Mike Tyson: Prodigal Son Or Gentleman Warrior?

By Keith Boykin, in sports
Monday, June 10 2002, 6:00AM

I watched the Tyson-Lewis fight and the post-fight interviews on the edge of my seat, waiting for the unexpected. But the fight was so lopsided that the only drama we got was guessing which metaphor Tyson would misuse in his post-fight interview. "I take my hand off to you," Tyson said to Lewis. Maybe that's a boxing term, but I think he meant "hat." Later he commended Lewis as a "prolific" fighter. Not sure what he meant by that.

After he recovered from his defeat, Tyson warmly embraced Lewis, even asking him for a rematch, if Lewis "would be so kind," he politely put it. That's definitely not the image of the ear-biting, leg-chomping, wife-beating, insult-hurling Mike Tyson we've all come to know, love, and hate the past 15 years.

Many commentators who watched the fight noted that Tyson acted like a gentleman, which in fact, he did. Maybe it's a publicity stunt. Maybe he realizes he's not the greatest anymore and needs to clean up his act. Maybe he's even sincere. Who knows? I'm glad that Tyson is finally acting like a professional athlete should act, but I'm not sure that's cause for celebration.

Mike Tyson shouldn't have to act like a professional athlete. He is a professional athlete. Our standards for him have become so low that all he had to do was avoid biting Lewis for the world to cheer his civility. Comedian Chris Rock used to say that certain people always want to get extra credit for doing what they're supposed to do. Certainly Tyson didn't ask for extra credit, but we shouldn't be giving it to him either.

Treat Mike Tyson just like any other professional boxer. No better and no worse.

© Copyright 2002 by Keith Boykin.