The GOAT is very sick.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

I am trying to put my thoughts together. I know if I could have been anybody else it would have been him. He was my idol.

[Uponthegears]

1. Prayers

[SusanCalvin]

2. Yes. nt

[MADem]

3. RADAR said his condition was "grave," but ABC and NBC said he was in FAIR

condition.

Now Reuters is reporting "grave" -- as is NBC. With a caveat:

Ali, one of the best-known figures of the 20th century, was hospitalized this week for a respiratory ailment. Family spokesman Bob Gunnell has said that Ali, 74, was in fair condition, but media reports have said he was in rapidly failing health.

Asked about Ali's condition, the source said: "It's extraordinarily grave. It's a matter of hours."

The source, who had spoken with Ali's wife, Lonnie, added: "It could be more than a couple of hours, but it's not going to be much more. Funeral arrangements are already being made."

Gunnell did not respond to repeated requests for comment about Ali's condition.

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-boxing-ali-condition-idUSKCN0YQ00M

I hope he gets through this. He should have more time.

[SusanCalvin]

6. If he must go, he must.

But selfishly I so hope not now.

He will take a part of my youth with him, whenever he goes.

[MADem]

7. Too soon. He might have that dreadful pneumonia that has been going around.

It sneaks up on you, and before you know it you are in terrible distress. It does respond to antibiotics though if you can get to it soon enough.

I hope he beats this. I think he has more to do.

[SusanCalvin]

8. Oh, I hope he does. nt

[bravenak]

4. Very depressing

[arikara]

5. I'm so very sorry to hear that

My dad was one fight away from him in a tournament, when he was still Cassius Clay. He always said it would have been such an honor to fight the Greatest. Dad passed over last year after battling dementia for 15 years likely exacerbated by head injuries and I've watched Ali's decline over the years with sadness too.

[fleabiscuit]

9. It's heartbreaking. nt

[Uponthegears]

10. Sad news

The Greatest Of All Time, a man of limitless courage, has died.

The world is poorer.

[SusanCalvin]

11. Why this is not at the top of Greatest right now I don't understand.

I will miss you sir.

[ismnotwasm]

12. Man.

This just hurts.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

13. He is with...

He is with the martyred Kennedy brothers, Dr. King, and Brother Malcolm... And Jack Johnson, Sugar Ray Robinson, and Joe Louis... now.

"He belongs to the ages."

[lovemydog]

14. "I know where I'm going and I know the truth,

and I don't have to be what you want me to be. I'm free to be what I want."

RIP Muhammed Ali

[Starry Messenger]

15. RIP to the Greatest. XO

[Iris]

17. What sad news to wake up to.

[Digital Puppy]

16. "Don't count the days. Make the days count."

"Don't count the days. Make the days count."

- Muhammad Ali

RIP to The Greatest

[Recursion]

18. The combination of grace and power is so rare in anyone

Let alone in a boxer, and to have it both in and out of the ring made him unique. Damn.

[brer cat]

19. Forever the greatest.

So sad.

[1StrongBlackMan]

20. And Ali just passed ..

It's a bad day for you, my Brother.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

21. I wonder how our friend who made hundreds of posts denigrating him feels.

I am going to the Hollywood Walk Of Fame on Monday and put a rose at his site.

He is getting the loyal treatment on CNN, FOX, MSNBC, and the BBC.

[1StrongBlackMan]

22. I'm sure she/he hasn't given it a single thought.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

23. It's going to be hard talking about him in the past tense.

[Number23]

24. He is getting the royal treatment from around the ENTIRE world

Everyone knew how incredible and special he was.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

25. When a former POTUS is performing your eulogy and the current POTUS calls your widow you are royalty

"And we will know him then for what he was and is – a Prince – our own black shining Prince! –"

That was Ossie Davis eulogizing Brother Malcolm. He could be eulogizing Muhammad Ali.