Author Topic: Stories - Your favorite stories re pros / legends  (Read 548153 times)

Dan-O

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 9729

Soldier of Iron

  • Getbig IV
  • ****
  • Posts: 1116
  • Back Once Again
Re: onlyme, Max_rep, others: tell your favorite stories
« Reply #76 on: March 18, 2005, 10:34:15 AM »
I've seen Dorian's video... his intensity does not come close to Platz. I've seen Ronnies video ans seen him train once (off-season) his intesity does not com close to Platz. I've trained with Ray and Mike Mentzer... their intensity does not come close to Platz. At least once or twice Pro's would stop watch Tom do a set and walk away shaking their head. Tom was a freak... Tom thrived on pain. Let's take hacks. Eacg rep he would touch his knees to the floor in front of him. He do a set to failure. Then partials... until he couldn't budge the shoulder pads... Then he'd press the weight up with his arms and shoulders and stand up into the machine and do negatives down. when he couldn't go any further. He's stretch at the botton and then finally he'd collapse like a dead fish.

The guy was f*cking possessed. I'd train with ANYONE. Anyone except him. F*ck that. I'd rather go to the dentist and have him drill a hole in my skull.

Thats incredible. I never heard of intensity like that before.

Max_Rep

  • Max Rep
  • Getbig IV
  • ****
  • Posts: 3980
  • It’s about how hard you can GET hit...
Re: onlyme, Max_rep, others: tell your favorite stories
« Reply #77 on: March 18, 2005, 12:06:27 PM »
Kevin... you've been around Venice YEARS after I left. I've been in Redondo now since 1983 and I see you when I come up once or twice a year so I know you have tons of stories.

The prejudging in that 1977 USA was weird because they had us in the orchestra pit while it was lowered. I was a middleweight. When the heavyweights came on I was looking over the ledge with everyone watching and Arnold came up right next to me looked into the pit, starred for about 30 seconds and said "everyone but Kal can go home now." Then he walked off.
and keep moving!

Milly

  • Guest
Re: onlyme, Max_rep, others: tell your favorite stories
« Reply #78 on: March 18, 2005, 12:30:08 PM »
any good lou stories?

ps- did lou charge 20 bucks for a pic back then or was 20 bucks today the equivalent of 5 bucks

onlyme

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 19328
  • Don't Fuck With Bears
Re: onlyme, Max_rep, others: tell your favorite stories
« Reply #79 on: March 18, 2005, 12:41:32 PM »
Oh my god!  I just had a great long story and I accidently erased it.  I am pissed.

Kevin

  • Getbig II
  • **
  • Posts: 111
  • Getbig!
Re: onlyme, Max_rep, others: tell your favorite stories
« Reply #80 on: March 19, 2005, 09:01:49 AM »
I'll try to keep this going a bit while Only Me retypes the long story he lost.

Before I start, let me say this...... Only me is a big supporter of the "No Hope In Dope" organization and abides by their "code" faithfully. BUT everyone f____ks up once in while and I'm gonna challange him to tell you that story ...... Here's the clue, Only ...... A.I.'s wedding banquet. It's one heck of a funny story when he tells it in person. I just hope it comes off as well when he writes it down.

OK........

Who in this group ever stood along side Rolf Mouller?

I guarantee ya that if you have a ten minute conversation with Rolf, you'll depart with a pain in your neck.

He is so tall that you have to look straight up to make eye contact.

One day I helped Rolf and his GF get into one of the little tourist helicopters and the pilot almost shit his pants. But after a few computations with helicopter flying "formulas", he decided that it would work and gave me the thumbs up as they gradually lifted off the ground.

Rolf was squeezed in the back and it reminded me of the circus when all those clowns were squeezed into the smallest VW possible.

Rolf is one of those rare giants who is symmetrical. And when he is in contest shape he's a sight to see and a traffic stopper.

The last time I saw Rolf was at one of the national contests in the Shrine Auditorium. We had a good long talk and lots of laughs recalling that helicopter ride.

And I had a pain in my neck for the next few days.

Kevin

  • Getbig II
  • **
  • Posts: 111
  • Getbig!
Re: onlyme, Max_rep, others: tell your favorite stories
« Reply #81 on: March 19, 2005, 09:37:13 AM »
I think I've met or have known about 80% of the pros since a long while back and one day someone asked me who I would  vote for if they had a "Nicest Guy in the Bodybuilding World" contest.

