Thursday, May 28, 2009

Exodus


The Facts:

PHOENIX (AP) - The 4 year old daughter of former Heavyweight Champion Mike Tyson died at a hospital on Tuesday, a day after her neck apparently got caught in a treadmill cord at her Phoenix home, police said. Mike Tyson left Las Vegas for Phoenix upon hearing of his daughter's accident. (Ross D. Franklin/Associated Press)

Exodus Tyson had been on life support and police have said their investigation showed her injury on Monday was a tragic accident. "There are no words to describe the tragic loss of our beloved Exodus," the family said in a statement. "We ask you now to please respect our need at this very difficult time for privacy to grieve and try to help each other heal."

Police said Exodus either slipped or put her head in the loop of a cord hanging under the console. Her 7-year-old brother found her and told their mother. She took Exodus off the cord, called police and tried to revive her. The responding officers and firefighters performed CPR as they took the girl to the hospital.

Tyson was in Las Vegas at the time of the accident and flew on Monday to Phoenix. The family's home is in a modest, quiet neighborhood. Neighbors say they saw Tyson there from time to time and the children played outside regularly. Dinka Radic, who lives across the street, says the little girl would ask her if she had any chocolate in the house. When Radic would get some and give it to her, Exodus would hug the woman's knees and "kiss, kiss, kiss."

"She would say 'hi' to everybody. She was really friendly," said Abdul Khalik, 53, who lives next door. He said Exodus rode her bicycle in the neighborhood and often played with his two children and his niece. He said his 14-year-old daughter had cried all day after hearing of Exodus' death. Ben Brodhurst, 20, who lives across the street, said Exodus and her family went trick-or-treating at his house the last couple of Halloweens. She was "very lively, very enjoyable to be around," he said.

The neighborhood contrasts starkly with the lavish lifestyle Tyson had through his tumultuous years of boxing, when he spent tens of millions of dollars and says he had millions more stolen from him by unscrupulous associates. During two years at the height of his career, he earned $140 million.

The death of his child in such an unusual accident adds an awful chapter to the boxer's troubled life. Tyson first began boxing in a facility for juvenile delinquents in upstate New York at the age of 12. Eight years later, he became the youngest Heavyweight Champion ever when he knocked out Trevor Berbick in 1986. But in 1990, he was defeated by James "Buster" Douglas in one of the biggest upsets in boxing history and soon after, he was convicted of raping a beauty pageant contestant in Indianapolis.

Tyson, who still denies he raped the woman, served three years in prison. As his career continued so, did his bizarre behavior. He bit off a piece of Evander Holyfield's ear during a boxing match and once threatened to eat the children of Heavyweight Champion Lennox Lewis. Although Tyson's children had lived in their unassuming neighborhood for several years, he purchased a separate home in the posh Phoenix suburb of Paradise Valley in 2005 for $2.1 million, selling it two years later for $2.3 million.

In November 2007, Tyson spent 24 hours in Maricopa County's jail after pleading guilty to one count of cocaine possession and one misdemeanor count of driving under the influence. Police found the drug when they pulled over Tyson's car after he left a Scottsdale night club. At Tyson's sentencing hearing, nearly a year after the arrest, his attorney David Chesnoff said his client had taken 29 drug tests without a relapse and was attending Alcoholic Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous meetings. "He's tried his hardest, despite coming from almost impossible beginnings" Chesnoff said.

My Commentary:

The above is an excerpt from the AP story that ran yesterday concerning the death of Mike Tyson's daughter. Why they felt the need to bring up his decade old rape trial and conviction is beyond my understanding. Everybody knows who Mike Tyson is and his past legal troubles have no bearing on this situation. This was and should just be about little Exodus.

I don't want to read any self-righteous posts (written mostly by people who don't have any children) asking... Where was the mother? Who lets a 4 year old run around unsupervised (or what have you) ? This was an accident. People who have toddlers and small children know that they get into everything and that if you blink, a small child can be into something. Such was the case here. To second guess that mother, who I know already feels bad enough is criminal.

I mourn little Exodus and I also grieve for Mike Tyson... a guy who has already lost more than he should ever have to lose in his lifetime.

28 comments:

SLC said...

Great points Keith. I have a four year old that tries to hang with his three older siblings, and is very inquisitive which I like, though it scares me sometimes. I can't relate to the boxer, only the daddy and mommy. They'll be in my prayers.

All I have to say about the insensitivity of the AP is

ZACK said...

This is definitely a sad story.

