Big Guy

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At last night's post-premiere party at Strata for Tyson (Sony Classics, 4.24). Raining cats and dogs outside. A sociologically intriguing guest list, to say the least. Chris Walken showed up early, told Toback he loved the film, and left. My camera's ostensibly rechargable batteries gave out on me. Proving that rechargable batteries are only good for a few charges, and then they're worthless. A friend snapped this.

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on April 21, 2009 at 4:57 AM

comment #1

Ray says ...

That Mike Tyson is one scary dude.

Posted by Ray at April 21, 2009 5:16 AM

comment #2

quarlas says ...

Mike Tyson circa 2009 certainly proves your theory about male celebs being heftier these days.

Posted by quarlas at April 21, 2009 7:51 AM

comment #3

Mark says ...

Interesting back-and-forth on Adam Carolla's podcast yesterday. Toback, in response to comparing Iron Mike Tyson and Ironman Downey Jr, said Tyson has character while RD Jr. is just an entertainer. This left Tyson in the odd position of actually having to defend RD Jr. in that the actor must have some character. The end result is that Toback needs a new lead for his sequel to The Pick-up Artist.

Posted by Mark at April 21, 2009 8:08 AM

comment #4

corey3rd says ...

I don't think Downey will hate Toback for that. Downey is a pleaser. he will do his most to make you like him. Tyson will eat your children. He doesn't care if you think he's a bad man.

Posted by corey3rd at April 21, 2009 8:36 AM

comment #5

Floyd Thursby says ...

In her EW review, Lisa S. calls Unironed Mike "a handsome object for the camera's gaze."

Posted by Floyd Thursby at April 21, 2009 8:40 AM

comment #6

Mark says ...

Tyson does want you to like him...and he also doesn't care. Hence life with an extreme manic depressive.

Posted by Mark at April 21, 2009 8:48 AM

comment #7

maxfm says ...

In the latest GQ, Tom Carson puts Tyson (the movie), Tyson (the man) and Toback through the ringer. I'd post a link, but I couldn't find it online.

That said: I've always been an admirer of Toback's work.

Posted by maxfm at April 21, 2009 9:00 AM

comment #8

rr3333 says ...

At least Jeff's camera wasn't stolen this time.

Instead of carrying leftover cake, bring 2 extra batteries next time.

Posted by rr3333 at April 21, 2009 9:20 AM

comment #9

rr3333 says ...

I guess Tyson couldn't afford the procedure to remove the god awful tattoo on his face.

How ironic is it that Stephon Marbury had a Number '3' tattooed on his face a year back and now wears '8' for the Celtics.

What a bunch of morons.

Posted by rr3333 at April 21, 2009 9:22 AM

comment #10

Manitoba says ...

Tyson and Toback were both on with Charlie Rose on PBS last night. It was interesting seeing Tyson portrayed as a "survivor." I hope both Tyson and Toback get some money out of the film's apparent success.

Posted by Manitoba at April 21, 2009 9:45 AM

comment #11

rr3333 says ...

I wonder how Don King is going to make money on this movie. If there's a way, he'll find it.

I was just thinking ... if I won 200 million in Lotto, there's no way I could blow all that money. A lousy 12 month cd paying 3% would give me an additional 6 Million in interest per year!

I still can't fathom how Iron Mike blew it all (even if Don King stole some of it). It's nearly impossible and Mike pulled it off.

Posted by rr3333 at April 21, 2009 9:51 AM

comment #12

Ghost072 says ...

Was in Vegas in December and met Mike outside Planet Hollywood. He was just standing there alone, so a friend and I walked up to him and said hello. He was friendly at first and then my friend pulled out his camera and asked if we could take a picture with him. His attitude turned faster than I've ever seen a human being's turn and he began to charge us, like he was cutting off the ring. I tell you, the look in his eyes was the scariest thing I've ever seen in person and we, predictably, scattered like frightened children.

Posted by Ghost072 at April 21, 2009 10:02 AM

comment #13

actionman says ...

Tyson's an animal. No documentary or big-budget biopic will convince me otherwise. I do like some of Toback's work, and Tyson does have that funny bit at the end of The Hangover trailer, but watching a pro-Tyson doc just seems wrong on a lot of levels.

I don't care if he was one of the best boxers of all time or if he had all of his money stolen or if Don King took advantage of him. I don't care how good he was at playing himself in Black and White. The man is a convicted rapist, a two-time ear-biter, has been convicted of assault, and is a general sociopath ("I want your heart, I want to eat his children").

I am all about giving people second chances, but this guy is damaged goods. Toback must know this.

Posted by actionman at April 21, 2009 10:29 AM

comment #14

dangovich says ...

OK actionman, but given his childhood, I'm not sure he ever had a chance.

Posted by dangovich at April 21, 2009 10:35 AM

comment #15

actionman says ...

Yeah, I get ya Dangovich. You're a product of you're upbringing. Still doesn't change the fact that he's scum. I sort of hate the fact that he's so funny at the end of trailer for The Hangover.

Posted by actionman at April 21, 2009 10:37 AM

comment #16

Colin says ...

Toback seems like a self-obsessed windbag. He's exploiting Tyson, not that I feel bad for him, I would like to see this film go away.

Posted by Colin at April 21, 2009 10:51 AM

comment #17

Mark says ...

I wouldn't call it a Pro-Tyson doc, any more than i would call Raging Bull a pro Lamatta flick. It's simply an open first-person account of a self destructive celebrity.

What I also would not call the doc is high art. It's strictly well done ESPN material.

Posted by Mark at April 21, 2009 11:02 AM

comment #18

Ryansi51 says ...

I like Tyson, I like him a lot. But in many ways he resembles a caged animal, and should be treated as such.

