Bad Intentions: The Mike Tyson Story [Paperback]

Peter Heller (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 22, 1995

Mike Tyson is boxing's most beloved bad boy. With a history of street-gang violence, juvenile prison, sexual scandal, marital strife, courtroom battles, and imprisonment for rape, he has become one of the most publicized athletes in history. At age 23 he was already considered among the greatest prizefighters of all time, and, his career is far from over. Relying on in-depth research and interviews with those who have known Tyson at every stage of his life, Bad Intentions portrays the shy child who became a vicious street thug, discovered boxing in juvenile prison, and was brought to the attention of the legendary Cus D'Amato to be shaped to be one thing only—heavyweight champion of the world. Here is Tyson's fight-by-fight path to that goal, the millions of dollars made and fought over, the sex and violence of his personal life, and his eventual defeats both in the ring and in court. Bad Intentions is an essential read for all who would understand the ins and outs of the most controversial sport in America.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Born and raised in a Brooklyn ghetto, then sent to a reform school where he learned the rudiments of boxing, Tyson at age 14 became the protege of legendary manager Cus D'Amato, who offered training in fisticuffs and social behavior. The former training succeeded, as D'Amato predicted, in Tyson's becoming the world heavyweight champion; the latter, according to ABC sports producer Heller ( In This Corner ), has proven less satisfactory. Heller traces the champion's meteoric rise to the top, examining the role various boxing associations have played in Tyson's life. Also discussed are individuals important in Tyson's history, including Don King, his current mentor, and ex-wife Robin Givens and her mother, whose alleged venality Heller tends to soft-pedal. The result is a thorough, rather bland book. Photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

The proliferation of publications focusing on successful boxer Mike Tyson continues with this comprehensive account of his life both in and out of the ring. The author, who is a television sports producer, concentrates on the characters and personalities that helped shape the man; they range from street toughs to tutors, trainers, business associates, and relatives. He particularly dwells on the players left behind (dumped)--the many who assisted in Tyson's transformation from neighborhood bully to world champion. Whereas Phil Berger's Blood Season ( LJ 6/15/89) focused more on the business battles and Jose Torres's Fire and Fear see Prepub Alert, LJ 3/1/89 on Tyson's highly publicized character traits, Heller's book presents the entire package, providing the most definitive account yet of the young fighter's life.
- William H. Hoffman, Ft. Myers-Lee Cty. P.L., Fla.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 476 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press; Updated edition (August 22, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 030680669X
• ISBN-13: 978-0306806698
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #95,352 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Heavyweight Account, November 10, 2003

By 

Conan the Librarian (Incognito CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bad Intentions: The Mike Tyson Story (Paperback)

'Bad Intentions: The Mike Tyson Story' is an enthralling account of the boxer's rise and fall. Peter Niels Heller's assiduous scholarship and precise analyses combine to create a portrait that is both compelling and frightening. Drawn into professional boxing at the age of 19, Tyson quickly established himself as the boxer to beat. No-one could. Ultimately, he defeated himself, being sentenced to six years in prison in 1992. However, rather than surrender to the nihilism of incarceration, Tyson fought back. As Heller says on page 126, 'He was on his personal canvas, the Celestial Referee was about to count 9, and then it happened; Tyson stood up, bowed but unbeaten. With renewed energy, he determined that he would change; become a better person. The miracle had begun, and within a month he was working on a lathe in the carpentry shop, turning himself into a model prisoner first, a fruit bowl second and finally an elaborate rocking horse. So impressed were the authorities that they gave the boxer early release and a free white ant inspection.'

These days, Tyson continues to be an ornament, proudly positioned on Don King's mantlepiece.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You Must Throw Every Punch With Bad Intentions, July 12, 2004

By 

Buster Paris (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Bad Intentions: The Mike Tyson Story (Paperback)

You Must Throw Every Punch With Bad Intentions

4.75 Stars

Bad Intentions - more than just a title - it's a D'Amato philosophy.

A great quote from Cus D'Amato that stuck with throughout the book and after:

"No matter what anyone says, no matter the excuse or explanation, whatever a person does in the end is what he intended to do all along."

Really a fantastic book from the beginning - Tyson as a kid - Cus & The Kid all the way to where it ends - the rape trial and conviction. This is a great read and an attention-grabbing perspective on Tyson and those around him.

You get a deeper look at and much needed tour of D'Amato, Jacobs, Cayton, Rooney and the entire original Team Tyson line up - I can't help but wish that Mike stayed with them. These people really seemed to have his best interest in mind and truly loved him.

My one complaint is Heller's take on the rape trial - I felt he did a horrible job with the review of details and happenings - to say that Tyson's lawyer was of the same caliber of Clarence Darrow - PLEASE - the guy was Don Kings TAX attorney - he had no business defending Tyson - there were witnesses not allowed to testify, his strategy was ridiculous and there are other issues that I just wont include in this review...

I recommend this book and once I finished I wish there was more. I found it complete (for the time it covered), thorough and mostly accurate (except the trial/conviction) - it's one of those books where you feel part of the story.

Both the Tyson fan and non-fan can enjoy this book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reads like a good novel, informative but needs another update, September 3, 2005

By 

Miketheratguy (Wisconsin, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bad Intentions: The Mike Tyson Story (Paperback)

Bar none, this is the best book I've read about Tyson. It's full of facts and direct quotes from loads of people who worked with/against Tyson, as well as the man himself. It's also a great book for someone like myself- a fan who loved Tyson the boxer but always found Tyson the man to be a jerk, albeit a sometimes misunderstood one.

This book traces Tyson's history from his reckless juvenile days in the streets and the Tryon home for outcast boys, all the way up to Don King, Robin Givens, and his rape conviction. There's a subsequent update chapter that describes the goings-on after his release, but this is just a few pages long and stops before his first post-jail fight with Peter McNeely. It's interesting, but it's very short. Fortunately the book itself is a meaty several hundred pages.

Its outdatedness is the only real problem with the book. Originally written in the mid 90s, it describes everything up to his rape conviction in great detail. It reads like a page-turning novel, a tale full of treachery and corruption - the honing of a wayward youth into a disciplined fighter and his subsequent recidivism. The book is completely objective, as well. It shows us the sweet side of Tyson, and makes no bones about the fact that he had one. But it's also crystal clear that he was a beast, giving us many examples of Tyson's primitive and criminal behavior. Beloved trainer Cus D'Amoto isn't safe either, for there's evidence in this book (which I'd never seen before) that shows he wasn't just a sweet old man who took Tyson in and raised him as his own.

But in addition to discussing main characters like these, people like Robin Givens and Don King are discussed in great length as well. They emerge as the real villains of the story, as well they should. Everyone knows how badly they affected Tyson's career, and the book traces all the details of how and why. In fact, King has his own lengthy chapter, giving us a full portrait of the man's history and questionable relationships with countless people on his way to Tyson -that's how thorough this book is.

Long story short, it's a shame that this book doesn't continue past Tyson's imprisonment and brief release, because it's a greatly researched, open-minded, passionate and thorough account of Tyson's career as well as boxing itself and loads of the people on Tyson's periphery. Loaded with insight from other boxers, scholars of the sport, and many (like Teddy Atlas) who worked with Tyson himself, it's a very broad offering of information. Pick it up whether you like the man OR hate him, it's a fascinating read.