I never said he was the first. I just said he was exceptional. Whether he's busy or not -- you don't get to where he is life by sitting on your ass. And you can think anything you want. You can criticise him all you want. Bottom line is: he is where he is and you are where you are. Everyone knows Stallone. He's made something of himself. He's made an impact. Nobody knows you. Stallone dies tomorrow it's front page news. You die tomorrow it's a foot note in some obscure local newspaper destined to be bird cage lining.
It's not worship, my jealous friend, it's recognizing and appreciating accomplishment.
Epic jealously and sour grapes in this thread.
He DOES have every possible advantage - time, money, resources, experience, etc. - but that doesn't change the fact that he still has to put the effort in and is motivated to keep at it after all these decades, which is a lot more than can be said for many, many others, even those with similar circumstances. When you reach the top and have all the money in the world and everlasting fame and all that, it's very easy to take it easy.
I've personally been working out for 20+ years at this point and don't envision myself ever stopping (it's terribly important to me and helps define part of who I am) and I look to someone like a Stallone - who really doesn't have to keep at it as intensely as he does - as a like-minded individual. For that, I have the utmost respect.
With all that said, I was terribly disappointed when he was busted for "drugs" as I truly hoped he was all natural, but that's more a personal bias/hope from my own beliefs than something I can particularly or specifically knock him for. The guy has inspired me since I was a little kid and continues to do so (loved Rocky Balboa and Rambo and looking forward to this new one). He's one of those guys like an Arnold who is multi-dimensional and again relateable from my personal standpoint as I in turn always strive to improve myself in all ways and am terribly ambitious with what I strive for. To me, that's the greatest way to live one's life along with just being a generally good person and putting your family first.