LOUISVILLE, Ky. Bradley Beal Wizards Jersey . -- Muhammad Ali soaked in familiar cheers and chants along with a rendition of "Happy Birthday" on Saturday night as friends and admirers celebrated the boxing champs coming 70th birthday at a party in his Kentucky hometown. As party-goers mingled in a lobby of the Muhammad Ali Center before the party, Ali walked slowly to a second-floor balcony overlooking them. The crowd immediately began to clap, then broke into chants of "Ali! Ali!" followed by singing as Ali watched for about two minutes. The three-time world heavyweight champion, who is battling Parkinsons disease, leaned against a rail and raised his right hand to wave to the crowd. Ali walked on his own but was at times assisted by his wife, Lonnie, and his sister-in-law. After the brief appearance, Ali went to his party. Former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis said his boyhood idol is "still the greatest." "I feel so proud and honoured that were able to show our feelings and show our support for him," Lewis said. Lewis said Alis strength and influence extended far beyond the boxing ring in his humanitarian efforts. "What hes done outside the ring -- just the bravery, the poise, the feeling, the sacrifice," Lewis said "... Hes truly a great man." The guest list numbered 350 for the private party, which doubled as a US$1,000-per-person fundraiser for the Ali Center, the six-year-old cultural and education complex designed to be a legacy to his social activism. The six-story centre also retraces Alis career, including his epic bouts against Joe Frazier, George Foreman and Sonny Liston. Guests paid tribute to Ali beforehand. "The reason I loved him is because of his confidence," University of Kentucky mens basketball coach John Calipari said. "He would talk and then back it up. He had great courage and who had more fun than him?" The guest list also included Alis trainer Angelo Dundee and three American hikers who were imprisoned in Iran. Ali, perhaps the most prominent U.S. Muslim, lobbied for their release. Rocker John Mellencamp headlined the entertainment. Ali turns 70 on Tuesday, and the party in his hometown is the first of five planned in the next few months. Not long after Alis dramatic appearance on the balcony, the crowd began filing into a banquet hall for the party, which was closed to the public and reporters. The self-proclaimed "Greatest of All Time" remains one of the worlds most recognizable figures, even though hes been largely absent from the public eye recently as he fights Parkinsons disease. Lonnie Ali said Friday that her husband has mixed feelings about the landmark birthday. "Hes glad hes here to turn 70, but he wants to be reassured he doesnt look 70," she said. Born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. on Jan. 17, 1942, Ali took up boxing at age 12, when his bike was stolen and he wanted to find and whip the culprit. The boy was introduced to Joe Martin, a police officer who coached boxing at a local gym. Alis brother, 68-year-old Rahaman Ali, recalled on Saturday night that the champ was cheerful and happy as a youngster. "As a little boy he (said) he would be the worlds greatest fighter and be a great man," he said. Ali flourished in the ring, becoming a top amateur and Olympic gold medallist . He made his professional debut in Louisville and arranged for a local childrens hospital to receive proceeds from the fight. Lewis said Ali ranks as the greatest of heavyweights, and he said he was inspired by Alis fights. "I used to get mad if I didnt see the Ali shuffle," Lewis said. "So I was always watching him, expecting some type of antic." Ali won the heavyweight title in 1964, defeating the heavily favoured Sonny Liston. Soon after, Ali -- who was raised in a Baptist family -- announced his conversion to Islam and changed his name. While in his prime, Ali was stripped of his heavyweight crown in 1967 for refusing to be drafted for military service during the Vietnam War. He cited his religious beliefs as the reason for his refusal. His decision alienated Ali from many across the U.S. and resulted in a draft-evasion conviction. Ali found himself embroiled in a long legal fight that ended in 1971, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in his favour. Ali lost his first bid to regain the heavyweight crown when Frazier knocked him down and took a decision in the "Fight of the Century" at Madison Square Garden in 1971. Ali regained the heavyweight title in 1974, defeating Foreman in the "Rumble in the Jungle." A year later, he outlasted Frazier in the epic "Thrilla in Manila" bout. Last year, a frail Ali rose from his seat and clapped for his deceased rival at Fraziers funeral. Alis last title came in 1978 when he defeated Leon Spinks. Ali retired from boxing in 1981 and devoted himself to social causes. He travelled the world on humanitarian missions, mingling with the masses and rubbing elbows with world leaders. Ali received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from U.S. President George W. Bush in 2005. Bradley Beal Jersey . -- Once the Anaheim Ducks wiped out a four-goal deficit, all the stress shifted to the visiting Winnipeg Jets. Wes Unseld Wizards Jersey .C. Lions ground attack was in tatters. Running back Andrew Harris registered an abysmal 10 yards on six carriers in a 31-17 home loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders back on Oct.PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh Penguins coach Dan Bylsma wasnt thrilled with Scott Hartnell going after Kris Letang, saying off-handedly that the Philadelphia Flyers forward was "picking on a guy who had a stroke." In the third period of Saturdays game, Hartnell hit Letang, who was playing his second game back after suffering a stroke in January. Each player was given a two-minute minor for roughing as they mixed it up after the whistle. After the Flyers 4-3 overtime win, Bylsma was asked if -- even though doctors assured the team and the 26-year-old defenceman that hockey would not put him more at risk for another stroke -- he had a little pause seeing Hartnell and Letang shoving each other. "I did have that thought when that was going on there," said Bylsma. "(Letang) kind of had the play there and the puck on his skate to try to score a goal. It fell off his stick and the whistle and everything ensued after that. Yeah it does, a guy picking on a guy who had a stroke." A team spokeswoman said Bylsma was joking when he made that remark. Told of Bylsmas comment regarding Hartnell without the benefit of much context, Flyers coach Craig Berube fired back. "Then he shouldnt play,&quoot; Berube said. Juwan Howard Wizards Jersey. "He shouldnt be out there playing, bottom line. Its a stupid comment." Letang, who scored 10 minutes later, said its "part of the game." "I got hit from behind, I turn around and it was him," Letang said. "I was not really shocked. but things happen in the game fast. I dont regret (it)." Hartnell declined comment through a team spokesman. Letang and Hartnell have something of a history dating to an Oct. 8, 2009 incident in which the Penguins defenceman accused the Flyers forward of biting his right ring finger. NOTE -- Flyers goaltender Steve Mason left the game with what the team called an upper-body injury, which resulted from being crashed into by two players. Penguins forward Jayson Megna pushed Flyers defenceman Andrew MacDonald into Mason at the 16:27 mark of the second period, and the goalies head snapped back and then appeared to hit the ice. Mason remained in the game until the intermission, but then Ray Emery replaced him to start the third. Berube said Mason was being taken out as a precaution and expects him to be ready for Game 1 of Philadelphias first-round playoff series against the New York Rangers on Thursday. cheap jerseys cheap jerseys cheap nfl jerseys Ray Ban Outlet Michael Kors Outlet Michael Kors Sale Cheap Michael Kors ' ' '