Good evening, and thank you for joining us on this saturday. Im cecilia vega. Tonight, the goodbyes are pouring in for an american icon. A man who was perhaps the greatest fighter of all time, whose courage and whose principles changed sports and our nation. In his hometown of louisville, kentucky, the memorials for muhammad ali growing tonight, and preparations are under way there for what will be a historic goodbye. We know his family was at his bedside in his final moment. They said a prayer. They held hands. His daughter saying today, our hearts are literally hurting. Those hands made ali a world champion, winning a gold medal at 18 and then three heavyweight titles. The tributes coming from all corners after ali lost his fight against parkinsons disease. President obama posting this photo, ali towering over him. The ali shook up the world and the world is better for it. Were all better for it. Tonight we celebrate that life and legacy. Abcs jim avila begins Team Coverage in phoenix, arizona. Reporter a private emotional farewell, his family by his hospital bed for a full day as muhammad ali slips away. Cause of death, septic shock, natural causes, after a 30year battle with parkinsons disease. His daughter hana tweeting, dad did not go easily. Alis heart beating 30 minutes after his other organs failed. We all tried to stay strong and whispered in his ear, you can go now. We will be okay. Ali saying his goodbyes with a squeeze of the hand. Longtime friend john ramsey in an adjoining room giving comfort. I think it was daddy, were okay. Daddy, its okay. They didnt want him fighting anymore. Reporter tributes and condolences from around the world. There they are. Reporter george foreman, aliys victim in zaires rumble in the jungle fight. I got beat up in the jungle. Reporter ali won his second heavyweight championship that night. Too late its over. Muhammad ali with an 8th round knockout. Reporter the upset victim on bbc radio. What a night. I was in the ring with one of the greatest human beings ive ever known in my life. Reporter michael jordan, muhammad ali was bigger than sports and larger than life. Reverend jesse jackson, when heros win, people ride on their shoulders. We rode on muhammad alis shoulder. And from michael j. Fox who suffers from and fought parkinsons by alis side. Even when it was difficult for him, he showed up. Reporter ali was diagnosed with parkinsons in 1984, just a small tremble in his right arm. In his last years he looked frail and slumped over. At this charity function in april. The body was wasting away but not his spirit. The world will miss that kind of compassion and that level of kindness. That was real. And jim avila joins us now live from phoenix. Jim, youre hearing that there will be some big names at that funeral paying their respects to the champ, huh . Cecilia, its going to be a huge event which will feature a slow walk procession right through downtown louisville and right down muhammad ali boulevard. At the event itself, hell be eulogized by president bill clinton, comedian Billy Crystal and also bryant gumbel, a tv host. It is an event thats a great event and it was planned by the greatest himself, muhammad ali. Jim avila, leading us of tonight, thank you. As funeral preparations continue tonight, millions already paying respects. While boxing may have propelled muhammad ali into the american mainstream, it was his massive personality that made him larger than life. Heres abcs robin roberts. I am the king of the world hold it, hold it. Im pretty. Youre not that pretty. Im a bad man reporter he was born cassius clay in louisville, kentucky in 1942. By 18 he was the star of the u. S. Olympic team. Im handsome, im fast, im pretty, and cant possibly be beat. Reporter light on his feet, and unlike anything the boxing world had ever seen, he took home a gold medal, but the victory was bittersweet. Returning home to a segregated south where he was still treated like a second class citizen, ali said he threw his medal into the ohio river in disgust. I went downtown, i sat down. I said a cup of coffee and a hot dog. The lady said we dont serve negros. I was so mad. I said i dont eat them either. Reporter four years later he stole the heavyweight title in one of the biggest upsets in history. Upset sonny liston and i just turned 22 years old. I must be the greatest reporter ali loved the spotlight but privately he was going through his own transformation. At the height of the Civil Rights Movement and under the guidance of malcolm x, ali joined the nation of islam and rejected what he called his slave name. I would like for you to call me by my name now. Muhammad. Muhammad ali. He gave up a lot for his politics and he was criticized and even vilified by many people. Reporter soon there was a new controversy, this one landing him in court. The year was 1967, and the u. S. Was deep into the vietnam war when ali got his draft notice. He refused to serve, arguing the war violated his muslim beliefs. The real enemies of my people are right here, not in vietnam. Reporter ali was convicted of draft evasion, stripped of his title and banned from the sport. It was striking to Many Americans that he not only had beliefs but he stood up for them. Reporter it took almost three years for ali to win his appeal at the Supreme Court and get back into the ring, and he returned with muhammad ali with an 8th round knockout reporter but years of punishment in the ring took its toll. I cant talk no more. Im all messed up. Reporter ali retired for good in 1981. Three years later, at the age of 42, he was diagnosed with parkinsons disease. And when ali grew physically weaker over the years, he could still inspire, lighting the olympic flame in atlanta and speaking out for peace in