I just had lunch the other day with a
couple of billionaires. They are travelling around the world on that one of a
kind cruise ship, “The World.” I wanted to hear about their lives and how they
got so rich, and what it’s like to travel the planet with your own private
residence on a luxury boat and see places that 99.999 percent of us will never
see. But no, they knew I am a sportscaster, and wanted to hear some of MY
stories. In particular, boxing stories.
In particular, Mike Tyson stories. This tells you something about the
continued captivation of the public’s imagination Iron Mike has, and always
will have.
This is relevant because I just read
where a one man show, directed by Spike Lee, titled, “Mike Tyson: Undisputed
Truth,” is making its way to Broadway. Now, there are many facets to the life of Tyson, and many stories will
always be disputed, no matter how he tells them. But he does promise this, and I believe him,
the show will be “raw“ and “filthy.”
Tyson wasn’t so filthy, but he was
raw when I first met him. It was outside the Atlantic City Convention Center
following the Michael Spinks defeat of Gerry Cooney June 15th, 1987. I was waiting to interview the legendary
trainer Eddie Futch for ESPN. Then, I hear this high pitched voice with the now
famous lisp calling me.
“Hey Alan! Alan!” I glance over my shoulder and there
stands the 20 year old WBC and WBA heavyweight champion of the world Mike
Tyson. He had won those titles in a span
of less than four months when he knocked out Trevor Berbick in two rounds and
then won a unanimous decision over James “Bonecrusher” Smith, who didn’t win a
single round on the judge’s cards. He had just beaten Pinklon Thomas in 6
rounds in Las Vegas in May. He was en route to unifying all the titles, WBC,
WBA, and IBF, which he would do later that year by a unanimous decision over
Tony “TNT” Tucker, who had entered the ring with a perfect 34-0 record.
So, I reply, “Mike, what are you
doing here?”
He says, “Alan, I wanna take you for
a ride on my rickshhhtaw.”
“Your what?” I say. ( I am about two
minutes to air time.)
“My rickshhhtaw!” he says. I then
notice he has been pulling one of those Atlantic City boardwalk rickshaw carts
around to my broadcast position.
“Mike, where did you get the
rickshaw?” I query, “and why are you here?”
“Well, I’m going to be the next
undisputed world heavyweight champion, and I want to take ESPN on a ride on my
rickshhhtaw that I borrowed,” he says.
“Mike, I appreciate that, but whoever
you ‘borrowed’ that rickshaw from probably wants it back since there’s a big
crowd out here,” I politely suggest.
“Well, okay. But don’t forget, I am going to be the
undisputed heavyweight champion!” He
then left, tugging the rickshaw behind, and hopefully he returned it to its
rightful owner.
Over the early years, before he was
signed by Don King, before being convicted of rape, before Robin Givens, drug problems,
mental health challenges, and his appetite for Evander Holyfield’s ear, I
enjoyed a fun relationship with Tyson.
After a while, when I would see him around the fight scene, he no longer
recognized me. I’m sure he no longer remembers the rickshaw.
After he had retired, I was paired on
a boxing broadcast with Tyson. Bob Arum
hired him to be an analyst. It was
August 2006 when Oleg Maskaev beat Hasim Rahman with a 12th round TKO in Las
Vegas. Maskaev had Rahman in a clinch
above our broadcast position, and Maskaev spotted Tyson. Maskaev’s eyes
immediately flew wide open. Despite the fact Maskaev was rather busy at the
time, he couldn’t believe Tyson was right there ringside! Tyson then started giving Maskaev advice,
sort of like a trainer. It was funny and
surreal.
On that broadcast Tyson was
brilliant. His knowledge of the sport is unparalleled and his insights were
dead on. Unfortunately, his language was
“raw and filthy” at times-- obviously, a detriment to regular boxing analyst
work. But, that was Mike being Mike.
I wish Tyson well on the stage. I probably won’t see it. I already know his story, perhaps too well.
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