My Opinion
Fallen hero Tyson comes home to start fresh with new image

SOUTHINGTON, Ohio -- The welcome sign planted at this city's five-way intersection simply states: Welcome to Southington. Home of the Wildcats.

Maybe there was a time when it said: Home of Mike Tyson. Heavyweight champion of the world.

But for now it will cheer for the local high school.

The former heavyweight champion returned to this sleepy Ohio town roughly 45 miles southeast of Cleveland which, ironically, borders a town called Champion.

Free from his 9-by-11 foot jail cell in the Indiana Youth Center, Tyson returned to find the iron gates of his 66-acre mansion decorated with yellow ribbons -- like he was some kind of prisoner of war -- and signs proclaiming "We love you" and "Welcome home Mike," and about 50 or so cars lining the street.

It's 1:30 p.m. -- he returned home roughly four hours ago -- but the crowd still seems to be growing. Everybody wants to catch a glimpse of him. Other cars drive by telling us all to go home. It's hard to hear with the helicopters hovering above.

The residents remain loyal to their fallen hero. "Mike, welcome back to your family," reads a sign on one of his fences. One conversation revolves around the character of Desiree Washington, the woman who did what only James "Buster" Douglas had done before her.

The throng of people argue over everything -- from who his next opponent will be to who his promoter will be and who will be included among his circle of friends.

Tyson's entourage at a prayer service in Indiana on Saturday included Muhammad Ali, NFL Hall of Famer Mel Blount and rapper Hammer. Don King was lurking in his usual fashion, probably being wary of any "trickerations."

None could be seen at the mansion, but the onlookers didn't seem to care.

They came from all over -- in-state, out-of-state, even farther.

All of the Cleveland media has left, as has Craig Rivera from "Hard Copy." Some guy from "A Current Affair" is walking around somewhere, too, although nobody knows his name.

SKY News -- the equivalent of CNN Headline News in England -- is wrapping up its piece. Senior sports correspondent Mark Saggers was in Indiana at 6 a.m. to broadcast Tyson's release live all over Europe. Right now, he is finishing with some line about how important it is for Tyson to align himself with the right people.

SKY News also seems to be the only organization reporting that Tyson has taken a Muslim name -- Malik Shabazz. For Mike Tyson, this would be a second chance. For Malik Shabazz, it's a first shot.

He was released after serving three years of a six-year sentence. He still faces four years probation on his rape conviction. He still may face a civil suit brought by Washington. He is still the visible figure who will be scrutinized for what he does and doesn't do -- boxing-related or otherwise.

And of course, he will still be among the highest paid sports personalities in the world.

His first fight, be it with George Foreman, Evander Holyfield or Riddick Bowe, might fetch nine digits. Rumors around Southington were that the mansion was fully staffed during his stay in prison, and his finances were well taken care of.

It may only be a short time before he loses his fallen hero status.

On the day Tyson was convicted, prosecuting attorney Greg Garrison said something to the effect that sports people had become "megagods" and, with the exception of that day, nobody wanted to see such deities knocked from their pedestals.

Most experts think that ring announcer Michael Buffer will at some point blare the words: "The winner, and once again, heavyweight champion of the world . . ." with respect to Shabazz.

Then, and only then, will it be official that Malik Shabazz has climbed atop the pedestal. Maybe then the sign at the five-way intersection will read: Home of the heavyweight champion of the world.

Until then, Go Wildcats!