24.09.07 – By Matthew Hurley: Former heavyweight champion “Iron” Mike Tyson pleaded guilty to charges of drug possession and driving under the influence in an Arizona courtroom today. The charges were brought against him after he was detained at a traffic stop by police. Tyson had just left a local area nightclub..
Tyson spoke quietly in court and acknowledged to the judge that he had cocaine on his person and was impaired when he was stopped by police in Scottsdale on December 29th. Tyson had left the Pussycat Lounge when police stopped him. Officers reported that Tyson was wiping a white substance off the dashboard of his black BMW and when questioned his speech was noticeably slurred. Upon apprehension police found cocaine in Tyson’s pocket and in his car.
Tyson allegedly then told the officers on the scene that he used cocaine “whenever I can get my hands on it” and that he preferred to smoke it in Marlboro cigarettes with the tobacco pulled out. He also told police that he had smoked marijuana that day and that he was currently taking the antidepressant Zoloft.
Since the arrest, while awaiting trial, Tyson admitted himself into an in-patient treatment program for addicts. After admitting his guilt to the judge Tyson opened himself up to a potential four year prison sentence which will be handed down on November 19th.
This latest debacle is yet another sad chapter in Tyson’s fall from grace. The former “Kid Dynamite” has been on a downward spiral ever since losing his heavyweight crown to Buster Douglas in Tokyo in 1990. He had become the youngest ever heavyweight champion when he defeated Trevor Berbick at 20 years old in 1986. His last official ring appearance was an embarrassing 6th round TKO loss to unheralded Kevin McBride.
Although Tyson’s fistic glory is still recalled with passion by his ardent fans the reality of his personal life has overshadowed his accomplishments in recent years and the sadness of his life may very well turn out to be his epitaph rather than the ferocity he showed in the ring. Once again finding himself in court and appearing strangely vulnerable Tyson himself must wonder where it all went wrong.