Getbig.com: American Bodybuilding, Fitness and Figure
Getbig Main Boards => Gossip & Opinions => Topic started by: NarcissisticDeity on December 04, 2010, 10:17:57 AM
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pretty long but interesting none the less
The controversy of controversies.
The 1980 Mr Olympia contest staged in Sydney, Australia, remains by far the most controversial in the event's history. The contention centers on the participation of Arnold Schwarzenegger, who had announced his retirement from competition in 1975 after winning six consecutive Mr. Olympia titles.
Seemingly only in Sydney to do commentary for CBS TV , Arnold stunned the bodybuilding world on the eve of the contest by declaring that he was returning to competition in pursuit of a seventh title.
Two days before the contest, Mike had that same " death's door feeling " which again confined him to bed for a whole day. By the morning of the contest, though, he had fully recovered. He was 225 pounds and more cut than he'd ever been. " I looked my best , but I didn't feel at my best. It just didn't feel like a normal contest; no one was being their usual selves. There was a strain and tension in the air all the way though."
WHO TERMINATED WHOM!
That strain and tension came to an electrifying climax at the competitors meeting held the morning of the contest. Fifteen of the 16 athletes had signed a petition asking that the two weight classes be abolished and that the Olympia should be contested as one open class. The one athlete not in agreement was Arnold Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Whatever the rights & wrongs , facts and misconceptions , theories and myths surrounded the 1980 Me. Olympia contest , in the interests of this narrative, it's important to understand that Mike Mentzer felt he was cheated in Sydney, and that sinister machinations were afoot. His belief is that certain forces , fueled by ignorance and sycophancy, combined to thrust an undeserving Arnold to first place and relegate him - perceived as owning the best physique in the contest - " ridiculous " fifth place.
This is how Mike recalls that fateful day. " There were maybe 50 people at the competitors meeting and as usual, Arnold wanted to be the center of attention. In every situation, he tries to be the standout, and on this occasion, he was the only athlete of the 16 in the contest who wanted to keep the two weight classes. " He said something to denigrate Samir Bannout that I thought was uncalled for. I passed on that, feeling Samir should have defended himself. As the debate progressed, there was a lot of arguing between Arnold and some of the guys. I wasn't really concerned one way or the other - I thought I could win anyway. Then Boyer Coe stood up and , as the gentlemen he is , said , " Why don't we let Arnold explain to us right here and now his exact reasons for wanted to have two weight classes? "
" Arnold barked , ' Boyer, lets talk like adults here. ' That really irked me , because Boyer made his plea with no hint of malice. In addition, this was the IFBB's event, but here was this big Prussian son of a bitch standing there acting like a Nazi and trying to walk all over us. " For some reason , that question pissed him off. He seemed like a guy out of control as he turned to face me, his upper lip curled around like a snarling animal. We were debating the issue of weight classes, but Arnold choose to snap at me. ' Mike Mentzer, we all know Zane beat you last year because you have a big stomach! '
" I was seated 20 feet away from Arnold, who was standing holding court, and I perhaps allowed that comment to irritate me too much, as on impulse, I bolted toward him. As I approached him, I decided I wouldn't hit him, but nevertheless I was surprised when Arnold sat down: I scared him! He sat as I continued to berate him. Wagging my finger at him, I told him, ' Look, Arnold, Boyer Coe said what he did as a gentlemen- he didn't deserve that response. You're the one who's acting like a baby,literally! ' Armold couldn't look me in the eye. He went from being a frantic hysterical adolescent to shrinking away like an injured child. "
Not for the first time in the history of bodybuilding, Joe Weider stepped in and defused the situation. He advised Arnold to accept the voices of the other 15. The debate ended as Arnold proclaimed, " I withdraw my objection. "
DECISION DOWN UNDER
" Throughout that meeting, Arnold had on a tight-knit weather that made him look skinny. I was curious to see what he looked like once he stripped down. When he did, I remember looking at him and thinking, Not only and I going to win this contest, but I'm going to beat Arnold Schwarzenegger as well!
" When I was called fifth, I was totally shocked. It was just a ridiculous placing, made more ridiculous by an out-of-shape Arnold winning. As for the other who finished ahead of me, I knew Frank Zane [ third ], due to an accident he had sustained four months earlier, wasn't as good as he had been the previous year. I mist say that Chris Dickerson [ second ] and Boyer Coe [ fourth ] were in phenomenal shape, particularly Chris. I felt he and I were the ones in absolute peak condition, and we should have been top two.
