When all is said and done, Mike Tyson’s life will probably produce more stories than most of the biggest heavy metal and hair rock bands of the 80s. That’s obviously not a great thing, as Tyson’s past is filled with plenty of skeletons and demons, but try asking him about those now and you’d better expect to feel the former heavyweight champ’s wrath. Iron Mike might find himself in the company of more daring or dumb reporters in the near future, as his old friend and manager Rory Holloway is giving us plenty of new material to work with in his new book, “Taming the Beast: The Untold Story of Mike Tyson.”
Among the many new and old stories that Holloway shares – presumably for quite a pretty penny – is one about a night in Chicago, featuring guest appearances from the notorious promoter Don King, Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka, defensive end Richard Dent, and the man, myth and legend Michael Jordan. As it turned out, Jordan had himself a little fling with actress Robin Givens before Tyson started dating her, and that was obviously on the champ’s mind that night, especially since it was after their relationship ended.
“Mike Tyson’s sitting there with his drink of choice, a Long Island Tea, and when he drinks his real feelings come out …,” Holloway writes.
“I’m telling the server to water his drinks down ‘cause I see where this is going. Mike stares across the table at Michael Jordan. He says, ‘Hey man, you think I’m stupid? I know you f—-d with my b—h.’
“Jordan looks like he just seen a ghost. ‘I know you messed with her,’ Mike says. ‘You can tell me.’
“Jordan, it’s obvious he just wants to get up and run. He wants no part of this. Mike turns to Ditka. ‘Man, you think somebody scared of you, all that racist s–t you been talking?’ He says to Dent, ‘Y’all scared of this damn white man, Richard? He ain’t nobody. You gonna let him talk that way?’
“It was a circus, for real, that night. Don King trying to change the subject. Me and John trying to hold Mike down. Mike telling everyone he’s going to bust Jordan’s ass. Jordan’s dressed sharp as always and he can’t get out of there fast enough.” (Via the NY Post)
If time travel existed, I would want to go back to this moment to see, in this order, Jordan’s reaction as Tyson was heating up and what King thought would possibly change the subject. All I can imagine is a hole in the wall of the club in the shape of Jordan’s body (Jumpman logo, obviously) and King shouting things like, “Look over there!” and “Hey Mike, watch me balance this spoon on my nose!”
But if that story isn’t exciting to you, there’s also a more R-rated story about Tyson having sex with Naomi Campbell in a restroom. Bring that up, though, and you’re bound to catch a Tyson fist or a Campbell phone upside your head.
