Tyson - Do you think he did it??

Flash Fernandes

I can only be referring to one man - Iron Mike.

Iron Mike Tyson.

I remember as child, when he got out of prison, his return bout - I'm pretty sure it was Frank Bruno whom he KO'd in the opening minute of the opening round.

I thought Bruno would win - he had a considerable weight advantage and was coming off an impressive win over some Mexican whose nickname was "The Pitbull" (who sadly passed away not so long thereafter due to a blood clot in his brain).

There's no doubt, although Tyson was an aggressive figure, he was also very charismatic, and he did so well, what he aimed to do - which was to entertain.

His boxing style was cunning, technical and sharp - far more so than the lumbering heavyweights one so often sees now-a-days.

**
But to get to the point - as regards his incarceration for the alleged rape of a young girl - well, he was found guilty in court, so of course that is likely to be the verdict in the mind of the ill informed general public also (by ill informed, I mean, media informed).

In my opinion - I have no idea.
But facts as far as I can see, are as follows.

Mike Tyson - one of the most famous personalities on earth at the time - at one point dated Miss America, Naomi Campbell and the actress Robin Givens, concurrently - that is to say, women were not an issue for him.

A young girl from a poor background, who made the claim she was raped by Tyson; she left the hotel room, got a taxi back to her home, and at this point the claim was made.

At no point in between her leaving the hotel room, walking through the hotel to her taxi, during the ride, until she got home, was an utterance of rape, made.

She receives and huge settlement from the court case.

As I said, these are just the facts as they seem to me.
Bearing the above in mind - what's your opinion?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Icvge1E59iI

Skip to 5:00 for her fathers reaction to what was alleged.

**
One curious note amongst it all - the event increased Tysons symbolisms, as such, as "the baddest man on the planet" - increased, to say the least.

The way people viewed him - women especially.
A vicious, violent, out of control rapist and animal, who should not be amongst the general population (yet I'm sure the danger/excitement aspect, did no harm as far as his allure to women went).

It's funny the way certain individuals can act as polarizing figures, in a sense.
With the exposure Tyson had, broadcast into every home, he was a polarizing figure to the world.

Was he the animal the world needed to see at that time?

In a array or series of magnets - the strongest one dictates the position of the rest - that strength being relative.
The baddest man on the planet - did he serve to subdue, in terms of mentality, some of those to whom he was exposed - in terms of the stereotypical view of someone who is "bad", their "badness" - men and women alike.

Cavehill Red

I think he was a fool to put himself in a position where an accusation like that could be made in the first place.
Only two people know for absolute sure what happened that night, and they disagree on what happened.
The court found him guilty, though.
I think Tyson was poorly educated himself and was certainly very badly managed. His money is mostly gone and his reputation was ruined by the rape case.

The_Minister

Flash Fernandes wrote: »

The way people viewed him - women especially.
A vicious, violent, out of control rapist and animal, who should not be amongst the general population (yet I'm sure the danger/excitement aspect, did no harm as far as his allure to women went).

Activating Shítstorm in 5....4....3....2....1.....

bitemybanger

Could not be arsed reading all that.
But yes.

Deus Ex Machina

Can't beat 'em, eat 'em!

Pity it didn't work on the jury.

starbelgrade

I prefer Dyson.

squod

Flash Fernandes wrote: »

alike.

If I read all that and watch the video will you get me a sammich?

Absurdum

Flash Fernandes wrote: »

I remember as child, when he got out of prison, his return bout - I'm pretty sure it was Frank Bruno whom he KO'd in the opening minute of the opening round.

That was like his third or fourth fight after prison, he was but a shadow of his former self

Up until Buster Douglas, he was the most incredible athlete on the planet. He was my sporting idol growing up, him and Ayrton Senna.

The whole rape thing, in my opinion, was a farce and a gross miscarriage of justice. Desiree Washington's story changed multiple times, she had a history of false rape allegations. Tyson treated her like dirt because that's what he always done. Watch his documentary "Tyson".

JohnathanM

starbelgrade wrote: »

I prefer Dyson.

