Mike Tyson is a modern day tragic hero of Aristotelian dimensions. After all, at the formative age of 19, he was crowned king – not only of boxing but of the entire sports world. Moreover, no athlete possessed greater potential for greatness than Tyson; yet, he seemed doomed to fail from the day of his coronation.
Mike Tyson in 1985: A veritable boy-king with the world at his feet…
During his reign as the menacing and seemingly invincible world heavyweight champion, Tyson instilled fear in his opponents and thrilled boxing fans with his brutish skills. But outside the ring he aroused pity and fear in the public at-large with his reckless behavior and overweening self-confidence. And, foolish pride led him to believe that he did not have to conform himself to the requirements of civil society and that he was immune from the consequences of his actions.
Of course, any amateur psychologist could see that Tyson (the boxing champ and social chump) led a highflying life predicated on violence and hedonistic excesses that was on an exorable course for a crash landing. And, no matter how much one hoped for some enlightenment that might change his fate, Tyson seemed as impervious to psychological counseling as he was to physical punishment. Therefore, neither his suicidal marriage to Robin Givens, time in prison for rape nor any of the myriad incidents of social pathology that characterized his life provided enough warning for him to alter his course.
Unranked Irish fighter Kevin McBride executes Tyson’s final fall from greatness in truly pitiful fashion!
And so, on Saturday night before a sold-out crowd at the MCI Arena in Washington DC, Tyson crashed (this time with fatal consequences not only for his career but also, quite possibly, his life). Analysis of the fight is not worth going into – especially since the picture here speaks volumes. But suffice it to note that Tyson tried to mug rather than box his opponent, Kevin McBride. And that he attempted to break McBride’s arm on two occasions before throwing in the towel and conceding defeat [a loser]. (Evidently, McBride was too tall for Tyson to bite off his ear as he did in his mugging of Evander Holyfield.)
However, Tyson’s own epitaph to his career is noteworthy:
I could have gone on but I thought I was getting beat [coward]….I don’t think I have it anymore. You’re smart too late and old too soon. I just got caught up in that suction cup. I feel like Rip Van Winkle right now….I’m sorry for the fans who paid for this. I wish I could have done better. I want to move on with my life. It’s time to move on with my life and be a father, take care of my children.
As far as a dignified acceptance of an ignominious fate goes, this is probably the most one should expect from Tyson. Indeed, his concession almost warms the heart until one realizes that it’s coming from a man who squandered over $400 million, is now over $35 million in debt (even after Saturday’s pay) and has no discernible means to support himself, let alone take care of his children [broke!].
Mike Tyson, unemployed father of six, seeking gainful employment – good with his hands: Would you hire him?
News and Politics
Anonymous says
In Italy people have a kind of fondness for Mike Tyson. He was invited as a special guest at the Festival of Sanremo (which is a kind of big deal, Gorbachov was a guest once). He looked elegant and relaxed and charmed a lot of people. Fact that he is broke or doesn’t want to spend time bashing or getting bashed any more certainly doesn’t take any of the shine off. Doesn’t make him a coward (but then I am half-Italian and Italians just don’t fight losing battles or other people’s wars – even their own government’s).
Anonymous says
hey italy – seems like you and mike have a lot in common: “italians just don’t fight losing battles or other people’s wars”? ever heard of mussolini fighting losing battles for hitler and the germans during ww2? are you punch drunk too?
Anonymous says
No, not punch drunk. Don’t think there was any great popular enthusiasm for war under Mussolini, Italians were more famous for surrendering or deserting than for fighting. Americans on the other hand are famous for fighting like hell even when they don’t know what they are fighting for: a love affair with violence per se perhaps? But that’s beside the point the topic, in case you missed it, was: Mike Tyson. And I still don’t think he is or was a coward.
Anonymous says
ok italy – i’ll give tyson and your “cowardly” italians and i’ll take my fellow americans who are “famous for fighting like hell even when they don’t know what they are fighting for” – like liberating italians from fascism, i suppose. but, crazy us!
Anonymous says
Do you have a choice ?
Anonymous says
America freed Vietnam from the Communists (actually not), intervened successfully in Somalia (er no) and is currently bombing democracy into Afghanistan and Iraq. Not to mention military operations, some covert some less so, throughout South America in support of various fascist dictators. Not to mention supporting Marcos in the Philippines while he plundered the country. The list is truely endless. And the world is grateful (well no actually, not really). As for the Italians, by the time the Americans turned up in WWII popular support for Fascism had waned and Mussolini had already been killed (by Italians).
And none of the above makes Mike Tyson a coward, doesn’t matter if he’s broke or past his athletic prime.
Anonymous says
ok italy – if mike can spark a political history debate involving indochina europe and the united states then maybe he’s not so bad after all. but italy, you miss the point entirely. tyson is a coward by his own admission. look at the article.
as for america’s litany of bad deeds around the world, we aren’t perfect but at least own up to who we are. and despite your distorted and revisionist history, i’m proud that no other country in history has been a greater force for good than the usa!
and, you may not be, but i know many italians who are grateful for america’s role in liberating your country. and, for the record: 600 days of fighting, 19,000 americans dead, many more thousands left with life altering injuries including 2 us senators (dole and inouye), all to liberate italy on may 2 1945.
you’re welcome!
Anonymous says
I’m not going to debate historical statistics with you.
If Mike Tyson can ask himself why he is fighting, find no good reason and stop. Then as far as I’m concerned he did the right thing. It was not an act of cowardice. Given the kind of social pressure he was under, it was quite the reverse. Same goes for the Italians who found no good reason for what they were doing in WWII and threw down their arms.
The world needs more of that, not less.
Anonymous says
ok italy – enough about tyson already. the eu is falling apart. what do you think about the article on the eu constitution.
Anonymous says
Didn’t see it.
Anonymous says
go to home page, click on archives dates 5/29/05-6/4/05 and scroll down.