re: Why is Mike Tyson viewed favorably?

But somehow he is a hero now. It’s literally unfathomable.

Because people are stupid. He is a terrible human.

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Philosophers are not usually distinguished for themselves seeking to curtail the scope of their sphere of activity, being lucid or admitting they were mistaken. Nor are they known for stopping crimes being committed by force of argument. But philosophy's wide realm always had exceptions, like this British thinker

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Sir Alfred Jules Ayer (1910-89), better known as A.J. Ayer. A visiting professor at a New York college in 1987, he was at a party held by fashion designer Fernando Sanchez, and chatting with a group of designers when a woman shouted that her friend was being assaulted in the bedroom. He went in and found Tyson harassing Campbell, who had just begun her career, and asked him to stop.

As Tyson said: "Do you know who the frick I am? I'm the heavyweight champion of the world,"

Ayer retorted: "And I am the former Wykeham Professor of Logic. We are both pre-eminent in our field; I suggest that we talk about this like rational men."

As they argued, Campbell slipped out to safety.

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He didn’t have a plan when Lennox Lewis wore his arse out

Met him at IAH and spent couple of hours talking with him. Few months later ran into him at LAS and he sent a driver to pick me at my hotel and hang out at his home.

I asked him why he seems so different from when he had problems. He said he was just an animal when he was training and boxing.

I'm the best ever. I'm the most brutal and vicious, and most ruthless champion there's ever been. There's no one can stop me. Lennox is a conqueror? No, I'm Alexander, he's no Alexander. I'm the best ever! There's never been anybody as ruthless! I'm Sonny Liston, I'm Jack Dempsey. There's no one like me. I'm from their cloth. There's no one that can match me. My style is impetuous, my defense is impregnable, and I'm just ferocious. I want your heart! I want to eat his children! Praise be to Allah!

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He definitely isn't smart.

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I disagree. Would he score a 34 on the ACT? No, but that's not the only way to define someone as smart.

A great uncle of mine quit school in 8th grade, if you saw or had a causal conversation with him you would not describe him as "smart", but he worked his arse off for a seafood company (shrimping and oysters). He only spent what he needed and saved everything he made. Bought his own boat. Several years later he bought another one then eventually started his own seafood company. He is now retired, his sons run the company, but he is worth several million. I would consider him a smart guy.

Tyson had a rough childhood. Had a long criminal record by the age of 13. He was on track to be another statistic. Instead he became one of the most dominate boxers of all time. When his trainer died, the one person he every truly trusted, he went into a dark place.

When he married and settled down she started to have a true appreciation of family. He stopped working out and gained weight. On one of his podcast I listened to, he said he has an addiction to working out and that he stopped because he didn't want it to become a priority over family. His wife suggested he just do 15-30 mins a day because he wasn't feeling himself. After only a few days of doing 30 min workouts he was back in the gym preparing as if he was preparing for a fight.

Once in the best shape as possible, at 55 he looked like he could still fight. I watched him and Roy Jones Jr fight. That was for show because I think Tyson could have laid RJJ out if he wanted to.

Again, he might not talk the queen's english or pass a calculus class, but he has more life experience than most and he is very good at what he does because he works for it. Give me that any day over someone who is just "smart".

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What the frick are you talking about

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It's oweo. He doesn't know.

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Why is Mike Tyson viewed favorably?

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It's human nature to embrace redemption stories.

Look at the reception to Tiger winning the Masters after he seemingly hit rock-bottom a couple of times.

Look at the respect Kobe received later in his life.

Tyson has similarly matured, acknowledged his shortcomings, and done well for himself after all the turmoil earlier in his life. People like that.