Comments on: gotta love tyson

gotta love tyson

H. Roark — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 09:33:24 -0800

By: Mister_A

Mister_A — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 09:48:54 -0800

THere is a strange, psychotic honesty to Tyson. It's oddly refreshing to hear someone say, more or less, "I'm an unregenerate monster and I want to hurt people." At least with Tyson you know it's a good idea to run screaming when you see him.

By: Mach3avelli

Mach3avelli — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 09:49:53 -0800

His eventual biography is one of few I would ever care to read.

By: jonson

jonson — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 09:54:11 -0800

As long as people continue to read his quotes, he will never fade into Bolivian.

By: selfnoise

selfnoise — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 09:54:27 -0800

My all-time favorite: "I'm on the Zoloft to keep from killing y'all."

By: tpl1212

tpl1212 — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 09:55:48 -0800

So many great "Metafilter:..." lines in there...

By: fixedgear

fixedgear — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 09:56:17 -0800

"I really dig Hannibal. Hannibal had real guts. He rode elephants into Cartilage." It's funny 'cause it's true.

By: tkchrist

tkchrist — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 09:56:52 -0800

Thank god for boxing. Imagine that guy WITHOUT it. I've met a few characters like that in gyms around the country. Most people think they are just simple meatheaded jocks, but many of these guys are unusually smart, self-educated, and creative philosphers. Sure some carry a significant rather self-destructuve inner pain of some sort. Often tied to the cliché of bad family life or poverty. But some are just smart and frustrated and ca't figure out what else to do. I bet you never realized this but most boxers and fighters are not jocks... most were not coddled school athletes. They were the guys who wanted to kick THOSE guy's asses.

By: hoverboards don't work on water

hoverboards don't work on water — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 09:58:27 -0800

Great post. I gained both new disgust and new respect for this upstanding scumbag.

By: Faze

Faze — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 10:00:46 -0800

America should get hip to the fact that Mike Tyson is about the most interesting character ever brought to the surface by the world's of sport and popular culture. His character has an almost literary grandeur -- as evidenced by this substantial page of quotations. You could not invent this kind of dialogue. It's clear that he's evil as all hell. At the same time, it's clear that he's not evil at all, just totally confused -- except when he's perfectly lucid, and shows that he has intellectually penetrated the depth and breadth of his own personal tragedy, and appreciates is almost classical dimensions. Our culture hasn't known what to do with this highly intellegent, mentally ill, confused, focused, paradoxical bundle of mind and muscle, who's been raised to the heights and flung to the depths, and has the utterly unique and probably deeply fascinating experience of inhabiting his own mind. Compare him to Muhhamed Ali, a pretty dumb guy, by comparison (even before his Parkinson's set in), who settled into a life of conventional hypocrasy, full of bogus religiosity, hidden vices, and willingness to be made into a plaster saint. Tyson's tale -- already the most incredible in sports -- is still unfolding in unexpected ways. Joyce Carol Oates has an interesting profile.

By: Optimus Chyme

Optimus Chyme — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 10:00:55 -0800

He's a pretty horrible person, but it's hard not to love gems like this: My power is discombobulatingly devastating I could feel is muscle tissues collapse under my force. It's ludicrous these mortals even attempt to enter my realm.

By: spicynuts

spicynuts — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 10:04:13 -0800

It's ludicrous these mortals even attempt to enter my realm I'm putting this over my office door.

By: drjimmy11

drjimmy11 — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 10:05:26 -0800

I agree with Faze. Tyson is not a dumb man and a much more complicated character than most people realize. This is a guy who would brutually knock out his opponent, then help him up afterwards and be genuinely concerned about his health.

By: Vindaloo

Vindaloo — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 10:05:41 -0800

"...and then go to church on Sunday and say Jesus is a wonderful man and he's coming back to save us. But they don't understand that when he comes back, that these crazy greedy capitalistic men are gonna kill him again." Sometimes the simplest truths come out of even a madman's mouth. I loved watching Tyson fight; he was, without a doubt, the meanest man to ever enter the ring. In retrospect the end of his career should come as no surprise, although I did feel a little sorry for him.

