WHEN HE WAS released from prison, Mike Tyson declared himself a new man. He had found religion and educated himself by reading the classics, from Twain to Tolstoy to Maya Angelou.
But now that he's back, Tyson doesn't have to impress anyone anymore. That kinda book stuff's for eggheads and nerds.Preparing for his 109-second fight against Bruce Seldon last week, Tyson said he'd stopped reading anything with a hard cover. "I read the Marvel (comic books). That stuff," he told reporters. "When I was in prison I was wrapped up in all those deep books. That Tolstoy crap. People shouldn't read that stuff. When we read these books, what purpose does it serve in this day and time? What purpose does it serve?"
So for now, Hugo, Thoreau and the others can rest easy knowing that the man who once said he "like to hurt women . . . it gives me pleasure" is no longer a fan. From now on Tyson will be getting deep thoughts from the Incredible Hulk.
GREAT EXPECTATIONS: He is in his fifth year at Utah, but only in 1992, as a redshirt freshman, did Utah safety Harold Lusk witness what it's like to lose to BYU.
Since then the Utes have dominated the series, winning the last three.
Lusk, a senior, says BYU has learned something about the Utes in those three years. "Now, every time they meet us, they know they will have to PLAY to beat us," said Lusk.
Despite a loss to USU to start the season, Utah rebounded this weekend with a 17-10 win over Stanford. Lusk insists if the Utes can keep the right frame of mind, they'll beat the Cougars when the teams meet in a November game that may be for the championship of the Mountain Division.
"If we can take that same mentality we've had (against BYU) and keep it the rest of the year, then we'll go undefeated the rest of the way," said Lusk.
JOB INSECURITY: In the who's-in-charge-here, anyway? department comes this sobering news from the L.A. Times: During Tom Lasorda's 20 years as manager of the Dodgers, the New York Yankees changed managers 19 times.
ADD LUSK: So what exactly was the story in Utah's loss to Utah State?
"I've never played in a college game when I wasn't nervous before it started," said Lusk. "But that night I wasn't nervous. That's why I had the worst game of my career."
SHOW US YOUR RINGS: Kids these days. Rookie Jets receiver Keyshawn Johnson had played in only one regular-season NFL game before he was complaining about lack of respect.
"I wasn't picked here to be on the back burner," he told reporters last week, after coming off the bench to catch just one pass in the season-opener. I'm looking to be on the field to be part of the offense. I think it's time to get the football."
Johnson's fears were allayed somewhat this week when he caught his first touchdown pass - after which he ripped off is helmet in celebration and threw it on the ground. The Jets lost anyway.
Johnson brought up Dallas defensive back Deion Sanders' being moved to wideout, and Sanders' teammate Michael Irvin as examples of players who don't need to point out their skills.
"They see the film," he said of the Jets' coaches. "They know what kind of player I am. Michael Irvin doesn't tell (Cowboys' coaches) he should be on the field. They know."
The Jets also know something: They've seen Michael Irvin and, sorry Keyshawn, you're no Michael Irvin.
THE REAL DEAL: It's a time-honored custom for Air Force plebes to do push-ups in the end zone after every Falcon touchdown - which got to be a strain when the Falcons waxed San Jose State 45-0 two Saturdays ago. Cadets ended up doing 213 pushups, all totaled.
Nevertheless, 71-year-old Spartan coach John Ralston wasn't impressed.
"Of course, none of them did real push-ups," said Ralston to the San Jose Mercury News. "I wish I could have shown them how to do a push-up right."
Ralston knows whereof he speaks. He does 71 push-ups a day. "My age plus one," said the former USU coach. "And they're real push-ups."
QUOTEFILE: Cal coach Steve Mariucci on two injured players: "They're listed as probable. That means they'll probably play."