" The majority of observers at the 1980 Mr. Olympia, with the exception of the judging panel, didn't have Arnold in the top five. The crowd booed Arnold at the contest's conclusion, and there were a number of things that took place during the prejudging that perhaps should have provided an indication that as was not as it should have bee.
" Several of the judges were close friends of Arnold. Boyer Coe told me afterwards that he saw Reg Park, one of the judges, actually coaching Arnold from the official's table. In contrast, Bill Pearl had honorably removed himself from the judging panel, as he had spent some time training with Chris Dickerson.
" At times, the contest was like a circus. We had Franco Columbu- one of Arnold's weak-willed namby-pamy lackeys - coming onstage with a towel, a comb and oil, to go through a little act with Arnold at the expense of everybody else. I could quote other anomalies, but possibly the most pertinent is that CBS Sports flew half away around the world to tape the event and then never televised it. The word was that they were convinced it was a fix. " The record may show Arnold Schwarzenegger as the 1980 Mr. Olympia champion, but he wasn't the best bodybuilder onstage that day - not by a mile. "
In the immediate aftermath of the contest, several top names stated they would never compete again. They would later reverse their decisions and return to the contest dais. But even as he was announced fifth, Mike knew he would never compete again: " There was no way I was going to put myself though the same tortuous process again for a similar reward. At no point since 1980 have I been even sligthtly tempted to consider the possibility of competing. I don'tmiss it. "
Of all of its repercussions, it is difficult not to nominate Mike's premature retirement at 29 as being the major consequence of the 1980 Mr. Olympia contest. It effectively denied the sport of a view of the physique he could have built in future years.
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From what i have seen i think Mike looked flat at that contest, perhaps overdieted.
In any event Arnold isn't a fighter, i doubt he has ever been in a real confrontation his whole life.
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i actually dont like arnold as a person...........so its not like i am a fan or sack-hanger who has some investment in him winning
but i think arnold still won 80s fair and square.......he certainly wasnt as his best., but he was good enough, and no one soundly knowcked him off
and didnt metzner get 5th in the 80 olympia.............its not like it was between him and arnold...........he placed 5th (im pretty sure)
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The majority of observers at the 1980 Mr. Olympia, with the exception of the judging panel, didn't have Arnold in the top five.
I don't think I've ever heard a single person think Arnold shouldn't have been in the top five, to this day.
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that's all just one white man's opinion
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Mentzer just could never come to grips with the fact that he not only lost the contest but merely placed fifth.
Arnold was in great condition even though he was not at his best ever......still good enough to win though.
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was this written before or after he started drinking his own piss?
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I have this article. You actually typed all this out?! :o
ND, where you THAT bored? :P
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I have this article. You actually typed all this out?! :o
ND, where you THAT bored? :P
I should have just scanned it ;D
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Mike had some serious mental issues and recreational drug problems, not to mention a borderline personality disorder.
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Wow, what a crybaby
it's funny because when I started lifting and knew nothing about bodybuilding or bodybuilders a friend of mine told me about this 'wacko nutjob' that lost a big contest in 1980 and went batshit crazy/insane because of it, letting it haunt him the rest of his life before succumbing to a quick death few years later. Later he told me the guy's name was Mike Mentzer, hahahahahaha
to let one stupid contest break your mind like that is pretty pathetic.
it's like adonis when he got 4th or whatever at the Mr.Getbig and then going batshit crazy telling everyone he won, haha
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Mentzer won. He had arnold beat on everything exept chest.
(http://builtreport.com/1980olympia/029.jpg)
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Mike had some serious mental issues and recreational drug problems, not to mention a borderline personality disorder.
X2! And he has the gall to comment on Arnold's ego... ::)
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Well, who is more successful today?
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X2! And he has the gall to comment on Arnold's ego... ::)
Amazing how easily he threw everyone off their game in that meeting. ;D
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They gave Rusty Jeffers 8th place that year he should have won/ placed way higher at the Master comp that Bob Chick won. That seems to be something judges do, "How can you say he should have won!? He placed 5th/8th!"
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Well, who is more successful today?
