Tyson looks to show the world “The Undisputed Truth.” A 90 minute one man show
starring Kid Dynamite is coming to Broadway on July 31. The play itself
consists of Tyson talking about his life, and rollercoaster moments.
The Baddest Man on the Planet talked about his upcoming
play on Pardon the
Interruption. During the interview, Tyson’s quips were spontaneous. His
answers were candid. And his audience ate it up like someone’s first meal after
fasting.
Tony Kornheiser and Mike Wilbon watched with glee as Tyson
told a hilarious tale of his ex-wife, Brad Pitt, and a wet noodle. That story
is one of several anecdotes that make up the 1,000,000 piece jigsaw puzzle that
is Mike Tyson.
Tyson’s life can be summed up by one memorable, yet bizarre
quote. In a post fight interview in 2000, Tyson said “My style is impetuous, my
defense is impregnable, and I’m just ferocious, I want his heart, I want to eat
his children, praise be to Allah!” Tyson was both dominant and uncontrolled in
the ring. His legend and infamy are why his life story will be a hit.
The curtain would rise and the play would start with Tyson’s
childhood. His early years were tales straight out of poverty documentaries.
Tyson was arrested 38 times by the time he was 13. Iron Mike’s mother died when
he was 16 and his father was never in the picture. He met Muhammad Ali in
juvenile detention in 1976.
The second act could start with Iron Mike’s professional
debut at 18. He enjoyed dominance in the ring and dreaded controversy outside
of it. While Tyson won 26 of his first 28 fights by knockout, he later became a
convicted rapist at 26.
After being sentenced in 1992, the Baddest Man on the
Planet began to lose; in and out of the ring. Evander Hollyfield beat him twice
in 1996 and 1997. In 1999, Tyson went back to prison for
assaulting two motorists. In 2003, Tyson filed for bankruptcy and retired in
2005.
The curtain would fall on his boxing
career and fast forward to 2009. Director Todd Phillips resurrected Tyson and
made him a movie star at 43. Knocking out Zack Galifanakis would be the
start of act four, the rebirth. The new de-clawed Tyson has been saved by Hollywood ; and will now take to Broadway to relive his cryptic past.
Tyson is a walking paradox. He is a
man who is as hated as he is adored. The former boxer lost everything only to
realize that his story is his salvation. For the aforementioned reason, Spike Lee
is taking this prize play to the big stage.