The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) sent a letter last Thursday urging New York City prosecutors to investigate former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world “Iron” Mike Tyson’s upcoming reality television show about pigeon racing.
PETA ridiculously alleged in their message to the Brooklyn district attorney’s office that Taking on Tyson is cruel to animals and it will involve illegal gambling.
Tyson (50-6-0-2, 44 KOs) recently agreed to star in the program that is scheduled to premier in early-2011 on Animal Planet.
“I may have stopped fighting,” said Tyson, 43, still the youngest man to ever capture the heavyweight crown at 20. “But I never stopped flying birds. It’s my first love.”
Tyson, who lost three of his final four bouts as a prizefighter, retired after he suffered an embarrassing sixth round TKO loss to Kevin McBride (34-6-1, 29 KOs) in June 2005.
Despite his notorious past and villainous reputation, Tyson was purportedly not violent as a youth until a bully messed with one of his beloved pigeons.
“I rushed him and caught him flush on the temple with a titanic right hand,” recalled Tyson of the incident that ultimately spawned his livelihood as a boxer. “He was out cold, convulsing on the floor like an infantile retard. I never hurt anybody until somebody hurt one of my birds.”
Tyson estimated that he currently owns “a few hundred birds” that stay in two of his lofts in Brooklyn and Jersey City.
PETA clearly stands for a noble cause and most of their efforts are justified and honorable.
Nevertheless, in this instance, the group is clearly attempting to make an issue out of nothing.
"I don't see how racing pigeons can possibly be an issue," said Michael Cardello, a Quincy native. "Sometimes when animals are involved with other sports, I can understand there may be a concern. But, pigeon racing?!"
Filming Taking on Tyson is not exactly akin to filming Michael Vick fighting his staple of Bad Newz Kennels dogs.
This potentially intriguing show will simply concentrate on flying pigeons.
Pigeons were actually created to fly, PETA.
Comments
Are you kidding with this quote "PETA clearly stands for a noble cause and most of their efforts are justified and honorable"?
I hope you mean People Eating Tasty Animals
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