Arnold had shallow success due to being very ego driven and charismatic and having hollywood success.
Mentzer was a deep thinker and left a bigger impact where it counts.
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This thread is useless with, or without, Vince Basile.
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Arnold had shallow success due to being very ego driven and charismatic and having hollywood success.
Mentzer was a deep thinker and left a bigger impact where it counts.
Hmmmm........I see reading comprehension isn't your strong point.
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Hmmmm........I see reading comprehension isn't your strong point.
what are you talking about conehead?
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what are you talking about conehead?
Re-read my post that you quoted, small fry.
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Re-read my post that you quoted, small fry.
read what I said I didn't disagree just made a comment on it..
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read what I said I didn't disagree just made a comment on it..
OK, let's disregard the fact that your "response" to my post had nothing to do with what I posted.........
By saying "Mentzer was a deep thinker and left a bigger impact where it counts", are you trying to say he left a bigger impact in bodybuilding?
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Well, who is more successful today?
Hahaha exactly.. one lived on to be the biggest action movie star of the 80's and 90's, married into the Kennedy clan and became Governor of California... the other moved into a van on the parking lot of Gold's and went deeper down the rabbit hole until death..
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Hahaha exactly.. one lived on to be the biggest action movie star of the 80's and 90's, married into the Kennedy clan and became Governor of California... the other moved into a van on the parking lot of Gold's and went deeper down the rabbit hole until death..
According to "MAXX" ::) that is "shallow success". ::)
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OK, let's disregard the fact that your "response" to my post had nothing to do with what I posted.........
By saying "Mentzer was a deep thinker and left a bigger impact where it counts", are you trying to say he left a bigger impact in bodybuilding?
No man, the world stage. Mike will be remembered like Jesus someday. ::)
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I should have just scanned it ;D
You probably would have mis-spelled less... (j/k) ;D
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This thread is useless with, or without, Vince Basile.
Well said...
"1"
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According to "MAXX" ::) that is "shallow success". ::)
Hahaha, oh brother I would hate to see what he considers mild success then...
there's absolutely nothing Arnold doesn't have, the man is living life like a god.. he runs California, he has the skeleton from Terminator 2 in his house, he has the tank he served in Austria in, in his backyard... has around 1 billion dollars in money and assets...
what else is there to say.. oh yea he's banged any woman he's wanted to over the years, 3 healthy kids, owns restaurants, businesses, etc.
what else is there to do/gain in life !?! lol
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Hahaha, oh brother I would hate to see what he considers mild success then...
there's absolutely nothing Arnold doesn't have, the man is living life like a god.. he runs California, he has the skeleton from Terminator 2 in his house, he has the tank he served in Austria in, in his backyard... has around 1 billion dollars in money and assets...
what else is there to say.. oh yea he's banged any woman he's wanted to over the years, 3 healthy kids, owns restaurants, businesses, etc.
what else is there to do/gain in life !?! lol
"MAXX" will have to come on here and tell us how a successful person becomes fulfilled in life, because apparently Arnold has no clue.
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yea and Mentzer left a bigger impact where it counts? Where exactly? Who outside bodybuilding knows his name?...
According to "MAXX" ::) that is "shallow success". ::)
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Hahaha, oh brother I would hate to see what he considers mild success then...
there's absolutely nothing Arnold doesn't have, the man is living life like a god.. he runs California, he has the skeleton from Terminator 2 in his house, he has the tank he served in Austria in, in his backyard... has around 1 billion dollars in money and assets...
what else is there to say.. oh yea he's banged any woman he's wanted to over the years, 3 healthy kids, owns restaurants, businesses, etc.
what else is there to do/gain in life !?! lol
ran California , his wealth is estimated at around $400M ( :o still ) for a type A personality there is always something else to accomplish , believe me Arnold isn't the content type , interesting to think what he's gonna do next.
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Arnold is a god, the poster boy for bodybuilding forever and the epitome of the American dream.
Mentzer got owned, let it destroy him and has a mixed legacy.
There is no comparing the two.
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Arnold is a god, the poster boy for bodybuilding forever and the epitome of the American dream.
Mentzer got owned, let it destroy him and has a mixed legacy.
There is no comparing the two.
According to "MAXX" Mentzer had a bigger "impact" where it counts!