By: Mister_A

Mister_A — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 10:12:00 -0800

I saw (on the TV) Tyson fight when he was 21 and 22 years old, just starting to earn good rankings. They used to show boxing on TV in those days. Anyone watching those pre-title fights just KNEW that this guy was the next great heavyweight champion. After years of mediocre and forgettable champs, he was a relentless and remorseless destroyer, and seemed almost invulnerable as he methodically cut off the ring and cornered his opponent, gloves shielding his face. I have never seen anyone else who could generate such punching power so quickly, and I suspect I never will again.

By: blue_beetle

blue_beetle — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 10:15:36 -0800

So you're saying that Tyson is the personification of America?

By: mr.curmudgeon

mr.curmudgeon — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 10:18:04 -0800

Tyson, for me, always illustrated the raw natural human condition as it would be without nuture.

By: tkchrist

tkchrist — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 10:21:49 -0800

Hey Faze that Oats piece was GREAT. Never read that before. It's going on the gym wall. Thankyou.

By: Mister_A

Mister_A — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 10:22:34 -0800

SHe (Oates) is fascinated by boxing, as you may have inferred.

By: Mister_A

Mister_A — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 10:24:35 -0800

Ahh, and re-reading that piece, I see that I was mistaken about Tyson's age, above. He must have been 19 or 20 when I first saw him...

By: empath

empath — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 10:31:04 -0800

Mike Tyson to work as a stud? 'Heidi I don't care what any man says. It's every man's dream to please every woman no matter how old, how young, how fat, how pretty, how ugly, it's every man's dream to please every woman and especially get paid for it.'

By: buriednexttoyou

buriednexttoyou — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 10:32:57 -0800

By: saladin

saladin — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 10:36:50 -0800

Seconding the thanks for the Oates piece, Faze, and for a fun post overall, H. Roark.

By: Bookhouse

Bookhouse — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 10:36:57 -0800

His Playboy interview is incredible, if you ever have a chance to read it. Every fifth question or so he'll threaten to kill the interviewer, then apologize.

By: quin

quin — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 10:44:24 -0800

"There are nine million people who see me in the ring and hate my guts. Most of them are white. That's okay. Just spell my name right." Out of the whole list, many of which were brilliant, this one really struck me. I don't know why. There is a sort of sadness and honesty which is completely at odds with his self aggrandizing. This list has improved my opinion of him considerably. He's still nuts, and probably dangerous. But he does have an odd sense of humor that I can respect.

By: dgaicun

dgaicun — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 10:46:08 -0800

He's also a well-known pigeon aficionado (he owns nearly 400). If I recall he commented: "I relate to the pigeon . . . the pigeon is the nigger of the bird world"

By: callmejay

callmejay — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 10:50:49 -0800

Fascinating creature. My main objective is to be professional but to kill him. Astute commentary on the sport of boxing.

By: dbiedny

dbiedny — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 10:54:54 -0800

An old Spanish saying comes to mind: Mono en seda, mono queda.

By: xmutex

xmutex — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 10:57:11 -0800

Good lord what a post.

By: davy

davy — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 10:58:36 -0800

Huh. Somehow I thought Tyson was a stupid and incoherent murderous psycho (like George Bush). I see I was wrong about the "stupid and incoherent" part. Still, of all the people whom I fear might hunt me down to rip off my johnson and beat me to death with it, Mike Tyson ain't among 'em: I bet he's got better things to do than read Metafilter.

By: pantsrobot

pantsrobot — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 11:00:42 -0800

"they wouldn't testify positively against me and they would think I'm a cad..." He actually used it. Cad!!! This guy is awesome

By: delmoi

delmoi — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 11:03:57 -0800

Compare him to Muhhamed Ali, a pretty dumb guy, by comparison (even before his Parkinson's set in), Huh? I don't believe Parkinson's affects cognitive ability...

By: elendil71

elendil71 — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 11:10:17 -0800

Man, that guy is so fascinating. He was born 75 thousand years too late. To see him stalking mammoths in what would become France..... He doesnt belong in this time. If he wasnt a celebrity, perhaps the kindest thing to do would be to treat him like Lennie, take him out back, and do the right thing.

By: Manhasset

Manhasset — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 11:24:17 -0800

Those who liked the Oates article might dig her book On Boxing.

By: allkindsoftime

allkindsoftime — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 11:40:56 -0800

"I'm just a dark guy from a den of iniquity. A dark shadowy figure from the bowels of iniquity. I wish I could be Mike who gets an endorsement deal. But you can't make a lie and a truth go together. This country wasn't built on moral fiber. This country was built on rape, slavery, murder, degradation and affiliation with crime."

