Mark Alesia

mark.alesia@indystar.com

During one of his abrupt verbal asides on the political stump Wednesday night in Indianapolis, Donald Trump proudly noted another endorsement from the sports world.

Mike Tyson.

The former heavyweight champion, of course, has a history in Indianapolis. It was here where he was convicted of raping beauty pageant contestant Desiree Washington in 1992 — and subsequently spent three years in prison.

"Mike Tyson endorsed me," Trump told the crowd. "I love it. He sent out a tweet. Mike. Iron Mike. You know, all the tough guys endorse me. I like that, OK?

"But Mike said, 'I love Trump. I endorse Trump.' And that's the end. I'm sure he doesn't know about your economic situation in Indiana. But when I get endorsed by the tough ones, I like it, because you know what? We need toughness now. We need toughness."

Trump was a supporter of Tyson's after the conviction, saying that "to a large extent" he was "railroaded." Trump had a financial interest in the case because Tyson's fights made money for his hotels.

In an NBC News interview from Feb. 21, 1992, obtained by Buzzfeed and posted recently, Trump described the case this way: “You have a young woman that was in his hotel room late in the evening at her own will. You have a young woman seen dancing for the beauty contest — dancing with a big smile on her face, looked happy as can be.”

Trump, of course, is no stranger to beauty pageants. He previously owned the Miss USA pageant. Washington was a contestant in Miss Black America.

Contact Mark Alesia at 317-444-6311 and follow him on Twitter: @markalesia.