-ali-he-was-the-greatest-he-was-the-best/) [Andy Ruiz Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-ruiz-jr/) ## More by Howard Cosell > [Mommy, why does daddy cuss the TV and call it Howard?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-cosell/mommy-why-does-daddy-cuss-the-tv-and-call-it-howard/) [Howard Cosell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-cosell/) > [O. 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