I thought it over for a few seconds and thought about Gary Strydom who constantly offered his free time and advice for hours on end at various contests and never once complained.

Then I thought about Larry Scott who has been a true bodybuilding gentleman since the 60's.

And Bill Pearl likewise.

And Porter Cottrell who always seemed to go out of his way to talk to his fans and answer every question truthfully.

And I thought of a few others who always impressed me as true gentlemen in the sport......

But then I thought of Curtis Leffler and "Yep, I'd have to place Curtis at the top of that Good Guy List".

And he wasn't even a Pro!

Bur those of us who had the opportunity to know Curtis and possibly even train with him  while he was with us will feel the same way I do. I have no doubts on that.

I first met Curtis when he was a kid working in a small curbside booth passing out time share brochures. He didn't look like he trained on a regualr basis, but he did have a good set of arms that were impressive.

Some time later, World Gym opened up and a deversified group of individuals joined up and over the following months formed a family of sorts. A family of lifters who shared good times and bad.

Curtis was there so often that he lived in one of the storage rooms in the back.

Those were crazy days when everything seemed legal and great gains were made on a weekly basis and night club life was in abundance

There was BOB who did seated shoulder presses for reps with 320 and was seen everywhere in the darkest hours impressing the ladies with his impressive bod and even more impressive personality.

And Mitch who would curl humongous weights but never squated.

And little Eddie who was determined to be a pro this year or next.

And Kal and Sandy and Lynn and Steve and many others who really loved this crazy lifting game. Maybe way too much for it became their life and nothing other than this "life" mattered.

It would be impossible to leave the gym immediately after a workout. Some one or some group would always be in the vicinity of the front door holding a weight lifting conversation which was impossible not to  join.

If you had to leave to be someplace important, strong arms would pull you in and make you join in conversation.

When you wanted to walk away and get home to your family, someone would be there to hold you back and get you talkiing once again.

And the conversaton was always about lifting weights and bodybuilding and who did what and who is where and why and wherefore, etc, etc.

And Curtis, when he wasn't sleeping or training, would always be there listening cause he was the silent type. The strong, silent type of guy.

Back then none of us knew how strongly Curtis wanted to become a pro. I didn't even think he wanted to compete. But being the strong, silent type of guy he was, he kept it all inside until it was just too damn evident to deny.

to be continued........ Only Me will want to contribute to this, I bet!

LLES

  • Getbig IV
  • ****
  • Posts: 2498
  • Getbig!
Re: onlyme, Max_rep, others: tell your favorite stories
« Reply #82 on: March 19, 2005, 10:20:03 AM »
Any interesting stories on Rachel McLish???? By the way, the stories are great!

619Rules

  • Guest
Re: onlyme, Max_rep, others: tell your favorite stories
« Reply #83 on: March 19, 2005, 12:19:35 PM »
Any interesting stories on Rachel McLish???? By the way, the stories are great!
I can tell you only one story about the McDish-McLish......we were putting together a Gold's Gym in Oceanside CA in about 1988 or so and Matt Mendenhall was thinking about getting involved (he looks bigger in the pics), and at the time he was hooked up with the McDish. Matt saw the current gym, said he wanted no part of it and bailed. About 6 months later word came out that the McDish had dumped him, supposedly ove Matts consumption of adult beverages. That was the word in the late 80's, Matt used to drinky, drinky... and it caused him some problems.

Disgusted

  • Expert
  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 13610
Re: onlyme, Max_rep, others: tell your favorite stories
« Reply #84 on: March 19, 2005, 12:28:49 PM »
I can tell you only one story about the McDish-McLish......we were putting together a Gold's Gym in Oceanside CA in about 1988 or so and Matt Mendenhall was thinking about getting involved (he looks bigger in the pics), and at the time he was hooked up with the McDish. Matt saw the current gym, said he wanted no part of it and bailed. About 6 months later word came out that the McDish had dumped him, supposedly ove Matts consumption of adult beverages. That was the word in the late 80's, Matt used to drinky, drinky... and it caused him some problems.

