It was a sad day for The Average Joe to see the once-great Mike Tyson come to what is presumably the end of the line in his boxing career.

Iron Mike has his flaws – nobody would dispute that – but he also used to have something that no other fighter of his generation had.  It was an insatiable lust for a fight, a wild-man streak that made him so dangerous and powerful in his prime.  Before his prison stint, Tyson was The Show in boxing.  He was a polarizing figure that drew a captivated audience every time he fought.  I always though of him like Gollum from Lord of the Rings.  His fixation on title belts was his driving force, and little else mattered.  He was hungry.

Now he is not.  Tyson’s loss to Kevin McBride signals the end of his fighting days.  He said so himself.  Mike told reporters that he had nothing left to fight for, that he didn’t have the guts for this any more.  It’s a disappointing way to go out, losing to a journeyman with no history of beating good fighters.  And it is a clear signal that Tyson is indeed no longer a good fighter.  At least Mike has the wherewithal to realize that he is done, finally.

But I’ll always long for the good ol’ days, when Iron Mike towered over the heavyweight landscape like an invincible, ruthless king.  He seemed unbeatable in the ring, especially if you ever played Punch-Out on the Nintendo.  He was so fast, both in real life and in the video game, that I didn’t think he would ever lose.  I still remember the shock I felt when I learned that Buster Douglas knocked out Iron Mike.  I was stunned beyond words.  Now damn near anybody can beat Tyson.  I need a beer.  Watching childhood legends fall apart sucks.

I’ve got to admit, though, that I saw neither the Tyson fight nor Game 1 of the NBA Finals.  I was too busy partying my butt off with 70,000 of my closest friends at Bonnaroo.  What a blast.

If you’re unfamiliar with Bonnaroo, it’s a huge three-day music and camping festival that takes place each June in Manchester, Tennessee.  Last year, people came from every state and 50 foreign countries too.  If you like music, camping, or getting crazy in general, Bonnaroo is for you.  Think Woodstock, except with bands from all over the musical spectrum, with a premium on dynamic live performance.   

And the diversity factor is out of this world.  If you’ve got a freak flag to fly, Bonnaroo is where you fly it.  I guarantee that if you go to Bonnaroo, you will see things you’ve never seen before.  There are so many crazy people who are into so many different things, that it’s near impossible to get bored.  And just about anything goes in the area of self-medication.  Some folks are afraid of today’s drug culture.  I’m amused by it.  I was endlessly entertained with people-watching all weekend. 

But have no fear, The Average Joe is back on the sports beat now.  I’m filled with anticipation for the College World Series, which starts this Friday.  One of these days I’ll have to make my way to Omaha and feel the hospitality of the good people of Nebraska.  I’m told that they put on a good show for the CWS. 

I’m impressed with the relative ease with which the Spurs are beating down the Pistons.  Manu Ginobili is like a firecracker out there.  He doesn’t seem to have any gear but fifth.  He’s running around like a chicken with its head cut off, snapping pinpoint passes, making wild drives, hitting clutch 3-pointers.  That guy is a piece of work.

Anybody who called the Spurs boring is going to have to rethink that position after the way San Antonio has played against Phoenix and Detroit.  I don’t believe the Pistons are going to go down without a fight, but they’ve been backed into a corner early. 

Congratulations go out to Afleet Alex, the horse that closed out the Big Three races with a runaway win at Belmont.  Alex trailed most of the field for most of the race, then schooled everybody else at the end.  He won it going away, as Giacomo faded down the stretch.  Good job, Alex.  Extra carrots for you, buddy.