Another “incident” outside a club. Aggrieved party sounds scared of him, or of the consequences of pressing charges.
A few years ago, he was a guest judge at an ECW or WWE event. He barely seemed to know where he was then, and I can’t imagine that he’s improved since then. Is there anyone in his circle (spouse, parents or siblings) with the legal or personal authority to insist that he get treatment? His handlers are out of the question, of course: all they see is $$$.
I don’t know if he should be committed or anything like that, but I definitely think that he should be evaluated by professionals who would determine if he should be committed.
Right, anyone that can squander 300+million over his lifetime with nothing to show for it should be looked at very carefully.
That crack was directed at me, wasn’t it?
Tyson squandered 300 million dollars.
Although, I must admit that your record with bubblegum trading cards is impressive, Paul.
Blowing 300 million dollars isn’t dangerous ---- yet, from this layperson’s perspective, Tyson certainly has some sort of mental illness and he certainly appears to be a danger to others. I think he qualifies -
By the way – isn’t Tyson supposed to be on some sort of medication? What sort of mental illness is he taking this medicine for - does anyone know? Also - has Tyson been diagnosed with any other mental disorders?
Yeah I think he qualifies…The whole bit about eating his opponents children is what convinces me…
Here’s the police report.
And, his psych evaluation to get relicensed to box after the ear incident.
WAG: The word is institutionalized.
Y E S :rolleyes:
How’s this for random? I actually came within a few yards of Mike Tyson whle he was in prison. (I was there for work, I swear!)
We were signing in at the front desk in the morning, and in my caffeine-deprived fog I noticed a guy with really goofy-looking hair using the pay phone in the lobby. Though to myself, “Hey, that guy looks sort of like Don King.” Well, it turned out it was Don King - he was there to see Mike.
Later, I got to talk to some of the guards for a while in the hallway outside the visiting room. What they described of him is a perfect depiction of a guy who has some serious issues with taking responsibility for his actions. Apparently, not only had he failed the GED exam, but he decided that the reason he’d failed it was that the prison administration was out to get him, so they gave him a different test than they gave anyone else.
Remember the article in The Onion?
“Mike Tyson escapes ring: feral heavyweight on rampage!”
Yes, but…
I don’t think there is a cure for habitual idiocy laced with chronic extreme stupidity in association with irrational ludicrousness.
It has been reported in several places that he is bipolar (formerly called “manic depressive”). I think, in his case, he is considered bipolar manic. Also, in the massive report that was submitted after the ear-biting incident, he was described as having one of the versions of “antisocial personality” and there was speculation that he had permanent brain damage from an incident as a teenager when he was knocked unconcscious with a brick.
Bipolar disorder is usually described as a mood disorder. A manic phase resembles someone who has had way too much speed. In order to meet the diagnostic criteria, the episodes have to last several weeks(!). During this time, they may sleep little or not at all, and they begin having ideas that are bizarre and disorganized enough to resemble schizophrenia. I knew someone who, in the midst of a major episode, became convinced she was pregnant with a baby monkey (and I do believe that there was some underlying racism in this particular notion).
Most bipolar manics are put on lithium, but they don’t like it. It helps “smooth out the curve” in their mood swings. It also tends to cause them to put on weight (lithium chloride was used as a salt substitute–until it turned out to be lethal in fairly moderate quantities) and blunts their affect. Patients feel like the lithium is taking something away from them, some essential part of their personalities and enjoyment of life. It is not unusual for them to find excuses to go off the medicine. Episodes are often triggered by stressful events.
One of the really sad aspects of these episodes is that each one seems to do some permanent harm. After each one, it seems that less of the original person returns when it is over. Numerous periods of skipping the medicine and having an episode often result in a person who is barely functional. I think Tyson is showing some of the signs of this recurring damage from repeated episodes.
I used to LOVE to watch him box. He was the single most intimidating boxer I have ever seen. In his prime, he had a combination of power and speed that seemed impossible. The beginning of the end for him was when Cus D’Amato (sp?) died, who had basically adopted him and been a mentor for him. I don’t think he’s ever trusted a human since (except, even more sadly, Don King for a time). There’s a part of me that wishes he would “wake up” and stop sabotaging his own life and another part that doesn’t think it’s possible for him.
He seems so obviously full of fear and mistrust that I really feel sorry for him. After this recent incident, a friend commented that, with his issues, he really should know better than to be out drinking at bars. Problem is, I don’t think he knows how to enjoy himself. The only thing he’s ever really enjoyed was boxing (but not training) and shopping. Now that he’s not bringing in the money to be able to do the shopping, I think he is at a complete and utter loss as to what to do with himself. And he doesn’t trust anybody enough to take advice from them.
I DO wonder what the last few years would have been like if the guy had anyone who was a legitimate friend. As it is, he’s just a walking tragedy.
-VM
I wonder: is it possible that all of Tyson’s problems are linked to his many blows to the head? People can develop psychiatric problems after major head trauma.
True, blows to the head aren’t generally a good thing. But they are an occupational hazard of boxing, and can you think of another boxer who has continually gotten himself into these kinds of messes?