By: Astro Zombie

Astro Zombie — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 11:45:10 -0800

My favorite quote from him came when an interviewer told him a story about an ancient Greek wrestler who swallowed his own broken teeth rather than show any weakness. The interviewer then asked Tyson if he knew anybody who had that same sort of brutal courage. Mike Tyson's reply: "Wayne Newton." He wasn't kidding, either.

By: jonmc

jonmc — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 11:52:02 -0800

Mike Tyson ain't among 'em: I bet he's got better things to do than read Metafilter. Plus, these threads are awful long and his finger would get tired.

By: Blazecock Pileon

Blazecock Pileon — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 11:55:58 -0800

"I'm not Mother Teresa. But I'm also not Charles Manson!" Even-handed introspection like this is a rare thing to see in a professional athlete. Megakudos.

By: buriednexttoyou

buriednexttoyou — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 12:26:58 -0800

More Tyson gold from wikiquote: "I just seem to keep buying more and more Bentleys"

By: mr_crash_davis

mr_crash_davis — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 12:27:21 -0800

"I'm on the Zoloft to keep from killing y'all." That's going over my door.

By: a3matrix

a3matrix — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 13:04:46 -0800

Now this is a priceless quote. I normally don't do interviews with women unless I fornicate with them. So you shouldn't talk anymore... Unless you want to, you know."

By: a3matrix

a3matrix — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 13:05:54 -0800

Such confidence !! "I can sell out Madison Square Garden masturbating."

By: forwebsites

forwebsites — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 13:11:13 -0800

"You have to understand, Frank Bruno would not have been champion if I had not been in prison. Oliver McCall would not have been champion if I had not been in prison. A lot of these guys would not have been champion. Michael Moorer would not have been champion. Those guys would not have been champion if I had been around. They would have had no legacy. None of those guys would have had a legacy." He's a madman, and by no means humble, but it's hard not to be with him on this. He had the meanest punch of ALL. He would come after you like a rabid dog right from the bell. I still remember watching the way he downed Michael Spinks in the first round inside 2 mins. Almost 20 of us were gathered at one of our friend's place as back in those days, not everybody had TV in India. We had not even properly arranged ourselves around the set and the fight was over just like whoopzebang! Many freinds missed the knockout because it was too many crowded near the front of the TV set, trying to figure out what the fuck was happening on that screen. We were maniac Tyson fans. And we used to discuss each and every hook and punch of his for days on end. During mid-day school recesses and after break. After the evening cricket sessions. If there was God on earth, for us, it was Tyson. I just wish Tyson had remained just a boxer, not the madman that he has become now. Here's a tribute video of the man from his days of glory and an exhaustive archive of his videos.

By: AllesKlar

AllesKlar — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 14:26:52 -0800

Very interesting, thanks for posting.

By: xmutex

xmutex — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 14:34:18 -0800

Tyson vs Spinks. Godalmighty.

By: tkchrist

tkchrist — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 16:07:46 -0800

I see that Tyson Spinks fight and I see: Disdain for the technique. Disdain for the man. That what a fighter has to have the second that bell rings. A fighter has to utterly show contempt for anything the other guy throws. Viscious contempt. But he has to be simultaneously brutally honest about his own abilities. This is a very difficult balance in mindset to achieve. It certainly isn't a natural one in most of us. It's why I couldn't ever be a real fighter. I love and respect the trianing too much to focus on anything else. I really didn't like the event at all. And when I climbed in the ring I knew that other guy he worked as hard as me and honestly I couldn't project that I wanted it or deserved it any more than him. Sometimes I wanted to hurt him... but I didn't like that feeling. Plus for me this all just a lark. I don't HAVE to do it. Being at home with that rage, using it, needing it, and not letting it eat you up - or not caring if it does- is the mark of a transcendant fighter.

By: cardoso

cardoso — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 16:10:58 -0800

Pure genius. <== not sarcasm The scary part is that he CAN do most of the smashing he brags about.

By: rob511

rob511 — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 16:38:53 -0800

Fuck Jordan and Peter Andre: it's Tyson and Bendit Beckham who should remake "A Whole New World." (The only question is who would take the lower part.)

