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Award-winning columnist Tom Archdeacon — an old-school storyteller in a brand-new venue — writes about sports, the city, southwest Ohio and anything else that catches his fancy… or yours.Home > Blogs > Through the Arch > Archives > 2010 > July > 28 > Entry
Mike Tyson on CSU visit: “I said some stupid, dumb, ignorant (%#&$) ! “
Mike Tyson’s eyes filled with tears as he remembered that now infamous visit to Central State University 21 years ago.
“I said some stupid, dumb, ignorant s—-. That was a real bad one , a bad one. No excuse.”
Those are the former heavyweight champ’s thoughts today as related by Pablo. S. Torre for his “Where Are They Now” story in the current issue of Sports Illustrated.
Once the baddest man on the planet, Tyson now comes off as a subdued, 44-year-old vegan, recovering addict and still-learning family man big into reflection.
I covered many of Tyson’s fights over the years and I was there that day at CSU when the school brought him in and awarded him an honorary doctorate in human letters.
As promoter Don King, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Jack Kemp and much of the CSU student body and faculty looked on, Tyson took the stage and offered his memorable line:
“I wasn’t sure what kind of doctor I was, but looking at all the lovely sisters here, I think I’ll be a doctor of gynecology.”
The crack brought hoots of delight from many of the students, but elicited disgust from some faculty members, a few who walked out.
While that moment made national headlines, Tyson’s antics the night before in Dayton were even more troubling. I was there for some of that, too.
He and King had most of one whole floor in the Stouffer’s Hotel in downtown Dayton sealed off for them. A local guy involved in the fight scene here brought over a few girls so Tyson would have someone to “party with.”
I remember sitting in the hotel lobby with the last girl who was going to join him and I felt sorry for her. She was wearing what looked to be a bridesmaid dress. She didn’t have a clue what she was getting into, and the the next day a limo driver whispered to me she had been treated rough.
And during a press conference at CSU — as he at alongside King, Kemp and then CSU president Art Thomas — Tyson derailed a serious moment when the HUD Secretary tried to address hunger in America and how the heavyweight champ was going to set up a program to address the national issue
Instead of paying attention, Tyson sat next to him, suggestively rolling his tongue around his lips and mouthing the words to a nearby girl: “I love you.”
As his limo was leaving CSU for the Dayton airport afterward, it stopped at the edge of campus, right next to a woman student. The window rolled down, there was a brief conversation and she got in the vehicle with her school books in tow. Instantly, the car was roaring back down Route 42 toward Xenia.
I don’t know what happened there, but in Torre’s article, Tyson — his eyes brimming over as he sat with his wife and young daughter — looked back on that entire visit to CSU with embarrassment and disgust:
“Two years ago I talked to some people about my mother. And I learned that she went to school right down the street from (CSU). And I was down there and said some stupid, dumb, ignorant s—- like that.
“My family waited to get a (%#&#$) like me and I embarrassed 500 years of our family. They waited for me to get there. To say something for them. And I embarrassed them…
“My mother and her family thought that education made them somebody. I could have said something awesome. I could have explained how my mother went to school. But the first thing I thought about was my d….”
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Comments
By CF
August 3, 2010 7:06 AM | Link to this
I wonder what the name of that school down the road from Central was? hmmm- perhaps Wilberforce University founded in 1856. Ohio’s and the nation’s oldest HBCU. Ohhh My Bad - This is about Mike Tyson - I hope he is getting his life back together.
By CF
August 3, 2010 7:02 AM | Link to this
I wonder what the name of the school down the road was? hmmm - perhaps Wilberforce University? Founded in 1856 - Perhaps one day folks in Ohio will realize that there is another or the original HBCU in the State of Ohio. Excuse me - This is about Mike Tyson- smile -
By We are missing the main point
July 31, 2010 9:22 PM | Link to this
I was at the CSU convocation when Mike Tyson was awarded the honorary doctorate and heard his comment. Unfortunately, I think that the main point has been addressed yet. Mike was young and stupid. So, his comments were consistent with his character at that time. His contrition now is admirable, but the real issue is Dr. Arthur E. Thomas’ need to provide an apology to the CSU university community for his poor judgement in even proffering the idea of awarding Tyson a honorary doctorate. Dr. Thomas is the one who needs to show contrition and express regret for embarrassing us in this way. The awarding of a honorary doctorate to Tyson showed one thing. For Arthur Thomas, you can take some people out of the ghetto, but you can’t take the ghetto out of some people. Where is Art’s apology?
