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Getbig Main Boards => Gossip & Opinions => Topic started by: bic_staedtler on November 05, 2006, 01:24:25 PM
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..just finished reading this book, which I've heard about but never been able to locate till recently. The thing pretty much bashes Arnold and his Dad. I realize Arnold wasn't an angel, but that book really made him out to be a pretty pathetic human being. Since it was published in 1990, has there been any verification of some of the stories or is the majority of it glitzy tabloid fare? The thing is that a lot of Arnie's old "friends" contributed, and Rick Wayne REALLY held no punches. I've read that Rick's fallout with Arnold, and the Weiders, has all been resolved...but damn, if Rick decided to publish his version of the unauthorized Arnold Biography, watch out!
Of course Arnold has the money and power now to shut up just about any of his detractors, or at least pay them to shut up about the past.
Anybody else read it?
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..just finished reading this book, which I've heard about but never been able to locate till recently. The thing pretty much bashes Arnold and his Dad. I realize Arnold wasn't an angel, but that book really made him out to be a pretty pathetic human being. Since it was published in 1990, has there been any verification of some of the stories or is the majority of it glitzy tabloid fare? The thing is that a lot of Arnie's old "friends" contributed, and Rick Wayne REALLY held no punches. I've read that Rick's fallout with Arnold, and the Weiders, has all been resolved...but damn, if Rick decided to publish his version of the unauthorized Arnold Biography, watch out!
Of course Arnold has the money and power now to shut up just about any of his detractors, or at least pay them to shut up about the past.
Anybody else read it?
no. ;D
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Since it was published in 1990, has there been any verification of some of the stories
Read True Myths: The Life and Times of Arnold Schwarzenegger by Nigel Andrews. He touches base on some issues that Wendy Leigh says in her book to seperate fact from fiction.
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Yeah I read that book a while ago. I want to reread it again.
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Yeah I read that book a while ago. I want to reread it again.
Is he your type as well?
No0 I just think shawn ray is very sexy for a man.
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Is he your type as well?
Arnold is like me when I go on.
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Arnold is like me when I go on.
go on what, gay cruises?
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Just bought this book on Amazon for 6 bucks.Cant wait to read it.
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Good book-not overly negative just more balanced less saccharine than most others.
http://www.getbig.com/boards/index.php?topic=105003.0
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go on what, gay cruises?
No. Cruises for people with normal height. That means no dwarfs allowed. You can't join Bast.
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what is it....3rd or 4th time for this topic?
;D
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Good book-not overly negative just more balanced less saccharine than most others.
http://www.getbig.com/boards/index.php?topic=105003.0
What I'd like to know is if the rumor s are true. And not by the gossip hounds.What I mean by rumors are the being the boy toy of the rich old guy.I belive Arnold would have done what he had to do to obtain what he had to to escape thal, however I think that any and all sexual favors he may have exchanged for a ticket out of thal would be non-existent.I think Arnold is to proud of a man to trade in his dignetey for a ticket to America.No way would he turn into to a punk to get a ticket out of thal.
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What I mean by rumors are the being the boy toy of the rich old guy.
From the 60s on he had an older gay businessman friend & advisor. Between him, Weider and guys like Joe Gold Arnold got the real estate concept.
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I knew about the mix up with the older man from Munich where Arnold didnt
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Sorry hit enter by mistake.I knew about the older guy from Munich that Arnold got involved with, but in An Education Of A Bodybuilder, Arnold says he turned the guy down and had nothing to d with him aside from cleaning his gym. They said that in Fantsatic as well, that Arnold never exchanged sexual favors for advancemnets in bodybuilding.They also said Arnold was the only bber to get wawy with more from Joe Woider than Joe got out of Arnold.
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The Wendy Leigh book was the first ever book that I read about Arnold. I think I first read it back in 1995 but it had already been out for a while then.
I thought it was an excellent book even if at some points it does sound a bit tabloid sensationalist, but then the author did used to work for the News of the World (a Sunday rag here in Britain).
Nevertheless, it was a good book and probably so accurate in some things that Arnold couldn't really sue about anything other than the Nazi jibe. He was probably a bit pissed off because he had no control over the content of the book whereas if you read the Nigel Andrews book, Arnold himself did have some input and you get the impression that Anold does like to fuel a few of the myths and feats about his life because it does sell, even if they're not true.
I've not read "Fantastic" though but I'd imagine it's pretty much the same as all the others - we all know the Arnold story by now.
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I've read all 3 books. The Wendy leigh version was prompted by Stallone in response to the unofficial war of words he had with Arnold. Stallone apparently helped set up some of Wendy's interviews.