Shows how much about men in thongs you know. ::)
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In his Prime MM had a Excellent physique for the Era, in fact by the look of some of the bloated mess's that are around now it still is good.
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Arnold is a god, the poster boy for bodybuilding forever and the epitome of the American dream.
Mentzer got owned, let it destroy him and has a mixed legacy.
There is no comparing the two.
x2
I don't think there's a single person out there who would want to be Mentzer, I'll take Arnold every time!
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Arnold is a god, the poster boy for bodybuilding forever and the epitome of the American dream.
Mentzer got owned, let it destroy him and has a mixed legacy.
There is no comparing the two.
Arnold is and always has been self- interested with a lack of care for how his behaviors affect others.
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In his Prime MM had a Excellent physique for the Era, in fact by the look of some of the bloated mess's that are around now it still is good.
He did and gave up to soon , could have accomplished much more in he bodybuilding world.
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Arnold is and always has been self- interested with a lack of care for how his behaviors affect others.
Wasn't Mentzer or anyone else? Everyone wants fame, success, wealth, adoration etc. But most aren't prepared to do what it takes, which includes taking defeat in stride - something Mentzer couldn't do. Mike wanted the spotlight the same as Arnold and everyone, for the same reasons.
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In his Prime MM had a Excellent physique for the Era, in fact by the look of some of the bloated mess's that are around now it still is good.
i would be interest to know what kind of cycle mike was on in this picutre
the body is a little more advanced then the pumping iron era mid 70s guys,,..........but not at the point where growth came into play yet
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Wasn't Mentzer or anyone else? Everyone wants fame, success, wealth, adoration etc. But most aren't prepared to do what it takes, which includes taking defeat in stride - something Mentzer couldn't do. Mike wanted the spotlight the same as Arnold and everyone, for the same reasons.
I agree that what separates a champion from a loser , Arnold got beat by Zane who he thought he utterly destroyed in 1968 , he said he even cried about the loss , he came back and was never beaten by Zane again. that's how it's done
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i would be interest to know what kind of cycle mike was on in this picutre
the body is a little more advanced then the pumping iron era mid 70s guys,,..........but not at the point where growth came into play yet
All pre-exhaust, force reps, negatives -- twice a week training.
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that's all just one white man's opinion
White man's? lol
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Well one thing is sure is that flex wheeler was never near as good as arnold.
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best would be to put mike pics next to arnold pics at the show!
no video for this seriously?
some haxker here get the 1980 vids!
(http://thumbs.bigtitsreality.com/st/thumbs/034/1003829785.jpg)
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I love that "legends" mag that just came out. It's cool looking at physiques that are possibley obtainable with much less dope than is required today.
AND... most all of those old fucks are still alive. Well... maybe not the ones from the early 1900's.
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I don't see why everybody has to take sides, like "my bikes shinier than yours!". Arnold is a machevellian type guy with an annoyingly irresistable charm and Mike was a decent guy who had issues dealing with those types of people. Some people can give as good as they get, others think "what's the point, just ignore it" and some like Mike, let it become a big ball of resentment inside of them. I admire them both for the positive things they have contributed to bodybuilding. Arnold genuinely loves the "sport" and wants to be a part of it regardless and Mike was passionate about finding the most productive way to train. I'm sure if most of you would've met Mike you'd probably think he was hard to get along with, however, the same is probably true for Arnold...
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I don't see why everybody has to take sides, like "my bikes shinier than yours!". Arnold is a machevellian type guy with an annoyingly irresistable charm and Mike was a decent guy who had issues dealing with those types of people. Some people can give as good as they get, others think "what's the point, just ignore it" and some like Mike, let it become a big ball of resentment inside of them. I admire them both for the positive things they have contributed to bodybuilding. Arnold genuinely loves the "sport" and wants to be a part of it regardless and Mike was passionate about finding the most productive way to train. I'm sure if most of you would've met Mike you'd probably think he was hard to get along with, however, the same is probably true for Arnold...
