Mike Tyson is doing a reality show on racing pigeon

This just disgusts me.

[url] http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/03/04/mike-tyson-pigeon-racing-reality-show/[/url]

Mike Tyson talks about his new pigeon-racing reality show. Really.
by Dan Snierson
Categories: Reality TV, Television
Comments 1 Add comment.Image Credit: Eric Ogden/Animal PlanetIf you’ve always dreamed of a reality series involving Mike Tyson and pigeons, well…. you have weird dreams. But Animal Planet just might have a show for you. Premiering Sunday at 10 p.m. ET/PT, Taking on Tyson follows the famous/infamous ex-heavyweight champion — and subject of the 2008 documentary Tyson — around his old Brooklyn neighborhood and beyond as he immerses himself in the world of pigeon racing. (Fact: Tyson got into his first fight at age 11 when a bully ripped the head off of one of his pet pigeons.) And now, some highlights from EW’s brief yet rather informative chat with Tyson.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Mike Tyson and pigeons. What’s going on here?
MIKE TYSON: At first when I wanted to do it, I said, “Wow, this is a chance for me to do something, and I can pay some bills.” But what they’re going to see is a candid guy. They may not like that guy. He’s pretty vulnerable and stupid at certain points, but it’s pretty interesting. Besides the information about the pigeons, it’s almost like people taking a camera and watching me. [I compete with] guys that have been doing this hobby for all their lives, guys that want to win and brag about their win. It’s a weird, eclectic group of people, I would say myself.

Will this series show a different side of you?
It’s just what I am as a normal person. This is what I love to do — this is a hobby I do with childhood friends, we battle against other friends. It’s a really ancient sport, before Christ even. Pigeons have had [their] place during some memorable moments in history — the pigeons were very necessary for the Crusades…. What was interesting was when Napoleon fought [the Duke of] Wellington, and when Wellington won the war, somebody was spying for the Rothschilds. He released a pigeon, the pigeon went back to the Rothschild’s coop, and they got the information before anybody else that Wellington had won, and these guys bet their whole life fortune on the war. That’s why they were able to make such a mass fortune.

How much of the show will be about pigeon racing versus your daily life?
It’s a little bit of everything. It’s just me, pretty much cleancut, telling the truth about anything anybody asks me. It’s interesting insight…. They come visit me in England, on a personal tour. You won’t see big mansions or Rolls-Royces. That Mike Tyson is dead and went to devil a long time ago. You’re going to see some dirty guys with pigeon s— on them, working the real deal…. It’s not labeled a reality show — it’s labeled a mini-documentary. Everything is a reality show on television. Even the news. CNN is a reality show. It’s just not labeled a realty show, you know? I don’t mind being in a reality show, I just don’t like the label of reality shows. Some people are schmucks but they just don’t like the label of it. It’s all about the label in this country.

Does pigeon racing get pretty competitive?
Oh yeah. Some of the people want to fight, they hate each other. Some people think people are cheating. You gotta meet this character, Joe Green. We all despise Joe because Joe is a very nice guy but he’s a very discreet braggart, you know? Very classy braggart…. They had me saying some derogatory things to somebody I really don’t even know that well because you get jealous. I’m jealous that [Joe] keeps winning. I’m a novice and they’ve got me going against guys who’ve been racing pigeons for 25 years. We keep playing this guy, this guy beats everybody, so I said, “This should be the f—ing Joe Green show instead of the Mike Tyson show!”

Why do you love pigeons so much?
I don’t know. When the guys introduced me to pigeons, they were talking about pigeons like some trainers would be talking about a world class fighter. “Oh, look at his moves!” “Oh, son of a Female dog! Nobody can touch him!” It’s the same way. There are people bragging about this bird like he’s a world champion fighter, and to be honest with you, some of these birds are world champions.

What can we expect from your role in The Hangover 2?
It’s going to be amazing. I play Mike Tyson and playing Mike Tyson, you’re liable to see anything. That’s the privilege I have of being Mike Tyson.

Are there pigeons instead of tigers?
[teasing] You gotta watch! I’m also lined up to do Men in Black 3.

Playing yourself?
Probably an alien or something. I have no idea. But we’ll find out one day.

Personally....I'm not a fan of Mike Tyson. My sister saw the program and loved it. I did not see it. There has been a lot of controversy about this program since it was announced by Animal Planet last year.
Here's a promo...

http://animal.discovery.com/tv/taking-on-tyson/#mkcpgn=semapl3

It hasn't aired here yet, I plan to watch it when it does, then I'll give my opinion.

I'm not a fan of boxing & usually those that are in the sport, much less those who bite others ears off.

I also don't believe every word that is written, I just plain don't trust reporters.

Plain & simple, if this show shines a good positive light on pigeons I'll be its #1 fan, if not I won't watch it again.

I too will reserve my opinion until after I see the show.

First episode airs on Animal Planet tomorrow night.

I am no fan of Mike Tyson, but if this program sheds a positive note about pigeons, and raises the general publics awareness...... I'm all for it.


Louise

My biggest worry is that the program will motivate some to buy pigeons without realizing all that is involved in caring for them. Kind of like, all the Dalmatians purchased after Disney's 101 Dalmatians.
Here...it's chickens...everyone has chickens, it seems...70% of them living in horrible conditions.

Matilda wrote:

My biggest worry is that the program will motivate some to buy pigeons without realizing all that is involved in caring for them. Kind of like, all the Dalmatians purchased after Disney's 101 Dalmatians.
Here...it's chickens...everyone has chickens, it seems...70% of them living in horrible conditions.

Unfortunatly that happens when any celeb is shown with an animal, eveybody wants one without any much if any research about the aniaml.

