Great experiences you had, training with Gaspari, do share some stories!
I heard that about Quinn, year-round shape, you dont see that no more.
Yeah, Gaspari had just won the 84 nationals and Universe, and he was guest posing at the Contra Costa for Steve O'Brien.
Now remember, Gaspari had never been in a pro show yet-he was just Mr. Universe. Also remember that in 1984 NO ONE stayed in contest shape year round (Gaspari and Haney-who trained together in Venice in 1983, started that trend). So Gaspari came into Gold's, I was there and we did a few sets because Rich needed a spotter.
So I asked Rich "are you in shape" (he was wearing a sweat shirt and sweat pants), he said "pretty much", so I said cool.
So we do a 5-6 sets and the sweatshirt came off and the entire gym was like WTF! Absolutely shredded wheat-veins criss crossing his entire body-no one, I mean no one had seen anyone that hard before. Even O'Brien was freaked out.
I remember after he guest posed at the show I was talking to O'Brien (promoter-also current Mr O judge-NPC BigWig) and he said Gaspari was as good as anyone he had every seen, and he said that included Haney.
As it turned out Rich never beat Haney, but he won most of the shows he entered for the next 5 years (84-89).