I seem to recall Matt saying once that he started having problems that he related to taking juice. I believe panic attacks. He said that everytime he felt a slight pain somewhere he felt he was going to die because of it and would go into a panic.

onlyme

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 19328
  • Don't Fuck With Bears
Re: onlyme, Max_rep, others: tell your favorite stories
« Reply #85 on: March 19, 2005, 12:53:48 PM »
Taking showers with Rachel back in 1979 at the old World Gym was my best memory in the gang shower.  Watching her do pullups as sexy as they could be done next to the dumbell rack was another great memory.  Back then they had one locker room I think.  A few years later they added the women's locker room.  I better get this straight before I go on.  I didn't actually take a shower with her, I was in the locker room.

Anyone remember the outside workout area at World Gym.  It was kind of neat getting a tan while you train.  After Worlds moved, Joe made the gym his home.  And I think Tony Novak worked his business out of there too.  Does anyone here remember Tony Novak.  When I first started at World's in 1979 I saw him.  I was very quiet since everyone there was older than me.  I saw him and thought he was John Matusak from the Raiders.  He was huge and mean looking.  Later on I found out he was our in-house "supplement" provider (if you know what I mean).  He used to train with a guy named Bugsy who woudl arch his back so high when benching you could crawl under it.  Bugsy had a nice Rolls Royce.  I remember Tony was like Joe Gold's "enforcer" at the gym.  Anyone have a problem Tony would take care of it.  The gym was upstairs.  Joe didn't like photgraphers or tourists coming in the gym taking pictures without his permission.  Well one day two guys came up and wanted to take pictures.  Joe was there and said no.  Tony was training kind of next to me about 10' away.  I saw in the mirror that Joe was telling these guys to leave and they wouldn't.  Well Tony then noticed and got up and went over to Joe.  I was looking in the mirror at the whole thing developing.  Now, these guys were near the stairs right at the entrance.  Then all of a sudden Tony pushes one of them and he falls into the other one and they proceeded to roll down the stairs.  Then you hear Tony "stay the f**k out".  He came back and started training like nothing happened.  This all happened in a span of about a minute.  You see Tony on Pumping Iron when Arnold first gets back into the gym and Arnold says "Big Tony" and Tony is peeling an orange I think.  He was a character.  I saw him at the Arnold a few years back.  He is making all the leather jackets for World Gym.  Great guy.

As with Curtis Leffler.  Curtis was defintiely the most vascular BB I have ever met.  He lost the USA to Paul Dillet and I know that hurt him.  We used to train together a little back in the early 90's.  He is as strong as Ronnie and stronger in some lifts.  He competed in the WSM once.  He looked great doing it but didn't do so well.  He did have some viable excuses.  Number one a few days before he had just competed in a bodybuilding show show so he was a little weak and depleted.  And second they had him go first in allot of the events and didn't know the technique as they had somoe new events.  Everyone after him saw what not to do and beat him badly.  But he constantly won the Hawaii Strongman COmpetition.  The only real thing I remember him doing though was benching 405 for 27 reps.  And he was a puller not so much a pusher.  He was a great guy and friend and he is missed.

Disgusted

  • Expert
  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 13610
Re: onlyme, Max_rep, others: tell your favorite stories
« Reply #86 on: March 19, 2005, 01:00:37 PM »
Taking showers with Rachel back in 1979 at the old World Gym was my best memory in the gang shower. 

WHAT????? You say it so casually then nothing?. DETAILS MAN  :o  ps I hate you.  >:(

Kevin

  • Getbig II
  • **
  • Posts: 111
  • Getbig!
Re: onlyme, Max_rep, others: tell your favorite stories
« Reply #87 on: March 19, 2005, 01:08:14 PM »
Someone asked me to talk about the early days, after-contest parties, so I'll give a brief mention of one such party that was relatively mild compared to some others I've only heard about.

Nowadays the contests are big enough to hold a major after-contest party such as Craig's and others, but in those earlier years the parties were usually held in a suite of rooms in the same hotel where the contest was held.

This was definitely true when the contest was held at Caesars Palace the year Casey Viator won the nationals.

Thinking back  ......

The contest was held in the main showroom when Caesars was a much smaller operation.

I recall going to the mixed pairs at that event which was won by Jeff and Cory Everson. Cory kept sliding out of Jeff's arms because of the oil which they failed to practice with before.

But they won anyway. (I sure hope that this was the same date and location - correct me if I'm wrong).

The men's contest was prejudged in the main showroom and also televised so it could also be shown in one of the huge convention rooms.

