Tyson hires heavyweight lawyers

      Heavyweight fighter Mike Tyson hired a heavyweight team of attorneys to handle his case before the Nevada Athletic Commission Wednesday.
      But the aura of Las Vegas' most well-known defense attorney, Oscar Goodman, and his partner, Marty Keach, could not keep Tyson from receiving a lifetime revocation of his boxing license.
      Goodman has found himself surrounded by media cameras many times in his 30-plus year legal career. Dubbed at times a "mouthpiece for the mob," his organized crime clients have included organized crime founding father Meyer Lansky, Chicago mob enforcer Anthony Spilotro, and John Gotti confidant Natale Richichi.
      Also on his list of high-profile clients are political figures such as former San Diego Mayor Roger Hedgecock, charged with conspiracy and perjury in the 1980s, and former U.S. District Judge Harry Claiborne.
      Goodman did not request anything specific from the commission Wednesday, beseeching it instead to act in the spirit of "free-thinking Nevadans" when deciding Tyson's punishment for biting the ear of heavyweight champ Evander Holyfield.
      "I thought he did a great job, it was a typical Oscar job," said Las Vegas lawyer Dan Albregts. "Not only was he representing his client, he was trying to create a record in case they banned him for life and they perhaps have to go to a higher body for an injunction."
      Because Goodman's successes are well publicized, Albregts said, "it just comes from human nature that people are going to be interested in what he has to say."
      Las Vegas attorney Mace Yampolsky said, "There's definitely a quote, unquote Oscar factor" in the cases Goodman handles.
      "Certainly he has a presence and he's been around for years. Some judges may be influenced by him," he said. "But if he's going to be in front of a judge day in and day out, it will be less."
      Goodman, who moved to Las Vegas in 1964, gained a national reputation in 1970 when he discovered a fatal flaw in wiretaps aimed at bookmakers in 26 cities. He has also handled the cases of several Black Book inductees, including that of Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal.
      Several years ago, a University of Nevada, Las Vegas poll showed the public views Goodman as a "defender of the downtrodden, the underdog."
      Federal prosecutor Tom O'Connell donwplayed Goodman's notoriety as a factor in court cases.
      "I've always found him easy to deal with and very reasonable. He's one of the more effective attorneys, " O'Connell said. "That makes a difference, but not his reputation."