Tyson reluctantly participates in media conference call

     It was almost predictable that everything wouldn't go smoothly.
      Mike Tyson has never liked news conferences. That's been true for more than 10 years.
      And he likes telephone news conferences even less. When it was confirmed Tyson was going to do a national conference call, and the telephone number was included on The Associated Press wire, something was bound to happen.
      In an effort to build up pay-per-view television sales of Tyson's rematch with Evander Holyfield on June 28 at the MGM Grand Garden, promoters called the conference call and listed the number to anybody with access to the AP wire.
      Tyson doesn't always like to talk to boxing writers and sports writers he knows, let alone to every Tom, Dick and Harriet with the phone number.
      The first thought was, "Tyson will probably end up hanging up."
      That has happened before. Tyson, apparently not liking the line of questioning, abruptly hung up.
      End of call.
      End of story.
      Tyson didn't hang up during Thursday's call. But he did let the press know how he feels about them when asked a question about how he is treated by the media.
      "They have (expletive) on me, and they have never stopped," Tyson said, not -- excuse the pun -- pulling any punches.
      However, Tyson also seemed to brush off the whole thing.
      "Hey, to each his own. They can do what they want. It is their prerogative," he said. "I can't stop people from basing their opinion. (But) they should be honest and tell me how they feel to my face and not hide behind their papers. If they didn't have someone like me, no one would know they exist."
      As a longtime member of the media, I can sympathize with Tyson, to a point.
      In dealing with Tyson, some writers look for the controversial or negative angle at the expense of the larger story.
      I have seen writers in smaller groups, with Tyson or other fighters, smile and act like they are a buddy, then turn around and trash the fighter in a story or column the next day.
      Tyson, as well as other celebrities, also must endure many stupid questions. Or repeat questions, which is just as bad.
      At the same time, it is misleading to say Tyson is always anti-media or that he didn't answer most of the media's questions Thursday, even if some of his comments were brief.
      For example, Tyson showed class by refusing to blame his loss to Holyfield in the first fight Nov. 9 at the MGM on his previous trainer.
      "I blame myself for it. No one to blame but myself," he said.
      Tyson changed chief trainers after that fight from Jay Bright to Richie Giachetti.
      Actually, it was a case of bringing back Giachetti. Trainer for Larry Holmes when he was heavyweight champion, Giachetti trained Tyson for four fights in 1990-91, from after his loss to Buster Douglas in Tokyo until the time Tyson went to prison in 1992.
      Tyson also conceded he made mistakes of not moving his head and not punching enough in the first Holyfield fight.
      He also praised Holyfield, as well he should.
      "I never dreamed he could fight that well. He fought a lot better than I thought he could fight," Tyson said.
      It was an example that writers and TV commentators put some of the serious ramifications on championship fights.
      The first time Tyson was asked about his place in history, he didn't answer. When he was asked his place in history if he lost again, Tyson said, "I can't read my place in history. That is up to the people."
      Asked if the rematch would be the defining moment in his boxing career (which many writers think is the case), he answered, "I don't look at it any way. I don't have any pressures on myself."
      The media wasn't the only institution Tyson expressed his unhappiness with.
      "The people who run the organization who put people in the Hall of Fame don't have any thoughtfulness or compassion for me. (Expletive) the Hall of Fame, if that is the case," he said.
      A publicist for promoter Don King asked Tyson at the conclusion of Thursday's conference call if he had any final messages for the press.
      "Just hang up the damn phone, OK," Tyson said.