Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali, born Cassius Clay, famously converted to Islam and became a conscientious objector during the Vietnam War, a stance that cost him years of his boxing career but solidified his image as a man of principle. While his religious journey took him far from any Jewish roots, his impact on civil rights and sports transcended any single faith.

Ali's "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee" philosophy wasn't just for the ring; it was a metaphor for his life. He parlayed his athletic prowess into a platform for social change, challenging racial injustice and war, often to his own detriment. Talk about chutzpah.

Despite — or perhaps because of — his conversion, Ali was decidedly not a Jew. He did, however, inspire millions, and while Jews certainly kvell over their own, we can still appreciate a mensch when we see one, even if he's not one of ours. His refusal to be drafted, famously stating, "I ain't got no quarrel with them Viet Cong," made him a hero to many, and a pariah to others.

His passing in 2016 marked the end of an era, but his legacy as a fighter, a poet, and an activist endures. He truly was "The Greatest," a title he bestowed upon himself with characteristic confidence, and one that few would dispute.