BoxRec

This item focuses on a recent Mike Tyson interview in the New York Times and the new Mike Tyson documentary directed by James Toback

I would appreciate everyone reviewing this material.

I did not know if you saw this Tyson article in the New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/11/movie ... son&st=nyt

Here is a copy of my letter to the Times.

Not surprisingly, It has not been printed yet.

To:
Editor New York Times
Re: ?Mike Tyson Film Takes a Swing,? by Tim Arango, May 11

Dear Editor,

It is unfortunate that, in re-inventing Mike, his handlers --- and Mike --- are likely to alienate the boxing writers and historians who knew Mike when he was younger.

The author makes many errors in recounting Tyson?s story. And, I have seen the film and Mike?s recollection of his history doesn?t match the facts.

My name is Steve Lott. I was Mike?s assistant manager - and confidant - for the years Mike was managed by Bill Cayton and Jim Jacobs. Mike seems to forget the details of the period from 1985 ? 1988 in this article just as he did in Toback?s documentary.

Among the unfortunate errors in Mike?s interview, he tells Arango that he was drinking and doing drugs his entire life. Not true. During the time he was managed by Cayton and Jacobs Mike was always tested by a State Athletic Commission before each fight and was always clean. Drinking ? I defy anyone to come forward and say they saw Mike drunk during that time period. It just didn?t happen.

Arango writes that after Cus D?amato turned Mike into the Heavyweight Champion ? things changed and became vulgar. Here the author makes a huge error in the time line. Cus died in October 1985. One year later, under the watchful eyes of Cayton and Jacobs Mike KO?D Berbick to win the heavyweight title. Then, for almost two years, Mike was a world wide hero.

Mike lived in my apartment for almost that entire time. During that time Mike was viewed by many as the most popular athlete in the world. Mike, with his pristine demeanor, was the golden boy of corporate America as evidenced by his being hired to do commercials on network television for Pepsi-Cola, Nintendo Video, and Kodak Film. Not enough, he was also selected to be the spokesperson for the New York City Police Department, FBI and DEA.

All after Cus D'amato had passed away.

The author completely ignores this period and in the documentary this is the period that Mike conveniently forgets.

The author is correct about Mike turning vulgar. That is all due to Robin Givens, Don King and Shelly Finkel. In 1988, the opportunistic Robin Givens fell by the wayside after she publicly humiliated Mike on the infamous Barbara Walters show and it gave Don King an opportunity to work his way in. Pete Dexter of the Sacramento Bee best described King when he wrote in 1990, ?Don can best be described as a disease, he puts the girls in the street and the boys in the ring.? Shelly Finkel took over after Tyson sued King and kept Mike surrounded by con men like ?Crocodile? who worked in Mike?s corner and reported directly to Finkel.

Mike told the author that, ?I was born an addict.? The author should have asked Mike why he wasn?t an addict when he was living with Cus or the four years he was with Cayton and Jacobs.

Regarding the documentary itself, I spoke with Toback last year warning him that Mike would not have the courage to tell this truth about his career. Mike wants the world to think that he was destroyed by his demons. Where were these demons when he was a world wide hero with Cayton and Jacobs for year after year? Toback just told me Mike was going to tell his story.

I spoke with Harlan Werner, Tyson?s manager, at that time and warned him also. He said that Mike is going to express his opinion.

I screened the new documentary two months ago at the request of ESPN. They asked me to ID the various film clips and photographs.

I was more interested in what Mike had to say than identifying the clips.

What Mike said made me very sad because it was lie after lie. I sent letters to Toback and Werner letting them know that Mike lied. They couldn't care less.

Once the film comes out the world will be shocked at the con job that Werner, Bingham, and Toback are pulling on Mike. Just like Givens, King and Shelly Finkel did after Tyson left Bill Cayton.

It is unfortunate that Mike, in his effort to regain his credibility, will have damaged it further when those who knew Mike when he was champ speak out.

Thank you.

Steve Lott
212-532-1711
[email protected]


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PS.
In the Documentary Mike called Bill and Jim, "Slave Masters."

Please let me know if anyone would like additional material including my correspondence with Tyson's managers and director James Toback.

Thank you.

Steve

Steve Lott
9 East 40th Street
New York, N.Y. 10016
tel 212-532-1711
fax 212-532-3674
[email protected]

observer1 wrote:http://www.tysontalk.com/

Look at the New Video Posted... Tyson Close to Tears....

Obviously Regrets ever Touching Alcohol, Drugs and misses the good old days with Cus.

Says Greatest Fighter ever Lived was Ali. Before Fighting Berbick, Tyson Was Angry and wanted Revenge..