Ghost, i'm sure he's nice when people treat him with respect and related to him on a human level, but then you start taking pictures of the guy and he becomes that animal in the cage and feels the need to strike.

man i wish there was video of footage of you guys screaming like little girls holding your ears though

Posted by Ryansi51 at April 21, 2009 11:22 AM

comment #19

Ghost072 says ...

Ryansi51,

Nice try defending Tyson's psychotic reaction, but we were nice and respectful the entire time. He just snapped when the camera came out and then charged like a bull. The guy is a celebrity and if his only reaction to a camera and polite request is instant violence then it is wonder he hasn't gone back to prison. Also, there was no screaming, but there was definitely running (and laughter soon afterwards).

Of course, you would have stood your ground and put up your dukes, right?

Posted by Ghost072 at April 21, 2009 12:01 PM

comment #20

dangovich says ...

I'm not sure we'll ever know how much of a role environment plays, versus inherent brain physiology/chemistry. Tyson's childhood was worse than anything Dickens could have dreamed up. He certainly would have fared better in a loving home, but how much better? You can never tell. After all, they just arrested a BU medical student for the Craigslist murder.

Posted by dangovich at April 21, 2009 12:26 PM

comment #21

Josh Massey says ...

I remember hating Two Girls and a Guy with visceral, frothing force, but 11 years later can't recall a single thing about it.

Posted by Josh Massey at April 21, 2009 1:34 PM

comment #22

CitizenKanedforChewingGum says ...

"Of course, you would have stood your ground and put up
your dukes, right?"

That's reading a lot into his comment. He just said he resembled a caged animal, and given his sudden change in behavior, it's not really an awful analogy.

There's middle ground there, and I suspect you're being pretty insincere in ignoring it. He probably would not have "stood his ground," but he probably wouldn't have been dumb enough to pull out a camera, either.

Posted by CitizenKanedforChewingGum at April 21, 2009 1:58 PM

comment #23

Ghost072 says ...

Actually, Citizen, what my comment was in response to was his "wish there was video of footage of you guys screaming like little girls holding your ears" crack. I thought that would be fairly clear considering the chronology of my post, but apparently not. But thanks for missing the point entirely and then questioning my sincerity in the process.

And since when did it become "dumb" to pull out a camera and request a photo with a celebrity? Had he shown any reticence to talk to us, or been aggressive in any way, we wouldn't have done it. Fact is, he was all smiles up until that point and appreciative of our memories of his younger fights. Now, you're are jumping over yourselves trying to justify his erratic and violent behavior.

Posted by Ghost072 at April 21, 2009 2:39 PM

comment #24

Colin says ...

I find it odd that so many people are jumping to defend Tyson when they royally tore Bale a new asshole for yelling at a cinematographer for ruining a scene. But of course Tyson did just rape a woman.

Is it reverse racism? I don't know.

Posted by Colin at April 21, 2009 2:55 PM

comment #25

BurmaShave says ...

Did Toback ever work with Downey when he wasn't coked out?

Posted by BurmaShave at April 21, 2009 3:07 PM

comment #26

CitizenKanedforChewingGum says ...

Well, first off, I am sorry for missing your point. I am. But secondly, I think you also missed mine.

This guy dropped out of high school at an early age, and was trained as a fighter since he was about 15. So when I call his behavior erratic and violent, it's straightforward description not justification. It is what it is, which is to say it's absolutely abhorrent, but did you really expect anything different?

Dude has been plying his trade in physical confrontations for 25 years, not to mention the various personality problems that have led him to a reputation as an animal, even in a sport dominated by them. I don't know what else to say other than you play with matches, and sometimes you will get burned.

At least you survived without injury and got a pretty cool story out of it to boot, eh? ;)

Posted by CitizenKanedforChewingGum at April 21, 2009 3:26 PM

comment #27

CitizenKanedforChewingGum says ...

Btw, Jeff, that Charlie Rose interview with Toback/Tyson is up at their website now:

http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/10242

Posted by CitizenKanedforChewingGum at April 21, 2009 3:28 PM

comment #28

Ryansi51 says ...

Ghost-

don't be so defensive, in no way was i suggesting you put up your dukes. but i'd think youd want some video footage of that incident, for nothing else than to show your friends and laugh your asses off...

pussy.

Posted by Ryansi51 at April 21, 2009 3:59 PM

comment #29

Ghost072 says ...

Ok, fair enough, Citizen, I can see your point, even if I disagree with it. I still don't think we did anything wrong, nor do I think we necessarily should have expected his reaction based on his previous demeanor. I mean, had we whipped out the camera and just starting taking photos, I could see it, but that isn't how it went down at all. I guess you had to be there. We weren't a couple of stupid kids poking the lion in the cage. On the contrary, we treated him like a human being and that turned out to be our mistake.

I trained as a boxer in my early teens (not bragging, I was terrible and the only reason I wanted to do it was seeing Rocky III; this mentality also explains the dusty old fedora and bullwhip in my garage) with one of Jerry Cooney's old trainers, so I was around more than my share of fighters growing up. Mike's reaction - in my experience - is not typical of most trained fighters and that includes some MMA fighters I've met through a friend who trains in that sport. Iron Mike is a special kind of beast...which is what made him so devastating in his younger days, I suppose.

Ryansi51: not sure if you're an asshole or just really bad at sarcasm, but either way: go suck.

Posted by Ghost072 at April 21, 2009 5:14 PM

comment #30

moveable hype says ...

Ghost, maybe when he saw your friend pull the camera put, he just natually assumed you were zombies. He could have just had dinner with Woody Harrelson or something.

Posted by moveable hype at April 22, 2009 5:36 AM

comment #31

moveable hype says ...

^^^"pull the camera put" ... pull the camera out....^^^

Posted by moveable hype at April 22, 2009 5:38 AM

comment #32

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comment #33