I hesitated posting this under "Other Sports" as I have a hard time considering boxing a sport as much as a spectacle. But anyway, Mike Tyson struck again today. At a press conference to announce a proposed April 6 fight with champion Lennox Lewis, Tyson charged Lewis and a scuffle ensued.

How much evidence is needed to declare this a-hole mentally ill? Olympic boxing can be very exciting, but the pro game has always been a nest for crooks and thugs, but now seemingly more than ever. Tyson needs to go away, NOW!


Tyson the Animal

And now reports are saying Tyson bit Lewis during the melee. Throw his ass in jail if he did in fact bite again.

What I have difficulty reconciling is the fact that he continues to get "legitimate" bouts. Why this jerk hasn't been utterly ostracized speaks volumes about how utterly degraded the "sport" of boxing has become. Right there with ya, George.

Here are partial transcripts of the NY Post's Wallace Matthews and USA Today's Dan Rafael on "NewsNight" with Aaron Brown:

Brown: "There's a line in 'Dr. Strangelove' the movie, that's about irresistible tonight. 'You can't fight in here,' the president says. 'This is the war room!' We thought of this this afternoon when we saw Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis get into a brawl, which is what they're supposed to do, only this brawl took place at a news conference which is not where it's supposed to happen. And now there's a very real and weird possibility that someone will have to tell Tyson and Lewis: 'Unless you two stop hitting each other, we won't let you fight anymore.' It's a fine line between boxing and showbiz."

Matthews: "It was just mayhem. It was clear that fists were flying, but it was hard to see. I saw Tyson throw a punch at somebody, and after seeing the videotape I saw that he actually was punching at a bodyguard."

Brown: "Boxing has always been this way a bit, but these days it has little more. And by the standards of past brawls today's wasn't even that good."

Matthews: "Boxing has a long history of this. A lot of its hype. I've been to a press conferences where they actually sawed the podium so the fighters could pound it and have it fall down and that's a set up thing -- this is what I'm going to him -- boom -- and then the thing would go down and that's clearly a fake. This wasn't a fake but if you really want to rank it in boxing press conference mayhem, it's not at the top."

Brown: "Probably closer to the bottom and maybe just maybe all fake, an act by the aging Tyson to sell some tickets the way a pro wrestler might."

Matthews: "The only thing he really has to sell at this point is this madman persona that he has created. He clearly hasn't won an important fight in 14 years. He fought Michael Spinx in 1988 and knocked him out in one round, and he hasn't fought an important fight or won an important fight since then. So the thing he has to sell is that he's a lunatic and could snap at any moment. He's capable of biting your ear off as well as knocking you out."

Brown with Rafael (who had a ringside seat at the melee):

Brown: "I have no shame. So, what do you think? Was it all theater or did Tyson just go nuts?"

Rafael: "I think it's the latter. I think Tyson basically just went nuts. It wasn't theater. Anybody who was there and saw the intention when he went after Lennox knows that this was not staged, this wasn't a mock thing. They weren't trying to sell more tickets. The fight was going to be sold out anyway."

Brown: "Is the guy just nuts?"

Rafael: "I think he's probably pretty nuts. The fact is he can't control himself in public. And you can't expect him after all the things that have happened in his life to, now all of a sudden be put on this pedestal once again, and act like a normal human being, when people think part of his mystique is to act like a freak and do things that are usually not acceptable in our society"

I don't mean to sound like it sounds, but I can't WAIT till Tyson is thrown in a cage and then someone loses the key.

It amazes me that egregious bastard hasn't been killed yet.

One of his cronies said he's just into promoting like Muhammed Ali did with Joe Frazier. For mentioning Ali in connection with Tyson, that guy should have to do time as well (just kidding there!)

He had a fit when a reporter asked him if he should be in a straitjacket. Mikey got all street-figher, rap-artist on him, like that's such an off-the-wall question.

Now there is DNA evidence of ANOTHER rape...he's never going to learn/change/grow-the-hell-up so I say put him somewhere, then forget where somewhere is. No one will miss him and females all over the globe will have a restful sleep knowing he's in a place far, far away..in the meantime I hope Lennox Lewis gives him what he has coming..

I agree. Somebody needs to make sure that Tyson is hit repeatedly in the area of his vocal chords, so as to first shut him up, then he needs to be put on an extremely slow boat to China or Timbuktu, or anywhere as far away from humanity as possible. The man has a pea for a brain.

I just laughed when I saw the tape on "The Daily Show." It was a more honest performance than Tyson's in "Black and White" when he bitch-slapped Robert Downey Jr.

Especially when Tyson shouted, finger pointing, at a writer something like "I'll f**k you up the ass, you pussy whiteboy faggot."

