Mike Tyson is one of the more controversial athletes ever to compete in the United States. He has had his share of detractors over the years, so perhaps it should come as no surprise that according to a report onNewYork.cbslocal.com Tuesday morning, he has come out in support of Lance Armstrong, the latest athlete to suffer a monumental fall from grace.
Of course Armstrong has been under suspicion for years of being a cheater, and his recent admission to the charges have left him in a position that nobody would envy. In an exclusive interview with Oprah Winfrey last week, Armstrong confessed to the multiple lies he has been telling for the length of his career. The disgraced American icon seemingly had few, if any, people willing to stand behind him.
Enter Mike Tyson, a man who has served a prison term and bit off part of a competitor’s ear, just to name a couple of his less than bright spots over the past years. He is coming out in support of his friend Lance Armstrong.
During an appearance on WLNY-TV’s The Couch Tuesday morning, Tyson said he believes Armstrong will persevere.
“He is an awesome human being,” Tyson said. “We’re all human beings, we’re all going to make mistakes. We’re not perfect, and neither is Lance.”
A little reluctant to call Armstrong a “cheater,” Tyson added that he feels it is necessary for others to join him in support of the fallen cyclist who was recently stripped of all seven of his Tour de France titles.
“I think that people that are his friends, should still be his friends,” Tyson said. “He’s going to get bashed for awhile, so if you’re truly his friend, try to help him absorb the blows.”
Suffering from a long list of difficulties in his own life, Mike Tyson is uniquely qualified to speak on the matter. He believes as long as Lance Armstrong remains resilient, eventually the hard times will pass.
“He’s gonna come out, he’s gonna stay strong, and he’s going to get over this,” Tyson said.
It’s noble of Tyson to show support for his friend in a time of need when seemingly the entire world has abandoned him. However, it’s hard to feel sorry for Armstrong considering all the damage he has incurred was self inflicted.
