Mike Tyson: Lance Armstrong an "awesome human being"
Mike Tyson on WLNY-TV's "The Couch." / WLNY-TV
Since he confessed to doping in an Oprah Winfrey interview two weeks ago, it's safe to say Lance Armstrong lost a lot of his fans.
One fellow athlete, however, came to the disgraced cyclist's defense: Mike Tyson.
The retired heavyweight boxing champion, whose own controversial career included a prison stint, told CBS New York affiliate WLNY-TV that he thinks Armstrong will make it to the other side of the scandal a stronger person.
Lance Armstrong's doping denials through the years
"He is an awesome human being," Tyson said. "We're all human beings, we're all going to make mistakes. We're not perfect, and neither is Lance."
CBS New York reports Tyson was hesitant to label Armstrong a "cheater" and encouraged others to support the cyclist, who was stripped of all seven Tour de France titles.
"I think that people that are his friends, should still be his friends," Tyson said. "He's going to get bashed for awhile, so if you're truly his friend, try to help him absorb the blows."
Tyson appeared on the show to promote his new Broadway show "Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth."
- Watch: Mike Tyson: I love my tattoo
- Mike Tyson talks Broadway show Twitter threats
- Mike Tyson on the hardest fight of his life
Watch the entire WLNY-TV segment below:
Popular on CBSNews.com
-
Photos: Underground shots of NYC's Second Ave. subway project New York City's Second Ave. subway was first conceived almost a century ago and when it is completed, it will extend all the way down the eastern side of Manhattan with 16 new stations. CBS News' Don Dahler reports on one of the most challenging public works projects in the country.
- Report: U.S. teacher training an "industry of mediocrity"
- Day care worker accused of drugging snacks for nap-time
- FAA approval sought for 650-foot-tall Vegas thrill ride
- Girl who lost feet in lawnmower gets prosthetics
- Shock as alleged Nazi unit leader, 94, found in U.S
- Feds digging in Mich. field for Jimmy Hoffa's remains
- Tornado briefly touches down on Denver airport runways
- Report: Pregnant workers face routine discrimination
With comments like, "I could sell out Madison Square Garden, masturbating!"
Damn it!!..I knew I should have gone!!!! NOT!!!!!
I think too much cocaine scrambled his brain (If he has one),,Poetic, don't you think??
Apparently he's quite open talking about all the controversial parts of his life, including his incarceration, venereal disease, splashing out $100,000 on prostitutes...I think I'll stay at home with my girlfriend of 11 years and play with my train set! ;o))
people should just forget about this, and concentrate on their own fitness for a change. people have too much time caring about this, rather they should just go biking and get fit instead!
Unbelievable.
Karma's a @#$@@. Just don't be too upset someday bicycle ranger when that overweight soccer mom with the minivan and 3 kids accidentally puts you in the hospital because you were in the road pushing the envelope because it's your world and everyone else is just living in it.
Excellent post.
I can't stand him.
probably using LA to get us to actually pay attn to him.
now i'm going to run out and buy me some of those tickets to his show. not.