Mike Tyson, Halls of Fame, and Selective Integrity

Mike Tyson was elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame yesterday.  The 2010 class will also include former champions Julio Cesar Chavez, Kostya Tszyu, trainer Ignacio Beristain, referee Joe Cortez, and actor/director Sylvester Stallone. Tyson had a stellar boxing career.  He amassed a 50-6 record with 44 knockouts.  Tyson was the youngest man ever to win the heavyweight title at 20 years old.  I hear kids today talk about an athlete being a "beast."  Tyson was a walking embodiment of the term.  While other boxers came to the ring in shiny robes and colorful trunks, his approach was to intimidate.  He wore black shoes with no socks, black trunks, and a towel with hole cut in the top.  Tyson had no dancing girls, no rappers, singers, or a light show.  He was coming to get you. 

At 12 years old, I was a huge Tyson fan.  HBO would have all of his title fights on.  The video below features what probably is his greatest victory.  On June 27, 1988, Tyson faced Michael Spinks who was still considered by many to be the legitimate heavyweight champion.  Both men were undefeated.  Take a minute or two to view the fight below.  I promise you won't need much more than that (Email subscribers click here).



Spinks never fought again.  Tyson would never be as great again.  As a matter of fact, Tyson's life began to spiral out of control.  He lost the heavyweight crown to Buster Douglas in 1991 and later spent three years in prison on a rape conviction.  Upon his release, he returned to the ring and regained some notoriety.  He finally fought and lost to longtime rival Evander Holyfield in 1996.  Their 1997 rematch showed Tyson biting off a piece of Holyfield's ear.  How was this guy elected to the Hall of Fame?  Why was his integrity and character not questioned?  Other athletes are kept out of various Halls of Fame because of integrity issues.

Pete Rose may never see Cooperstown.  Barry Bonds?  Forget it.  Randy Moss and Terrell Owens are the greatest receivers of this generation, but their attitudes and character will either keep them out of the football Hall of Fame or at least delay their inductions.  Why do we care so much about one athlete's character and not the other?  Is it just human nature to overlook flaws in people we like and over-analyze the ones we don't?  Let's be honest.  People like Mike Tyson.  Barry Bonds may not have a friend outside of his own house if you believe the reports.  Maybe we have preconceived notions about the athlete and excuse certain behaviors based on our own prejudices.

Boxers beat people up.  You can call it the "sweet science", but that's basically what you do.  Throw punches until he falls or you fall.  So, it's not a stretch if they fracture a law or two, right?  Baseball is supposed to be a thinking man's game.  There's a strategy for every situation.  I've heard many baseball games referred to as "chess matches."  Nothing's more cerebral than chess.  Thinking men should know better.  We may never know what the real reason is.  Whatever the case, we must realize that integrity cannot be selective and character cannot be situational.  Be a person of integrity no matter if your arena is the gridiron, diamond, court, hardwood, or squared circle.  Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol