Saturday, August 24, 2013

Mike Tyson makes up with Teddy Atlas

Mike Tyson has come a long way. From being the youngest heavyweight champion to living recklessly to trying to make things right in his life.

Tyson, who says he's trying to recover from being a "vicious alcoholic", has made peace with his former trainer Teddy Atlas.

"Life is short; I made amends with everybody," Tyson told ESPN's Todd Grisham on 'Friday Night Fights' at Turning Stone Casino in Verona, N.Y.

"I'm recovering and I'm gonna die. If I don't follow my steps, I'm useless."

Tyson was making his debut as a fight promoter.

Atlas and Tyson buried the hatchet after a long simmering feud. Atlas and Tyson had a falling out following an incident in which Atlas has said Tyson approached a young girl, who was a relative of Atlas' wife, in a crude manner. In his biography, Atlas recalled borrowing a .38 from a friend, tracking down Tyson one night in 1982, telling him to smarten up and firing the gun, deliberately missing.

"Mike has always been looking for an escape, a trap door," Atlas said of Tyson in 2003. "He always lacked one essential ingredient in [situations of] building character: the ability to confront himself."

Tyson admitted to "being wrong" and said that Atlas was important to him back then. That was before he got involved with Don King and other shady characters.

"I have a lot of pain, and I just want to heal it, and that was part of it, right there."

"He behaved like a man, what can I say," Atlas recollected to fellow analyst Joe Tessitore. "He came over, extended his hand and asked me if I'd shake it and said, 'You're not still mad at me, are you? I wish you wouldn't be.' ... I give him credit for showing a gentleman's side."

Tyson's no angel but you have to give him some credit for calling himself out when he reflects on his life.  

One handed hockey player to try out for CHL's Denver Cutthroats

A one-handed Ontario man is attempting to make a professional hockey team as a walk-on.

Scott Stafford, who lost his left hand due to complications at birth, will attend open tryouts for the Central Hockey League's Denver Cutthroats this weekend, according to the Denver Post. The Cutthroats are a Colorado Avalanche affiliate.

"This kid is fun to watch," Cutthroats head coach Derek Armstrong told the Post. "It really is amazing."

Stafford, a 23-year-old from St. Thomas, Ont., has certainly never shied him away from a challenge in the past.

Last season, the right winger played for the Dundas Real McCoys of the Allan Cup Hockey league. Stafford posted 17 points in 22 games in his second season in the ACH, a senior men's league that often features retired NHLers.

“It’s only a disability if you let it be, and I never let it be an obstacle on or off the ice," Stafford said recently, when asked by Cable 14 in Hamilton about playing hockey with one hand.

Prior to his time with the McCoys, Stafford played in the Ontario junior B circuit for the St. Thomas Stars and Thorold Blackhawks.

Pittsburgh releases former four star quarterback, Tra'Von Chapman

Pittsburgh coach Paul Chryst released troubled freshman quarterback Tra’Von Chapman from his scholarship on Friday, less than a month after Chapman pleaded guilty to assaulting a former girlfriend.

Chryst said in a statement it’s in “everyone’s best interest” for Chapman to continue his career elsewhere.

The 19-year-old Chapman from Kent, enrolled in Pittsburgh in January after a standout career at Roosevelt High. He was arrested in Kent on April 26 and charged with one count of assault and one count of unlawful restraint.

Chapman pleaded guilty on July 29 and was sentenced to 90 days in jail, 40 hours of community service and a $200 fine. He spent three days in jail, with the remaining 87 days suspended. Chapman had been suspended indefinitely prior to his dismissal.

Chris Chelios to rent out his Malibu home

You might not be able to play like Hall of Fame defenseman Chris Chelios, but now you can live like him.

The former Red Wings defenseman has put his Malibu, Calif., house up for rent.

According to realty.com, the house, which has unobstructed ocean views and a guest house, rents for $25,000 per month if you take it for a year.

If you only want the house to enjoy the summer months, it goes for $40,000 per month.

The listing reads:

Unobstructed ocean views from Point Dume to Palos Verdes. This is the best location in Malibu within the prestigious Paradise Cove area with the sandiest beach. Located behind gates on the sand with a main house and a detached guest house.

Chelios was named as an analyst for Fox Sports 1 and will be covering 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.