Mike Tyson: I'm an Addict on 'Pathway to Humility'

Mike Tyson takes to the pages of the New York Times today to reflect on his years as a "full-on raging addict," his continuing struggle to stay sober, and his hope that he's finally kicked his bad habits for good with this insight: "I had to replace the cravings for drugs or alcohol with a craving to be a better person." He admits that he slipped as recently as last August even as things were going great—his book manuscript finished, his one-man show soon to air on HBO, and his reality series "in the can" for Fox Sports. Turns out, it was too much success for someone with such a "negative self-image."

Unlike in the past, however, Tyson says he pulled himself out of it after just a few days. "I’ve learned that being sober is more than just avoiding drugs or alcohol," he writes. "It's a lifestyle focused on making moral choices and elevating the things that make life worth living to the forefront." Right now, that means his wife and kids. "This is the best I’ve ever felt," writes the 47-year-old. "I’m on the pathway to humility, fully aware that you can’t rule until you’ve served." Click for Tyson's full column. (More Mike Tyson stories.)