Mike Tyson - Research Paper Example

But two decades after he won a gold medal in the 1981 Junior Olympics, Tyson has been dubbed as "a terrifying man who has not just grown up, but grown into someone you now might want to know" (Stasi, 2011; Heller, 1995, p. 70). Through Tysons colorful career, notorious exploits and hard life, it would seem that he remained victorious in the end. Tyson was born on June 30, 1966 in Brooklyn, New York to unmarried parents, Lorna Smith Tyson and Jimmy Kirkpatrick (Heller, 1995, p. 6). Tysons father left when he was 2 years old, and Mike, together with his older brother and sister, lived a hard life (TysonTalk, 2009).

The single mother and her three children had to live off of welfare and public assistance; and they had to live in "some of Americas most notorious addresses" (Heller, 1995, p. 7). As a young boy, Tyson was described as a big but timid boy who had a passion for taking care of pigeons and who didnt fight back against bullies, earning the nickname of "Fairy Boy" (pp. 7-8). Tysons constant playmate was his sister because his brother would beat him up (p. 8). He had a gentle and kind nature that was instilled in him by a mother who hated violence (p. 8). But violence would soon enter Tysons life.

Tysons transition from being the Fairy Boy to becoming one of the most feared fighters in the world occurred when a bully took one of his pigeons, snapped its neck and tore its head off in front of him (Heller, 1995, pp. 8-9; TysonTalk, 2009). Tyson reacted with pent-up rage and beat the bigger boy to a pulp (p. 9). "It was the first time he emerged triumphant by using his fists" (p. 9). At 11 years old, Tyson gained a reputation for being someone other children should not mess with. He became involved in a gang and became one of the bullies he used to hate so much, gaining and ruling neighborhoods as territories and