Tyson shows lighter side during exchange

      He's not quite Eddie Murphy, or even Soupy Sales, but Mike Tyson unveiled his rarely seen sense of humor Monday during a spirited give-and-take with a couple dozen reporters at the home of Don King.
      Tyson even evoked the comedy stylings of Henny Youngman during a bit that could be entitled: "Take my mosque donation -- please."
      "(Religion) is my only salvation, but there are Muslims who don't like me because they can't control me," said Tyson, decked out in white sweatpants and matching sweatshirt. "I joined a mosque here in town, a little mosque. I invested $250,000. I didn't know them from a can of paint."
      The idea was for Tyson to help fund an additional mosque. But to his dismay, the money vanished.
      "Do you think a mosque was built?" Tyson said, laughing. "No. I was angry because there was a lot of other things I could do with $250,000. ... Maybe I was trying to buy my way into heaven. (But) I deserved it. They didn't even con me, I made them con me. I said, `Here's $250,000. Take it.' "
      Tyson reserved his anger for himself rather than the unnamed mosque construction outfit.
      "I was stupid," he said. "But if this had happened a few years ago, the outcome would have been different."
      Instead, Tyson simply stews. He has more pressing matters to consider this week, such as preparing for the World Boxing Association championship rematch with Evander Holyfield on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden.
      Tyson is set to earn $30 million (to Holyfield's $35 million) for a rematch of one of boxing's most stunning championship bouts. Holyfield, a 25-to-1 underdog at one point, registered an 11th-round TKO on Nov. 9, 1996, at the MGM to wrest the WBA belt from Tyson.
      It was just the second loss in 47 fights for Tyson, who turns 31 two days after Saturday's bout.
      During Monday's session, Tyson's demeanor careened from stoic to defiant to angry. He said revenge was not a factor in his training, that he was not driven by revenge, financial gain, or a place in boxing history.
      Flanked by co-managers and longtime friends John Horne and Rory Holloway, Tyson saved his most acidic remarks for the media, saying the press has "made us out to be monsters. ... Don is stupid to have you guys over at his house."
      But such talk came and went, and Tyson always managed to return to jocularity.
      Of his extravagant paydays, he said: "Every fight is for the future of my children. That's set, but I like to live well, too. I love me, too."
      Tyson repeatedly touched on the topic of his three daughters: Gina, 7; Mikey, 6; and Rayna, 15 months.
      "They like Barney," Tyson said. "I hate Barney. I like Mr. Rogers. He's from my time. (Singing) It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood, a beautiful day for a neighbor. ... But kids today don't like Mr. Rogers. They're too sophisticated."
      Tyson said disciplining his children with wife Monica can be a challenge. Recently one of his daughters complained to him about mistreatment from a friend.
      "She said one of her friends didn't want to play with her, and I meant to say, `If someone doesn't want to play with you, find someone else to play with,' " Tyson said. "But I said, 'If they don't want to play with you, f--- them!' Oh, no. I was just mad."
      But Tyson's humor didn't conceal his sinister outlook on the world outside of boxing. After one of King's trademark "only in America" orations, Tyson was asked if he held the same optimistic viewpoint as the famed promoter.
      Tyson winced slightly and said, "No."
      It didn't seem he was joking.