OK, he is speaking the truth;
1- Arnold's Dad did not die while he was training for the O
2- The Mike Katz missing t shirt was true, he lost it, BUT the Ken Waller "stealing" it scenes were added in AFTER the competition.
Arnold is full of shit-and Pumping Iron's Gains and Butler also are full of shit because they allowed that shit to go into the documentary.
But it is one hell of a show........
This stuff was addressed years ago, in the 25th Anniversary edition of
Pumping Iron DVD, in the “Special Features” portion, “Iron Insights”. The things you mentioned were added to jazz up the film, because, the investors felt that just the training and competition footage was boring, as most non-bodybuilders do. As the Oak put it,
”That’s why we didn’t call it a documentary; we always call it a ‘docu-drama’, because certain things were added to the film, in order to make it more interesting.”1 - Arnold said that he got that story from a bodybuilder in France, who claimed that he didn’t attend his father’s funeral as it interfered with his contest preparation. But, there’s a reason why he used that story. According to the Oak, it was part of the transition to make him the “heel” of the movie, as that role was originally to go to Lou Ferrigno. However, as the production continued, the directors felt that Ferrigno couldn’t pull it off, due to his hearing problem and the overbearing role his father played in the film. Big Lou simply didn’t have the presence to be the villain of the movie. Therefore, when Arnold assumed the role, the funeral thing was used to sell how cold and heartless he could be.
2 – Indeed, “T-shirt”-Gate was a spur-of-the-moment thing for Waller, as he was just goofing around. But, the goal was to make each contest appear to be a two-man race (Waller and Katz for the Universe; Schwarzenegger and Ferrigno for the Olympia). The football scene, filmed after the Universe, was his way of dismissing Katz but leaving nothing to chance. Waller claimed that, for several years after
Pumping Iron was released, he got booed at contests because of that whole scenario. To this day, he hasn’t been able to distance himself from that scene.
This is the first time I have heard Arnold talk since 1980. His vocabulary and language is 100% improved over those days and his intelligence shines through. His face looks different to what I remember. He is much more handsome now.
He has always been able to focus and do whatever was needed to succeed. Interesting how he used controversy to get notoriety and exposure. The bottom line is he used his brain to beat Sergio and others and that is documented by Pumping Iron and these interviews.
A pity what he said about testing bodybuilders for drugs is a lie.
Did he go to his father's funeral or not?
3 – It’s safe to say that Arnold exaggerated the issue of drug-testing in the IFBB. Yes, he did talk openly about his past steroid use, as he always does (after all, steroids weren’t illegal when he was competing). The IFBB does have testing. But, from what I’ve seen, it happens primarily among the amateurs; and most of that is internationally (i.e. outside the USA). But, Arnold used the term, "continuously" to describe the testing protocols. I think "sparingly" would be a better term.
Another thing he mentioned that you didn’t list was his comment about getting a pump. Contrary to what certain supplement companies (i.e. VPX) advertise, Arnold DOES NOT believe that a pump is as gratifying as (or more gratifying than) an orgasm. The Oak says he made that up, as something outrageous to garner more attention to himself and the film. To him, the feelings are mutually exclusive.
Also, there was no need for Schwarzenegger to “pscyh out” Ferrigno. The Oak felt that his larger opponent wasn’t ready to compete as his level. But, for the sake of the movie’s storyline, he had to act as if Big Louie was a legitimate threat (hence, the downplaying of the fact that Arnold had beaten Lou the previous year). Therefore, simply having a better physique wasn’t enough. Schwarzenegger had to convince Ferrigno that the future Incredible Hulk didn’t have what it took to beat him, that he would be “ready to lose” when the Olympia took place.
