In a meeting Wednesday "that lasted precisely 45
minutes and offered nothing unexpected or surprising, the
Nevada State Athletic Commission [NSAC] handed boxer Mike
Tyson the most stringent penalty it could impose: revocation
of his license and a $3 million fine," according to Dean
Juipe of the LAS VEGAS SUN. Tyson can reapply for a license
in one year and, if denied, yearly thereafter. Juipe: "In
essence, the revocation will keep him out of the ring for a
minimum of 12 to 18 months. Tyson, on probation for a
sexual offense, is unlikely to receive clearance from his
probation officer to fight outside the country. The
revocation of Tyson's license must, by law, be honored
throughout the United States." The motion passed 5-0 and
Juipe reports that City Hall chambers were "orderly and to
the point. The legal posturing was minimized." Neither
Tyson, nor his promoter Don King, attended the hearing that
was called after Tyson bit the ears of Evander Holyfield
during the June 28 fight at MGM Grand (LAS VEGAS SUN, 7/10).
Tyson did not attend at the advice of his attorney, Oscar
Goodman. Goodman: "How many times can a man say he's
sorry?" NSAC commissioner Luther Mack, on Tyson's absence,
"I'm quite ticked, frankly" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 7/10).
STIFF ENOUGH? In Atlanta, Jeff Schultz: "Concerns about
leaving itself open to litigation -- and having more
hearings televised by ESPN and Court TV -- dissuaded the
[NSAC] from imposing a longer period before [Tyson] could
seek to regain his ... license" (ATL. CONSTITUTION, 7/10).
REAX: USA Today's boxing columnist Jon Saraceno: "It
was a rubber stamp what the commission did" ("Internight,"
MSNBC, 7/9). ESPN's Al Bernstein, on the NSAC: "They did
walk that fine line between stern punishment and fair
punishment" ("SportsCenter," 7/9). In Baltimore, John
Eisenberg: "In the end, the commissioners wisely decided
that they didn't need to ruin his career for him. He's
already done it" (Baltimore SUN, 7/10). But Knight Ridder's
Drew Sharp criticizes the ruling, adding that the NSAC "only
further verified what we all suspected: It's more concerned
with perpetuating a spectacle than properly policing a
sport. ... [Tyson's] championship-contending days are over,
but his days as a high-priced sideshow pay-per-view freak
are only beginning" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 7/10). In
Washington, Tony Kornheiser: "He'll be back in Las Vegas
before Liza Minnelli will" (WASHINGTON POST, 7/10).
Association of Boxing Commissioners' (ABC) Greg Sirb, on
states uniformly banning Tyson: "Mike Tyson is our Michael
Jordan. But I think the ABC is going to stick together 100
percent on this" (USA TODAY, 7/10). ESPN's Charley Steiner,
on the NSAC: "They weren't appealing to the fight fans, they
were appealing to society and saying, 'Look, we understand
that boxing resides on the outskirts of legitimacy. This is
our one and only chance to bring it back a little bit
towards mainstream,' and I think that's what they did today"
("Nightline," ABC, 7/9). Header of USA TODAY's editorial:
"Tyson Penalty Too Harsh? If Anything, It's Too Easy" (USA
TODAY, 7/10). NBC/Showtime reporter Jim Gray: "It's a very
balanced and responsible decision, however as time goes on,
we'll have to see if it remains fair and balanced. I would
think that one year would be sufficient" ("Larry King Live,"
CNN, 7/9). CNN/SI's Nick Charles: "This was a day boxing
served notice to Mike Tyson that, despite his box office
power, he is not bigger than the sport" ("CNN/SI," 7/9).
TYSON THE MARTYR? In Philadelphia, John Smallwood:
"[T]he unfortunate perception many will hold is that somehow
the penalty was so severe because there is a bias against
Tyson. Boxing has enough problems without making ... Tyson
a martyr. Yet it's already happening" (PHILADELPHIA DAILY
NEWS, 7/10). Promoter Rock Newman: "Today Mike Tyson was
made a poster boy for some very selective rage that this
country has bestowed upon him" ("Internight," MSNBC, 7/9).
