THE SIDELINES : Tyson’s Clinics Fulfill Sentence

ALBANY, N.Y. — Heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson sparred for half an hour and signed autographs at a boxing clinic this morning as part of his sentence for speeding twice here last summer.

Tyson held the clinic at St. Joseph’s Youth Center in downtown Albany. He was to hold two other clinics, featuring drug-related talks, later in the day at the nearby Arbor Hill Community Center.

Tyson was ordered by Judge Stephen Safranko to hold the clinics and pay a $300 fine after pleading guilty in August to speeding. Tyson had originally been ordered to hold the clinics by Saturday, but his attorney, John Hicks, struck a deal with Safranko allowing an extension to today. Safranko said Tyson faced resentencing if he failed to hold the clinics today.

“Anyone with a car gets tickets,” Tyson said. “Just because I’m more famous doesn’t mean I did anything worse.”