Mike Tyson retires: Best sporting news of the weekend.
Next to the victory of Afleet Alex at the 137th Belmont Stakes, this has got to be some of the best news in sports. Finally, the tumultuous career of Mike Tyson came to an end over the weekend after losing yet another heavy weight fight. All I can say is it's about time.
The man who personifies bad sportsmanship gave up the ship at the end of the sixth round from the stool. This, of course, came after he attempted to end the fight (knowing he couldn't win any other way) by head-butting his opponent, Irish fighter Kevin McBride, himself considered an underwhelming fighter.
The head butt (which resulted in Tyson being knocked down into the ropes...see exhibit A to the right) came after Tyson apparently tried to break the arm of McBride earlier in the bout. This purely "Tysonesque" moment was the last show of unsportsmanlike conduct of his two-bit career.
Great boxer? At one point years ago, without a doubt. Great athlete? Uh-uh. The mark of a great athlete always has and always will be (I hope!) not only the level of success achieved within their given sport, but also the level of success they maintain as a human being. Not that beating the brains out of another guy while your own gray matter is being pounded into dog food, in my mind, is the high point of sport, but at least there are those names within the sport that bring a high level of class. People like George Foreman and Evander Holyfield, for example, demonstrate what sportsmanlike conduct for a champion is all about. Maintaining the balance between being at the pinnacle of your sport while maintaining a level of civility and class differentiates the champs from the chumps.
So, happy retirement, Mike...and don't let the door hit you in the butt on the way out.
The man who personifies bad sportsmanship gave up the ship at the end of the sixth round from the stool. This, of course, came after he attempted to end the fight (knowing he couldn't win any other way) by head-butting his opponent, Irish fighter Kevin McBride, himself considered an underwhelming fighter.The head butt (which resulted in Tyson being knocked down into the ropes...see exhibit A to the right) came after Tyson apparently tried to break the arm of McBride earlier in the bout. This purely "Tysonesque" moment was the last show of unsportsmanlike conduct of his two-bit career.
Great boxer? At one point years ago, without a doubt. Great athlete? Uh-uh. The mark of a great athlete always has and always will be (I hope!) not only the level of success achieved within their given sport, but also the level of success they maintain as a human being. Not that beating the brains out of another guy while your own gray matter is being pounded into dog food, in my mind, is the high point of sport, but at least there are those names within the sport that bring a high level of class. People like George Foreman and Evander Holyfield, for example, demonstrate what sportsmanlike conduct for a champion is all about. Maintaining the balance between being at the pinnacle of your sport while maintaining a level of civility and class differentiates the champs from the chumps.
So, happy retirement, Mike...and don't let the door hit you in the butt on the way out.
Labels: David C. Price
posted by DAVID C. PRICE at 6/13/2005 02:00:00 AM
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4 Comments:
Now if he'll only stay retired.
Thanks for the update on Mike. I forgot all about the fight. I wish I could have seen him lose to a fat guy!
2 things...
best tyson memory
Jr year of college. Bunch of frat bros are getting together to watch Tyson on HBO (it was always an event). he was boxing Spinks. As the match began I went to the door to open it to a late comer.
I missed the entire fight (21 seconds I believe).
best thing tyson offers
Like tysonesque, he offers great metaphors. When explaining Tampa's potential as a city (size, natural beauty, etc.) vs. its lack of performance, I call it the Mike Tyson of Cities. And everyone knows what I mean.
:-) "Mike Tyson of cities"...you're right, that communicates a lot.
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