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The Truth about Mike Tyson
by NIH sports correspondent Duff "Twilley" Wilmott

Mike Tyson has caused another scene. At a news conference to promote his forthcoming bout with Lennox Lewis he attacked Mr. Lewis and then ranted obscenely about the press.

As usual this occasioned much tut-tutting. The Nevada Boxing Commission is going to review Mr. Tyson's licence. People weigh in with the opinion that a more deserving fighter should get a chance to fight for the championship. Mike Tyson is just one bad apple.

However, let me ask a question. Has it ever occurred to anyone that perhaps Mike Tyson has a brain injury? Might that explain his outbursts of violence, his lack of emotional control, his bizarre behaviour in general?

Mr. Tyson's behaviour is similar to that observed in many people with brain injury. Apparently most people are reluctant to admit that. I guess it's better for our self-esteem to have an important public figure we can look down on. It's sad, though, that a public figure has to go as low as Mike Tyson has for us to be able to look down on him.

We have already seen one major heavyweight fighter, Jerry Quarry, battered into mental incompetence because his promoters were always thinking they could get one more fight out of him. We have seen Muhammad Ali battered into Parkinson's disease during his extensive career. Now, apparently, we're all going to sit around feeling good while another fighter's brain is battered to a pulp so his connections can have a few extra paydays.

Mr. Tyson has been fighting for a long time and is well past his prime. He continues to get fights because he has had good public relations management. His licence should be revoked, for medical reasons. If we want to investigate people for their moral shortcomings, how about checking out the ones who keep putting him in the ring?

The Truth about Mike Tyson © Coolth, 2002

[Editor's note: Actually, it has occurred to someone else that Mike Tyson has a brain injury. Click here to find out more.]

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