On Monday, October 19, 1998, Mike Tyson won the biggest decision of his professional and personal career. Unlike many of his past victories, this one did not occur in the ring nor was it a spectacular knockout over a hapless opponent. Instead, Tyson went up against the media and all of his many critics and when the Nevada State Boxing Commission voted to reinstate his suspended boxing license, he beat all odds and stood the victor, as he has so often in his career but so rarely as of late. To this I have only one thing to say: It's about time.
The fact that the Boxing Commission forced Mike Tyson to undergo psychiatric evaluations to determine whether or not he was "fit to box" was absurd. Tyson wasn't asking to take care of children or to teach high school English. Fit to box? Are you kidding? What exactly is it that makes a person fit to box? Heck, a person probably has to be a little mentally disturbed to get into the ring with someone whose sole goal is to knock him literally unconscious. Can someone really get "too violent" in a sport that is predicated on sheer violence?
From its advent boxing has been a sport where those who are the meanest and punch the hardest usually have the greatest success and enjoy the highest level of popularity. Look at the track record: Holmes, Frazier, Foreman -- none of them were nice guys during their careers. None of them were asked to undergo testing to see if they were psychologically eligible to box. The great "Victim" himself, Evander Holyfield has not only publicly forgiven Tyson but has fathered enough illegitimate children to field a baseball team and has stated that he once bit an opponent, but no one is questioning his right to fight.
Furthermore, what exactly was the justification behind denying the man the right to perform the only job he is capable of? Let's face it, if he weren't allowed to box his life would have essentially ended. After all, what else is Mike Tyson qualified to do? This is a man who can barely read and can hardly put together a coherent sentence. This is a man who made over $100 million over the last three years but is still on the verge of bankruptcy due to robbery performed by Don King (Only in America indeed). Would justice really be served if he were to spend the rest of his life flipping burgers somewhere?
Then, of course, there is the little problem he has with the IRS, to the tune of $13 million. Money he doesn't have and won't get unless he is allowed to fight again. Although it might please his critics to have him return to jail for not paying his taxes, why should the state of Nevada deny him the right to even try? Even the Greatest had this to say in defense of Tyson at Monday's hearing: "There are only a few punishments worse than being denied a right to make a living." Muhammad Ali should know -- he himself was suspended for three-and-a-half-years for his refusal to serve during Vietnam.
Now please do not get me wrong. I am not saying that Mike Tyson is a great person in the manner of a Muhammad Ali; or even a somewhat good person. Everything that has happened to him has been a result of his own actions and he has no one to blame for his predicament but himself. He is not a victim of uncontrollable circumstances or a victim in any other sense of the word. His actions have been inexcusable and there are many that wish him nothing but ill will and failure. His story, however, is colored somewhat by tragedy and one cannot help feel sorry for him sometimes.
Despite all of his transgressions and his unquestionably volatile nature, an independent panel of psychiatrists not only found him fit to box, but strongly urged the council to give him one last opportunity to make good on the life he has tried so valiantly to throw away. Sports luminaries like Magic Johnson, Muhammad Ali and even Evander Holyfield have recommended the same thing. He has paid his dues to society and has accepted responsibility for what has happened. Are we really so petty that we grudge him the opportunity to salvage not only his career but also his life?