Good point
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I don't see why everybody has to take sides, like "my bikes shinier than yours!". Arnold is a machevellian type guy with an annoyingly irresistable charm and Mike was a decent guy who had issues dealing with those types of people. Some people can give as good as they get, others think "what's the point, just ignore it" and some like Mike, let it become a big ball of resentment inside of them. I admire them both for the positive things they have contributed to bodybuilding. Arnold genuinely loves the "sport" and wants to be a part of it regardless and Mike was passionate about finding the most productive way to train. I'm sure if most of you would've met Mike you'd probably think he was hard to get along with, however, the same is probably true for Arnold...
good post
except the part about arnold loving the sport.......he started out loving it........but later on it just became a stepping stone and he NEVER looked back.......and right now he couldnt give a SHIT about bodybuilding
he doesnt care about the sport, he doesnt support the sport............
please dont argue this point , i can site a dozen examples that prove this pretty soundly
for example, dont say he gives back by promoting the arnold classic...............he has NOTHING to do with the arnold classic...........he leases his name to jim lorimer once a year in return for hundreds hundreds of thousands of dollars.............he has no part in coordinating it, no involvment whatsoever
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well, maybe so, but he has contributed positively at some point nonetheless. I'm sure Mike really loved bodybuilding aswell, I think Boyer Coe touched on this. anyhow, neither men are/were perfect, I think people have this idea that bodybuilders are all of a healthy, moral mind, forgetting that they are very egocentric, mixed up individuals. Arnold seems like the kind of guy who would befriend you for your business acumen, but be secretly porking your mrs on the reg whilst attempting to use subtlety to get your safe code out of her. Mike seemed like the kind of guy who would direct traffic naked whilst signalling UFO landings citing Ayn Rand.....oh wait a minute.
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good post
except the part about arnold loving the sport.......he started out loving it........but later on it just became a stepping stone and he NEVER looked back.......and right now he couldnt give a SHIT about bodybuilding
he doesnt care about the sport, he doesnt support the sport............
please dont argue this point , i can site a dozen examples that prove this pretty soundly
for example, dont say he gives back by promoting the arnold classic...............he has NOTHING to do with the arnold classic...........he leases his name to jim lorimer once a year in return for hundreds hundreds of thousands of dollars.............he has no part in coordinating it, no involvment whatsoever
I don't think he gives a crap about COMPETITIVE bodybuilding as it is now. I think he loves bodybuilding and will always be a bodybuilder.
He never seemed to have forgotten his friends from his bodybuilding days. When Mits Kawashima (befriended Arnold and helped him out in his early years) died a few years ago Arnold dropped everything and he and Franco flew to Hawaii to honor him.
One question I would like to ask this extraordinarily accomplished man. If he had to go back in time and relive a certain era in his life, the body builder, the actor, the politician (he's always been a business man) -- what would he choose?
(http://www.vseokulturistice.cz/clanky/pic/306c.jpg)
(http://www.davedraper.com/daveguys2.jpg)
(http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a7/STRONG76/45LEON.jpg)
(http://carpinteriacoyotereview.com/schwarzenegger-grabs-ass.jpg)
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Arnold just had a joy for bodybuilding and knew how to put it
in it's proper perspective in the balance of life.
Mentzer didn't seem to enjoy the whole process of challenging himself to exceed his previous best
physique regardless of the judges outcome.
Even Joe Weider said that although he had built an empire through extreme dedication and hard work;
he never had the pleasure and enjoyment that Arnold exhibited while reaching his goals.
Arnold - 2:50 - 3:17 "Most people are too close to what they are doing that they can't see themselves anymore."
I always step back and just laugh at myself because you can't take the whole thing seriously.
I believe there's certain things we have to do to keep us going and motivated; pick little goals, go after them and things like that".
Arnold - 3:38 - 3:56 "You have to be able to step back out of yourself and look at what you are doing;
and laugh about it. Because it's all funny, being the best built man in the world "Very Funny".
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Arnold just had a joy for bodybuilding and knew how to put it
in it's proper perspective in the balance of life.
Mentzer didn't seem to enjoy the whole process of challenging himself to exceed his previous best
physique regardless of the judges outcome.
Even Joe Weider said that although he had built an empire through extreme dedication and hard work;
he never had the pleasure and enjoyment that Arnold exhibited while reaching his goals.
Arnold - 2:50 - 3:17 "Most people are too close to what they are doing that they can't see themselves anymore."
I always step back and just laugh at myself because you can't take the whole thing seriously.
I believe there's certain things we have to do to keep us going and motivated; pick little goals, go after them and things like that".
