I couldn't read this whole thread. Too much reading. But in short I see Vince B ragging on Mike A. I gotta tell you Vince you are way off on this one. First off Mike was a big guy. He is over 6'2" I think and was weighing 270 or so. I think he looks great. Not champion great but unreal considering he did it in front of our eyes and in not a long time. One thing Mike is, is someone who is very passionate about bodybuilding. He takes it serious and he proved it by dieting down. And he definately is built like he lifts weights. So he at least lives a bodybuilding lifestyle. And it is even cooler to have someone like his girlfriend to be there and live it with him. MAN I wish I had that.
As much sports as I played and achievements I have had I could never ever diet down to what he did. I give Mike HUGE props for that. The last time anyone mentioned bodybuilding and me in the same sentence was back in 80' or 81' at World's Gym when Joe Gold said I should enter a bodybuilding show and powerlifting meet in the same year cause I could win both and be the first one to do that (not sure if that is true or not, but it was kind of neat he said that). I remember me saying no way and asking him if I could wear OP shorts on stage. Those were the only kind I wore. I weighed about 247 or so and benched 500. And this was 100% drug free and in a t-shirt. When I decided to take up armwrestling cause I couldn't play ball anymore I weighed about 260 or so when I started. SuperHeavyweight class was 220 and above. I knew I couldn't get down to Heavyweight and at 260 I was very small for the Superheavyweight class so I decided to get bigger. My goal was to compete at 300. I was still fairly small but I was pretty quick and I was stronger than most anybody in that class. I lacked the technique though compared to them. Zumwalt was weighing 360 then, Dean was over 600, and most other guys were around 330 or so. Some smaller guys competed but had years of technique behind them.
I never had to diet. My metabolism was pretty high considering the shit I ate and I couldn't gain anymore weight. I trained very very hard and burned calories like hell. But I never could get a six pack. I had a 4 pack for awhile. I never got really vascular except my forearms (nothing like Hazbin, not even close). But I did have them and I had veins in my chest. I never wanted to bodybuild. Never entered my mind. I just could not diet. For almost a year Tony Pearson and Waller and my training partner had me on this tuna and water diet. I did great when I was with them but when I was with my friends I went out all the time. So anyone ragging on Mike is way off.
I am surprised that Basile is doing this. I know alot of you rag on Basile but he had his day too. No matter what you say at the time he was a bodybuilder and he competed. He lived his life as a bodybuilder and even today he owns a huge gym and is still in the industry. To whoever asked to see his machines. I have seen them. he is quite the fabricator and welder. I personally think his machines do the job but I think they might be a little over built. But, then maybe he did it for strength and to have them last longer.
As for Goodrum. He is far from being a bodybuilder. I have never ever met anyone who is as delusional and full of shit as he is. When people constantly make fun of him he comes back as if it was a compliment. He does NOT live any part of his life as a bodybuilder. he does NOT lift weights, he does not diet (he might do a little of this but only because he can't afford to buy food sometimes). He talksso much shit and is caught in lies all the time. For some reason he thinks he impresses people on the internet with his bullshit, but everybody just laughs at him. And a huge bullshit thing is how he thinks he is "in the know" in bodybuilding or anything else. That is the most annoying thing. Anyway, I am done ranting. I am watching Wrong Turn 3on MovieSister and it has me believing Goodrum is indeed an inbreed.
