Iron Mike Tyson arrested.

[H2O Man]

Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson was arrested last night, after reportedly running a stop sign and nearly hitting a police SUV. Tyson had apparently left a nightclub near Scottsdale. Police noted he was attempting to wipe white powder off the dashboard of his BMW as they approached his vehicle.

He was charged with possession of cocaine, and held for several hours before being released. He is reported to have had a bag with a small amount of cocaine in it.

In the past, Tyson has exhibited symptoms of mood disorders. At least one doctor diagnosed him with a bipolar disorder years ago. It is too bad that he would be using cocaine; for any person, significant use of the drug will cause symptoms similar to a bipolar disorder, and for a guy like Mike, there would be zero chance of "recreational" use.

[bigwillq]

1. What a shame.

Tyson, imo, never has gotten the proper help that he needs for a lot of his issues.
Which is a no-brainer.
He also wasn't managed very well in the beginning of his career...way back when his problems were never addressed and they just kept making him fight.
He should've never been in the ring in the first place until some of his issues were cleared up.

Then all of the issues started to surface and nothing was done about it.
This is just a natural process that he would get involved in drugs. I don't remember, but don't think, that he had prior issues with drugs. It's sad.

The man isn't too bright to begin with and then no one ever tried to get him the help that he needs.

On another note, did Tyson ever do the porn video that he said he was going to make?
I wouldn't bought it because back in the day, I thought he was hot.
Sorry, I am just a horn dog.

[H2O Man]

2. I agree with much

of what you say, but I do think it is important to point out that Mike actually is pretty bright. He is not formally educated, and he often uses the wrong words when trying to say something. But he is actually a bright person.

I've mentioned on other posts that a family friend signed a young teen-aged Mike Tyson over to Cus D'Amato. His early life, along with the violent crimes he was sent to "reform school," are fairly well known. The abuse the short kid with the high-pitched voice was subjected to is a subject that fewer people are familiar with.

Tyson reminds me, in many ways, of Charles "Sonny" Liston. There were a lot of sports writers who thought Sonny was a dull-witted thug, including Howard Cosell. And I think Cosell was a bright, decent man. But he couldn't see past Sonny's bad side -- which was real. Just as Mike's is real. Still, I recall Jose Torres, the former middle- and light heavyweight champion who become close friends with RFK in the mid-'60s, and who is a very talented writer, saying that Liston was "so smart it wasn't funny." Hurricane Carter has told me that Liston was very bright, as well.

Mikes intelligence does not translate well on tv. He doesn't do well on ESPN interviews. But he is not stupid.

His crimes are something I do find offensive. He should be held responsible for them. But the addiction part is something that is part of, as you point out, untreated issues too long overlooked.

[bigwillq]

3. I agree that his intelligence doesn't translate well on TV

It's tough to tell wht his actual intelligence is.

He has a lot of the so-called 'street smarts' and I'm sure he's learned a lot about his profession, the media, etc...while growing up in the spotlight.

He just seems like he's never had any guidance and it has really affected him.

I hope he gets help.

I was a fan, like I said. But he's had so many chances and it's time he starts to work on addressing these issues and getting his life together.

[H2O Man]

4. One thing is certain:

as long as Mike continues to abuse substances, legal or illegal, he will continue to spiral out of control. And there is probably not any drug worse for a person in his situation than cocaine.

Towards the end of this year, one of the boxing magazines I read had an interesting article that consisted of short stories by people who know Mike well. It was a few pages that highlighted the good side of Mike Tyson. He owes it to himself to practice the self-discipline to be that person.