Arnold - 3:38 - 3:56 "You have to be able to step back out of yourself and look at what you are doing;
and laugh about it. Because it's all funny, being the best built man in the world "Very Funny".
I think Mentzer did challenge himself and always strived to improve. Indeed, one of the basic tenets in this training philosophy was progression. That to get bigger you have to get stronger and to get stronger you had to be bigger. So you always strived for the addition rep. Always strived to increase the resistance.
You may be too young to remember but I was already in my late teens/early twenties when Mentzer was all the rage. Before that I spent my teen years reading the muscle books like everyone else interested in bodybuilding. There was no internet so the mags were all we had. There was always talk about the Weider principles. The pump, peak contraction, the flushing principle, certain exercises for width, definition, peak, size.... but never really much talk about progression and getting stronger by adding more reps and more repetitions and training intensity.
Mentzer I think seems to have taken things too seriously. He didn't have fun in the way Arnold did. Arnold of course was ruthless and would stop at nothing to win. But he also seem to have fun, enjoy bodybuilding and enjoy life. Mike was more of a loner and intellectual. He struggled with a lot of the great issues of life and battled personal demons. Arnold, in comparison, might be though of as a bit more shallow. Didn't become too preoccupied with the bigger more transcendent issues about "what does it all mean?" Just have blast. Surround himself with friends that I believed he truly liked to be with.
Remember that final scene in Pumping Iron during the ride back with "Big Louie"? Like me, most of us were probably teenagers when we first saw this movie. You can't help but like Arnold and want to be like him. You know that in one situation he'd stick a knife in Louie's back if he had to, but in another, beginning at around 1:35, you see him just having fun and really enjoying life.
Mentzer was far more influential to me than Arnold was in a bodybuilding sense. But Arnold was Arnold. Living life to the fullest. Who could ever imagine that someone from such an obscure subculture could rise to the level he did?
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I think Mentzer did challenge himself and always strived to improve. Indeed, one of the basic tenets in this training philosophy was progression.
I totally agree with this but I think it was a labor for him and not a labor of love or he would have continued regardless of the 1980 outcome. I had the pleasure of seeing one of only six seminars Mike did with Boyer Coe after the 1981 Mr. Olympia. Let me say that Mike had not let himself go at all at that time. He still looked very big and muscular. I was 16 I believe and Boyer Coe guest posed although Mike looked in fantastic shape in a tank top and shorts.
I think Arnold would and has stepped on many a people to get where he has.
The dichotomy of this is, it seems he has remained very loyal to people who have been there from the
beginning.
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pretty long but interesting none the less
The controversy of controversies.
The 1980 Mr Olympia contest staged in Sydney, Australia, remains by far the most controversial in the event's history. The contention centers on the participation of Arnold Schwarzenegger, who had announced his retirement from competition in 1975 after winning six consecutive Mr. Olympia titles.
Seemingly only in Sydney to do commentary for CBS TV , Arnold stunned the bodybuilding world on the eve of the contest by declaring that he was returning to competition in pursuit of a seventh title.
Two days before the contest, Mike had that same " death's door feeling " which again confined him to bed for a whole day. By the morning of the contest, though, he had fully recovered. He was 225 pounds and more cut than he'd ever been. " I looked my best , but I didn't feel at my best. It just didn't feel like a normal contest; no one was being their usual selves. There was a strain and tension in the air all the way though."
WHO TERMINATED WHOM!
That strain and tension came to an electrifying climax at the competitors meeting held the morning of the contest. Fifteen of the 16 athletes had signed a petition asking that the two weight classes be abolished and that the Olympia should be contested as one open class. The one athlete not in agreement was Arnold Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Whatever the rights & wrongs , facts and misconceptions , theories and myths surrounded the 1980 Me. Olympia contest , in the interests of this narrative, it's important to understand that Mike Mentzer felt he was cheated in Sydney, and that sinister machinations were afoot. His belief is that certain forces , fueled by ignorance and sycophancy, combined to thrust an undeserving Arnold to first place and relegate him - perceived as owning the best physique in the contest - " ridiculous " fifth place.