By: koeselitz

koeselitz — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 16:53:37 -0800

forwebsites: "I just wish Tyson had remained just a boxer, not the madman that he has become now." Mike Tyson (from link): "One morning I woke up and found my favorite pigeon, Julius, had died I was devastated and was gonna use his crate as my stickball bat to honor him. I left the crate on my stoop and went in to get something and I returned to see the sanitation man put the crate into the crusher. I rushed him and caught him flush on the temple with a titanic right hand he was out cold, convulsing on the floor like a infantile retard." Well, either he's so insane that he lies about destroying a trash man for no reason when he was young, or he's a product of lifelong fucked-upness. Either way, that quote got me. It's got drama, it's got tenderness, it's got tragedy. And then it's got insanely destructive mayhem.

By: jayder

jayder — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 19:19:55 -0800

This thread cracks me up. We just tarred and feathered a guy over in AskMe for suggesting he was considering possibly leaving his wife; but a charming, "complex," boxer and rapist, we can't get enough of him, we're gobbling up his megalomaniacal pronouncements and practically begging to lick the sweat off his loins. Gross.

By: papakwanz

papakwanz — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 20:36:11 -0800

jayder: What do you mean "we"? You better be using the "Royal" We... the editorial... Anyway, the tragedy of Mike Tyson is that he is and has for many years been completely aware of what a shambles his life has become. He knows every one of his faults, and I truly believe that he feels remorse for every fucked up horrible thing that he has done, but he also knew that he couldn't stop himself from doing them. It's hard (or impossible) to forgive the things he's done and said, and I think he knows that, but it's hard not to pity him. The system failed him as a child, and he fell back on the one thing he knew could help him survive: raw anger and power. Had it not been for Cus D'Amato, who took the pure ferocity of Tyson's being and channeled it into boxing, he probably would have been on death row at age 18. And then Don King came into the picture, milked Mike for all he was worth, and then profited as the boxer self-destructed. Tyson can probably tell you every mistake he's made, and he's also completely aware that his life has been a freak show attraction for the public for years; he's a living car wreck. Probably the best thing that ever happened to him was his last string of KO losses, because it finally forced him out of professional boxing (although he's now doing a series of crappy exhibition matches to pay the bills) because the sport had become something he hated, because it was the site of both his triumph as a sports legend and his failure as a human being. He's a man who is capable of unbelievable hatred and violence, yet also pure tenderness (if you saw him on Jimmy Kimmel when he guest hosted for a week, he brought his daughter out one night... it was remarkable the change that came over him in the presence of his child). He's done a lot of fucked up shit, but the public has been his enabler, eating every sordid detail up with a spoon. He's not what I would call a "good" person, but I do hope that he finds some measure of peace in his life.

By: davy

davy — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 20:41:38 -0800

I don't see why that guy should leave his wife is she'll agree to let him have a "second wife" who'll have his kids, but I still don't see any damn good in anybody having kids-- we're way too many already. Maybe I'll go there and say so. As for Tyson, I don't give a flying fuck, except that I misjudged somebody based on what other people said about him, because I'm not a boxing fan myself so I never bothered to investigate. Then again, the reason I'm not a boxing fan is that I think it's a really stupid "sport": you should fight when you have to defend yourself and then you make the fuckhead pay dearly for bothering you, but as a way to make living it's strictly from hunger. And I'd tell Tyson that if he asked, whether his loins were sweaty or not. So "yes to what papakwanz said."

By: papakwanz

papakwanz — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 20:48:17 -0800

Oh, one of my favorite Tyson quotes was after he was KO'd by Lennox Lewis. "I take my hand off to him."

By: Fejery

Fejery — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 21:07:15 -0800

Bring back the grand spectacle of the gladiators*! *Sponsored by the makers of Fanta, clearly.

By: jason's_planet

jason's_planet — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 21:23:58 -0800

"I paid a worker at New York's zoo to re-open it just for me and Robin. When we got to the gorilla cage there was 1 big silverback gorilla there just bullying all the other gorillas. They were so powerful but their eyes were like an innocent infant. I offered the attendant $10,000 to open the cage and let smash that silverback's snotbox! He declined." HAIL CAESAR! WE WHO ARE ABOUT TO DIE SALUTE YOU!

By: Aghast.

