The former Brazilian sports minister pronounces on everything from his country's chances of hosting the World Cup to the role of porno movie stars in government and his ability to bore has dulled memories of his wonderful capacity to score.

Ali, on the other hand, has grown in stature since he unlaced his gloves for the last time. The flow of words may have been dammed, the lightning quick Ali shuffle reduced to a slow, painful gait and those exquisite hands, which stung so precisely, weakened to an uncontrollable shake, but he embodies the phrase 'sporting personality'.

In between receiving the aforementioned awards in New York and London, Ali made an appearance at a peace conference in Sicily aimed at stopping rival tribes in Burundi butchering each other. Ali felt his presence could make a difference and it probably did.

While sport, and humanity, is all the better for Ali's immense contributions there are others whose deeds, and misdeeds, have cast a shadow over the century.

The first runner-up in this category is boxing promoter/showman/rogue - delete where appropriate - Don King. He did present the world with one of the greatest fights ever, the 'Rumble in the Jungle' matching Ali with George Foreman, but he has also perpetrated some of the most dubious moments in sport.

Heavyweight boxing has survived, just, despite Don King not because of him.

The same goes for our winner, the 'Lord of the Rings', Juan Antonio Samaranch. The Olympic movement under Samaranch has been sullied, smeared and tainted, yet it, and the man himself, remain intact.

Samaranch is a wily old fox. He delayed going before the US Congress until a slew of so-called reforms were approved by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) last weekend but that did not stem the hostility towards him.

The 79-year-old career diplomat turned sports broker in chief is used to acquiescence not antagonism and he would not have put himself in such a position if the very future of the IOC did not depend on it.

The IOC's tax-exempt status in the US is at risk, as are huge amounts of sponsorship cash, because of the bribes scandals surrounding the organisation and Samaranch fronted to assure Congressmen that the bad apples had been thrown from the cart.

It was not that easy. These are the guys who tried to impeach President Clinton and listen unflinchingly to tobacco barons telling them that smoking is good for the lungs, so Samaranch's mea culpa act did not cut much ice.

One Representative asked for his head on a platter before the three hours of questioning even began and added: 'This is a great venue to be a true statesman of sport and step down.' And there were some home truths for Samaranch to digest.

'We are here because the Olympic Games are too important to allow a culture of corruption to be whitewashed and perpetuated by a piece of paper called reforms,' said Representative Fred Upton, a Michigan Republican who chaired the sub-committee.

'The record is riddled with evidence of over a decade's worth of blatant abuse which was ignored by those who consistently, arrogantly, unbelievably turned a blind eye to the ugly truth.

'Now, after being dragged under the magnifying glass, the IOC purports to have turned over a new leaf.' It would have been fitting if, at that juncture, he had opened up an envelope and read: 'And the winner of the Sports Villain of the Century award is . . . Juan Antonio Samaranch.'