Mike Tyson and Pigeons on Animal Planet

Thought I'd forward the below about a new Animal Planet series that will feature Mike Tyson and his racing pigeons.

It'd be nice if Tyson would come out as an advocate for pigeons versus simply a racing enthusiast, but maybe the show will help garner more appreciation for pigeons from the general public.

Mike Tyson is about to embark on a new form of athletic competition, only this time he won’t be the one in training. The former heavyweight champion of the world will team up with Animal Planet to give audiences a glimpse into the fiercely competitive world of pigeon racing.

“Taking on Tyson” will follow him as he makes the foray into racing pigeons competitively, as he trains the New York City birds with a team of bird experts by his side.

The champion boxer has had a love of birds his whole life, even getting into his first physical fight as a young child in defense of his winged pals.

“Tyson’s passion for his pigeons takes my breath away,” Animal Planet Media President Marjorie Kaplan said.

And while the training will require a great deal of patience and discipline, Tyson is ready to tackle the challenge.

“To rear, train and race pigeons – or 'homers' – requires dedication and tenderness. For many pigeon racers, these avian athletes are the king of the bird world. Their intelligence, spirit, titanic bonders of loyalty and astounding homing ability sets them apart from other birds,” Kaplan said.

The show will debut in early 2011, a rep for Animal Planet said.
http://entertainment.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/03/15/mike-tyson-to-become-professional-pigeon-racer/?test=faces

Interesting find, Dan.
I know that Mike Tyson has had Pigeons for years but I haven't heard anything thing about them for a long time. I hope that the show and his passion for Pigeons can change some hearts or at least counteract the rat with wings perception shared by many of the human masses.

That's really interesting!
I'd read before that Tyson was passionate about pigeons, and this new venture should help to give pigeons a better public image. I mean, who would be brave enough to stand in front of him and call his pigeons 'rats with wings'?...

P.S. Just saw Charis's message, and it seems we were on the same wavelength precisely!

Mike Tyson has quite a loft here in AZ, not far from me. The last I heard he was going to have to move his loft. Never heard the outcome of that.

Fancyfeathers wrote:

Mike Tyson has quite a loft here in AZ, not far from me. The last I heard he was going to have to move his loft. Never heard the outcome of that.

This must be the loft Andrew Blechman tries to visit in his "Mike and Me" chapter (a play on Michael Moore's Roger and Me) in Pigeons: The Fascinating Saga of the World's Most Revered and Reviled Bird. It sounds like Animal Planet got access where Blechman didn't.
Despite Tyson's many personal shortcomings, I've always found his love for pigeons endearing. In some ways it reminds me of Marlon Brando in On the Waterfront--the pigeons revealing a softer, gentler side of an otherwise "tough" character.