Aghast. — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 21:44:37 -0800

Wow, I started reading this with the expectation of hearing some really funny/stupid quotes (and it did deliver on that, especially those last few), but I had no idea Tyson was such a strange and complicated person. I can relate. Not to state the obvious, but the assumptions we have about powerful young black men are usually way off. I am embarrassed to admit that on the first day of class every semester, I unintentionally, very unfortunately make knee-jerk judgments of the muscular, do-ragged, dark-skinned eighteen year olds who walk into my classroom. Maybe I'm stretching the connection between your assumptions about Tyson and my assumptions about my students but anyways... I'm always way-off. These students almost always end up being complicated and mature and unique and wise beyond their years. I resolve not to have it happen the next semester but, in reality, these black male students have to climb a few more hurdles in order to get my intellectual respect than everyone else. It's an utter shame and a tragedy and I know that I am not the only one and not the worst one by far.

By: quin

quin — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 21:59:07 -0800

"...I offered the attendant $10,000 to open the cage and let smash that silverback's snotbox! He declined." I must have missed this quote when I skimmed the linked post, and as I said upthread, many of the things I read improved the perspective I have on him. But I gotta chime in here and say, that zoo worker saved Tyson's life. Here's what would have happened had the guy decided to take the money: Gate opens. Tyson walks in. Silverback, a zoo creature who has become more used to humans, doesn't freak out, but is uncomfortable at a stranger being in his territory. Tyson winds up his best punch and breaks silverbacks jaw. Silverback, in pain but not by any means mortally wounded, beats Tyson to death in a way that only an angry, wounded, wild animal can. They may have innocent eyes, but they are still about 10 times stonger than someone Tyson's size.

By: pracowity

pracowity — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 23:57:40 -0800

"I really dig Hannibal. Hannibal had real guts. He rode elephants into Cartilage." Guts... cartilage... I think he's confusing his Hannibals here.

By: Smedleyman

Smedleyman — Sat, 21 Oct 2006 00:00:57 -0800

"I'm on the Zoloft to keep from killing y'all." I can relate. I dunno quin - slight variation - I think Tyson wouldn't even be able to land a punch on a silverback. They move slow when they're eating. Different story when they're threatened. He'd probably stretch out and Tyson would hit him in the chest.

By: claudius

claudius — Sat, 21 Oct 2006 00:24:40 -0800

"I may like fornicating more than other people. It's just who I am." "I wanna talk nice to you, and talk about fornicating with you, and letting you suck my dick." "Who did they actually fornicate with or whatever?" "I normally don't do interviews with women unless I fornicate with them." He seems to like that word...

By: LondonYank

LondonYank — Sat, 21 Oct 2006 02:39:32 -0800

I think I turned on Tyson when I read about the Holyfield ear incident back when it happened. Tyson was, is, and ever shall be a punk. Interesting background aside, one is defined by one's actions and one's words.

By: davy

davy — Sat, 21 Oct 2006 08:55:24 -0800

"one is defined by one's actions and one's words" Not quite: on Metafilter one is defined by how hard one denounces Bush -- but not those Democrats who voted to enable him. (How's THAT for an "aside", dammit!)

By: dbiedny

dbiedny — Sat, 21 Oct 2006 08:58:08 -0800

And in the news today...

By: Reggie Knoble

Reggie Knoble — Sat, 21 Oct 2006 09:15:56 -0800

From that last linked article is a good example that prett much sums up the enabling that fueled Tysons downward spiral. "He's unpredictable, that's why I'm here," said Michael Baker of Poland, Ohio and then "I just hope Tyson has grown up and acts responsibly and like a human being," Bullshit, you hope he tears off some poor bastards ear again so you can say you were there.

By: quin

quin — Sat, 21 Oct 2006 09:23:48 -0800

Smedleyman : He'd probably stretch out and Tyson would hit him in the chest. No doubt. To be honest though, I don't think Tyson would have even gotten a chance to swing. Silverbacks can be... grouchy. And fast, angry, and strong doesn't bode well for any human trying to engage in hand to hand combat with one.

By: papakwanz

papakwanz — Sat, 21 Oct 2006 09:32:18 -0800

I think I turned on Tyson Did you fornicate with him?

By: Redgrendel2001

Redgrendel2001 — Sat, 21 Oct 2006 10:09:44 -0800

Tyson is one of the most interesting people in pop culture in the past few decades. He does have that refreshing sort of...honesty. He also is one of the saddest exmples of exploitation I've ever seen. One of the deep dark rumors that you never hear on ESPN or in SI is that he was sexually abused by some of the people, one in particular, who were his "guardians" when he first started boxing. It explains a lot...