This is how Mike recalls that fateful day. " There were maybe 50 people at the competitors meeting and as usual, Arnold wanted to be the center of attention. In every situation, he tries to be the standout, and on this occasion, he was the only athlete of the 16 in the contest who wanted to keep the two weight classes. " He said something to denigrate Samir Bannout that I thought was uncalled for. I passed on that, feeling Samir should have defended himself. As the debate progressed, there was a lot of arguing between Arnold and some of the guys. I wasn't really concerned one way or the other - I thought I could win anyway. Then Boyer Coe stood up and , as the gentlemen he is , said , " Why don't we let Arnold explain to us right here and now his exact reasons for wanted to have two weight classes? "
" Arnold barked , ' Boyer, lets talk like adults here. ' That really irked me , because Boyer made his plea with no hint of malice. In addition, this was the IFBB's event, but here was this big Prussian son of a bitch standing there acting like a Nazi and trying to walk all over us. " For some reason , that question pissed him off. He seemed like a guy out of control as he turned to face me, his upper lip curled around like a snarling animal. We were debating the issue of weight classes, but Arnold choose to snap at me. ' Mike Mentzer, we all know Zane beat you last year because you have a big stomach! '
" I was seated 20 feet away from Arnold, who was standing holding court, and I perhaps allowed that comment to irritate me too much, as on impulse, I bolted toward him. As I approached him, I decided I wouldn't hit him, but nevertheless I was surprised when Arnold sat down: I scared him! He sat as I continued to berate him. Wagging my finger at him, I told him, ' Look, Arnold, Boyer Coe said what he did as a gentlemen- he didn't deserve that response. You're the one who's acting like a baby,literally! ' Armold couldn't look me in the eye. He went from being a frantic hysterical adolescent to shrinking away like an injured child. "
Not for the first time in the history of bodybuilding, Joe Weider stepped in and defused the situation. He advised Arnold to accept the voices of the other 15. The debate ended as Arnold proclaimed, " I withdraw my objection. "
DECISION DOWN UNDER
" Throughout that meeting, Arnold had on a tight-knit weather that made him look skinny. I was curious to see what he looked like once he stripped down. When he did, I remember looking at him and thinking, Not only and I going to win this contest, but I'm going to beat Arnold Schwarzenegger as well!
" When I was called fifth, I was totally shocked. It was just a ridiculous placing, made more ridiculous by an out-of-shape Arnold winning. As for the other who finished ahead of me, I knew Frank Zane [ third ], due to an accident he had sustained four months earlier, wasn't as good as he had been the previous year. I mist say that Chris Dickerson [ second ] and Boyer Coe [ fourth ] were in phenomenal shape, particularly Chris. I felt he and I were the ones in absolute peak condition, and we should have been top two.
" The majority of observers at the 1980 Mr. Olympia, with the exception of the judging panel, didn't have Arnold in the top five. The crowd booed Arnold at the contest's conclusion, and there were a number of things that took place during the prejudging that perhaps should have provided an indication that as was not as it should have bee.
" Several of the judges were close friends of Arnold. Boyer Coe told me afterwards that he saw Reg Park, one of the judges, actually coaching Arnold from the official's table. In contrast, Bill Pearl had honorably removed himself from the judging panel, as he had spent some time training with Chris Dickerson.
" At times, the contest was like a circus. We had Franco Columbu- one of Arnold's weak-willed namby-pamy lackeys - coming onstage with a towel, a comb and oil, to go through a little act with Arnold at the expense of everybody else. I could quote other anomalies, but possibly the most pertinent is that CBS Sports flew half away around the world to tape the event and then never televised it. The word was that they were convinced it was a fix. " The record may show Arnold Schwarzenegger as the 1980 Mr. Olympia champion, but he wasn't the best bodybuilder onstage that day - not by a mile. "
In the immediate aftermath of the contest, several top names stated they would never compete again. They would later reverse their decisions and return to the contest dais. But even as he was announced fifth, Mike knew he would never compete again: " There was no way I was going to put myself though the same tortuous process again for a similar reward. At no point since 1980 have I been even sligthtly tempted to consider the possibility of competing. I don'tmiss it. "
Of all of its repercussions, it is difficult not to nominate Mike's premature retirement at 29 as being the major consequence of the 1980 Mr. Olympia contest. It effectively denied the sport of a view of the physique he could have built in future years.
Arnold clearly won. He was far from his best, but was still light-years ahead of everybody else. You are not compared to your best: you are compared to your competition, and his chest and biceps alone would have been enough for him to win the show.
