Dear Ferret Folks-

I did not clearly remember the story of Mike Tyson and the ferrets, so
I looked it up. Here is the outcome to a sad, abusive story.

http://www.ferret.org/newsletter/2000/0100tyson.pdf

Tyson avoided any prosecution (A, because he was wealthy, (B, because
he was wealthy, and (C, because he has wealthy. The official line was
that it wasn't possible to determine who was in charge of feeding the
ferrets, so no charges were leveled. Apparently nobody was responsible
enough to feed the ferrets, so they didn't get fed.

Here is a site describing Tyson's activities over the years. The ferret
incident is on the first page. It's page after page of violent,
bizarre, deranged behavior. I actually feel sorry for him because that
is his *life*. What a wretched life. And how wretched that boxing and
entertainment promoters, knowing that they can squeeze a buck out of
him, put him in front of the public eye and wait for him to go bug*hit
for the crowd's pleasure.

http://boxing.about.com/od/records/a/tyson_timeline.htm

As a mentally ill person it distresses me that Tyson is exploited in
this fashion. Everyone knows that he cannot control his behavior, and
will eventually do something appalling. That's what the people who put
together this new show with him are counting on. It gets ratings. It's
a freakshow, like the bearded lady or a set of co-joined twins. How
cynical, how sad.

Alexandra in MA

[Posted in FML 6976]