They must have rented the main showroom so as to not interfere with that evening's headline act, because I do recall the contest being held in the early afternoon and Casey making a beeline to the swimming pool to jump in and celebrate while the photographers waited patiently poolside to shoot some photos of the champ. (The sun was still out!)

Jeff had some pretty funny stories to tell about Viator's diet which I can't recall well enough to mention here but maybe one of you out there can fill us in .

Hey Jeff, are you reading this?

So, back to the after contest party!

One of the sponsoring suppliment companies had rented a suite of hotel rooms up on the PH level or damn close to it and invited the contestants and some of the old timers to join in the festivities.

When I arrive it was like going into a Old Time Bodybuilding Museum so it was a good time had by all once the talking and the mingling started.

The host provided beer and wine and food and it was only scheduled to last an hour but everyone was having such a good time that the host called room service and had them deliver more food and drink.(Way to much food and drink evern for this illustrious crowd.)

I don't think anyone left that party, but the word did get out and more and more people kept pouring in until the whole crowd was asshole to bellybutton greeting the old and the new and having a grand old hell of a time talking story.

And like most bodybuilding parties, there were also a couple guys and gals stretched out on the beds getting or giving massages and other stuff but nothing that could be rated X as far as I could recall.

And a funny odor of something some people were smoking "over thar in the cornor" as we drifted in that direction.

It was dark and late and kind of hazy when that party broke up but some of us decided to continue partying at the ongoing party at the hotel across the street.

So I, being the smartest guy in the group (and possibly the sobertest), tell everyone to "Follow me cause I know a shortcut!" and I run ahead a jump over a three foot wall ......... and immediately drop 6 feet more on the other side into a huge pool of water which back then was part of the Caesar's Fountains.

And before I could say, "Don't jump over that wall!" two more guys came flying over and took a flop and an unexpected swim.

But being the party animals we USED to be, we picked up our wet bodies and continued across the Strip to find the party.

To make a long story short, we got ten feet into the caino and were asked to leave.

I asked "Why?" as my shoes squeeked and I dripped all over the casino carpet.

"Because you're having too much fun!", was the only answer we received as they politely led us out the door.

We were  - Me and one national Olympic lifting champ and one national bodybuild title holder whose names I will provide once they give me their approval.

But since it could have been  the weed that led us astray, I don't think they're gonna do it.

I guess these after event parties haven't really changed that much.

Probably just a little larger.

onlyme

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 19328
  • Don't Fuck With Bears
Re: onlyme, Max_rep, others: tell your favorite stories
« Reply #88 on: March 19, 2005, 01:32:01 PM »
Well if I remember right with only one locker room sometimes there would be men and women at the same time.  Mostly guys worked out back then anyway.  But I went to change and she was taking a shower.  I didn't go in the showers because I am a gentleman.  Plus I was afraid cause I wasn't sure I was allowed to.  I was a youngster just getting into being friends with everyone.  I didn't want to rock the boat.  But, I was in the same locker room.  Plus, when she did the pullups that was a site alone that will be etched in my memory.  BAck then I was really into training.  Besides going to Palm Springs, working out was about all I did.  I was a house painter and I remember I was doing a house in Santa Monica and decided to workout in the morning.  I would take my workers to the house and then I would go train.  After training I would go to the beach then have lunch spend about an hour at the house then go home.

Disgusted

  • Expert
  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 13610
Re: onlyme, Max_rep, others: tell your favorite stories
« Reply #89 on: March 19, 2005, 01:46:41 PM »
Well if I remember right with only one locker room sometimes there would be men and women at the same time.  Mostly guys worked out back then anyway.  But I went to change and she was taking a shower.  I didn't go in the showers because I am a gentleman.  Plus I was afraid cause I wasn't sure I was allowed to.  I was a youngster just getting into being friends with everyone.  I didn't want to rock the boat.  But, I was in the same locker room.  Plus, when she did the pullups that was a site alone that will be etched in my memory.  BAck then I was really into training.  Besides going to Palm Springs, working out was about all I did.  I was a house painter and I remember I was doing a house in Santa Monica and decided to workout in the morning.  I would take my workers to the house and then I would go train.  After training I would go to the beach then have lunch spend about an hour at the house then go home.

You should have at least peeked.  ;D I bet you did.