There is serious talk here in Las Vegas that the Nevada Athletic Commission (the state agency that regulates boxing in the State of Nevada ... and (don't laugh) does a better job regulating and overseeing boxing than any other agency anywhere) won't license Tyson for this fight scheduled for April at the MGM on the Strip.

The local media here -- which is the best boxing media in the country by far due to all the major prizefights that take place in Las Vegas -- is putting major pressure to ban Tyson from the state. Right now, there's a good chance that they'll have to go out of Nevada, maybe even out of the country, if they want to hold this fight.

Tyson's got more serious problems than this televised brawl. The DA here in Clark County, Nevada, is about ready to bring rape/sexual assault charges against Tyson for yet another sexually predatory incident. He may not be able to fight this fight because he might be in jail by then.

As an aside, and this is as good a place as any to raise this point, anyone else here about the rampant Mike Tyson gay rumors ... and that supposedly there's a videotape ... maybe in Don King's possession (explaining why Tyson continues to allow King to rummage his bank account, perhaps?) ... of Mike on the receiving end of (ahem) anal penetration. Any basis in reality, or are the rumors due only to Tyson being cursed with that lithpy little girl's voice of his? Or, if the rumors are true, could that explain the source of his anger management issues and his inability to form mature meaningful relationships with women?? Anyone else care to engage in amateur psycho-analysis?

[ January 23, 2002: Message edited by: Charlie in the Trees ]

He's nuts; he needs psychiatric treatment.

Seriously he does. Wasn't he supposedly on some anti-depressant a couple of years ago? I thought I remember hearing that he went on one, well if true, it seriously ain't workin!!!

[ January 23, 2002: Message edited by: puckman45 ]

Regarding the antidepressants: yes, Mike Tyson has been on them but goes off them for a period before fights (and seemingly before press conferences.) When he had his bizarre conference last year (where he made the incongruous reference to eating children and snarled to reporters about what a motherf---er he was) he admitted he was off the medications. I can't forget his testimony during the rape case where he defended his actions by wondering what the woman expected from a monster.

I wonder if he went off the track at the most recent press conference because he doesn't want to face Lewis in the ring and this way boxing officials may take the decision out of his hands.

~Adam

[quote]Originally posted by Bill W:
I just laughed when I saw the tape on "The Daily Show." It was a more honest performance than Tyson's in "Black and White" when he bitch-slapped Robert Downey Jr.

Especially when Tyson shouted, finger pointing, at a writer something like "I'll f**k you up the ass, you pussy whiteboy faggot."

---

If I recall, a lot of that movie was ad-libbed and Downey did the whole coming-on-to-Tyson thing on his own, and Tyson reacted.

Late night Tyson jokes: "The government announced today that the heightened state of alert will remain in effect until Mike Tyson goes back on Prozac" (Jay Leno).

"A lot of Mike Tyson in the news these days. You all saw the footage of Mike Tyson getting into a fight with Lennox Lewis the other day. Well, it's been reported that Mike Tyson and his wife are getting a divorce. Reportedly, Tyson told his wife 'I want to bite other people.' (Conan O'Brien)

"Mike Tyson's wife has filed for divorce. Who could have seen that coming? It's always the couples you least expect. Apparently they have irreconcilable differences. He's insane. She's not." (Leno)

"At a press conference today ... Mike Tyson ... started a brawl with British boxer Lennox Lewis and reportedly bit him. ... Hours later, Tyson was very upset and said 'I am never, ever eating British food again.'" (O'Brien)

Well finally somebody put morals and ideals ahead of money. By a vote of 4-1, the Nevada Athletic Committee rejected Mike Tyson's application for a license to fight in the state of Nevada. Las Vegas stood to make a boat load of money from this fight. Bravo to the NAC for using common sense. Now if only there was some world wide organization that could ban this criminal thug from ever boxing again.

I'm shocked! Shocked, I tell you. This could give Nevada some integrity. I really thought the commission would look the other way ($$$$) and give Mike Tyson a license. Will wonders never cease??

~Adam

Much as I would love to declare this a victory for integrity in the Great State of Nevada ... it might be something a bit less.

Quick lesson in Nevada politics. Don King is on the outs with Tyson at this point in time. Don King is tight with THE political kingmaker in the State of Nevada, a man by the name of Sig Rogich. Sig is the same kingmaker who turned a failed school district administrator and utility exec into our Governor, Kenny Guinn. Guinn's a Republican ... but Sig is rather bipartisan. (I'm a Republican too, but I must admit that if I said that Kenny Guinn had a room temperature IQ, I'd be insulting room temperature.)

Guinn appoints the folks to the Nevada Athletic Commission that licensing boxing in the State of Nevada. Don King's buddy Sig is the one who made Guinn our Governor. Don King is not involved in the Tyson fight and has no stake in the fight being licensed.

And that's the real story that you won't read on ESPN.com.