By: tkchrist

tkchrist — Sat, 21 Oct 2006 10:41:48 -0800

We just tarred and feathered a guy over in AskMe for suggesting he was considering possibly leaving his wife; but a charming, "complex," boxer and rapist, we can't get enough of him, we're gobbling up his megalomaniacal pronouncements and practically begging to lick the sweat off his loins. You own Naked Lunch? Loudly touted as a masterpiece. William S. Burroughs, a noted junkie, murdered his wife and fucked children that he bought in Africa. You read Howl by Ginsberg? Masterpiece, right? Pedophile and junkie. So. we, as intellegent people, can seperate the man, his flaws and his crimes from his art. At least to some degree. We can still learn, be astounded and even inspired by the abilities of the monstor. And that Tyson defies our stereotypes and challenges us in no way influences our sense of justice. In that I beleive the guy SHOULD have been locked up. That his gifts in no way excuse the nightmare part of his nature. But continue to, you know, crack up. Jayder, I'm sure since you're so superior there is nothing left for you to learn.

By: matteo

matteo — Sat, 21 Oct 2006 12:56:19 -0800

You own Naked Lunch? Loudly touted as a masterpiece long list. Eliot? An antisemite. Pound? A Fascist. Poe? A peadophile. and so on. and practically begging to lick the sweat off his loins. you first

By: ikkyu2

ikkyu2 — Sat, 21 Oct 2006 13:51:00 -0800

Silverback, in pain but not by any means mortally wounded, beats Tyson to death in a way that only an angry, wounded, wild animal can. Are you kidding? Tyson would consistently kill the fucking shit out of that gorilla.

By: jayder

jayder — Sat, 21 Oct 2006 14:15:49 -0800

Jesus, tkchrist, get a grip on yourself. My comment was directed toward the tendency, displayed in many of the comments here including yours, to celebrate Tyson the man as if he's some sort of sage to be emulated and bowed down to. The gushing over his megalomaniacal comments seems childish and tasteless. You've been one of the worst offenders. I can practically hear the little cries of delight you've emitted while typing your exuberant celebrations of Tyson's manly and awesome transcendent rage. I know you love telling us how cool and manly your favorite fighters are, and that's fine, but when you wax poetic about how excited a convicted rapist makes you, it's just disgusting.

By: Optimus Chyme

Optimus Chyme — Sat, 21 Oct 2006 16:39:27 -0800

Are you kidding? Tyson would consistently kill the fucking shit out of that gorilla. posted by ikkyu2 at 1:51 PM PST on October 21 I usually respect your opinion ikkyu2, but I sincerely hope you're joking now. Maybe if Tyson were armed; you certainly know human physiology well enough to know that hitting things with our tiny lil fists was not how we made it to the top of the food chain. If you're serious, I've love to hear why.

By: tkchrist

tkchrist — Sun, 22 Oct 2006 16:50:09 -0800

Jaydar that shit just few over your head, man. Right on over it, huh? So you got NOBODY you admire that is a monster? Then you havn't studied hard enough.

By: ibmcginty

ibmcginty — Sun, 22 Oct 2006 19:09:54 -0800

Wow, how prophetic is this, from that Oates article (thanks, Faze). I don't know exactly how these folk tales end, but it is so sad to read that profile, from 1986, when he was a shy, bright, 20-year-old champion with the world at his feet. He's always been bright, always been a more interesting person than the caricature in the public's mind, but sometimes now he seems to be trying to live up, or rather down, to someone else's view of him. Anyway, Oates: Mike Tyson's story reminded me of those legendary tales of abandoned children so particularly cherished by the European imagination—Kasper Hauser of Nurnberg, the "wild boy" of the Aveyron. Such tales appeal to our sense of wonder, mystery, and dread; and to our collective guilt. These children, invariably boys, are "natural" and "wild"; not precisely mute but lacking a language; wholly innocent of the rudiments of human social relations. They are homeless, parentless, nameless, "redeemable" only by way of the devotion of a teacher father—not unlike Tyson's Cus D'Amato. But even love is not enough to save the mysteriously doomed Kasper Hauser, whose story ends as abruptly and as tragically as it begins. And the "wild boy" of the Aveyron loses the freshness of his soul even as he acquires the skills of language and social intercourse.