619Rules

  • Guest
Re: onlyme, Max_rep, others: tell your favorite stories
« Reply #90 on: March 19, 2005, 02:20:42 PM »
Taking showers with Rachel back in 1979 at the old World Gym was my best memory in the gang shower.  Watching her do pullups as sexy as they could be done next to the dumbell rack was another great memory.  Back then they had one locker room I think.  A few years later they added the women's locker room.  I better get this straight before I go on.  I didn't actually take a shower with her, I was in the locker room.

Anyone remember the outside workout area at World Gym.  It was kind of neat getting a tan while you train.  After Worlds moved, Joe made the gym his home.

And I think Tony Novak worked his business out of there too.  Does anyone here remember Tony Novak.

He is making all the leather jackets for World Gym.  Great guy.

Onlyme....your right about Tony, he did have his business operating out of the old World Gym location. I have about 5 of his jackets-all World Gym varsity type jackets. He also makes the jacket for the ASC. He has a web site, I thin it is

www.tonynowak.com

I am going to have him make me another World Gym jacket-but with custom colors........I loved World Gym on Main Street-it was so cool b/c it was small and you could train right next to the champs, hit the outdoor deck later in the (late) afternoon for some training and get that sea breeze (Could not train outside during the day though-the sun sapped my energy).

I wish I could have seen the McDish train-she was super hot. There was another BBing made for TV movie-about a woman BBer this time-and she diets down for a show and competes and the McDish was in it and Carla Dunlap and some others-pretty cool.....They had 2 locker rooms when I would pop in to train-this was early 80's....the funny thing about the Original World Gym is that is was a single story building over parking. You would drive right under the building from Main street, and they had 3 or 4 parking spots and also the SHOWERS were down stairs, right next to the cars.

Last time I was in Santa Monica about 1 year ago-Joe Gold still owned that building, but it was all an office-and the downstairs parking had been turned ito office space too. It had a lease sign on it. That was one cool gym. The one thing I did not like were the dumbell handles-they were huge-made for guys like Big Lou-could never get my hands around those things......lol.....oh, and I hated the benches with the suport racks 18 inches apart-so if you unloaded more than 1 plate the thing would flip on ya.....but all in all a cool place.....nothing broken like Gold's, and a lot more serious.....

onlyme

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 19328
  • Don't Fuck With Bears
Re: onlyme, Max_rep, others: tell your favorite stories
« Reply #91 on: March 19, 2005, 05:27:42 PM »
Okay here is a parking lot story kind of.  As 619 said the parking lot was small and at street level.  THe gym was built above it.  There was a small store you could buy food at on the diagonal corner.  It was so funny looking down out the window towards that little store when guys would walk across to get something to eat or drink.  All the traffic would stop people getting out of their cars to take pictures it was something.  Anyway, me, Ron Depolito (who actually got me into the sport and paid my fees ($150 for the year), and I think Manny Perry.  We were downstairs in front of the gym looking at one of Manny's custom Cadillacs.  We're talking and all of a sudden a car come out of the parking lot and almost hits us.  They didn;t stop or anything.  Waller starts yelling at them and cussing then starts running after the car.  We are looking at Kenny running after this car and couldn't believe he was running so far.  We look at each other and jump in the car and take off after Kenny.  We catch up to him maybe a few blocks up.  They turned right and Kenny kept chasing them.  Well finally when we get to Kenny, Ronny yells "get in the f**kin car dumbass"  Kenny slows down and sits on the curb.  He is so out of breath.  Ronny gets out and asks Kenny "what the f**k are you doing".  Kenny say (out of breath) I thought they'd hit a red light or stop.  It was so funny.  Kenny liked to fight and had a short fuse.  Does anyone remember the name of Waller's gym under the hotel along the 405 freeway.  I read somebody wrote that they think Kal has a gym I think this may be it.  Kenny also made the bestr tank tops.  The spagetti string, low cut ones.  KW Enterprises.  They were great.

I'd see Kenny every now and then at the club I was a bouncer at and at the movies.  I was always with a different girl and he would come up to whomever I was with and tell them I was a slut and be careful.  He was bad for my love life.  And I talk to him on the phone every now and then when I order some shirts.  He runs Extreme Activewear who makes Gold's Gym shirts.

