Taking on Tyson

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MEET THE GUYS

As Mike Tyson enters the competitive and bizarrely fascinating world of pigeon racing, he's got the support of his closest friends and one of the best pigeon trainers around. But his rivals have got some skills of their own. Meet the crew in Tyson's Corner and the other guys determined to prove that their pigeons rule the coop.

VINNIE TORRE
Known as the godfather of competitive pigeon racing, Vinnie has been at the top of the sport for years. This veteran trainer also mentors up-and-coming pigeon racers and will take rookie Mike Tyson under his professional care during the new season. Both raised on the streets of New York, Vinnie and Mike are champions of their respective sports. A man who lives for bragging rights, Vinnie is president of the Lyndhurst Homing Pigeon Club and chief organizer of the LCM Band Race, the biggest pigeon race in New Jersey. When he’s not with his pigeons or visiting major pigeon auctions around the world, Vinnie spends afternoons fishing on his boat.

MARIO COSTA
Although Mario might look like a hardened mobster, his gentle and generous personality is anything but criminal. Always armed with a cigar, Mario and Mike have been good friends since Mike’s early boxing days in the Catskills. Since then, Mario’s bar and Jersey City coup have served as sanctuaries for Tyson. Mario has stood by Mike during his darkest days and shares an emotional bond with the former boxer. An integral member of “Tyson’s Corner,” Mario not only provides a home base for the team but constant support as well.

JUNIE and RICKY ROMAN (aka THE ROMAN BROTHERS)
Junie and Ricky have had a rough past. Fortunately, an introduction to the world of pigeon racing has since kept them off the streets and out of trouble. Junie spends most of his time on the roof with his birds and mentor Mario Costa. Through pigeons, Mario and Junie share their life experiences and have developed a father-and-son relationship. Junie is also a pigeon fancy judge and works as an air-conditioner technician. His younger brother Ricky also has learned to find peace through his birds. Two key members of “Tyson’s Corner,” the Roman brothers are responsible for the coup’s upkeep and the pigeons' daily regiments. Junie and Ricky are very proud of their relationship with Mike and feel privileged to be part of his team.

DAVE MALONE
Dave is one of Mike’s oldest friends and looks after his coop of fancies in Brooklyn. Dave and Mike grew up together in Bushwick, N.Y., and spent their teenage years pickpocketing on Broadway to get money to buy pigeons. Now clean and out of trouble, Dave provides a focus for Mike’s past and present personalities.