Muhammad Ali has been named Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Century at an awards ceremony in New York's Madison Square Garden. The former World Heavyweight champion who now suffers from Parkinson's Disease walked unaided to the stage to receive his award from Billy Crystal but not before participating in a little shadow sparring with the actor.
Others to receive recognition were Michael Jordan who won the basketball category, Wayne Gretsky, the ice hockey award winner and Pele, who was named Footballer of the Century. Pete Sampras was the only recipient still competing at the highest level, and the tennis winner will thus be eligible for the award in another hundred years.
