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Grambling coach offers to "help" Tyson
MOTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) <> Legendary Grambling football coach Eddie Robinson has offered to help Mike Tyson get his life straightened out.Speaking at the Southwestern Athletic Conference media day, Robinson said he was deeply disturbed to see Tyson bite off a chunk of Evander Holyfield's ear during the notorious June 28 heavyweight bout.
Robinson, the winningest coach in college football history and an avid boxing fan, said he contacted promoter Don King with his offer to help Tyson, who had his boxing license revoked for biting Holyfield.
"I'm concerned about Tyson," Robinson said Monday at Alabama State University. "The young man needs help and I'm willing to reach out and counsel him."
Robinson sid he was shocked to see Tyson's disrespect for boxing and his own career.
"I believe someone has got to get to Tyson before it's too late," Robinson said. "He has no one around him whom he respects. He has a bunch of young guys wearing pretty suits, but he has no respect for them. King needs to get somebody Mike respects."
Robinson, who has won a record 405 games in 54 years at Grambling, is no stranger to "coaching" boxers. He said he has counseled Sugar Ray Leonard and George Foreman.
In fact, Robinson said, Leonard has donated more than $250,000 to Grambling.
"When Foreman was with boxing promoter Mike Jacobs he invited me to visit with George and help coach him, not in boxing, but about life," Robinson said.
"Without Tyson, boxing is in trouble but Mike needs to forget about boxing for now and go to college and get an education. He talks well but there's something missing."