The Journey of Mike Tyson: Oprah Interview

Without expectation, my approach to this interview was to bring any judgment to submission. But at first glance it appeared the interview was an advertisement for the upcoming movie Tyson, a biopic of his life as a fighter (and I know this “glance” is ultimately a judgment but I digress). Nevertheless, immediately upon Mike Tyson speaking, a shadow of understanding covered any subconscious efforts to judge and within this secret place something stirred within me.

Within the first five minutes of conversation he softened like kneaded dough. Presuming expectation was present, again working tirelessly to halt this approach, I found myself turning my eyes from the television on to the white walls of my home as if embarrassment was before me. It wasn’t embarrassment, however, it was connection; me looking at myself. Me looking into the portal of change. He was addicted to the strength of “not being a victim,” which caused anger. The strength of my addiction was alcohol. I wasn’t embarrassed for him but connected to him by the recollection my own past, which cause me not to want to look into the heart of my yesterday but upon something clean, solid and present.

This was the most emotional interview I’ve experienced. Not only feeling a connection but also having witness him chewing Evander Holyfield’s ear on national television on my 19th birthday I remembered feeling (not being) bewildered at the pleasure which guides one to such levels of extremity; the interview answered those questions for me and countless others thanks to Oprah.

He has changed for the better, at least by the eye of empathy. The cross he’d bored was heavy and despite his size, it weighed upon his humanity, pressing his mortality to a measurement of thinking himself a “god” and wondering why one would “dare to challenge him.” And for Oprah Winfrey’s dynamic interviewing style, the ability to reach low and deep within the human emotion, solidifies her as the “Queen of Talk.”

Mr. Honesty he was. Speaking on his nine month marriage to Robin Givens (who now calls him a "hero" for opening up about the abuse) and speaking understandably not-so-candid about the death of his daughter, Exodus, whom he called ‘my angel.‘ He, furthermore, spoke greatly on maintaining through technique the power of temperance. These things exhibited such change; a change for the good. A great level of positive modification. Kudos to Mike Tyson for being one of the greatest fighters of our time and for his honesty.

Indeed, honesty is a lost art. And Mr. Tyson is now a Picasso.