That guy f'ing sucks.

kryogen

Nope dont think he did it, never did

bigwormbundoran

I think not

I think he was a man lacking in basic intellect who got caught off guard by a shyster (a word which is used nowhere near enough) and paid the price for this

But one cannot be sure

Gummy Panda

But could he knockout a gorilla?

charlemont

no, i think he was set up.

Dante

Anyone who can come out with as many amazing quotes as Mike does in this clip has done it for me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQvet1iUkYY

whadabouchasir

starbelgrade wrote: »

I prefer Dyson.

Yes because vacuum cleaners and former world heavy weight champions are comparable.In fact i often look for Muhammad Ali whenever I think the floor is looking a bit dirty.Great contribution to the thread.

To answer the ops question,i'm not so sure about Tysons innocence,I mean he was a deeply troubled man with some serious issues.

tim_holsters

He was great in The Hangover.

BluesBerry

Tyson was on OPrah on friday he is now a shell of himself and full of remorse over his life I was glued to the screen ,

He talked openly about the Evander Holyfield incident and how he regreted what he did Oprah had him pouring his heart out honestly and crying about events in his life, the next week evander holyfield wanted to appear with him on the show and they made up shook hands

I always thought of Tyson as an animal but seeing him on the show made me think differently, Nothing about the rape was mentioned and I think that woman set him up to get a settlement

bigwormbundoran

BluesBerry wrote: »

Tyson was on OPrah on friday he is now a shell of himself and full of remorse over his life I was glued to the screen ,

He talked openly about the Evander Holyfield incident and how he regreted what he did Oprah had him pouring his heart out honestly and crying about events in his life, the next week evander holyfield wanted to appear with him on the show and they made up shook hands

I always thought of Tyson as an animal but seeing him on the show made me think differently, Nothing about the rape was mentioned and I think that woman set him up to get a settlement

You should watch the documentary Tyson so, he opens up about basically everything in it really

Ann22

Yeah I think he did. I watched a documentary on it and it was very believeable. It showed footage of the competitition she was in and the way he singled her out among the other contestants.

There were witnesses who were with her the night he rang her to ask her out (to a party with loads of celebs), she was in a dormitory with the other contestants. They all gathered around her urging her to go out with him, that it was a great opportunity, and helped her do her hair etc to get her all dolled up.

Tyson picked her up in his limo but said he had to stop off at his appartment on the way to the party, to make a few calls first. When they entered his appartment from the lift he practically jumped on her..pushed her down on the bed held her legs by the ankles, up above her head and violently raped her. Her father was on talking about it. Said she used to open her arms to hug him but since the rape she kept her arms crossed in front of her.

No one knows expect the two of them what exactly happened but he was convicted in court. Maybe she did take advantage of the situation moneywise but I do believe he raped her.

sonic85

dont see how any of this is relevant - its all in the past. just speculation now. his career was always gonna go down the drain anyway rape allegation or no rape allegation. he just never had the head on his shoulders to make a lasting career for himself.

thing i never understand about these stars that go off the rails is they just dont seem to know how good they have it. money and fame just goes to their head and their lives spiral out of control because of it. sad in a way but kind of infuriating at the same time

Son Of A Vidic

Tyson was a true waste of boxing talent, sadly after the death of his mentor Gus D'Amato his life went off the rails. Falling into the grasp of Don king undoubtably finished his boxing career.

Dempsey

medicman2009 wrote: »

Tyson was a true waste of boxing talent, sadly after the death of his mentor Gus D'Amato his life went off the rails. Falling into the grasp of Don king undoubtably finished his boxing career.

Couldnt agree more.

I think she was an opportunist and Tyson's reputation at the time prejudiced the decision.

Mr Benevolent

I prefer Drederick Tatum.

CorkMan

I read Bad Intentions and it said Mike went into the court on the day of the verdict without being sad, happy, angry or anything. As the verdict was read out, Mike held a face of no emotion all the way through.

She got checked and the Doctor said he found signs around her genital area that were compliant with forced entry. I am not sure though. Look at it this way: Where Mike is from there are no police officers, no law and order, if you raped a black woman there no one would give a fuck. A police officer mightn't have even be called. But because it is a famous Mike Tyson it is blown all over the channels.

50/50 IMO.

Giselle

He was found guilty by a jury and sentenced so I think there must have been some convincing evidence.

