Author Topic: What Really Happened to Mendenhall? (Read 6171 times)

LuciusFox · « **on:** April 02, 2006, 08:58:46 PM »

I have only been following bodybuilding since the late 90's so I didn't have the chance to watch Matt Mendenhall compete. I keep hearing about how great he was and how perfectly proportioned he was and having seen pictures of him I think he looks great. How could someone who looks that good never go pro? Who was getting the pro cards at the time? $:-\$

Disgusted · « **Reply #1 on:** April 02, 2006, 10:14:02 PM »

I believe he got beat by Haney and then Strydom. Would have been great to see him reach his potential. Last I heard he was living in Arizona.

LuciusFox · « **Reply #2 on:** April 02, 2006, 10:18:20 PM »

So he just kind of gave up? $:-\$ That's kind of sad. Especially when you see the kinds of guys who are on stage during some of these contests.

Mr. Intenseone · « **Reply #3 on:** April 02, 2006, 10:18:53 PM »

Quote from: Disgusted on April 02, 2006, 10:14:02 PM

I believe he got beat by Haney and then Strydom. Would have been great to see him reach his potential. Last I heard he was living in Arizona.

He never turned pro!!

Disgusted · « **Reply #4 on:** April 02, 2006, 10:21:29 PM »

Quote from: Mr. Intenseone on April 02, 2006, 10:18:53 PM

He never turned pro!!

And I said he did?? He got second twice at the Nationals if I am remembering correctly. Haney and Strydom like I said.

LuciusFox · « **Reply #5 on:** April 02, 2006, 10:23:22 PM »

Quote from: Mr. Intenseone on April 02, 2006, 10:18:53 PM

He never turned pro!!

It is tragic when you look at the line-ups of 3rd tier contests and see who actually has turned pro.

freeagain · « **Reply #6 on:** April 02, 2006, 10:25:38 PM »

what actually happened was he spurned ben weider's lecherous advances !

hence, now he's pumpin gas cuz he wouldnt let ben pump his ass etc ...

LuciusFox · « **Reply #7 on:** April 02, 2006, 10:27:03 PM »

Quote from: freeagain on April 02, 2006, 10:25:38 PM

what actually happened was he spurned ben weider's lecherous advances !

hence, now he's pumpin gas cuz he wouldnt let ben pump his ass etc ...

I would have just let Ben have his way

Old man probably couldn't have lasted too long.

Disgusted · « **Reply #8 on:** April 02, 2006, 10:30:42 PM »

Quote from: LuciusFox on April 02, 2006, 10:27:03 PM

I would have just let Ben have his way Old man probably couldn't have lasted too long.

Al-Gebra · « **Reply #9 on:** April 02, 2006, 11:04:18 PM »

don't quote me on this, but Massive G said he used to get stressed out before contests and smooth out . . . sorta like Rob Lopez.

Wombat · « **Reply #10 on:** April 02, 2006, 11:30:14 PM »

Quote from: LuciusFox on April 02, 2006, 10:18:20 PM

So he just kind of gave up? $:-\$ That's kind of sad. Especially when you see the kinds of guys who are on stage during some of these contests.

sad?

It probably saved his life in the long run...

benchthis · « **Reply #11 on:** April 02, 2006, 11:57:37 PM »

guy looks better than half the pros now

IceCold · « **Reply #12 on:** April 03, 2006, 09:02:19 AM »

i always read about that bc he never really had any aesthetics, he never won. the big thing in the 80's was everyone trying to emualte arnold's phsyque. but then he makes the top 20 aesethic bbers ever in FLEX's list?

natural al · « **Reply #13 on:** April 03, 2006, 09:20:33 AM »

here's what I know about Matt...placed 2nd to Haney in 82..2nd to Demay at the world games, I think he placed in the top 5 when Christian won the nationals..won the HW at the USA but lost the over all to David Hawk..placed 2nd to strydom at the 86 nationals..I think he did another show and didn't place well then he showed back up in 1991..the year Kevin won the nationals and placed 5th..

Always the bridesmaid never the bride...I heard he found God and gave up training..I could be wrong on that but I think that's what I heard...

Hurricane Beef ! · « **Reply #14 on:** April 03, 2006, 10:03:10 AM »

He use to hang with Rachael McLish and she left him because he had a drinking issue.

The Beef

natural al · « **Reply #15 on:** April 03, 2006, 10:15:02 AM »

Quote from: IceCold on April 03, 2006, 09:02:19 AM

i always read about that bc he never really had any aesthetics, he never won. the big thing in the 80's was everyone trying to emualte arnold's phsyque. but then he makes the top 20 aesethic bbers ever in FLEX's list?

who said he was not aesthetic? They must have been joking you..the only reason he never won was because he never got hard enough..When strydom beat him strydom was f'n ripped to the bone and hard as a rock..Matt was huge but looked a little watery...for a white guy he might have had the best genetics of all time...

LuciusFox · « **Reply #16 on:** April 03, 2006, 10:19:27 AM »

Quote from: Wombat on April 02, 2006, 11:30:14 PM

sad? It probably saved his life in the long run...

Good point.

Matt C · « **Reply #17 on:** April 03, 2006, 10:21:55 AM »

Old School Trainer · « **Reply #18 on:** April 03, 2006, 10:25:00 AM »

When Matt tried to make his comeback he picked the hardest line up ever at the Nationals. Kevin, Flex, Ronnie, the list goes on and on.

natural al · « **Reply #19 on:** April 03, 2006, 10:29:03 AM »

Quote from: Old School Trainer on April 03, 2006, 10:25:00 AM

When Matt tried to make his comeback he picked the hardest line up ever at the Nationals. Kevin, Flex, Ronnie, the list goes on and on.

don't forget Quadzilla!! In 3rd...

hifrommike · « **Reply #20 on:** April 03, 2006, 10:48:34 AM »

http://clay_b863.tripod.com/MendenhallMatt/GalleryMendenhall.html

tommywishbone · « **Reply #21 on:** April 03, 2006, 11:15:26 AM »

I was at the 1983 NPC Nationals in San Jose (was living in the Bay Area at the time)when Mendenhall took 5th in a great Heavyweight division. I think it went:

1st Bob Paris
2nd Rory Leidelmeyer
3rd Mike Christian
4th Matt Mendenhall
5th Jeff Williams

I think tickets were $22.

LuciusFox · « **Reply #22 on:** April 03, 2006, 11:21:51 AM »

Quote from: tommywishbone on April 03, 2006, 11:15:26 AM

I was at the 1983 NPC Nationals in San Jose (was living in the Bay Area at the time)when Mendenhall took 5th in a great Heavyweight division. I think it went:

1st Bob Paris
2nd Rory Leidelmeyer
3rd Mike Christian
4th Matt Mendenhall
5th Jeff Williams

I think tickets were $22.

Sounds like a high price for 1983. But then I was only 1 year old then, so maybe I am wrong.

The True Adonis · « **Reply #23 on:** April 03, 2006, 11:44:55 AM »

Quote from: tommywishbone on April 03, 2006, 11:15:26 AM

I was at the 1983 NPC Nationals in San Jose (was living in the Bay Area at the time)when Mendenhall took 5th in a great Heavyweight division. I think it went:

1st Bob Paris
2nd Rory Leidelmeyer
3rd Mike Christian
4th Matt Mendenhall
5th Jeff Williams

I think tickets were $22.

Tough lineup.