Cover an athlete

Let's say you had the chance to go back in time(before you were born) to cover an athlete, somewhat like Al Stump did with Tyrus Cobb, who would that athlete be and why?

I thought this could be a fun little thread.

 

I'm going to say Maria Sharapova and butterscotch syrup.

 

I'm guessing this will be a popular answer, but probably Muhammad Ali. Simply the most fascinating sports figure of the 20th Century.

 

Yup. This should be a short thread.

 

Yeah, Ali in his prime.

 

Indeed. A heavyweight champ who actually defended his title all over the world, not just in some parking lot in Vegas.

 

Ali is probably more interesting than every active athlete today combined.

 

How about Babe Ruth though, or even Jack Dempsey? I think those two guys would be fun to cover.

We all know that Ruth lived a wild life, with the drinking, the partying and all the girls. He's a writers dream.

You can even make an argument that he was more popular then Ali.

 

In the US maybe, not around the world. Ali hasn't fought in nearly 30 years but he would still be among the most recognizable people in the world.

Just covering Ali in the ring would have been amazing given the guys he fought and the places he fought in, but you had the whole Vietnam draft issue, his conversion to Muslim etc. Oh yeah, and he never stopped talking.

 

Can you explain to me why they wouldn't make the paper?

 

Actually, this has been the best answer so far...