"Fantastic" is a much better read and provides some insights as to how Arnold became "bulletproof" in hollywood.
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...thanks for the info, guys. I have heard about this book for a while, and now I'd like to track down the others.
As far as Wendy's book being "balanced", I can't agree. There is FAR more negative than positive, and it makes Arnold out to be a very vindictive, cruel and rude...with his fans, friends, and family. I also noticed more than a few editing errors, which always makes me think "amateurish".
I was most interested of course in the bodybuilding sections, and it does seem like Arnold was your typical asshole in the gym...so say his "pals" in Thal. Even if you give Arnold the benefit of the doubt, he still comes across as a jackass. And the steroid allegations at, what, 13 years old?...it really does throw his myth of coming up drug-free in the garbage...again, I'm not too surprised, but what a sham. Yes, he's a great bodybuilder...but it what terms, I'm not so sure.
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Cool name Bic Staedtler - you wouldn't be named after a pen would you? ;D
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The problem with True Myths and Fantastic is that they almost totally ignore the steroid issue. Both admit he used them, but they don't stray from the official Arnie line - "i used to stop losing muscle whilst dieting for competition" ::). As bodybuilders we know thats utter bullshit. I want someone to offer a down and out like Waller a shit load of money to spill the beans on what really went on.
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I knew about the older guy from Munich that Arnold got involved with, but in An Education Of A Bodybuilder, Arnold says he turned the guy down and had nothing to d with him aside from cleaning his gym.
Just as a side note.... the older gay man you are referring to that Arnold calls "Schneck" in his Education of a Bodybuilder is in fact Rolf Pultziger.
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And the drug use whilst dieting story makes you wonder what else is fact or fiction, event or fabricated, truth or lie.
Thats the thing with Arnold, bigger than life, smoke and mirrors, can create and re-create himself, tells people what he wants them to know, and what they wanna hear when it suits him.
Thats what made him big, not too many morals, able to look at both faces in the mirror. Thats what it takes in this sport, and especially in Hollywood.
Think about it, how many scandals or negative headlines have we seen on Arnie? If theres any, it quickly gets forgotten or swept under the carpet. He uses his charm and the accent which hes made sure not to lose, to hone and refine, as it gets him sympathy and the whole foreigner with accent thing is harmless, shame. Some people associate a foreign accent with lack of intellegence too(which Arnold has bucket-loads of), and let their guard down.
Even now as governor, the media and talk-shows still every time they mention him, have to make fun of his accent and his bbing past as well as his action movies. Reagan and Ventura never had that. But thats the persona Arnold wants to portray, let your guard down, make fun of me(behind my back), next thing you know, I'm the President of the worlds biggest Superpower nation.
The man knows what hes doing, and the sky is the limit for him
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Slick Vic, wheres that scene from in your avatar? Hectic stuff! Now we know what happens to Maria when she forgets to close the cigar box...
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Also check out Arnold and Me: In the Shadow of the Austrian Oak by Barbara Outland Baker. It's a fantastic book! Read about the relationship of Arnold and Barbara from the moment they met in Zucky's Restaurant in 1969 to how their relationship is today. The book contains rare very-before-seen pictures of Arnold but don't expect 'bodybuilding' pictures. Most are casual pictures of Arnold and Barbara sitting around, hanging out. If I remember right, there's only one 'bodybuilding' picture with Arnold kissing Barbara on stage at the 1973 Mr. Olympia.
On a quick note, there's an interesting story in the book between Barbara and Franco who were both trying to gain the attention of Arnold, but I'll leave that part up to the reader. ;D
(http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/1425952216.01._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-dp-500-arrow,TopRight,45,-64_AA240_SH20_OU01_SCLZZZZZZZ_V59568425_.jpg)
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Slick Vic, wheres that scene from in your avatar?
It's from the 1970's detective show called The Streets of San Francisco. Arnold was a guest star in an episode called Dead Lift. As you can see from my avatar, he shakes a woman to death for making fun of him and his body which is what the episode is about.
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Too much books and writers... To much people trying to make easy money, telling bullshit and dissing Arnold! Arnold always was a man who knew exactly want he wants, and no way he would allow being "used" or "abused" to achieve his goals! Those people should get a live!!! >:(
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Too much books and writers... To much people trying to make easy money, telling bullshit and dissing Arnold! Arnold always was a man who knew exactly want he wants, and no way he would allow being "used" or "abused" to achieve his goals! Those people should get a live!!! >:(
I don't think Barbara's book is BS. Especially since there's a forward in the book by Arnold himself.
