Incurable Ills Afflict Ali And Tyson, Too

 

Incurable Ills Afflict Ali And Tyson, Too

Roy S. Johnson, AOL Black Voices Columnist

Fall From Grace

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Muhammed Ali and Mike Tyson are unfortunate for two vastly different reasons.

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Neither man is doing very well these days. They were the greatest fighters of their respective generations, but -- as too often befalls boxers in their late days -- both men are struggling.

One has his wealth but by many accounts his health is waning. The other seems healthy enough, save for the few bacon cheeseburgers hugging his midsection, but doesn't have a pot to … well, let's just agree he's beyond broke.

In truth, I can't be mad at Mike Tyson, the latter of the two. At least not for this. Not for allowing himself to be used as the "headliner" for something called the Mike Tyson World Tour, a series of four-round exhibitions that debuts later this week in Youngstown, Ohio. Out of the ring for 15 months since an ignominious ending against a palooka named Kevin McBride, the formerly fearsome heavyweight champ will punch-up former sparring partner Corey "T Rex" Sanders on Friday night atop a card featuring no one you really care about.

But, hey, a man's gotta take care of his family, and pay his debts, and … Okay, it is pathetic. In sooo many ways.

It's pathetic because Mike Tyson was one of the seminal athletes of his generation, a frightening boxer who shaped the headlines and whose popularity -- OR NOTORIETY -- transcended sports. And now he's a sideshow.

It's pathetic because Mike Tyson may have earned as much as $300 million in purses during his career. And now he "fights" for food.

It's pathetic because someone will actually pay to watch this exhibition. Yes, they will. The MTWT is available on pay-per-view. Trust me: Someone will pay.

But it's perhaps most pathetic because Mike Tyson could have been The Second Greatest. And now almost any comparisons to Muhammed Ali, the aforementioned first fighter, might merit criminal charges.

Ali has long been afflicted, as we all know, by Parkinson's disease . We've watched him trade jabs with the disease for two decades now, and always believed (or at least hoped) he was winning. His mischievous eye always twinkled, and his wit never waned. He performed the same magic tricks he'd performed for years. And if he got you alone, he'd take you through The Bible and point out perceived contradictions, a not-so-subtle homage to his Muslim faith.

About a year ago, a London publication reported that Ali was finally losing this bout, and a friend was quoted as saying he might only be with us a few more months. His saint of a wife, Lonnie, publicly disputed the claim. "His spirit will carry him forever," she said at the time. "Muhammad has not taken a turn for the worse, like everyone has said. He is doing well." Indeed Ali appeared just a few days after the reports at the gala opening of the Muhammed Ali Center in Louisville, the fighter's hometown.

That was nearly a year ago; Ali was still with us. And we'd still like to believe he's doing well. But the knowing looks of those close to him when asked, "How's Ali doing?" – say all that is needed. I shared the set with Ali's former trainer, Angelo Dundee, during an airing of the television show, "Daily News Live" on SportsnetNY, and asked him that question. He shook his head, turned away and said, "Not well."

Now 64, Ali made a rare public appearance last week, joining Lonnie to endorse Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm's re-election bid. The Alis, who've lived on a sprawling acreage in Michigan for years, joined the political fray because of Granholm's efforts to overturn the state's ban on embryonic stem-cell research, which could help discover a treatment of cure for Parkinson's and other diseases. In their statement, the Alis said: "She wants talented researchers and businesses around the world -- who are working on cures for devastating and gut-wrenching diseases right now -- to relocate here. But she's been hindered in her efforts to attract them because our laws are too restrictive."

Tyson's next appearance, on Friday in Youngstown, will no doubt be less noble. His slide has been well chronicled and like Ali it seems as if, sadly, there's no cure.