Reinvention

By earning a degree in Mass Communications, when I look at particular show or TV event, I always look at it with a different slant such as how a particular scene is shot or why this particular language was used. I never look at any show on the face of it. Call me a cynic.

One show that caught me eye was the show "Being Mike Tyson". When I initially took a look, it became must see TV for me.

I have followed Mike Tyson his entire life. I was one of his biggest fans when he made his ascent to become the youngest heavyweight boxing champion in history at age 20. In his heyday he would come into the ring with no robe, no socks and black shoes. He would then proceed to not just defeat but demolish his opponents. He won his first 19 fights by knockout, 12 in the first round. I will always remember what he said after winning one of his early belts: " I'm the greatest fighter in the world, no one on this planet can beat me."

That's not swagger, that's sureness. And I believed him.

But I digress. In watching this show, I'm seeing yet another side of Mike. The days of wanting to "eat your children" seem to be long gone. He seems to understand that he's still a bad guy, but he is trying to do good. His youngest daughter, Milan, really loves his daddy. He's also understands that it's maybe too late to try to connect with his other seven children, but at a recent bowling party on the show, one of his older sons doesn't seem to show any resentment.

Eight years after his last professional bout, I see yet another side of Mike. Business Mike just completed a 36 city, three month Broadway (that's right, Broadway) tour in which he basically just talked about himself. He also has created the Mike Tyson Cares Foundation to "give kids a fighting chance” by providing innovative centers that provide for the comprehensive needs of kids from broken homes, similar to how he grew up. He also has helped to create Iron Mike Productions, a boxing promotions company.

While I liked Mike at the beginning, I started to not like him as much, especially after biting Holyfield's ear. At the end of the day, Tyson was no more than a glorified bully who finally got his, especially given to him by Buster Douglas and Lennox Lewis. But once again, Mike continues to survive even himself.

What's in a Name?

For more than eight decades, the Washington Redskins have been one of the more storied franchises in the NFL. The team has won five league championships, including three Super Bowls, in it's history. But recently, the team has been called to task in regards to their name.

The name Redskins, is offensive to Native Americans. You know, the guys who were here first. However, in my research (admitting that is very limited), it's not as bad as the publicity makes it out to be. Reading articles from writers who visited actual reservations, the outrage seems to be on a generational level. While the older generation is upset with the characterization, they also seem to show a resignation to it. With both the older and younger generation, both feel that there are more pressing issues (i.e, unemployment, rampant poverty, alcoholism, car wrecks, and diabetes) that need to be addressed.

Now as usual, BreezyG deals with this totally on a sports level. I am a fan of the Washington franchise. Have been since the days of Charley Taylor, Larry Brown (my favorite player) and Chris Hamburger. Even though the team actually plays their games in Maryland, I still bleed team red (I know it's not much of a stretch). Now back then, I had no ideal that I was insulting an entire race by continual (ab)use of the name. I also didn't know that there was a court case, that had been ongoing for more than a decade regarding the name.

On paper, I would like to see the name changed, only because of the awareness that has been made in this more made aware society. You know there would be an outrage if the team was the Brownskins. Now before you think I'm getting on my moral high horse, I have to tell you that I sometimes wear a team hat that has the team face insignia on it. While it's no excuse, the hat was given to me as a gift and it's the only team paraphernalia that I have.

But I still wear it.