619Rules

  • Guest
Re: onlyme, Max_rep, others: tell your favorite stories
« Reply #92 on: March 19, 2005, 05:40:57 PM »
Okay here is a parking lot story kind of.  As 619 said the parking lot was small and at street level.  THe gym was built above it.  There was a small store you could buy food at on the diagonal corner.  It was so funny looking down out the window towards that little store when guys would walk across to get something to eat or drink.  All the traffic would stop people getting out of their cars to take pictures it was something.  Anyway, me, Ron Depolito (who actually got me into the sport and paid my fees ($150 for the year), and I think Manny Perry.  We were downstairs in front of the gym looking at one of Manny's custom Cadillacs.  We're talking and all of a sudden a car come out of the parking lot and almost hits us.  They didn;t stop or anything.  Waller starts yelling at them and cussing then starts running after the car.  We are looking at Kenny running after this car and couldn't believe he was running so far.  We look at each other and jump in the car and take off after Kenny.  We catch up to him maybe a few blocks up.  They turned right and Kenny kept chasing them.  Well finally when we get to Kenny, Ronny yells "get in the f**kin car dumbass"  Kenny slows down and sits on the curb.  He is so out of breath.  Ronny gets out and asks Kenny "what the f**k are you doing".  Kenny say (out of breath) I thought they'd hit a red light or stop.  It was so funny.  Kenny liked to fight and had a short fuse.  Does anyone remember the name of Waller's gym under the hotel along the 405 freeway.  I read somebody wrote that they think Kal has a gym I think this may be it.  Kenny also made the bestr tank tops.  The spagetti string, low cut ones.  KW Enterprises.  They were great.

I'd see Kenny every now and then at the club I was a bouncer at and at the movies.  I was always with a different girl and he would come up to whomever I was with and tell them I was a slut and be careful.  He was bad for my love life.  And I talk to him on the phone every now and then when I order some shirts.  He runs Extreme Activewear who makes Gold's Gym shirts.
Onlyme...comes thru on the stories. Thats the way World Gym was, parking downstairs, with the showers.

Ken Waller ran the health club in what used to be the Atlas Hotel right off of the 405 in West LA-5 miuntes from Venice. The hotel was a Red Lion the last time I drove by it-which was at least a year or so ado. I was wondering if Waller still ran that gym.

Hey Onlyme-did you know Dave Zachery? He worked at Venice Golds-and opened Golds in San Fran in 1980, but trained at Wallers hotel gym. He is about 42 or 43 today.

Manueal Perry was one big dude-huge guy. But he was not the biggest guy I saw at World Gym. I think the biggest guy there, in my opinion, the guy with the most thick and dense chest to back ratio, monster guns on the guy, was the montser Dave Johns. Black brother that had trouble cutting up totally, but the bigggest guy around I think. Did you ever train with Dave? If I would stand next to him, he made me look like the skinny kid in the Charles Atlas ads that gets sand kicked in his face-he madean average BBer look like they did not workout. DId you ever train with him, or talk with him?  I never said a word to the guy-too intimidated by the guys size. I was a kid back then and he was a monster.

Kevin

  • Getbig II
  • **
  • Posts: 111
  • Getbig!
Re: onlyme, Max_rep, others: tell your favorite stories
« Reply #93 on: March 19, 2005, 06:11:44 PM »
Gotta butt in here cause I knew Dave Johns pretty well. I have to add him to my "Good Guy" list.

Thanks for the reminder.

I might have mentioned earlier that Dave received his national trophy from Mae West who was escorted onto the Santa Monica stage by Bert Goodrich,

Ken Sprague set that one up as far as I know.

Dave's best friend was another big black guy whose name I presently forget, but he would definitely go on that Good Guy list as well. He worked as a Youth Councelor in the LA Police Department, I think. Any help here?

Dave passed away at an early age. The cause of death was determined to be "Legionaire's Desease" which I am completely unfamiliar with.

I am sure that Only Me knew Dave so he might remember Dave's good friend's name too.

Any help, Only?

wes

  • Competitors
  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 65269
  • What Dire Mishap Has Befallen Thee
Re: onlyme, Max_rep, others: tell your favorite stories
« Reply #94 on: March 19, 2005, 06:29:19 PM »
Dave Johns buddys name was Dave Shaw....he was a powerlifter who wrote for Peary Raders Iron Man mag.

I just tried to post a few pics of Dave Johns but the photo uploader if full............will post them later if anyone wants to see them......I have quite a few.

wes

  • Competitors
  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 65269
  • What Dire Mishap Has Befallen Thee
Re: onlyme, Max_rep, others: tell your favorite stories
« Reply #95 on: March 19, 2005, 06:39:44 PM »
By the way,Dave Johns died from Valley Fever, a fungal infection of the lungs.

