Book Review: Baddest Man by Mark Kreigel

This is definitely one of the most disappointing books I've ever read.

It was over WAY too fast.

While reading it, though, this book was incredible. Author Mark Kriegel did an excellent job of diving deep into not only the history of Tyson himself, but into how Brownsville turned into a wasteland, how Cus D'Amato won the war against the mob in boxing only to make few changes, and most importantly what it was like in the 80s when newspapers ruled the country, when people would pay to schmooze with the boxing writers for New York papers, when even the Albany Times Union could afford to send a writer to Japan to cover a fight.

Overall, though, the story is held together through the story of Mike Tyson, growing up in Brownsville, sent to juvie at a young age, putting effort into learning boxing while in the facility, discovered by Cus D'Amato's crew...the rest is history.

What you really come away with in this book is sadness. Mike Tyson was a kid who never had a chance. I don't want to take personal responsibility away from him - it would definitely be POSSIBLE for someone to grow up a law-abiding citizen after everything he went through - but the odds were always against him. Growing up without a father and always looking for a father figure. Running with gangs - just about the only people his age in Brownsville - and finally being recognized for his ability to commit violence. Learning boxing, then being taken to a "safe" environment, despite being taken advantage of left and right.

On that last point, towards the end of the book, when Don King entered the story, it reminded me of how much people thought Don King would take advantage of Tyson. Newsflash: he totally did! But, as this book posits, he was far from the only one:

• When Tyson turned 16, Cus officially adopted him as his ward. While Tyson was over the moon to have someone choosing to be his father, the real reason Cus chose that moment was that he didn't want Tyson to find out that at that age he had the chance to choose whatever boxing trainer he wanted.

• When Tyson turned 18, his managers negotiated for a third of his salary in perpetuity. And Tyson never even saw this contract - it was signed by Cus, with Jose Torres - the NY State Boxing Commissioner AND a former fighter trained by Cus - approving the contract

As I said, though, this book is disappointing, disappointing as in it was absolutely fascinating and then ended abruptly with Tyson's defeat of Michael Spinks to win the Undisputed Championship. At that point he's still married to Robin Givens, he's never been to Indianapolis, and Don King is still on the outside looking in. There is so much more story to tell!

With the warning that the book ends in 1986, it is a fantastic read overall - nine out of ten hot dogs!