Do you know who is the greatest self-promoter in sports these days? If you questioned Rickey Henderson, he'd be sure to respond in the third person, "Rickey Henderson is the greatest." But that would be, sorry Rickey, incorrect. Not Shaq, Kobe, or MJ either. How about Tiger? Nope, he's too busy reconsidering that possible cell phone endorsement. It's Mike Tyson.
For whatever reason, "Iron" Mike (as in "behind iron bars" Mike) is the most intriguing and charismatic athlete of our generation. Just as Michael Jackson and his face capture the attention of the American audience, so does Tyson. The strange and inexplicable grabs our attention and leaves us asking for more. Whether he represents a guilty pleasure or his dark side simply interests people, Tyson remains one of the most controversial and talked about athletes in sports today.
Either through his actions or his words, Tyson always is able to draw attention to himself. Any other 36-year-old boxer a decade past his prime could never command the attention Tyson does. In the week leading up to his fight this past Saturday with Clifford "the Black Rhino" Etienne, Tyson disappeared for at least a day and later showed up proudly displaying his new face (yes, I said face) tattoo. This bizarre behavior has not only come to be expected from Tyson but also landed him the leading story on ESPN's Sportscenter.
For a meaningless heavyweight fight between two over-the-hill convicted felons, Tyson's antics successfully attracted renewed interest in the fight. Instead of any actual breakdown of this quasi-sport, the discussion of the pre-fight analysis centered around how the tattoo would hold up if Etienne landed a right cross on Tyson's temple.
What's even more astounding is that Tyson received a $5 million payday for only 49 seconds of work --- that's more than $100,000 a second! Likewise, Etienne pulled in $1 million for falling harder than a chopped Redwood. For $50, any loyal Tyson customer could purchase the fight on pay-per-view for the low rate of $1 per second of boxing.
It was basically a two-hit fight: Tyson hit Etienne and Etienne hit the floor.
Not that I would ever be one to suggest boxing was fixed (cough, cough), but a few things warrant thought. It is important to note that despite his inability to stand up Etienne did have the frame of mind to take out his mouthpiece and lay on the ground with eyes wide open while the referee started his 10-count. Moreover, it did seem a little "odd" that Etienne started to try and get up just as the referee declared the fight a knockout. (Just thought I'd point that out.)
However, if all it takes to get $1 million is to take a dive in the ring against Tyson, then forget the lottery and sign me up to be Tyson's next "victim."
In the past, Tyson talked about his desire to "crush skulls" and "eat the hearts" of his opponents' children, as well as how he planned on "stomping on the testicles" and going to "purge the ring with blood," (I'm not making this stuff up, folks).Oh yeah, and there was that whole gnawing-off the fine delicatessen known as "Ear of Holyfield" a few years ago.
For this most recent fight, Tyson resorted to calling the fight off and then on again and by showing up the week before the fight with one side of his face tattooed with some kind of warrior symbol. Even after the fight Tyson was complaining of his so-called "broken back" and how it was a miracle he could even stand up. In the future, who knows what Tyson will do or what stunt he will pull in order to promote one of his fights. Set his hair on fire in the ring? Tie his left hand behind his back? Go into the ring blindfolded like the opponent is a piñata? Whatever he does, it will be sure to attract all of our attention.
Wherever Tyson goes, it seems like the circus is in town, and as P.T. Barnum said about the success of his own circus, "there's a sucker born every minute." At that rate, it makes sense why Tyson has such an appeal to the American culture.
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