Given my cynicism about politics in what I nevertheless believe to be the greatest state in the union: geez, was I shocked that they didn't license Mike Tyson! If Tyson were still tight with Don King, he'd have been licensed.

[ January 30, 2002: Message edited by: Charlie in the Trees ]

[quote]I can't forget his testimony during the rape case where he defended his actions by wondering what the woman expected from a monster.

---

Not to diminish the horror of rape, but I do have to agree with Tyson here. There were women kissing him after the press conference? A woman is married to him? At some point, the thought has to enter your head: you dance with the devil, you're gonna get burned.

In fact, the same thing could be said for any fighter who gets involved with Don King.

By the way, did anyone read David Sedaris' short story, several years ago, about how he was in a relationship with Mike Tyson (and Charlton Heston, and Bruce Springsteen)? It was pretty freaking funny. In his first book, Barrel Fever. Highly recommended. You can actually read it here:

Parade by David Sedaris

Oh no -- D.C. may grant Tyson his boxing license today -- leading to the June 8 match at the MCI Center. I know we're hard up for tourist dollars here after 9/11 ... but ...? Our mayor: "I look to the sanctioning authorities of the sport, and if the sanctioning authorities in that sport deem someone eligible to play, then I think that we ought to be in the competition to get those activities." Reasonable enough, but I'm not sure who they folks are: Michael Brown, Arnold McKnight and Mable Boatwright.

A little corrupt history: for years the chair of the Commission was the wife of our former mayor Marion Barry -- Cora Masters Barry, who was dubbed "Lady MacBarry" by our alternative newspaper. She resigned after being accused of double billing the city for expenses on "official," overseas trips. She pleaded guilty to theft charges. Lady MacBarry was accused of funneling campaign donations to her brother, Walter, and of getting a city contractor to make renovations on the Barrys' new home.

Well, it's official -- D.C. has granted Mike Tyson his boxing license.

The commission cited the economic impact of the fight. "Sept. 11 has changed a lot of things ... A lot of hotel and restaurant people are out of work, and this fight would be helpful to the city."

Whoa, talk about a stretch for giving that brute his license! Tourism needs Mike? Soi serieux!

For those less maniacally inclined, Log Cabin Republicans will be holding our National Convention in DC - no fraidy-cats we! - from April 17 thru 21, 2002. Join us and see the civilized side of our Capital!

Some important groups in the community have started to protest D.C.'s decision on Tyson, including church groups and the Greater Washington Board on Trade -- which does represent elements of the tourism and hospitality industry here. I, for one, don't think they'll make any difference.

Hey, given the current state of DC's major industry, sounds to me like a Tyson fight's a perfect match. Guess irony isn't as dead as they keep telling us.

At first when there was talk about this fight coming to Atlanta, my reaction was "I'll go down there and march in protest, I feel so strongly that this trash shouldn't come to Atlanta".

Then I stopped to think about it. I hate boxing. I've never spent $1 on boxing. But obviously some one out there spends lots on boxing! 2 promoters here were getting together $13 million each? And it will bring money into a city comparable to a Super Bowl??? Jeez!

So my next thought was "A fool and his money are soon parted". My city's got a budget deficit. We need money! These fools are willing to spend it. Let's let them! Let's take their cash!

OK, so I'm a whore.

A funny line I heard somewhere (sorry can't remember where) was a guy saying the more he hears about this fight, it reminds him of that barge of garbage that floated around the New York harbor forever because none of the burroughs would take it!

Figured I'd revive an old thread about this ass**** rather than waste a new one. Put this creep in jail and throw away the key already! From ESPN.com:

Given that he also threatened to rape a write during the Lennox brawl (as mentioned in last year's posts) I have to say this guy is a threat to society. I can't believe there hasn't been more of an outcry over this interview, although it did only come to light in the last couple of days. If I were his victim, I would be afraid to be in the same city as him.

I love this country but only in America, can a celebrity be above the law in certain situations. This guy has been in and out of trouble for the longest time. I recall at some point, there was a court decision that he couldn't fight professionally anymore. Is that correct? If yes, what happened? I think he is one french fry short of a happy meal.

What an ass****..although I must admit that this sort of celebrity protection is not for the Americans only, we have it down here in Australia too. There are many incidents where girls have been paid off to keep quiet, or made to "realise" how they asked for it after a quite chat with a players manager.

Its a sad state of afirs the world is in the these so called "men" can get away with doing this, but its the society we live in that tolerates it... What can we do?

Thanks for your comments Tess. I guess America's not alone with this problem. Sounds like it is a combination of the celebrity and the money they have. The weird thing is that it seems like the majority of the public puts up with it. Not sure if it's because they fall for the whole celebrity thing or if they think that it won't matter what they say because the celebrity will get off anyway. Either way, it's pretty discourageing. :confused: