arkinson's disease at the University of California. Doctors later expressed speculation that Ali had been indeed battling a form of Parkinson's brought on by repetitive trauma to the head, but only an autopsy would confirm their analysis. Near the end of Ali's boxing career, he steered toward political activism and philanthropic work. In 1980, he supported Jimmy Carter and the Democratic Party, even working at the Democratic National Convention in New York. In February of 1985, he functioned as a lay diplomat, attempting to secure the release of four kidnapped Americans in Lebanon. Ali also met with leaders in the Soviet Union and Africa and founded the World Organization for Right, Liberty, and Dignity (WORLD). At the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, the world and his country honored Ali by choosing him to light the Olympic torch during the opening ceremonies. In 1999, Ali became the first boxer to ever appear on the cover of a Wheaties box. Ali is the father of nine children and has been married four times. He lives with his fourth wife, Yolanda, who also acts as his manager, in Berrien Springs, Michigan. During the late 1990s, the quest of Ali's daughter, Khaliah Ali, towards a career in boxing was greatly publicized in the media. Although he has publicly expressed disapproval over women participating in the sport, Khaliah continued to follow in the footsteps of her champion father. ...
