The demolition of Mike Tyson is now complete.
I first started following Tyson when he was boxing for Cus D'Amato. I was stationed in upstate New York at the time, so the local sports folks were covering Tyson well before the national media picked up on the story. As Tyson climbed up the ranks towards his first championship, it was clear that he had the skills to be the greatest heavyweight in history. He focused on his opponent and dissected him with precise punches, while defending himself ably. Then D'Amato died, and Tyson the boxer died with him.
Don King appeared on the scene, and Tyson was isolated from Rooney, his last link to D'Amato. While his ferocity increased under King, his skills did not. He became a brawler, abandoning defense in favor of an all out offensive blitz. Surrounded by King's handlers, his personal life fell apart. Tyson always had demons, but the fact remains that under D'Amato and Rooney, he was able to control those demons. Under King, the demons ran free.
This does not excuse Tyson from the consequences of his actions. He should not be allowed to box again, and very probably will spend most of the rest of his life in jail. But we do have to be aware that the blame for this doesn't end with Tyson. The blame also rests on the man who made it all possible: Don King. If Tyson should not be allowed to box again, then certainly Don King shouldn't be allowed anywhere near a boxing ring or a boxer ever again.
Posted by Rich at January 31, 2002 12:53 PM