European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 13, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse Friday september 13, 1991 the stars and stripes a Page 25commentarydon t blame boxing for Tyson go ahead Call off the fight ban boxing Stop people from brain bashing. But done to do it because of Mike Tyson. Tyson should stand on his own in court a Man charged with the ugly crime of rape. And boxing should stand on its own in Public a dangerous business with More decent people than ominous slobs like Tyson. This devils advocacy is coming by the Way from a journalist who would push the Button on boxing if he had the Chance. Forget the specious statistics that More people Are injured hang gliding than boxing. His own doctors have written that Muhammad alias parkinsonism is connected to the damage he suffered in the ring. Boxing destroyed a verbally gifted Many a ability to speak. And then there is the social damage the spectacle of Pien trying to. Injure other men. Boxing is the Only so called sport in which injury and helplessness Are the main goal the Basic entertainment rather than a byproduct of trying to move a Ball across a line. Ii. Son Field _ _ Ness in which the crowd urges the referee to a let Mem fight a while a Duk Koo Kim is surging Forward operating on courage and instinct his brain already destroyed. Given the basics of boxing it is unrealistic to expect the fight to be postponed because of the charges against Tyson. He is at the moment innocent until proven guilty. If the promoters cancelled on Tyson they be judging him and if Tyson called off the fight that might be tantamount to pleading guilty in Public with a jail term hanging Over his head. Tyson May be a symptom of the greed and violence and lawlessness of boxing but by All accounts he was prowling the streets of Brooklyn mugging women before anybody Ever suggested that he could make millions by slugging men his own size. He a a dangerous Man filled with anger toward women which is probably connected to the death or disappearance of just about everybody important in his Early life. This for his hoods cause it is better than the alternatives. At this stage it might take a stun gun and a platoon of armed guards and round the clock therapists to break through to the chaotic inner world of Mike Tyson. Yes boxing let Mike Tyson wander Loose in a world of very tangible rewards but there Are a lot of other damaged and dangerous people out on the Street who never put on boxing gloves. The argument for boxing is that it gives impoverished people the Opportunity to risk their Bodie to improve their lives. Boxing gave Mike Tyson a Chance the same Way it gave Jose Torres a Chance Georic \ dec St \ deputies and defense attorney James voyles top left surround Mike Tyson following his arraignment wednesday. Will be boys among the boxing people. Is that boxing a fault or is something else going on flip the television switch every night and notice that the great majority of movies and sitcoms and songs portray women As commodities to be passed around used ogled laughed at. In a Large number of recent movies made for White audiences Blacks come off As marginal or foolish or dangerous. Boxers Are just another Extension of this trend expendable people exploited victims. Boxing however did not invent swings Ness. If a medical student is found guilty of rape do we blame med school what about a senator with a compulsion for alcohol and Young women do we blame government what about the dirty old men of Hollywood with their casting couches always on the Lookout for new Talent nobody Ever suggested Banning movies. When football players or police officers lapse into serious steroid rage nobody suggests Banning football or Law enforcement. Lets separate the Issue of Mike Tyson from boxing. Ban both of them if you want but ban them separately. First to become a Champion then to become a writer. Floyd Patterson was a delinquent hiding in the subway tunnels destined for violence to himself or others until Cus do Amato showed him the discipline to live in the world. Do Amato was also Tyson a Mentor and perhaps Tyson would have modified his behaviour if do Amato had lived a few years longer. All we know is that Patterson has become a dignified adult while Tyson is destined for jail or a Bullet or a knife or an Auto wreck. We cannot judge the specifics of the Case in Indianapolis but there Are surely witnesses that Tyson is crude and aggressive with women. Is he the Only one a few friends of mine who were at the press conference for the Holyfield fight last week said there was an appalling sense of a boys the new Voic ten Tyson Calls situation ridiculous after booking from wire reports Indianapolis Mike Tyson was booked for rape and proclaimed his innocence wednesday. He was photographed and fingerprinted by deputies and then encircled by reporters and technicians carrying minicams. He remained expressionless during a four minute hearing before a judge in Marion county Superior court but smiled Shook hands and gave a thumbs up to fans after an 80-minute news conference at the downtown Hyatt Regency. A i thank god everything is of a Tyson said. A the situation that occurred is totally ridiculous. I did no to Hurt anyone. I love women. My Mother is a woman. I respect them women As Well. Unfortunately every time i get involved with one something always happens. A a the accuser knows what happened in that hotel room and i know what happened a Tyson said. A a in a innocent and there was no reason for me being in court a Tyson came Back to Indiana facing a Legal Crossroads. Yet he still managed to turn an arraignment into a promotion for his nov. 8 heavyweight championship fight against evander Holyfield. Tyson could receive a maximum penalty of 63 years in jail if convicted of All charges of rape criminal deviate conduct and confinement stemming from an alleged july 19 assault of an 18-year-old contestant in the miss Black America pageant. A i did no to Hurt anyone a he said. A a in a extremely worried about the situation but i know in a innocent. A a in a confused by the whole Issue. In a just looking Forward to the fight and becoming Champion on nov. 8. A Tyson who had been training in Las vegas arrived at Indianapolis International Airport at 5 30 . Wednesday and told reporters a right now its a travesty. In a going to prove in a Tyson wore Black loafers a charcoal Gray suit White shirt and red tie and arrived two minutes Early for his scheduled 8 30 . Hearing. He entered the City county office building through a Side door and avoided a dozen members of a local chapter of the guardian Angels who were picketing and chanting a do the right thing postpone the a a the hearing a which was packed with Media spectators and county workers a lasted one minute longer than a fight round. Tyson 25, was flanked by his attorneys Vincent j. Fuller and James Hugh voyles who later posted a $30,000 Bond. A plea of innocent was entered on behalf of Tyson on All four counts. Judge Patricia j. Gifford scheduled a pre trial conference for Jan. 8, with the trial set to begin Jan. 27. The dates ensured that Tyson could proceed with his scheduled fight against Holyfield in Las vegas. A Why i be Able to fight a Tyson said. A this is How i earn my Liv a _ it ing. During his news conference two blocks from the Canterbury hotel site of the alleged rape Tyson May have provided a preview of his defense. He said he is a Man unafraid to mix with the masses and constantly hounded by females. A i put myself on blame for one fault a he said. A in spite of my celebrity status i make myself vulnerable. I put myself in the position to be a promoter Don King added Quot in be seen women chasing after Mike Tyson. These kinds of situations King and Tyson also named the alleged victim. King defended the action saying a let her go out and face the band of you and ask her a what were you doing in the Many a bedroom at 2 .?�?T a despite his Legal problems Tyson vowed to regain his heavyweight championship. He said the court appearance interrupted his training but would not prevent him from completing his Mission. A a in a looking Forward to fighting a he said. A a in a confident that ill be in great shape. Ill be the
