Even Young Eyes See Old Problem

As I watched the news reports about [Mike] Tyson being disqualified in the third round of his championship bout with Evander Holyfield for biting Holyfield’s ear, I thought to myself, “What must Tyson have been thinking?!” I was as flabbergasted as Sugar Ray Leonard.

The next day, however, as I watched my eight-year-old son play hockey in Mission Hills, I began to understand Tyson’s mind-set. I watched, sadly, as my son and other seven- and eight-year-olds rammed one another into the Plexiglas, which separates these young warriors from the spectators, to the cheers of hockey moms, grandparents and coaches.

While sports pundits, newscasters and the Boxing Commission try to decide what Tyson’s fate should be, the rest of us should be deciding how all this affects our young athletes, and how much more we are willing to support through ticket sales and pay-per-view dollars.

As a society we have raised, and continue to raise, a generation of male perpetrators who have a distorted perception of the appropriateness of violence. We should remember, we get what we create.

And, to the so-called “professional athletes” who fight on the ice, squabble on the diamond and head-butt on the field, young ones are watching you and you should think about the message you are sending. You have the responsibility which comes, unfortunately, with your notoriety.

Athletes should know, however, that sports fans are growing weary of such antics, and some may be ready to consider a boycott of pay-per-view boxing. This is not the first pay-per-view fiasco, nor will it be the last so long as dollars can be made.

Finally, Tyson and athletes like him make a great argument for not needing any other professional sports team in Los Angeles.

GIL CONTRERAS

Van Nuys