If you had adopted a 13 year old Mike Tyson how would you have guided him?

[QueensburyRules]

- -Yeah, keep murderously loony Teddy who never trained a fighter he didn't hate or pull a gun on.

People always wonder what happens to all those loose screws people lose.

Fact: Teddy a magnet for loose screws rattling round his noggin always making a racket!

[BattlingNelson]

I'd tell him to go to school.

[Mugwump]

Irrespective of the intentions of Robin Givens and her mother - the notion that Mike wasn't in any way responsible for the mess he landed himself in is ... ridiculous.

Tyson knew what he was getting himself involved in from the very beginning. Irrespective of who did what in that relationship Mike really only had himself to blame for how it panned out.

[ShoulderRoll]

Irrespective of the intentions of Robin Givens and her mother - the notion that Mike wasn't in any way responsible for the mess he landed himself in is ... ridiculous.

Tyson knew what he was getting himself involved in from the very beginning. Irrespective of who did what in that relationship Mike really only had himself to blame for how it panned out.

I think he was young and in love. Certainly not prepared for the manipulations of an older woman operating through her daughter.

[billeau2]

The great philosopher Immanuel Kant wrote about most areas of philosophy, ethics included. His biggest point was perhaps the notion that one should never use another human being as a means to an end. Crazy dead German guy... maybe but one will find that people who are used perennial as a means to an end, do not fair well because it is indecent, inhuman and frustrating.

Mike Tyson is an interesting case because he was exceptional intelligent, and has become a decent person. I taught in a school in the worse part of San Francisco and dealt with kids like Tyson. I had Samoan kids who were gigantic and dangerous... you had to be a man with them, treat them in a manner where you showed discipline because you cared... AND you had to not wait until they did something wrong...grab one of them, or (I took my entire class a couple of times) all of them and buy them barBq and when they ask why you tell them because they are good kids who deserve the time and attention.

If young Mike Tyson had someone who did not want something from him (that means to an end thing!!!) to just grab him and say "Hey kid lets get a cheeseburger because your a good kid and you matter to me." who knows how far that would have went to make him feel better about himself. Teddy is a mammal but boxing was still a demand. There had to be someone like a dad who would just be there to do normal things that men and boys do together...In my case this meant that my kids knew they could ask me for help, without being judged and without me wanting something from them...even something as simple as "I will help you but you always make noise in my class" would screw things up...

It has to be unconditional, and it has to be "I am here for you I was young once, your a good kid and you deserve someone to listen to you and share some of their time and energy with." PERIOD!!! You will find that Mike had nobody like that in his life...PERIOD. If that failed? there is always Batts suggestion!!

[travestyny]

I think he was young and in love. Certainly not prepared for the manipulations of an older woman operating through her daughter.

Bruv, did you know that Tyson named his "first born child" after Cus, only to find out it wasn't his?

I just saw an interview with him on Arsenio and he was talking about the arrival of his first child, a newborn son named "D'amato." I was like....who?????


Turns out, obviously, that the kid wasn't his. I had never heard that story.

The poor dude even got robbed out of naming his first born son after Cus. He really was literally robbed of everything. I hope he at least got a blow job

[QueensburyRules]

- -In Tyson's day, Teddy was just another 2 bit punk, but he had been empowered by Cus, thus deserving of respect Teddy never actually earned.

Insert "unraveled."

[Granath]

Personally, I think it's in poor taste to speculate on how someone would guide, educate or handle a 13 year old child that you don't know.

Every child is different and you have to adjust your parenting to ensure that whatever lesson you think they need to learn is conveyed in a way that they can learn it. My oldest son needed football to toughen up. My 2nd (adopted) son needed someone to just listen without passing judgement. My daughter needed BJJ for discipline and a whole lot of self-confidence. I don't know what 13 year old Tyson needed and neither does anyone else here. But whatever it was, to some extent Cus must have been providing it given Mike's love for the old man.

[billeau2]

Personally, I think it's in poor taste to speculate on how someone would guide, educate or handle a 13 year old child that you don't know.

Every child is different and you have to adjust your parenting to ensure that whatever lesson you think they need to learn is conveyed in a way that they can learn it. My oldest son needed football to toughen up. My 2nd (adopted) son needed someone to just listen without passing judgement. My daughter needed BJJ for discipline and a whole lot of self-confidence. I don't know what 13 year old Tyson needed and neither does anyone else here. But whatever it was, to some extent Cus must have been providing it given Mike's love for the old man.

This is an excellent post...I would implore you, without judging Cus, who came up hard himself, to think how your kids would think of you if all the wonderful things you mentioned above were done for them so "they would become doctors and take care of you when you got older." It might change a lot of the relationship dynamics.

I don't want to take a shot at Cus, but its just not the same when you act out of unconditional love and support, like you and I do for our kids. I saw it first hand...I joke but in a way for a while I had about ten kids...when I taught school. It was crazy, the Mexican kids were different because they had family. I had one kid who the whole family was high level gang.., they were the nicest guys lol, the uncles. They took care of this kid and supported me...it was just the matter of the kid knowing his uncles would come see me (usually to tell them the kid was doing well and I appreciated it) to keep this kid in line.

The Black kids from the projects Devil Rock, around 3rd street, had been a total problem until I got there. I became like a surrogate parent and when they saw I didn't want anything from them, they responded. Same look as early Tyson lol, same surliness. I also used martial arts to entice them to be fair, lol. The Samoan kids also were similar....very dangerous!!! But when you showed unconditional support they fell into line quick.

I just see with Tyson why he was so screwed up in the situation he was in...and I am not saying he does not bare blame... But all these kids need a father figure that is there unconditionally. Its part of being a kid.

[billeau2]

- -In Tyson's day, Teddy was just another 2 bit punk, but he had been empowered by Cus, thus deserving of respect Teddy never actually earned.

Insert "unraveled."

Dear Queeny

We are all sorry you were dropped on your head... The damage shouldn't, errr might not be, too bad as long as you stay away from wood esters, like those found in Gatorade, and don't try to chew gum and post at the same time.

Sincerely

Houdini social service providers.