October, 1996, an upset happened in the boxing world that no one expected. Heavy-weight champion Evander Holyfield hit Mike Tyson, knocked him out and Evander won the much anticipated match.The media, the fans and Mike all asked for a rematch. They got it on June 28, 1997.
It was a $100 million rematch. We had the fight on t.v. at our home. It was going to be a classic good guy vs bad guy battle and we couldn’t wait. We even had popcorn.
Rounds one and two had Holyfield in the lead. Holyfield had solid punches that landed. Tyson did not. The vision of gloves pummeling flesh was accompanied by both cheers and gasps from the packed house at the MGM Grand Arena. The first six minutes of the match had the announcers frantic trying to call every movement made by the boxers. When round three started, Tyson was a frustrated, coiled, rattler ready to strike – and he did; he bit Holyfield. The round was stopped. In our stunned silence, we watched a bleeding Evander walk around the ring while the referee tried to figure out what happened. Holyfield was inspected by the doctor and round three resumed. Tyson would not give up. He held Holyfield and Tyson bit off a large chunk of Holyfield’’s ear. A large chunk. Of his ear. The decision was made; Tyson was disqualified and Evander won the match. Watch it in action.
Move forward to Friday, October 17, 2009. Evander and Tyson met each other face to face on television for the first time since their fight in 97. They appeared on “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” Although Tyson had nice things to say about Evander, Tyson never apologized. I don’t think Evander expected him to.
Tony Dungy, head coach of the Indiana Colts retired on January 12, 2009 from an amazing career. He was the most successful coach in team history and took the Colts to the post-season all seven years he led that team. Dungy was also the first African American head coach to win a Super Bowl in 2006. (Read more about his accomplishments here.) In this press conference, he received a standing ovation from the press (how often does that happen?). One of my favorite parts starts at 20 minute and 38 seconds. He said:
“Our goal was to win, win consistently, win a Super Bowl (or two). But if that was all we did, it really wouldn’t have been that meaningful. We needed to win the right way, we needed to win with the right kind of players that would be role models that our young men and young women in this community can look up to.”
So what is the best way to win in business? The Mike Tyson or Tony Dungy way?
Some business owners and investors believe that you do whatever it takes to win. If that means you need to bite off someone’s ear, you do it. If you need to slander your competition, gouge your customers (after all, “they are stupid enough to pay high prices”), you do it. If you don’t agree with this philosophy, those business owners laugh and think you have no spine. Look at the proof – Mike Tyson is still one of the most famous boxers of our time, appears in movies and is a celebrity. You don’t see Holyfield in any movies.
Or is it best to be the Tony Dungy of your industry? Is it about winning the right way? Who decides what the right way is?
Photos courtesy of german rocca and ddrucki.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Ok, NOBODY wants to be an ear-biter…besides, Tyson didn’t win that fight. On the other hand, Tony Dungy – having now won a Super Bowl – can now “afford” to take the high road (though by all accounts he is a GREAT guy).
Sometimes I think it isn’t so much about people who want to win at any cost – it’s that they desperately need A win – ANY win. And I think the tougher the economy, the more precarious the job status, the harder it is to hold on to the best inside each of us. But, despite that, I think most do. And those that don’t, eventually get what’s coming to them….karma’s a killer!
NEA
Now, having said that, I’m amazed that you were watching a “sport” like boxing! I think at some level a sport that, by definition, involves being in close proximity and whaling on the other “contestant” gets what it deserves in terms of violence in the ring…
This is very insightful Nevin. Mike Tyson said essentially the same thing in the Oprah interview. When Oprah asked him why he did it, he said repeatedly, “I had to win.”
You’re amazed I was watching boxing? I was too actually. I’ve always been an Evander Holyfield fan because of how he lives his life and his commitment to God. And I despised Tyson. So for me it was a fight about good vs. evil and I wanted to see the good guy win!