Mike Tyson and Michael Jordan are two of the most distinguished athletes of all time, who have graced their respective sports and gained immeasurable admiration from the worldwide fanbase and the sports communities. Both of these stars are known for their great personalities and charismatic nature. However, the past holds some shady tales which might sound quite incompatible with their sheen reputation.
Back in 1988, when Tyson was already at the peak of his career and was considered the most dangerous man on earth while Jordan was merely an emerging youngster. There was a time when they had a ceremonial meeting at Chicago Bears star Richard Dent’s birthday dinner in the city. Despite all the party vibes, the party soon took a dramatic turn when Tyson threatened to beat Jordan up for dating his ex-wife Robin Givens. While Michael Jordan dated the ‘Head of the Class’ star in his early NBA career, Tyson married her in February 1988 before the two parted ways a year later in February 1989.
Mike Tyson and his wife Robin Givens in Moscow, 1987 pic.twitter.com/XT400zXNZl
— Soviet Visuals (@sovietvisuals) February 5, 2018
It was the alcohol that propelled the star to act like that, claimed his manager Rory Holloway in a book he co-wrote, which featured many other crazy stories from the life of the boxing legend, titled – ‘Taming the Beast: The Untold Story of Mike Tyson’.
He said, “Mike Tyson’s sitting there with his drink of choice, a Long Island Tea, and when he drinks his real feelings come out. I’m telling the server to water his drinks down cause I see where this is going. Mike stares across the table at Michael Jordan. He says, ‘Hey man, you think I’m stupid? I know you f—-d with my b—h.’ Jordan looks like he just seen a ghost. ‘I know you messed with her,’ Mike says. ‘You can tell me.’ Jordan, it’s obvious he just wants to get up and run.”
However, being involved with Givens is not the only thing these athletes have in common. In an appearance on a Club Shay Shay episode, the host asked Tyson if he liked Jordan because of sharing the same name “Mike”, followed by the question of who is his favorite basketball player to which Tyson replied Jordan. He then laughed and added that “We were born in the same hospital.” Needless to say that they have put their dispute long behind them.