Very rare disease.

Kevin

  • Getbig II
  • **
  • Posts: 111
  • Getbig!
Re: onlyme, Max_rep, others: tell your favorite stories
« Reply #96 on: March 19, 2005, 06:57:10 PM »
Thanks, Wes. I'll see if I can locate Dave Shaw this next week.

Yes, I just looked up "Legionaire's desease" and it is a lung disease. There was some mention of inhaling mold in old buildings. I think that it was called Legionaires  because a number of Legionaires  died under strange circumstances while at a convention or soon thereafter.

 Thanks for your help, Wes

Might be a good time to offer some Old Timer's Trivia questions. Tuff ones!

See if  you can answer these without using a search engine.

1. Ed Fury's real name was _______________.
2. In what year did John Corvello win the Mr California contest?
3. The Cal that year was very close between John Corvello and ___X____
4. Who trained  ___X____ in an attempt to beat John in the Cal that year?
5. Name the old time bodybuilder who owned a gym in Las Vegas.
6. Who's strength act consisted of hanging himself by the neck.
7. Reg Lewis' wife's first name was _______?_______
8. Steve Reeve's first feature length film was _____________________?

wes

  • Competitors
  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 65269
  • What Dire Mishap Has Befallen Thee
Re: onlyme, Max_rep, others: tell your favorite stories
« Reply #97 on: March 19, 2005, 07:37:27 PM »
Thanks, Wes. I'll see if I can locate Dave Shaw this next week.

Yes, I just looked up "Legionaire's desease" and it is a lung disease. There was some mention of inhaling mold in old buildings. I think that it was called Legionaires  because a number of Legionaires  died under strange circumstances while at a convention or soon thereafter.

 Thanks for your help, Wes

Might be a good time to offer some Old Timer's Trivia questions. Tuff ones!

See if  you can answer these without using a search engine.

1. Ed Fury's real name was _______________.
2. In what year did John Corvello win the Mr California contest?
3. The Cal that year was very close between John Corvello and ___X____
4. Who trained  ___X____ in an attempt to beat John in the Cal that year?
5. Name the old time bodybuilder who owned a gym in Las Vegas.
6. Who's strength act consisted of hanging himself by the neck.
7. Reg Lewis' wife's first name was _______?_______
8. Steve Reeve's first feature length film was _____________________?

Kevin,I remember when those legionaires died at that convention......first and last time I ever heard of the disese.....weirdly enough.

I`ll take a shot at the questions:

1.-Mark Forrest?

2.-1965

3.-Van Lamon

4.-Bill Pearl??

5.-Chet Yorton

6.-Mike Dayton

7.-Sherry or Shari

8.-"The Theif Of Bagdahd"

Kevin

  • Getbig II
  • **
  • Posts: 111
  • Getbig!
Re: onlyme, Max_rep, others: tell your favorite stories
« Reply #98 on: March 19, 2005, 07:41:44 PM »
Wes, you got three right. Good going! I won't tell you which ones yet cause I might mess it up for the others who may want to give it a try.

WAS ANYONE AT THE FOLLOWING EVENT?

Back in the early 70's, there was an IFBB contest promoted in Tiajuana. Since it was right across the boarder in one of TJ.'s finer hotels, a lot of California fans drove down to watch.

It must have been an amateur event because Bob Birdsong won the overall that year, and deservedly so. He was in the best shape of his short career in that contest.

But Bob is not the subject of this story, so let's skip over to the back of the room where Sergio Oliva is sitting on a table yelling at Joe Weider who was right up front sitting with the officials and Arnold and Franco flanking both his sides.

Whenever there was a lull in the contest, Sergio would break the silence with an odd sounding voice ........ "I'm here in the back challenging Arnold to get up there on that stage with me today!"

He was all business and dead serious and the front table did their best to ignore the voice coming from the back.

So this went on for an hour or so ........ strange voice from a bodybuilder already well known in the back and complete avoidance from the table up front.

Finally something had to be done to shut him up so Joe Weider stood up and addressed the crowd but not directly to the strange voice in the back.

"Arnold is not going to accept a challenge today!" followed by some flimsey excuse of some sort or another.

So, as any crowd usually does whenever Joe Weider takes the floor to speak, the fans started booing and hissing and making Joe take his seat more quickly than he usually does.