solidarity with all muslims in the wake of september 11th. The United States honors muhammad ali. Reporter in 2005, president bush awarded ali the president ial medal of freedom. The man to beat me hasnt been born yet. Im the worlds greatest. Im the greatest. Reporter and in so many ways, muhammad ali lived up to his word. Robin roberts, abc news, new york. Muhammad ali was so much more than a legendary boxer. He will be remembered for standing his ground in some of the fights that shaped our nation. Raised in a deeply segregated south, refusing to report fo duty in the vietnam war, his protests inspiring so many. Heres abcs byron pitts. Reporter so many tonight remembering muhammad ali, not just for his gifts in the ring, but for his impact on the Civil Rights Movement. The president and mrs. Obama saying in statement this morning ali stood up when it was hard, spoke out when others wouldnt. And fellow boxing great Floyd Mayweather writing, thank you for everything youve done for black america. Despite his celebrity, ali was still a colored man in embattled 1960s america. Many of his contemporaries, white and black, viewed him with suspicion. Famed actor, singer, and human rights activist Harry Belafonte i would look at him and wonder what was his game . What role was he playing . Not a heavyweight in the world fast enough to stop. That, in those times, was at best unfamiliar, at worst dangerous. This rather aggressive attitude, mixed with so much mischief, mixed with so much metaphor, mixed with so much brashness and at the same time exuding this incredible charm. It sounds like in many ways that your journey with muhammad ali is like americas journey with ali, initial fascination, deep curiosity, and then great affection later. But i began to look at him and our struggle and our movement through very different lens. I saw him as critically important to smashing traditions. How so . Most of us had somehow adopted a code of existence that always put upon us the need to show our gentler side. Always be respectful. Never be contentious. Dont be aggressive. Be a good negro. So perhaps he showed that it was okay for a black man to be bold, to be outspoken. The beauty of it was that it was really him. And i loved him for it, loved him for it. Reporter as he aged, the world would come to love him. And all who knew him well concede muhammad ali was not a perfect man, just perfect for his time. Byron pitts, abc news, new york. And ali was certainly seen as the perfect champion in his hometown of louisville where he is being celebrated tonight. The memorials growing there, that city now preparing for a legends homecoming. Abcs ryan smith is in louisville where he spoke to muhammad alis brother. Reporter tonight, alis hometown celebrating the man they simply called the champ. He was time. Reporter a final salute to their favorite son. He was the citys transcendent star and perhaps its great ets Stores Source of pride. His brother returning to their childhood home today. I feel like crying. You all were close. Very, very close. My brother was my best friend. Reporter alis boxing career, starting inside a louisville ring at 12. By 18, an olympic gold medalist. At 22, heavyweight champion of the world. Today, at louisvilles Muhammad Ali Center, many remembering stories of how the Hometown Hero touched their lives. What was he like in high school . I remember this guy who stood up and talked like, i dont care what you think about me. Reporter his brash, ou nickname louisville lip early in his career. Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. Reporter but ali had a softer side. When this mans father was dying of cancer, ali offering unexpected comfort. This man came out of nowhere and put his hand on top of my head like he was telling me it would be okay. Ill never forget it. Reporter in the hearts and mind of so many in louisville, the champ will forever be their greatest of all time. The local papers echoing that theme. The front page covered with this iconic picture of an ali knockdown and the caption simply, the greatest. What started out as a small memorial this morning at the Muhammad Ali Center has grown by leaps and bounds, hundreds stopping by to pay their respects. Cecilia. Ryan, thank you. Muhammad ali waged a decades long battle against parkinsons disease. His wife lonnie right there by his side through all of it. As we look back at his legacy today, we found this interview, the boxer, his wife and our diane sawyer in their shared hometown back in 2007. So nice to see you. Thank you. A couple of hometown kids, louisville kids, went out to see the world we did. Reporter the story is all here, including the beginning. It was a red bike he got for christmas. Someone stole it and he went to tell the policeman there that someone had stolen his bike and he was going to beat them up. So smart joe martin said, well, why dont you come learn to fight first and then he got him into the boxing at the columbia gym and the rest is history. Reporter in the museum, a photo of the day she met him. Is this the famous picture . Thats the famous picture. As you can see, i havent changed much, diane. Reporter then, 22yearold cassius clay teased his awe struck little neighbor. Did he remember saying to you, im gonna marry you when you grow up . Oh, yes. T you know what, diane . I have found out that Muhammad Said that to a lot of little girls. It wasnt just me. Reporter he had just been diagnosed they met. And you never feel robbed . No, no. Our life is so full, so rich. I mean we have nothing to be sorry for. There is such conversation going on between the two of you all the time now. Well, yeah. We have i understand muhammads signals. And its sort of a some of its a silent conversation. I can look at his face. I can tell what he wants or what hes thinking. Muhammad will say, do as much as you can because thats the way youll be remembered. God gives us special gifts. And the more god gives you, the more he expects. And there will be much more on muhammad ali on a special 20 20 tonight at 8 00 p. M. Eastern. We have much more ahead on world news tonight this saturday. Muhammad alis death makes its way into the president ial race. Donald trumps proposal to ban muslims now back in the headlines. And flood warnings in texas, more than a dozen people killed. We will tell you if the worst has passed. [ park rides, music and crooooh unds ] [ brakes screech ] when your pain reliever stops working, your whole day stops. Excuse me, try this. But just one aleve can last 12 hours. Tylenol and advil can quit after 6. [ cheering ] so live your whole day, not part. 