COLUMN: Joe Hawk

     Mike Tyson still doesn't get it.
      Thankfully, the Nevada Athletic Commission does.
      Nine days after telling the world he was sorry and "I expect to pay the price, like a man" for savagely biting Evander Holyfield's ears in their June 28 heavyweight title fight at the MGM Grand, Tyson paid the price like a coward Wednesday, jetting from Las Vegas to New York just hours before the five fair-minded members of the NAC met to determine his boxing future.
      Here's hoping the in-flight movie was a looped replay of Round 3, and the meal was crow -- make that ear of crow.
      Rather than stand bravely before the commission, extend a heartfelt apology and answer questions regarding his behavior on that most bizarre of sports nights, the spineless Tyson followed the "advice" of his lead attorney, Oscar Goodman, and stayed away.
      Common decency and respect for the commission should have overridden Goodman's ill-founded and ill-given advice. But common decency and respect apparently aren't in the former champion's vocabulary.
      Don't get me wrong: Tyson's nonappearance didn't influence the commission's right and proper decision to revoke the fighter's license, fine him the maximum penalty of 10 percent of his purse and assess him the administrative costs of the case. Chairman Dr. Elias Ghanem went so far as to say "no negative inference" would be made by the commission on Tyson's decision not to attend.
      Still, Mike, if you're going to "pay the price, like a man" shouldn't you have "stood before the commission, like a man"?
      "He (already) said, `I'm sorry.' There's no reason to say it again. What more can he add?" Goodman lamely contended.
      Oh, I don't know, how about a proactive plan to ensure that what occurred that night never happens again.
      Perhaps Tyson could've given the names of professional therapists he has appointments with, if he indeed has any. Perhaps he could've announced the names of charities he will donate part or all of his remaining $27 million purse to, if he plans to donate any at all. Perhaps he could've spoken of some of the community service activities he will devote his time to, if he plans to devote any at all.
      Perhaps he could've apologized to the sport of boxing -- and all of the people who still treasure it, despite its sullied image -- for the further embarrassment he caused.
      To its credit, the NAC provided that apology -- by handing down the stiffest penalty allowed by state law. As member Dr. James Nave said of the punishment fitting the crime, "We will not tolerate that type of behavior in this state, and I would hope the rest of the world would not tolerate it, either."
      While Tyson can reapply for his boxing license one year to the day after he is served with the official revocation papers, it will be up to the commission whether he boxes again in Nevada. It remains my fervent hope the commission will turn him down each and every time.
      Mike Tyson should not be allowed to fight again.
      Never. Ever. EVER.
      For those who disagree, please don't throw out that weak argument that a man cannot be denied his "right" to make a living. We deny criminals the right to make a living, don't we? -- and what Tyson did to Holyfield was in every sense of the word criminal.
      Save, too, the blindly tossed accusations of racism -- directed at the commission and/or to anyone who agrees with its ruling. The NAC, which includes one African-American, Luther Mack of Reno, would have issued the same punishment whether the fighter was black, white or Hispanic. And, lest we forget, the victim of this vicious act, Evander Holyfield, is black.
      It literally turned my stomach to hear one gentleman stand before the commission and vehemently argue "if that were a white fighter, he wouldn't have gotten any more than a three-month (revocation)."
      Malarkey!
      Believe me, the color of one's skin doesn't make any difference -- unless you're talking about the yellow stripe running down the middle of Tyson's back.
      I'm ashamed to admit I was one of the few in the media who believed most of Tyson's apology nine days ago at the MGM Grand. I guess I was foolish to think he could've learned something valuable from his mistake.
      But his failure to show up Wednesday -- even if recommended not to do so by his counsel -- proves to me I was wrong. His promise to "pay the price, like a man" was hollow.
      Sad to say, Mike Tyson still doesn't get it. Maybe he never will.
     
      Joe Hawk's column is published Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. He can be reached by phone at 383-0353 or by e-mail at Joe_Hawk@lvrj.com.