TV Schedule
Starting Tonight
Sunday, March 6, 2011 at 10:00 PM
Still coming to terms with his past and looking forward to the future, Mike Tyson is now immersing himself in competition once again by taking on pigeon racing!
"The first thing I ever loved in my life was a pigeon." -- Mike Tyson.
You know Mike Tyson as the former world heavyweight champion. In March 2011, tune in to meet Mike Tyson the pigeon lover.
Heavyweight boxing legend and Brooklyn native Mike Tyson has always loved breeding and raising pigeons. These birds have been an integral part of his life since his childhood. In fact, Mike threw his first punch when a neighborhood bully killed one of his beloved pigeons and threw it in his face. Of course, Mike would go on to become one of the most famous, and infamous, champions in boxing (and sports) history. And through it all, his pigeons and rooftop coops remained his one constant and secret solace.
Now, in the new Animal Planet series TAKING ON TYSON, debuting March 6, at 10 PM e/p, Mike goes beyond just raising his feathered friends — he races them for the very first time. With unprecedented access to the neighborhood haunts he grew up in, and in the company of the lifelong friends who surround him, Mike takes audiences on an insider's tour of the highly competitive, bizarrely fascinating subculture of pigeon racing. The stakes are high in this sport, which has just as much machismo as boxing. But this time it's not about money; it's about bragging rights.
From the rooftops of Jersey City to the streets of Brooklyn, this six-part docudrama profiles the enigmatic boxing legend as he reconnects with his roots and returns to his childhood neighborhood to face his next challenge. Mike's pigeons have given him a sense of tranquility and escape throughout his tumultuous life. Now, along with a band of close friends who share his love for these avian athletes, Mike enters the realm of competitive pigeon racing. TAKING ON TYSON is an enriching window into Mike Tyson's complex life, where the road to self-awareness, the path to inner peace and the vision into the future lie with these birds.
"The first thing I ever loved in my life was a pigeon. I don't know why...I feel ridiculous trying to explain it," says Mike. "Pigeons are a part of my life. It's a constant with my sanity in a weird way; this is just what I do. If I'm lucky enough to die an old man, I'm going to have birds."
Supporting the novice racer are members of Tyson's Corner: Mario Costa, his lifelong friend and promoter/manager; Vinnie Torre, his esteemed and respected pigeon trainer; and the Roman Brothers, his pigeon caretakers. Mike's rivals include the younger yet more experienced racers Joe Green and Helder Rodrigues.
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