the themes about the role of sports in society, the role of black athletes, race, religion, faith, politics, war. but he s got three strikes against him going in there. you know? first of all he s bragging, and he s self-confident. that s not the way athletes, particularly black athletes, are supposed to behave. then he announces he s joining the nation of islam. a separatist, religious cult. strike two. and then refuses induction into the draft. that moment that frazier fight, fight of the century, he s making a comeback. vietnam war is winding down. people realizing he was right all along and though he s been horrific to joe frazier in the way characterized. using language of a white racist to talk about a black man, end of the fight when he loses only points, valiant, knocked down last round, gets up after the fight speaks so softly about loss coming into everyone s life. there are people out there that are going to lose a job. are going to lose a loved one.