I agree, Robin.

I think Animal Planet, in general, has become more exploitative toward animals the past few years and I seldom watch the channel.

I won't get to see it, at least not in the foreseeable future, so I'll wait to hear your opinions.
I know PETA don't think much about Tyson's hobby, so I hope he's not one of these who culls lesser birds. I hope the programme will shed a better light on pigeons and won't encourage irresponsibility.

It would be upfair to judge the show before it even airs, so I will also waive any comments.

Teresa wrote:

I won't get to see it, at least not in the foreseeable future, so I'll wait to hear your opinions.
I know PETA don't think much about Tyson's hobby, so I hope he's not one of these who culls lesser birds.

I hope the programme will shed a better light on pigeons and won't encourage irresponsibility.

I hope so too, Teresa.

Matilda wrote:

I think Animal Planet, in general, has become more exploitative toward animals the past few years and I seldom watch the channel.

I think too many of their shows are useless for the betterment of the animals or giving the correct facts about animals to the public.

Its all a $$$$ game.

I agree with you Robin.

I guess I'll be the first person to tell you all what I thought of the first "Tyson" show...

I thought it was very interesting, racing was why my DH & I came back to the pigeon world. I found it very interesting to see the different roof top lofts & how Tyson's pigeon coach stressed that the birds must have good food, vitamins & a very clean loft to be healthy, I feel these are excellent points to stress for any beginner or anyone that thinks they can throw a few seeds & water at the pigeon and it will be healthy.

I only hope that the program will continue to show a positive light on pigeon keeping.[u]

Good feed back, Robin. I didn't watch it. I fell asleep but I think I can find it on line.
I my friend Deena, form Boston is coming for a visit this week and I'll probably catch up next week after she goes home.

I saw episode 2. I felt it seemed to be more about Mike and his desire to win, than about the pigeons.

Episode 2 is coming this weekend, but I did manage to see the first episode. It was mostly about Mike turning over a new leaf and the like, and since I'm not interested in his life or what he does, I found it a bit boring to keep hearing about his childhood, etc. However, it was nice to see the pigeons although I don't really agree with pigeon racing (I feel it is cruel to force the pigeons into that situation - taking away from mates, etc). There aren't any pigeon programmes about so I was happy to see pigeons protrayed in a positive light.

I'm still not sure 100% whether the programme will have a good effect on people or not. On the one hand, it's nice to see people talking about pigeons as being loyal, beautiful, and healthy, so maybe the general public will realise that pigeons are just that. On the other hand, the programme may encourage people to race pigeons and I don't like animal exploitation.

I think I'll watch the following episodes simply to see more pigeons.

(These may be rather strong thoughts, however, I'm not an animal activist rather someone who wishes people could enjoy animals in an non-exploitative way. I have no problems with people keeping animals as pets as long as they are providing them with as natural environment as they can and allowing them to express their natural behaviours. )

That sounds rather hopeful, Revati. 'Loyal, beautiful and healthy' is a good way to start. And the advice about how to keep pigeons is very positive.
I am not a fan of pigeon racing either, but I have to admit that, if the 'sport' didn't exist pigeons would have less rights and less choices of quality food, supplements and medicine. Most of the supplies I can get for mine are manufactured for the pigeon racing industry.
Ever the optimist, I hope that pigeon keeping or love for pigeons will one day overtake pigeon racing, but in the short term it makes sense to expect pigeons to be shown in a positive light, as those racers who treat their pigeons as objects (the majority, unfortunately) are well aware that voices will be raised in objection to their negative practices.

Teresa wrote:

That sounds rather hopeful, Revati. 'Loyal, beautiful and healthy' is a good way to start. And the advice about how to keep pigeons is very positive.
I am not a fan of pigeon racing either, but I have to admit that, if the 'sport' didn't exist pigeons would have less rights and less choices of quality food, supplements and medicine. Most of the supplies I can get for mine are manufactured for the pigeon racing industry.
Ever the optimist, I hope that pigeon keeping or love for pigeons will one day overtake pigeon racing, but in the short term it makes sense to expect pigeons to be shown in a positive light, as those racers who treat their pigeons as objects (the majority, unfortunately) are well aware that voices will be raised in objection to their negative practices.

That's very true indeed! Without the industry a lot more people would hate pigeons. At least that's one positive thing about pigeon racing. I have no experience with pigeon racing and don't know anyone personally who does it, so I really don't like to say too much negative things about it. I'm sure there are some pigeon racing people who really love pigeons, and I'm sure there are those who, like you say, treat their pigeons as objects.

I think that people can see that Mike Tyson loves his pigeons and it shows on his face - this is why I think the programme might be good in one way. The second episode is coming this evening so I'll tune in to see what else happens.

Teresa wrote:

That sounds rather hopeful, Revati. 'Loyal, beautiful and healthy' is a good way to start. And the advice about how to keep pigeons is very positive.

I am not a fan of pigeon racing either, but I have to admit that, if the 'sport' didn't exist pigeons would have less rights and less choices of quality food, supplements and medicine.

Most of the supplies I can get for mine are manufactured for the pigeon racing industry.
Ever the optimist, I hope that pigeon keeping or love for pigeons will one day overtake pigeon racing, but in the short term it makes sense to expect pigeons to be shown in a positive light, as those racers who treat their pigeons as objects (the majority, unfortunately) are well aware that voices will be raised in objection to their negative practices.

Although I'm not a big fan of pigeon racing either, you have brought up an excellent point, Teresa.
Most of us, and the non racing pigeons that we all try to hlep, would be in a world of hurt if there were no 'racing pigeon' supply houses.