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..As far as Wendy's book being "balanced", I can't agree. There is FAR more negative than positive, and it makes Arnold out to be a very vindictive, cruel and rude...with his fans, friends, and family. I also noticed more than a few editing errors, which always makes me think "amateurish".
I was most interested of course in the bodybuilding sections, and it does seem like Arnold was your typical asshole in the gym...so say his "pals" in Thal. Even if you give Arnold the benefit of the doubt, he still comes across as a jackass. And the steroid allegations at, what, 13 years old?...it really does throw his myth of coming up drug-free in the garbage...again, I'm not too surprised, but what a sham. Yes, he's a great bodybuilder...but it what terms, I'm not so sure.
He was/is an asshole, that is part but not all of the equation. Always was.
As far as the book being balanced, it is in relation to most other books-if it wasn't accurate she'd have been sued. If you don't think he can be a creep, in calling Robinson the n-word in a room full of BBs, or using the nazi salute in front of a jew Joe Weider, where have you been? ;D
I agree with this: if the book wasn't more accurate than not, Schwarzenegger would've sued:
it was a good book and probably so accurate in some things that Arnold couldn't really sue about anything other than the Nazi jibe. He was probably a bit pissed off because he had no control over the content of the book whereas if you read the Nigel Andrews book, Arnold himself did have some input and you get the impression that Anold does like to fuel a few of the myths and feats about his life because it does sell, even if they're not true.
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Arnold says he turned the guy down and had nothing to d with him aside from cleaning his gym. They said that in Fantsatic as well, that Arnold never exchanged sexual favors for advancemnets in bodybuilding.They also said Arnold was the only bber to get wawy with more from Joe Woider than Joe got out of Arnold.
Would you assume that he would admit it? Schwarzenegger would also be saying he never inhaled now if it wasn't on film. He's revised history all the time, as long as it's not something that can be proven either way, as most would do.
Arnold was the only BB to away with more with Weider because he had leverage, as Weider's central figure.
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I think the fact that Arnold endorsed Barbara's book about them would in fact make the book seem like MORE BS, but that's just me. As long as the book portrays Arnold in a good way, he'll help out, like by writing a foreward. But I doubt there's anything really ground-breaking in it...although it may be a good library rental.
The BIGGEST call of B.S. against Arnold comes with the bonus features on the Pumping Iron DVD...where he "dispels" a lot of the rumours about the film.
ONE...he actually tries to sell to the public that "bodybuilders are all drug tested to a high standard" which we ALL know is 100% bullshit....yet he still makes the statement! That alone let's you in on a lot about Arnold and his "reshaping" of the past. That's how he knew that the smoking pot scene wouldn't damage him....look at how ex Pres Clinton got burned for saying he "smoked but didn't inhale"...of COURSE Arnold was gonna win points on not cutting that classic scene!
TWO....his adamant stance that he DID attend his father's funeral, which in fact, if you believe what Arnold said in Pumping Iron AND what the family member's in Graz who were AT the actual funeral, suggests Arnold is LYING. Now, does it really matter if he skipped going to his father's funeral because he really didn't like or respect him due to his strict upbringing and constant favouring of his big brother Meinhard? LOTS of people hate their parents...but when you're trying to win an election for Governor, that kind of heartlessness will LOSE VOTES....especially among the elderly.
So there you have it....anyway you look at it, Arnold isn't much of a role model when it comes to being what many consider a good human being. GREAT example of how to schmooze your way to money, fame, and success....but not what I'd consider an enviable personality.
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It's from the 1970's detective show called The Streets of San Francisco. Arnold was a guest star in an episode called Dead Lift. As you can see from my avatar, he shakes a woman to death for making fun of him and his body which is what the episode is about.
That's about the first time I can remember him trying to act.
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After you posted this I went out and bought Nigel whatever his names book "True Myths" written in 2003 and Wendy Leighs book written in 1990. Both were boring even for an Arnold fan. True Myths downright sucked.
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Too much books and writers... To much people trying to make easy money, telling bullshit and dissing Arnold! Arnold always was a man who knew exactly want he wants, and no way he would allow being "used" or "abused" to achieve his goals! Those people should get a live!!! >:(
Delusional, one-sided nuthugging from a groupie.
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Delusional, one-sided nuthugging from a groupie.
Hey, we all gotta have heroes and people to look up to. And get upset when people diss them, even though we suspect its true. Its fucked up when one realizes reality isnt what it seemed, and nothing's sacred. And Santa doesnt exist...
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Cool name Bic Staedtler - you wouldn't be named after a pen would you? ;D
Or is the pen named after you?