Good point. Milos are you adding in your hourly fees for training Mustafa as part of what you say he owes?
Cuz if that's the case, that's not fair. We're all talking about loaning cash -- not sweat equity in an investment (that investment being Mustafa).
If you count sweat equity in failed projects, f**k, I've got several million that people owe me.
As much as must of you don't deserve my answer - I keep answering ...as I have nothing to hide.
No, I never charged Mustafa any of my training fees.
The reason that I decided to help him was TWO trips to emergency room with him - back in 2004.
He put himself in trouble doing something that could have killed him...(and for that many people believe that it was MY MISTAKE and that I was the one giving him bad advice that almost took his life!).
Well, I had nothing to do with it...
Only when I was called to assist the IFBB athlete in trouble (after 2004 Mr. Olympia) I found out what Mustafa was really doing.
Because I knew that mistake of paramedics could take his life (administering potassium in case of hyperkalemia WOULD stop his heart) I insisted to be in paramedics car on the way to the hospital...
In the car Mustafa grabbed my arm and asked me to promise him that I would take care of his family if he dies!
I didn't even know his family and I promised him that I will (take care...) but that I will not let him die...
Spending the whole night and talking to him brought us together...
Week later in Amsterdam after yet another close call - when Mustafa made things even worse and almost killed himself again - I spent another sleepless night with him (this time in Dutch hospital) and than I offered him: that if he needs my help for the competition I WILL HELP HIM...free of charge.
Well, he showed up in Fullerton 3 and a half weeks before New York show 2005 - COMPLETELY OUT OF SHAPE and wanting me to help him get in shape...
As he didn't have anything else arranged - I put him in the hotel (at my expense - which is not included in "LOAN" amount...and besides that I helped him with most of the other expenses during his stay. Again none of that was included in "loan amount"...)
Mustafa also did not arrange hotel in New York...and in the last minute that ended up as my additional expense (two rooms X 3 nights in New Jersey could be quite expensive...plus cab fairs and everything else that comes with "territory"... ALL my expense - which I never included in "loan amount").
As he didn't place well - he didn't make any money - so I had to assist him with some cash - to at least buy some gifts for his family...
All that I gladly did - as I considered him a friend...He was guest in my house, my mother's house...etc
I also suggested him to come back before the Olympia and redeem himself by competing and placing on the money in Europa and Charlotte show...
He suppose to come back ready to step on stage...but as I picked him up six days before Texas I realized (and Luke witnessed it) that Mustafa is nowhere close to be in shape...to the point that he would look like very much out of shape guest poser...
Plan to go to those two shows and get attention of the judges became nightmare for me - but I already made all the travel and accommodation plans (ALL MY EXPENSE - again not included into the loan amount... Whoever travels enough can assume what kind of money we are talking about here...).
Did I mention that he was again (second time around) staying FREE OF CHARGE in Fullerton for over a month...
So for those of you that judge me for being "after Mustafa" and trying to destroy his reputation...think again.
I spent MORE than what I loaned him - as a gift (support) to someone I considered a friend...
Than he tricked me into giving him additional loan and he did that with a plan...
What I learned later is that I am not the first one that he took advantage off...That is his "lifestyle"...
Also, after everything he had a nerve to call me and threaten me that he will kill me IF I dare to say this to anyone...
Month later at the Ironman he would yell across the hall walking up to me with the biggest smile wanting to hug me and calling me: "Milos, my brotheeeeeerrrr..."
Well, few days after that - I publicly answered to someone who was asking me what was the problem with me and Mustafa during the Ironman...
There you have it. I hope that answers your:
"Cuz if that's the case, that's not fair. We're all talking about loaning
cash -- not
sweat equity in an investment (that investment being Mustafa)."
I am talking about loaning the CASH not sweat equity (which would have been enormeous - but I never charged him for it) plus as I just explained ALL THE ADDITIONAL GIFTS (8 weeks of hotel accomodation in Fullerton, hotels in New York, Texas and Charlotte plus airfairs....all my "support the friend in need" additional expense NOT even mentioned until now).