The Tyson Zone: Difference between revisions

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''Some celebrities allow their reputation to become so bizarre that any story about them is believable. These celebrities have entered [[The Tyson Zone]].''

''Some celebrities allow their reputation to become so bizarre that any story about them is believable. These celebrities have entered '''The Tyson Zone'''.''

The term was created by commentator [[The Sports Guy|Bill Simmons]] in honor of heavyweight boxer [[Exactly What It Says on the Tin|Mike Tyson]]. Examples of Tysonic behavior include offering a zoo handler money to box a gorilla, threatening to eat an opponent's children, biting said opponent in the ring, saying you're ready to "fight [[Jesus]]", or blowing $300 million on [[Hookers and Blow|hookers, cocaine]] [[Arson, Murder, and Jaywalking|and an enormous collection of]] [[Crowning Moment of Heartwarming|pigeons]].<ref>The man loves the birds. Even before boxing.</ref> And yes, Tyson did ''all'' of these things ''and more''.

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== Actors ==

* [[Mel Gibson]] has steadily become this, for all the most unflattering imaginable reasons.

* After [[Charlie Sheen]]'s much publicized 2011 cocaine binge, Bill Simmons himself suggested that it may be time for Sheen to become the new [[Trope Namer]]. Though he put a [http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/110204&sportCat=nfl hilarious condition] (4th question there) for Sheen to take Tyson's ~~title -- with~~ the observation "[[Tempting Fate|Let's hope I didn't just challenge him]]".

* After [[Charlie Sheen]]'s much publicized 2011 cocaine binge, Bill Simmons himself suggested that it may be time for Sheen to become the new [[Trope Namer]]. Though he put a [http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/110204&sportCat=nfl hilarious condition] (4th question there) for Sheen to take Tyson's title—with the observation "[[Tempting Fate|Let's hope I didn't just challenge him]]".

** They even met in [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIZ0GuTXMMQ this old clip from HBO]. [[Hilarious in Hindsight]]?

** Jossed after Tyson's performance at [[Comedy Central]]'s roast of Sheen. Charlie came off as collected and lucid, whereas Tyson was giggling like an axe murderer and at one point heckled '''himself'''. Your winner and STILL zone champion, "Iron" Mike Tyson.

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* Manny Ramirez.

* Ben Roethlisberger. It's not that you'll believe any story about things he did, but that [[Weirdness Magnet|you'll believe any story about things that happened to him]].

* Ron Artest/[http://www.tmz.com/2011/06/23/ron-artest-world-peace-name-change-los-angeles-lakers-l-a/ Metta World Peace]<ref> Seriously. It's kind of hilarious, actually, since announcers started saying things like "World Peace for 3"...at first with all kinds of subtle jokes, and then seriously after all the jokes got old...which is itself kinda funny.</ref>. And the name change isn't the most infamous thing about him. Remember he started a brawl on a basketball court ''with a fan several rows back in the stands''.

* Ron Artest/[http://www.tmz.com/2011/06/23/ron-artest-world-peace-name-change-los-angeles-lakers-l-a/ Metta World Peace].<ref>Seriously. It's kind of hilarious, actually, since announcers started saying things like "World Peace for 3"...at first with all kinds of subtle jokes, and then seriously after all the jokes got old...which is itself kinda funny.</ref> And the name change isn't the most infamous thing about him. Remember he started a brawl on a basketball court ''with a fan several rows back in the stands''.

* Brian Wilson from the San Francisco Giants cultivates this image, probably/hopefully for humor's sake.

* The University of Miami ([[Only in Florida|Florida]]) football team, especially after [http://sports.yahoo.com/investigations/news;_ylt=AoiNFeP.T3Vh1OTzpWGngmM7MuB_?slug=cr-renegade_miami_booster_details_illicit_benefits_081611 the Nevin Shapiro illicit benefits] allegations. But the craziness stretches back decades...

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== Musicians ==

* Any of the original members of [[Motley Crue]].

* [[Michael Jackson]]. In [[The Eighties]], he ''encouraged'' this image by creating fake ~~eccentricities -- sleeping~~ in a hyperbaric chamber, trying to buy the Elephant Man's ~~remains -- knowing~~ it would garner lots of publicity in the tabloids. What truly makes him zone-worthy is that we know he actually did the following things:

* [[Michael Jackson]]. In [[The Eighties]], he ''encouraged'' this image by creating fake eccentricities—sleeping in a hyperbaric chamber, trying to buy the Elephant Man's remains—knowing it would garner lots of publicity in the tabloids. What truly makes him zone-worthy is that we know he actually did the following things:

** Owned a pet chimp named Bubbles, for whom he would have custom suits tailored, since he frequently took the animal to public appearances. This was just one of many exotic pets he owned over the years, to the point that a [[Saturday Morning Cartoon]] and toy line based on them were being developed in [[The Eighties]].

** Created the Neverland Ranch mansion/zoo/amusement park complex to live in.

** Had giant statues of himself built and trucked around the world (including down the River Thames) to promote 1995's ''HIStory''.

** Had ''tons'' of plastic surgery, although [[Implausible Deniability|he denied most of it]]. A related issue was how he chose to handle his vitiligo, which started destroying the pigmentation of his skin in [[The Eighties]] ~~-- he~~ bleached the rest of it to an alarming whiteness.

** Had ''tons'' of plastic surgery, although [[Implausible Deniability|he denied most of it]]. A related issue was how he chose to handle his vitiligo, which started destroying the pigmentation of his skin in [[The Eighties]]—he bleached the rest of it to an alarming whiteness.

** Dangled his then-infant son over a hotel balcony in Berlin so fans below could see ~~him -- although~~ "Blanket" was largely covered by a real blanket when he did so, so what was the point?

** Dangled his then-infant son over a hotel balcony in Berlin so fans below could see him—although "Blanket" was largely covered by a real blanket when he did so, so what was the point?

** Never let his kids go out in public with him without masks or veils. His concern that the kids could be targets for kidnapping or worse ''was'' ~~valid -- but~~ those masks and veils attracted a lot of attention anyway. (The masks disappeared after his death.)

** Never let his kids go out in public with him without masks or veils. His concern that the kids could be targets for kidnapping or worse ''was'' valid—but those masks and veils attracted a lot of attention anyway. (The masks disappeared after his death.)

** Claimed that Tommy Mottola, head of Sony Music, was a racist who had deliberately sabotaged the release of 2001's ''Invincible'' because Jackson was black (said sabotage, if true, had more to do with Jackson choosing to part ways with Sony ''before'' the album hit shelves). A notorious quote: "He's a mean [sp.], he's a racist, and he's very, very, very devilish."

** Admitted that he had sleepovers with child friends, letting them use his bed and even ''sharing'' it with them in some cases. The 2003 interview containing this revelation came almost a decade '''after''' he had settled out of court with the family of a boy who accused him of molesting him. By the end of '03, a ''second'' investigation into child molestation allegations resulted in an arrest and trial (he was found not guilty), which led to him...