Rape OK, Racial Slur Not OK (my title)

ESPN.com news services ^ | Oct 12, 2001 | ESPN.com news services

[jern]

Friday, October 12
 
Tyson angered by alleged remark by Nielsen

---

ESPN.com news services

What did he say?

In an argument, Brian Nielsen used the Danish word "abekat" in describing Tyson's behavior. And when that word was then translated into "monkey man," racist allegations immediately came up and enraged Mike Tyson. The simple explanation is that "abekat," literally meaning "monkey cat," is an old-fashioned Danish word for somebody who acts foolishly or bullishly, most often when talking about kids. There is nothing racist in that unless you want to interpret it that way, but some of the press preferred to do just that. Incidentally, the word "abekat" went as far as the United Nations a while ago, because a Danish schoolteacher had used the phrase about some noisy pupils who happened to be immigrants. The pupils complained to authorities, and in the end the Danish government was reprimanded by the UN for not acting on racism in Danish schools -- apparently it was not possible to convince the experts at the UN that this was not a racist expression. The international press will surely prefer to call Nielsen's remark a "racist slur" because it is a good story and it builds up the conflict, but Nielsen's character and history of friendly relations with sparring partners like Hasim Rahman and Ray Mercer, would indicate that calling him a racist seems somewhat out of line. -- Henry Rasmussen, Europe correspondent for maxboxing.com

COPENHAGEN, Denmark -- Mike Tyson believes he has even more motivation to beat Brian Nielsen.

Tyson is enraged at Nielsen for allegedly calling him a "monkey man" during a news conference held on Friday in Copenhagen. The two are scheduled to fight on Saturday night.

At the time, no one from Tyson's camp understood what Nielsen had said, but some Danish officials later informed the Tyson camp of the meaning of Nielsen's words. Four Danish translators reviewed the audiotape of the news conference -- and confirmed Nielsen's statement.

"It is pathetic to see such ignorance in this day and age," Tyson said in a prepared statement issued at nearly 1 a.m. Copenhagen time on Friday morning. "This will make me punish him even more than I had planned."

At the weigh-in on Thursday afternoon, Tyson's co-trainer, Stacey McKinley, was seen yelling at Nielsen. Later, it was learned, Tyson bodyguard Anthony Pitts had questioned public relations workers connected with the promotion about why they had not translated what Nielsen had said about Tyson at the time. He was told they didn't speak Danish and had no idea what Nielsen had said, the Boston Globe reported.

Late Thursday night, Robert Mittleman, who represents Nielsen, refused to confirm the remark but claimed if his fighter did make such a statement, it was directed at some of Tyson's followers, who apprently had been mocking Nielsen not only at that news conference, but during nearly every encounter between the camps, the Globe reported.

"If the alleged statement is accurate, and I am in no way acknowledging that it is, I do not believe it was directed at Tyson," Mittleman told the Boston Globe. "Mike has been a complete gentleman at all times and in all dealings with both Brian and the fight promotion. If anything, Brian may have been reacting to the incessant insults aimed at him by members of Tyson's camp before and during the press conference."

 More from ESPN...

Kreidler: Mike doesn't matter
A Mike Tyson fight used to be ...

Weight is on: Tyson up to 239 pounds
Mike Tyson will fight at his ...

[The Real Deal]

I hope that Brian Nielsen knocks out Tyson in the first round.

[TMC]

Since the Left took over our government it has become more offensive and damaging to be called a racist rather than a rapist.

[kidkosmic1]

Tyson's actions are very much like an animal.

[Paul Atreides]

Anyone can make a charge of racism against a white person and it is automatically true. Yet, minorities can make racist remarks and we are just supposed to accept it and go on.

[TMC]

I forgot to mention, only Whites are racists.

[vetvetdoug]

Monkey man was a term used by the black bluesmen of the Mississippi Delta to describe a man that humped other men's wives. I would venture that term is correct in describing Mike Tyson. It amazes me when blacks that are so sensitive to terms do not know the origin or definitions of the so called offensive terms. Tyson uses his intelligence niggardly.

[glock rocks]

Yet, minorities can make racist remarks and we are just supposed to accept it and go on.

pimping for socialists, next time on oprah. is this a great country, or what?

[colormebemused]

it is and was a 'racist' comment. so what. continual blathering about the 'crackers' in georgia where I hang out, is merely 'pejorative'. but do not forget: orwell-puppets are in "control".

[Paul Atreides]

I certainly don't see any racism in the comment. Just like I didn't see any racism in the word "niggardly".

[eddie willers]

Jeeze....what if he'd had said, "Unlike Mike, I won't be a niggard with my winnings"?

[Peter Libra]

Time for me to cross into Michigan from Canada tommorrow. There is a re built ski-lodge right under the rim of now gloriously coloured hills,near a casino. They show fights at the bar there. Yep,read a story elsewhere about Tyson blowing up and smashing a mirror with a barbell. He then sat outside on a curb and cried. If it wasnt for his vile ill treatment of women, I would feel sorry for him. Article says only way the Danish boxer can win, is on a disqualification- writer concedes it could happen. Sort of reminds me when poor old Howie Cosell, said about a football player "just look at that little monkey go" He had championed Ali(Clay) when few did, for draft evasion. The press almost destroyed Cosell- hypocrites.

[eyebeme]

Change the law if you want rapists to die automatically. I would vote for that law if it ever came to a vote.

[Judge Parker]

"monkey cat"

i don't blame Tyson for not wanting to be compared to a cat.

[fone]

...if the shoe fits. . .

[lentulusgracchus]

The press aren't hypocrites. They're quite consistent in trying to force their values on other people.

[bluefish]

... He then sat outside on a curb and cried...

I had heard during his last fight in England that Tyson is on serious psychiatric meds, but when he fights, he has to be off of them for some time before hand to pass the drug evaluation stuff. In any event, his behaviour gets increasingly bizarre leading up to a fight and he is at his worst on fight day. This would explain comments like "I want to eat your children" to his next challenger, during the post-knockout interviews...