By Iwasthere
July 30, 2010 8:29 AM | Link to this
Tom is accurate about Mike’s comments at the convocation and the press conference. I was equally disgusted with the president of the university then. He guffawed when Mike said he wanted to be gynecology doctor. Maybe it was embarrassed guffaw?
By yeryer
July 30, 2010 1:11 AM | Link to this
uhhhh……..there’s another HBCU a block away from Central.
By Teacher at a reputable college
July 30, 2010 12:33 AM | Link to this
Dr. Green - name one graduate of CSU that has done anything remotely resembling making a contribution to society.
By Voter
July 30, 2010 12:30 AM | Link to this
(racist comment deleted)
By null
July 29, 2010 11:11 PM | Link to this
Correction… they carry all NINE black fraternities/sororities… My fault!
By null
July 29, 2010 11:09 PM | Link to this
lol… CSU is billed as the only “HBCU in the state of Ohio” and they carry all nice Black Greek fraternities/sororities. But, nah, they don’t cater to a specific population…
By armand
July 29, 2010 8:39 PM | Link to this
Great article! Mike Tyson has hope. At least he is strong enought to admit he was foolish, to say the least. I think Mike is a very sympathetic character, who is dealing with many issues. He is still trying to get better. I agree with Blown Away, let see what happens for the rest of his life. It could be on hell of a subject for an opera!
By lol
July 29, 2010 3:50 PM | Link to this
I especially like the title of this article. This was an especially memorable event for CSU. Also, Central State does NOT cater to specific population. Before Wright State was established (wrongfully so- there are NOT supposed to be two state universities in the same county) and took a majority of the funding and diverse population, it served the ENTIRE community. It still does. It is not a fake college.
By DR.CHARLES A. GREEN
July 29, 2010 10:16 AM | Link to this
Mike Tyson is sad to say the least. On the other hand CSU has and continues to produce many graduates that make positive contributions to society in many fields of endeavor. Write about some of them!!
By Dr. Charles A. Green
July 29, 2010 10:11 AM | Link to this
Mike Tyson was and continues to be different. On the other hand, CSU has produced many graduates who have and continue to make great contributions to society in many fiels of endeavor. Write about some of them!!
By Dr. Charles A. Green
July 29, 2010 10:11 AM | Link to this
Mike Tyson was and continues to be different. On the other hand, CSU has produced many graduates who have and continue to make great contributions to society in many fiels of endeavor. Write about some of them!!
By Tyson
July 29, 2010 8:34 AM | Link to this
Although he was playing himself, Tyson did pretty good job in the movie “The Hangover”.
By Mike is a loser
July 29, 2010 8:29 AM | Link to this
Mike Tyson is a stupid, dumb, ignorant, $#@&%!
By Where am I
July 29, 2010 7:47 AM | Link to this
Tom, you can pick better subject matter.
By joe
July 29, 2010 7:09 AM | Link to this
CSU is the school that took funds from the government that was supposed to pay electric bills and other utilities and put it in the football program instead.
By David
July 29, 2010 6:29 AM | Link to this
I hope this is genuine inner reflection we hear from Tyson and not the typical “Hey, I lost all my money so I’m different now” mantra.
By Fake colleges
July 29, 2010 5:48 AM | Link to this
Central State is is catering to a very select part of society.
By Clem
July 29, 2010 4:32 AM | Link to this
I remember CSU president Art Thomas insisting on being addressed as “Arthur”.
By College Grad
July 29, 2010 1:15 AM | Link to this
By Blown Away
July 29, 2010 12:39 AM | Link to this
Let’s give the man a break. He came from less than nothing, made millions when he was still very young, and that screwed with his head. Yes, back in the day, he made vulgar, disgusting comments. He also has no one to blame but himself for everything he did, everythin that has happened to him since, and what he is now. He has to live with all that. But he seems to know all this, and seems to be trying to be the person he should have always been. Let’s see how the second half of his life goes before we write him off as human trash.
By Cartog
July 29, 2010 12:23 AM | Link to this
Tyson is dumber than dirt and CSU gave him an honorary doctorate.
By Cartog
July 29, 2010 12:20 AM | Link to this
Tyson is dumber than dirt and CSU gave him an honorary doctorate.
By Tony
July 28, 2010 11:34 PM | Link to this
This article speaks a great deal about how the feminist movement has screwed up American women. Hard to blame Iron Mike when it’s clear the girls would do anything to talk to him simply because he was famous.
By slightly right
July 28, 2010 7:51 PM | Link to this
What is there to say? Drugs,alcohol,or maybe too many blows to the head?