When MEN stood up for what they believe in-47 years ago

47 Years ago ,a group of prominent AFRICAN-AMERICAN ATHLETES ,with a lot on the line ,came out to support MUHAMMAD ALI,in his refusal to join the ARMY and go maybe to VIETNAM.

This was the ""creme de la creme"" (this is English) of American Athletes of the day.BILL RUSSEL was the best BASKETBALL PLAYER alive ,JIM BROWN was the best AMERICAN-FOOTBALL player .
On the featured picture of the first article ,you have also LEW ALCINDOR who changed his name later to KAREEM ABDUL JABBAR and who was only 20 Years old at that time.
They backed MUHAMMAD ALI at a time that he was accused of being a TRAITOR and THESE MEN were risking GUILT by ASSOCIATION:

www.nytimes.com/2014/09/29/sports/football/ex-brown-walter-beach-recalls-black-athletes-support-of-ali.html?ref=football&_r=0

In the second article;some of these ""heroes"" ,how they look today ,in a photo taken last weekend

www.nydailynews.com/sports/muhammad-ali-appears-frail-event-honoring-nfl-legend-jim-brown-article-1.1956952