So, what happens next??!

Franco hops up to quiet the crowd and announces that he will accept Sergio;s challange, but that didn't seem to satisfy too many people and definitely not Sergio.

But when everyone saw that Arnold was not going to give in, the crown offered one more major "booooooo" and gradually quieted down to see if this would be agreeable with Sergio.

Sergio was pissed but with a few unkind words directed at Joe and Arnold he eventually agreed to meet Franco up there on that stage whenever Franco  felt he was ready, Sergio would just stay where he was and would go on stage whenever Franco was willing to be annihilated by The Myth.

So the crowd settled back and waited.  while the rest of the show went on.

About an hour later, Franco and Arnold went backstage to pump up while Sergio waited patiently.

And then Franco was ready and came on stage looking far less than his best but ready to give his best for his faithful sidekick.

From the back Sergio yelled something like, "Are you ready"" and slowly walked up the aisle while removing his shirt revealing a contest ready form prepared  to do battle against  anyone willing to accept the challenge. Today it would be Franco, Second best would have to do!

All eyes stayed on Sergio those next few minutes. He was definitely unbelieveable and unbeatable even if  Franco had been  his best.

And many felt that Arnold and Joe had made a wise decision. Sergio would have made him look damn bad as well!

I don't recall seeing Arnold in the room after that humbling experience.

In fact I think Weider took a short-cut too.

After that contest we headed into town to visit the local pharmacies to load up on gear but everyone was out of everything they had because "There must be some major bodybuilding contest in town! Come back next week, Come back next week!

So we crossed the boarder empty handed but with a pretty good story to tell the guys in the gym who didn't come to TJ town that weekend.

onlyme

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 19328
  • Don't Fuck With Bears
Re: onlyme, Max_rep, others: tell your favorite stories
« Reply #99 on: March 19, 2005, 07:48:04 PM »
I'm getting really pissed off.  that is the second time I have erased a good story.  I almost threw my fucking laptop across the room.  FUCK!.  Okay, let me start again.  A couple of those question's Kevin asked

5.  George Effirmen had a gym in Vegas
6. Mike Dayton used to hang himself
7. Sheri Lewis was Reg's wife's name
8. Was it Sinbad or Hercules

I don't exactly remember Dave.  If he was there from 79 to 82 I had to have seen him and met him at some time or another.

Does anyone remember Bill Petit.  He was a really strong black guy who had one eye.  He did pull-ups with (2) 150 lb dumbells hanging from his waist (like Roy Callendar doing the dips).  He was so strong and had some of the biggest arms at the gym.  These guys were so into training and most of them competed so I didn't bother them to much unless I need some help or advice.  I was small compared to them.  I only weighed a little under 250 and I do know my arms were just hit 20".  So I wasn't that big compared to these guys.  Joe actually helped me allot.  It was almost like he was taking me under his wing.  The only thing is he gave up because I refused to compete unless I could wear OP shorts on stage.  I told him I would never wear a pair of Speedos.  I could barely keep "Moby" in the shorts I wore let alone try to keep him in a pair of Speedos (hehe).

I wasn't that much into bodybuilding or powerlifting as much as I was into the girls liking my body.  I did it because of all the attention I got.  It just so happened I got really strong doing it.  Not until my first competiton in 1983 did I take it really serious.  Then I wanted to be as strong and big as I could get.

I think I got along with everyone at the gym back then.  I was in such awe of them all.  It was neat being able to say to my friends as we looked through the magazines that I either knew him or even trained with him.

Unlike most or the old-timers on here I wasn't a competitve bodybuilder or ever really hung out with them except to train and sometime have lunch with.  My stories defintiely aren't as good as Kevin's, 619, Dan-O, Max Rep and others because they were competitors or actually directly asscociated with bodybuilding...the sport and competiton.  My experiences are from gym time or talking on a social level at an event or something like that.  I have been pretty lucky to meet so many athletic superstars and many of my childhood idols (Ali being my all time favorite).  I'm sure my memory is going slowly but reading some of the other posts jogs my memory each time.  I do need to tell my Gene Mozee story which I did yesterday then accidentlly erased it.

But, as for peeking into the shower with Rachel.  I might have but I can't remember so I probably didn't.  Because if I did I highly doubt I would forget it.  She was the epitomy of FINE!  If only the female BB's of today would look like her.