Remember when people LIKED Mike Tyson?

[Sephiroth]

Seems almost impossible, but there was a time where Mike Tyson was actually a popular figure. He had a rags to riches underdog story that always goes over well, he seemed invincible in the ring, a gorgeous Hollywood wife, and he came across as shy and soft spoken. He pretty much had it all. Today he's reduced to taking bit parts in unfunny movies mainly to make fun of himself. Amazing how far someone can fall.

[Bravo Echo November]

He's still in a better position than he was throughout the 00's.

[Clash, Never a Meter Maid]

Tyson's always been pretty self-deprecating. Plus now that he finally seems to be sober as far as we can tell, he's mellowed out considerably.

[King Ghidorah]

I love Mike Tyson

[Deleted]

Yeah, honestly with his twitter and stuff like his Hangover appearances, I'd say that public opinion about Tyson is better than it has been in the past.

[Hawk Hart]

Apr 6, 2013 11:41:08 GMT -5 @irontyger said:

Yeah, honestly with his twitter and stuff like his Hangover appearances, I'd say that public opinion about Tyson is better than it has been in the past.

Honestly, Tyson was the funniest part of either Hangover movie. Plus, HIMYM gave us Sen. Tyson and that was great.

[Juice]

Tyson at this stage in his life actually a very likeable and relate-able guy. Just cause you prefer boxing over movies/tv doesn't mean he's a shell of himself.

He is sober, has regrets, a dead daughter, struggles with addictions and is in huge debt. He's calm and zen and trying to make a good life for himself and his new wife.

I remember Tyson always being a ridiculous in character heel, who said terrible things, beat women did drugs, and was the butt of jokes rather than making the jokes himself.

[Deleted]

Haha what? I think the thread title should be "Remember when Mike Tyson boxed?" because people obviously still like him.

EDIT:

Apr 6, 2013 12:11:21 GMT -5 Juice said:

Tyson at this stage in his life actually a very likeable and relate-able guy. Just cause you prefer boxing over movies/tv doesn't mean he's a shell of himself.

He is sober, has regrets, a dead daughter, struggles with addictions and is in huge debt. He's calm and zen and trying to make a good life for himself and his new wife.

I remember Tyson always being a ridiculous in character heel, who said terrible things, beat women did drugs, and was the butt of jokes rather than making the jokes himself.

You said what I wanted to say pretty well.

[Juice]

Apr 6, 2013 12:11:32 GMT -5 @mdoggdx316 said:

Haha what? I think the thread title should be "Remember when Mike Tyson boxed?" because people obviously still like him.

EDIT:

Apr 6, 2013 12:11:21 GMT -5 Juice said:

Tyson at this stage in his life actually a very likeable and relate-able guy. Just cause you prefer boxing over movies/tv doesn't mean he's a shell of himself.

He is sober, has regrets, a dead daughter, struggles with addictions and is in huge debt. He's calm and zen and trying to make a good life for himself and his new wife.

I remember Tyson always being a ridiculous in character heel, who said terrible things, beat women did drugs, and was the butt of jokes rather than making the jokes himself.

You said what I wanted to say pretty well.

HBO just aired an interview with Tyson where he discussed all of this stuff and it's crazy how much I admired the guy for what he's been going through the last few years and how ashamed he is of his former self and terrified that he may still be capable of being like that.

[Dr. T is an alien]

Apr 6, 2013 11:18:34 GMT -5 Bravo Echo November said:

He's still in a better position than he was throughout the 00's.

That period of time wasn't so bad. He was at least able to afford to get a bite or two to eat.

Edit: I now realize that my timeline was off for this joke. Tyson/Holyfield II happened in 1997.

[Brood Lone Wolf Funker]

He also has a Vegas show as well, just because he doesn't box doesn't mean he still isn't popular like others have said he is possibly more popular now than the early 2000's when he was a joke

[Deleted]

Isn't his Twitter just nothing but updates on how much he loves life and talking about eating delicious vegan meals and giving people daily challenges like do something nice for a stranger or hug a friend you haven't seen in a while?

[S-Chrome]

I've always liked Mike Tyson.

["Gentleman" AJ Powell]

I still like him. Enjoyed his boxing career, as I was pretty young and didn't know about his problems outside of the ring, and he's always seemed like such a nice guy since he stopped boxing.

[Glitch]

Wasn't he more feared than liked back then?

And just like everybody else has said, he's pretty much had a face turn recently.

[Deleted]

They still do. Is he the God of the sports world like in the prime of his boxing career? No. But people seem to be taking much more of a "...yeah, he was a weird guy...but damn is/was he good at _______" stance on him.

[Deleted]

People like Mike more now than they have in a while, it's just that he's so low key these days.

I respect the hell out of him after his career ended and he lost most if not all of his money(whether he was to blame or not) he could have just quit on himself, but he got his act together. I love how philosophical that he is.

I will always be a fan of Iron Mike.

[Joe Neglia]

I actually like the guy a bit now, whereas I was never a fan previously. During his heyday, he came off as a bully, a psycho and a generally unlikeable person. The rape didn't help matters. I may end up biting my own words on this, but since his release and the end of his boxing career, he seems to have had a genuine change of heart and personality and isn't the a-hole he once was. He did some seriously bad things, but he did his time for them and came away from everything a better person, the whole point of that "corrections" part of the prison system.

Now, he can't act worth a flip - and he definitely can not sing - but the actual man, who has lightened up greatly and changed his ways, yeah, I'm okay with him.

[Citizen Snips]

Man, I wish I was reduced to bit parts in a hugely successful comedy franchise and having my own well-reviewed one man show!

As others have pointed out, Tyson is pretty much the poster boy for how America loves to give someone a second chance in public opinion. And, to his credit, he seems to have earned it.

[rawthentic]

People still do like Mike Tyson. I don't think it's a people are just laughing at him deal. People care what he has to say and are even more fascinated by his story.