Mike's pocketful of pennies By Graham Hays Page 2 staff |
You know about Mike Tyson's fancy cars, mansions, jewelry and exotic pets -- not to mention those divorce settlements -- but it takes more than a few luxury items to squander $300 million in fight purses. It even requires more than the assistance of Don King. Just as Tyson displayed a pattern of strange behavior in his dealings with the media, fans, other boxers and generally the entire human race, the fighter's financial records reveal some bizarre spending habits. Now that Tyson has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the full story can be told. Among the more interesting expenditures:
$15,000 for anger management classes (refunded)
$39.99 -- "The Hannibal Lecter Anthology" on DVD $25,000 Financial Seminar -- Bengal Tigers: America's next meat craze. Sponsored by Don King Productions.
$587.00 -- One-way ticket from New York to La Paz, Bolivia
$5.99 -- Mr. PotatoHead figure
$100,000 Financial Seminar -- Don King's Secret to Personal Success: Vociferate lustily and carry a prodigious stick. Sponsored by Don King Productions. $48.00 -- The American Heritage College Dictionary, 4th Edition and Roget's II The New Thesaurus, 3rd edition $22.95 -- "A Revolution from Within: A Book of Self-Esteem," by Gloria Steinem
$5,565 -- Seven nights accommodations at Blackberry Farm Inn, near Pigeon Ford, Tenn.
$11.99 -- Mike Tyson's Punchout on eBay (sadly, he never learned the secret to beating Bald Bull). $9.97 -- "Before You Tattoo: Are you ready for a tattoo?" $13.95 -- "The Total Tattoo Book" $50,000 Financial Seminar -- Feel My Pain: How to increase product visibility through threats, intimidation and rhyming words. Sponsored by Don King Productions. $119.40 -- Annual subscription to NetZero (screen name: kingisadeadman)
$450.00 -- Polo Men's Alligator Belt with Sterling Silver Buckle $50,000 -- Initial investment in financing of "Gigli," starring Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck
$19.95 -- "Ali" DVD: epic Hollywood biopic starring Will Smith, nominated for Academy Award $500.00 -- One semester of comparative literature at local community college: Why the giants in Roald Dahl's "BFG" eat children. $75,000 Financial Seminar -- On Second Thought, Just Give Me a Blank Check. Sponsored by Don King Productions.
$125.96 -- "Oz: The Complete First and Second Season" DVDs $39.95 -- monthly payment to Ameridebt (soon-to-be wholly-owned subsidiary of Don King Productions) Graham Hays writes 'Out of the Box,' the inside scoop on yesterday's box scores, five days a week.
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