Plus the man proved how much of an animal he could be by biting off a piece of Holyfields ear.

Nice guys don't do usually do that.

amacachi

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQnd5ilKx2Y

What did he do?

Sardonicat

CorkMan wrote: »

I read Bad Intentions and it said Mike went into the court on the day of the verdict without being sad, happy, angry or anything. As the verdict was read out, Mike held a face of no emotion all the way through.

She got checked and the Doctor said he found signs around her genital area that were compliant with forced entry. I am not sure though. Look at it this way: Where Mike is from there are no police officers, no law and order, if you raped a black woman there no one would give a fuck. A police officer mightn't have even be called. But because it is a famous Mike Tyson it is blown all over the channels.

50/50 IMO.

Don't understand your point here.

Giselle

Deleted User wrote: »

What did he do?

He served a three year sentance after being convicted of rape. He then settled a civil suit rather than dispute it.

Apparently some people think the victim is guilty instead.

JohnathanM

Giselle wrote: »

Apparently some people think the victim is guilty instead.

Nicely loaded sentence, there.

tony1kenobi

Peter McNeeley.

Giselle

JohnathanM wrote: »

Nicely loaded sentence, there.

Yet true nonetheless.

papajimsmooth

TBH i think that loss to "little mac" broke what was left of his humanity and made him capable of anything.

Tiny Explosions

I don't know if Tyson committed the rape or not (obviously:pac:).....but if I was to put money on it I would bet that he did it.....btw why was the OP banned after 1 post?

stovelid

Trying to decipher the reality behind cases like this is like eating soup with a fork.

Dempsey

Giselle wrote: »

He served a three year sentance after being convicted of rape. He then settled a civil suit rather than dispute it.

Apparently some people think the victim is guilty instead.

Most rape victims are happy with a conviction, she waited until he got out to file a civil suit for money.

She had a history of false accusation of rape and the judges blocked all testimony that would have discredited her (dunno why)

I wouldnt be so quick to defend her tbh

Mrmoe

I'd be inclined to go with the decision that the jury came to. He was denied an appeal which I think speaks to the weakness of his defence arguments.

Jamiekelly

Dempsey wrote: »

Most rape victims are happy with a conviction, she waited until he got out to file a civil suit for money.

She had a history of false accusation of rape and the judges blocked all testimony that would have discredited her (dunno why)

I wouldnt be so quick to defend her tbh

Agreed. Alot of people seem to forget her history of false accusations of rape when it came to the Tyson case....

Irish Guitarist

Flash Fernandes wrote: »

Mike Tyson - one of the most famous personalities on earth at the time - at one point dated Miss America, Naomi Campbell and the actress Robin Givens, concurrently - that is to say, women were not an issue for him.

Rape isn't about being able or not able to get women. It's about power. Ted Bundy was a good looking man who women found attractive but it didn't stop him raping and killing women.

I don't know if Mike Tyson is a rapist or not, but I can imagine him being capable of it. Any man who bites a piece off another mans ear is a savage.

Jayob10

medicman2009 wrote: »

Tyson was a true waste of boxing talent, sadly after the death of his mentor Gus D'Amato his life went off the rails. Falling into the grasp of Don king undoubtably finished his boxing career.

A true waste of boxing talent yes. But thats not the issue here. He is a bad egg plain and simple. He was convicted in court by majority jury decision that makes it believeable to me.

I think his boxing fans like to romanticise that Tyson was misunderstood.

frankly, I believe Cus D'Amato swept many a Tyson incident under the rug such was the talent of young Mike. It was tolerated such was the precocious talent he was.

Remember the incident where teddy Atlas held a gun to a 15year old Tyson's head? (for people not informed, Atlas was a respected coach at the time, and still works today). Tyson made sexual advances to Atlas' 11 year old niece and Atlas found out about it, and said he would murder tyson if he tried it again.

D'Amato refused to pull the plug on his coaching of tyson, even offered Atlas 5% of Tysons earnings for the rest of his career whilst Tyson was involved with him, in order to keep schtum, but a disgusted Atlas rejected it and told his story.

Tyson is a dangerous bloke. Take a look at some of his videos and you will see some of his comments to female interviewers.

maxxie

no he did not do it!!