Excerpts From Mike Tyson's Comments

Boxer Mike Tyson spoke by telephone with The Washington Post from a hotel room in Youngstown, Ohio, where he's training for the "Mike Tyson's World Tour," a series of boxing exhibitions. Here's some of what he had to say about his friend, U.S. Senate contender Michael S. Steele (R):

"Michael Steele is a wonderful man. I love his relationship with his family. The way he treats my kids. I'm just ecstatic for him. I always considered him a brother. He's a remarkable human being.

"I would do anything to help Michael. I would box an exhibition for him. I would even fight again to help Mike. I would do anything.

"I get angry sometimes hearing Democrats saying Mike's an Oreo or an Uncle Tom. People who know me know I would never associate with someone like that."

Asked about Steele's support for him when he was facing assault charges in 1998, Tyson said:

"I was just overwhelmed by that. I didn't want him to jeopardize himself. I have my own demons. I don't want him to jeopardize his career for me. I just love him as a person. He's just such a moral person. Boxing attracts scum. Being around him was a breath of fresh air."

Asked when he last saw Steele, Tyson said:

"I saw him not too long ago. He came to visit me. He came with some of his strategists. It was amazing seeing him. It was at the hotel in Las Vegas. He was in town for political reasons. It was remarkable seeing him at this state of his life. When I first met him in 1995, and then to see him now, in this political sphere. He always had opinions, but I never knew to this extreme. I'm so proud of him and his accomplishments."

-- Matthew Mosk