[Tycho]

In this case there is much more to the story than sports entertainment. Ali was a man who stood up to a government that had conscripted him into a dubious war in a faraway land. He did so on principle, publicly, at great personal/professional cost. People can't help but admire that - a polemicist with skin in the game, someone willing to take risks that all of society will benefit from. And yes this causes a strong emotional response, not just intellectual, in fact I'd say it might be one of the most powerful emotions people feel, but that too is a good thing. It shows an emotional response based on a sound value.

Now, if someone is behaving badly or acting in some subversive way or whatever, then by all means challenge them. But this is about someone who has passed away. None of their negative qualifies matter anymore. What's left is the achievements that people can reflect on, or be inspired by.