Tyson recalls only ‘dark’ times as kid
Mike Tyson's research for his upcoming no-holds-barred headliner show at the MGM Grand includes plans to compare notes with his older brother on their lost childhood.
"I want to see if what he seen through his eyes is what I saw through mine," Tyson said in a radio interview that aired Friday on ESPN Radio affiliate KWWN-AM 1100/98.9 FM.
"I don't remember those days," Tyson told radio host Seat Williams. "I only remember dark moments."
He starts rehearsals on Monday for his April 13 debut of "Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth -- Live on Stage" in the MGM Grand's Hollywood Theatre. His wife, Kiki, has been putting together the script.
Tickets go on sale March 10 for his five-day run in the 740-seat theater. If the public warms to Tyson and his gritty story on stage, an extension is likely in the cards.
Tickets range from $91 to $499 for the VIP package, which includes a meet-and-greet, a photo with the controversial champion, front-row seats and a commemorative item.
Abandoned at age 2 by his father, "I don't even remember my mother and father living together," Tyson told Williams. "That's why I'm so disastrous at these relationships."
His mother died when he was 16, and his sister died when she was 24 , just over three years after Tyson won his first title at age 20 years, four months, with a second-round knockout of Trevor Berbick on Nov. 22, 1986, making him the youngest heavyweight champion in boxing history.
"I come from a household where I see the biggest, strongest women figure s in my life constantly decimated with stuff. That's been my life. I had to do this paradigm shift. I can't live with myself, so how can I live with some woman and kids.
"I had to do a lot of deep-seated, inner searching," he said.
Still a work in progress, he cited Valentine's Day as an example of what he's still learning as far as relationships.
"I bought her a card, got her some flowers and I didn't do it for last year, so I wrote in the card: 'Sorry about last year.' "
The multimedia show will include early photos of his rise to world champion and maybe even some song and dance, he hinted.
Tyson told Williams the first movie he saw was "The Jim Corbett Story." He was probably referring to the 1942 film "Gentleman Jim," starring Errol Flynn as Corbett, the world heavyweight champion from 1892 to 1897 .
Tickets go on sale at the MGM Grand box office and through Ticketmaster at 10 a.m. March 10.
TEBOW APPEARANCE
About 25,000 people are expected to hear the message of Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow at four services over the weekend at Canyon Ridge Christian Church, 6200 West Lone Mountain Road. Tents with TVs and sound systems have been set up to handle an additional 1,800 who can't get into the 3,000-capacity auditorium today at 4 and 6:30 p.m. and on Sunday at 9 and 11:30 a.m. A church representative said Friday that media would not be allowed to take photos or video. A request for the number of credentialed media was not available by deadline.
SHARE FESTIVITIES
E! Entertainment host Ross Mathews and fashion expert Carson Kressley of "Queer Eye" are among the celebrities in town for the grand opening of the new gay club Share, 4636 Wynn Blvd. Doors open at 9 p.m. with Golden Rainbow's "Ribbon of Life" performances at 1 a.m. Mayor Carolyn Goodman issued a "Share Weekend" proclamation citing the N0H8 campaign and Golden Rainbow for its "enhancement of the neighborhood, the community at large and reflects the concern for fellow citizens."
THE PUNCH LINE
"Justin Bieber turned 18 years old today, which means he's now officially too old to listen to his own music." -- Jimmy Kimmel
Norm Clarke can be reached at 702-383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com. Follow Norm on Twitter @Norm_Clarke.