My heart goes out to the family. But it's interesting to see the perspective that you and SLC have to offer.

Yet, I think that we can't judge them; we just have to pray for them.

~~ said...

Yes this was very tragic!

James Perkins said...

I agree whole heartedly.

Simon Bastion said...

This was a sad thing!

Grover Tha Playboy said...

Man, when I heard the news I was floored. I agree, this shouldn't be about Iron Mike, but about his poor little daughter..It aint his fault though...It's the media.

Jazzy said...

My Nephews and neices are toddlers and I have to watch them constantly when my sister isn't around...I know exactly what you're talkin about.

Swaggie said...

I'm saying a prayer for Mike Tyson and his family...This was an incredible tragedy.

Tate2 said...

Such a terrible thing to happen.

Sean said...

I can't imagine the devesatation of losing a child.

Captain Jack said...

Truly tragic and devestating. My Prayers go out to Mike Tyson.

Toni said...

My Heart and prayers go out to Mike Tyson and His Family.

Sunflower said...

I must say that I am surprised at the sensitivity of so many of your male readers Keith. This truly was a sad event. I pray for the healing of Mike Tyson and his family.

Angie B. said...

My heart goes out to the family.

Halo said...

The news broke my heart,mae me want to cry!

Lisa said...

Keith, you understand..As a parent and now I guess as a grand parent..
(Still can't believe you have grands Keith)How little children can sometimes just get away from you. I read a few posts yesterday from other bloggers wanting to blame the mom...I'm glad you understand.

Vanessa said...

Timely Post as to be expected. My heart goes out to the Tyson Family!

Cheryl said...

Just a tragedy..all I can say!

Brenda said...

I may have to be the one voice to disagree with you slightly Keith.
While my heart does go out to the Tyson family , it is still important to keep a close watch over the littlest of toddlers at all times for that very reason you stated..They get into everything..
I'm not tryin to sound self righteous..I'm just stating a fact.
I'm not condemning the mother..well not completely...

Anonymous said...

It is a tragic story. No parent wants to think that they would be burying their child. My heart definitely goes out to the family.

I can understand people saying that you have to keep a close eye on young children, but you can't be everywhere at once and watch them 24/7. Unfortunately accidents happen.

Arlene said...

Great post Keith although I was expecting some commentary on the "abducted by Black men" hoax so I could be "self-righteous" about that issue.
I can't imagine how it feels to lose your child to death in such a horrible, though accidental, way. Let's all pray for God's peace for this family. As an aside, we should also be careful in naming our children. Was this name prophetic in some way?
Love you Kiddo.

SLC said...

I could never blame the mom without someone telling me she was drunk, or had left the kids home alone. It's bad enough to suffer the loss of a child but then to have others blame you as if you were criminally negligent, when you were fixing lunch or doing another load of laundry, is just adding salt to a deep wound. While I'm an extremely paranoid father of four, I'm slowly realizing I can't be everywhere at one time, so I pray to the One who is.

Anonymous said...

You read my post so you know how I feel.

Prayers to Mike and his family.

Strongblkwmn said...

My heart goes out to the family in their time of mourning. As I read the story I was wondering why you were bringing up Tyson's past. I should have known you didn't write it. It's a shame that they chose to go that route. The man just lost his four year old daughter.

Dan said...

Unfortunately these things sometimes happen. It doesn't make anyone a bad parent. It's just a freak occurrence.

Mike seems to have really made great strides in getting his life back together and this is a tough blow.

I hope he can keep himself together and stay with the family that he still has.

E.M.H. said...

I agree..it was a very tragic accident. I hope I never experience the loss of my child. My prayers go out to Tyson, Exodus' mother, and the rest of their family. No matter Tyson's past...that had nothing to do with his daughter's life and what the family is experiencing now.

Mizrepresent said...

Keith,

I really hated this article, from the very first time i read it. Because while i was sympathizing with Tyson and the family, they (the media) was blasting Tyson about his past. It doesn't matter about his past when a young innocent is lost and yet the media and people seem to only want to remember and concentrate on Tyson's deeds or misdeeds instead of having any compassion for a father who has lost a child. Sadly i am seeing more of this everyday. People in general are less forgiving, less compationate and over-the-top judgemental. It is a said case for sure, but we can't let there misguided ways become our ways...we are a compassionate and loving people. We are children of God and should act like such at all costs.



May God bless Exodus and keep the rest of us.

Angel said...

What a sad, tragic ACCIDENT (note the captial letters) you are right though, why bring up all that other stuff?




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