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He will be missed by all. The trouble is, the feeling wasnt mutual, not after the mass shooting in San Bernardino when trump made this controversial policy proposal. A total and complete shutdown of muslims entering the United States until our countrys representatives can figure out what the hell is going on. Issued a scathing critique. Speaking as someone who has never been accused of political correctness, i believe that our political leaders should use their position to bring understanding about the religion of islam. Dont tell us how much you love muhammad ali and yet youre going tore prejudiced against muslims in this country. On a day that we are mourning muhammad ali, its worth remembering that we live in a country where people can break down barriers, where they can worship their own god. Reporter both democrats pouncing on that issue today. Both of them locked in a tough battle against each other here in california. Barn storming the state ahead of tuesdays primary. Cecilia . David wright, thank you. Tomorrow on this week, George Stephanopoulos goes oneonone with hillary clinton. We still have much more to get to tonight. A terror warning for americans abroad. U. S. Citizens in one country told of imminent terrorist attacks. We will tell you where. On her way to tennis history. Diabetes, you may know what its like to deal with high. And low blood sugar. Januvia sitagliptin is a oncedaily pill that, along with diet and exercise, helps lower blood sugar. Januvia works when your blood sugar is high and works less when your blood sugar is low, because it works by enhancing your bodys own ability to lower blood sugar. Plus januvia, by itself, is not likely to cause weight gain or low blood sugar hypoglycemia . Januvia should not be used in patients with type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis. Tell your doctor if you have a history of pancreatitis. Serious side effects can happen, including pancreatitis which may be severe and lead to death. 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The water starting to recede in some areas but the danger far from over. The brazos river crested at record levels and is slow to recede. 2,000 people have been evacte to an urgent warning for americans in south africa. An imminent threat of terror attacks. The state Department Says it has information that terrorist groups plan to carry out, quote, nearterm attacks against places where u. S. Citizens congregate. And in france, Serena Williams thwarted in her attempt to make tennis history. She was chasing her 22nd grand slam victory. The french open win would have tied her with steffi graf for the most in the open era, but williams lost in straight sets to spaniard, garbine muguruza. And when we come back tonight, boxings odd couple, muhammad ali and howard sew kel. How they went head to head outside the ring youre being extremely truculent. Whatever truculent means, if thats good im there. How two sports legends became unexpected friends. 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This fella making all this noise is howard cosell. Reporter somehow it worked. Youre being extremely truculent. Whatever truculent means, if thats good im there. Reporter for over 30 years, they played their roles to perfection. Cosell, the pompous commentator. Ali, with just the needle to puncture that pomposity. You are always coming up with a lot of big words. [ laughter ] reporter but there was also genuine respect and affection. Especially when ali felt slighted by others. When ali adopted a muslim name, cosell was one of the first reporters to call him by it. How do you want to be called now, muhammad ali or cassius clay . Muhammad ali. Reporter when ali was banned from boxing for refusing to be drafted, co sell stood by him. On alis 50th birthday, just a few years before co sell died. Youre a very special man. Reporter he was there to honor his friend. Your name is muhammad ali. Our thanks to Ron Claiborne for that report, and thank you for joining us tonight. We want to leave you with this image and these words from the champ. Days count. Can you actually love wearing powerful sunscreen . Yes neutrogena® ultra sheer. No other sunscreen works better or feels better. Clinically proven helioplex® provides unbeatable uva uvb protection to help prevent early skin aging and skin cancer all with a clean light feel. For unbeatable protection. Its the one. The best for your skin. Ultra sheer®. Neutrogena®. See whats possible. [ wind whistling ] wheel. Of. Fortune ladies and gentlemen, here are the stars of americas game pat sajak and vanna white hey, how you doing, folks . Its us. Dont be alarmed. Thank you, jim. How are ya . Goodbye. Hi, guys. How you doing . Its time to play. I assume thats why youre here. 1,000 for a phrase, here we go. [ bell chimes ] bridget. Bright and sunny. Yeah, thats it