Mike Tyson: My 'Hangover' Appearance Was For Drug Money

Mike Tyson has been doing plenty of interviews recently. He called himself a pig in an interview with Details. He discussed his past addiction to cocaine and the club life with Sports Illustrated. On Sunday in an interview with ESPN Radio in Las Vegas, the former heavyweight champion continued to open up.

Tyson spoke about his role in the hit movie "The Hangover." "I was doing that to supply my drug habit," he said. He added that he planned on selling bootlegs of the movie, but instead it was an "international success."

Tyson also talked about how the death of his four-year-old daughter impacted his decision to become a vegan. "I wanted a different life. I felt like I was dying. I had an incident in life where I lost my four year old daughter in a tragic accident at home," Tyson said. "I don't know. I didn't want to live anymore. So I said, that in order to go there, I had to change my life."

You can listen to the entire interview here.

Comments

[audadvnc]

11:38 AM on 08/05/2010

Mr. Tyson appears to be going through some growing pains. Good luck to the Champ in your new found maturity!

[LordByron13]

12:54 PM on 08/03/2010

Come on Mike...I know you can do it. Keep your chin up...I'll keep you in my prayers, but you still gotta do the work.

You've been through a helluva lot...but, the game ain't over yet...

[SheikArbusto]

11:03 AM on 08/03/2010

Mike Tyson, the Lebron James of boxing.

[riazkj4]

02:25 PM on 08/05/2010

Wow. Exactly how so?

[BrwnSknGurl4]

10:30 AM on 08/03/2010

Tyson is likely an undiagnosed manic-depressive, or is bi-polar....instead of taking the legal drugs, he uses illicit ones to manage his mood swings. He's really one of the more tragic sports figure our nation's history. It's really a shame he has no one around him who he can trust who can help him manage his finances and his medical condition...

On the bright side, The Hangover was HILARIOUS!!!

[Christopher Gillard]

09:39 PM on 08/05/2010

You're partly right. He was diagnosed with manic depression and bi-polar disorder YEARS ago, back when he was married to Robin Givens. They talked about it in the interview they did with Barbara Walters. Too bad he didn't get proper treatment, but he's known for a long time. My theory is, he didn't take the meds because of his career. From the little I know of it, sluggishness, nausea, and sometimes irregular heartbeat are side effects of every med used to treat these things. Not desirable things if you're a professional athlete.

[luckincan]

09:56 AM on 08/03/2010

Mike Tyson: My 'Hangover' Appearance Was For Drug Money

Color me surpised...

[ontariogirl]

09:18 AM on 08/03/2010

The death of a child changes your world. I hope he finds peace and the strength to live his life.

[veggiehead]

11:42 AM on 08/03/2010

I agree. I feel bad for him - he has struggled, it seems, his entire life.

[LordByron13]

12:52 PM on 08/03/2010

If you don't mind, I'd like to fan you. Yes for your comment.
But honestly, how could I NOT fan someone with Bob Ross as their avatar.

Now, if I can find a place to paint a nice 'tree and some of his friends'...I think today will be a great day. Maybe I'll start on a napkin and leave it somewhere, with instructions to ask others to finish it...

[WasteNJ]

09:12 AM on 08/03/2010

Keep your head up and don't stop swinging, champ.

[TenorArchitect]

08:33 AM on 08/03/2010

At some point you come to the realization that there are not any elderly drug addicts.

[stampy420]

09:19 AM on 08/03/2010

some exceptions. Notably, William S. Burroughs is one, if I am not mistaken. A few other famous folks I can think of.

[binarystar]

09:44 AM on 08/03/2010

the whole pharmaceutical industry would beg to differ.

[jamalc]

10:10 AM on 08/03/2010

Keith Richards

[Cwhyel]

08:19 AM on 08/03/2010

The drugs nearly always win.

[ladydragon]

07:48 AM on 08/03/2010

topkatnc: why would you say a thing like that? Just because one is "born under a dark star" as you say does not mean that has to be the length of one's life. Many people overcome adversity and come out on the other side a much better person. I have never lost a child in a tragic accident as Mike has, I'm told that's a pain and hole in your heart that never heals. Maybe the loss of his precious daughter will be the wake-up call that he needs. You can have all the money in the world or not have 2 nickles to rub together, money does not make you happy

[topkatnc]

06:51 AM on 08/03/2010

I don't think that Tyson will ever find peace ... and I would hope that for him just like everyone one else have ... but it's like he was born under a dark star ... and his whole life has been one tragic episode after another ... To go through the amount of money that he has .. is mind boggling to say the least ... and to lose a child is something that breaks your heart forever ...

[hidflect]

06:39 AM on 08/03/2010

Plaudits for Mr. Tyson. He has turned into a class act.

[johnnygoodwud]

10:27 AM on 08/03/2010

jury is still out,,,,,,,,,,,,only time will tell. i'll wait

[shanghaislim]

06:32 AM on 08/03/2010

An American Story. (played out over and over through history).

He wasn't the first to be truly great and fall.....

..............and he won't be the last.

[roadwobbler]

06:21 AM on 08/03/2010

Drugs would explain a lot about him.

[my2pesos]

03:45 AM on 08/03/2010

He is the greatest boxer of all times...