The Reason We Named Him Cassius.....

Pronunciation: (Cash-us)

Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. was born on January 17, 1942 in Lousiville, Kentucky. He was named after his father Cassius Marcellus Clay Sr. He is a retired American Boxer and is a three-time World Heavyweight Champion. He won a gold medal in the light heavyweight division in the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome. On February 25, 1964, twenty two year old Cassius Clay defeated champion Sonny Liston by a technical knockout and announced to the world “I am the greatest!” Two days later he stated that he had joined the Nation of Islam. The sects' leader Elijah Muhammad gave a radio address where he said that the name Cassius Clay lacked a divine meaning and gave him the Muslim name, Muhammad Ali. His new name was not popular with the media because they felt that he should not be preaching his views on what was considered a hate religion. The two fighters met again on May 25, 1965 for a rematch, and Cassius Clay won by a controversial first-round knockout.

“The sports world is filled with showmen and great athletes, but perhaps never were they better combined than in the young man who began life as Cassius Clay and became a worldwide phenomenon as Muhammad Ali. The man who bragged about his ability to "float like a butterfly and sting like a bee" went from being a curious oddity in the early 1960s to a national villain to an international hero. And now, his body limited by Parkinson's disease, he reigns as one of the most beloved men on the planet.”

Schwartz, Larry. He is simply…The Greatest. Retrieved April 25, 2009. from ESPN website : http://espn.go.com/sportscentury/features/00014063.html

The name Boxer comes from the fact that this breed likes to use their front paws in a Boxer-like style. These lively, spirited medium to large sized dogs love to romp, run, walk and play and wouldn’t mind doing it all day long. They are a happy and curious dog that is happiest when at play or at work. This breed makes for a great family dog because they are both loyal and affectionate. The American Kennel Club says that Boxers play well with children, are extremely loyal and are low maintenance dogs. They are devoted and intelligent and it is important to give them toys that will help with their mental stimulation. This fun-loving breed holds the record for the dog with the longest tongue. They are powerfully built and are exploding with energy, making them a true athlete. They are in the middle weight category of working dogs. Their roots trace back to the now distinct German Bullenbeiser, which is a mastiff type dog that was used to seize game such as bear and wild boar. Later they were bred with the English bulldog, which gave them the distinct skull composed of a short muzzle and big under bite. Boxers were introduced at the turn of the century and starred in some of the first motion pictures ever created. Boxer puppies can be born with three coat colors; fawn, brindle or white. They are cherished for their expressiveness and with a lot of attention can be trained to do anything. Their short coats are easy to groom, but they can become cold very easily. They do well in moderate climates. They are loyal guards and funny friends. Boxers are the sixth most registered breed with the AKC.

Dogs 101: Boxer. Retrieved April 25, 2009. from Animal Planet website: http://animal.discovery.com/videos/dogs-101-boxer.html

Some characteristics of BOXERS are:

* Wag their whole rear end when happy "wiggle"

* Because of their short face, Boxers snort, snuffle, wheeze, grunt, and snore loudly

*Lie on their back, feet up, not a care!

*GAS...bad gas

*Boxer Woo Woo Song when playing

*Catching bugs

*Using paws in cat like movements

*Zipping around the backyard for no apparent reason.

*Bounces like a rabbit when running

*Lay their head on you like it is too heavy to hold up!

*Constantly following you wherever you go.