But Mentzer...even if Arnold hadn't competed, he would still have placed fourth. He wouldn't have won the show anyway, so why did he care so much? But the thing is that the defeat of Mentzer at the 1980 Mr.Olympia killed him. Literally. He became addicted to drugs and then went on a downhill spiral from which he wouldn't recover. Mentzer had a very difficult personality with lots of obsessions, need for perfection, dogmatism, etc. I actually think that Ayn Rand killed him.
SUCKMYMUSCLE
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I should have just scanned it ;D
i was just telling myself the same thing "why didnt this asshole just scan it" ;D
i read it long ago,.. nice to post here..
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I'm glad this thread was started because in all my years following the sport of professional bodybuilding I've never heard or read what Mike Mentzer thought about the 1980 Mr Olympia. What a fresh topic. Bravo.
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I'm glad this thread was started because in all my years following the sport of professional bodybuilding I've never heard or read what Mike Mentzer thought about the 1980 Mr Olympia. What a fresh topic. Bravo.
Up next - Dorian vs Ronnie
Stay tuned
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Up next - Dorian vs Ronnie
Stay tuned
*reaches for revolver* ;D
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good post
except the part about arnold loving the sport.......he started out loving it........but later on it just became a stepping stone and he NEVER looked back.......and right now he couldnt give a SHIT about bodybuilding
he doesnt care about the sport, he doesnt support the sport............
please dont argue this point , i can site a dozen examples that prove this pretty soundly
for example, dont say he gives back by promoting the arnold classic...............he has NOTHING to do with the arnold classic...........he leases his name to jim lorimer once a year in return for hundreds hundreds of thousands of dollars.............he has no part in coordinating it, no involvment whatsoever
What about those articles he used to "pen" in M&F and how he berated Dorian? ;D
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*reaches for revolver* ;D
:D
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I'm glad this thread was started because in all my years following the sport of professional bodybuilding I've never heard or read what Mike Mentzer thought about the 1980 Mr Olympia. What a fresh topic. Bravo.
STFU noob you better wipe your feet before you step into my house >:(
This wasn't for you fuck-tard this was for some of the younger members who might not have heard it from his point of view so do us all a favor and fuck-off ;)
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STFU noob you better wipe your feet before you step into my house >:(
This wasn't for you fuck-tard this was for some of the younger members who might not have heard it from his point of view so do us all a favor and fuck-off ;)
LOL!
Well said, ND. ;D
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I would choose Arnold over Mentzer and have Mike second overall. Zane third. The rest? Who cares? Chris Dickerson had an awful physique. !981 was a genuine travesty as Padilla should have won the Olympia. Danny was robbed. If ever there were a 1/2 scale Schwarzenegger, Padilla was it.
Back to the topic. As was pointed out before, Arnold lost to Zane in 1968 (?) and he cried about it, but only to himself. He came back and never looked back. Mike should have done the same.
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i remember watchin the tape of this contest at our gym about a year later...arnold wom EASILY not just his chest an bis,...gota remember this was the most ripped arnold ever had gotton for a show, check his back double biceps pose he killed them all i mean not even close...he may have been a bit smaller but damm he was ripped....with his stucture he was just unbeatable the day of that show...heres the thing all those guys had to deal with everyone every year after he retired hearing about arnold this and arnold could come back now and dominate.....then he did and they couldnt take it they all bonded together like 5 hurt puppies and cried foul....come on guys we always talk on here about arnold vs ronnie and alll and you dont think with only a 5 year break he didnt wipe the floor with a bunch of guys with tons of structure flaws come on man!!!! arnold won that show by the most points ever at a mr olympia
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Mentzer was the biggest crybaby of the early eighties. If he wanted to do something about his 1980 loss then he should have come back bigger and better looking then ever the following year. Instead, he cried, cried, cried. He lost plain and simple.
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Mentzer was the biggest crybaby of the early eighties. If he wanted to do something about his 1980 loss then he should have come back bigger and better looking then ever the following year. Instead, he cried, cried, cried. He lost plain and simple.
right, instead of putting his nose to the grind.........and coming back better
he melted down and went on a 12 year meth binge
........a could-have-been, not a champion
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Awesome times... and awesome hairs 8)
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This thread is useless with, or without, Vince Basile.
lol