RIP Mike Mentzer 9 years

[pellius]

Hard to believe it's been 9 years since Mike Mentzer's passing. I was living in Redondo Beach, CA at the time just about a mile and a half from where he lived. He was the one that most influenced and educated me and got me to try to think about what I was doing instead just blindly following the routines in the magazines.

[jesusbod]

Why are you beating a dead horse? No pun intended..

[gcb]

that first pic is a classic

[Vince B]

Ray Mentzer died two days later. In some ways he was bigger than Mike with longer muscle bellies.

[Hurricane Beef !]

Ray Mentzer died two days later. In some ways he was bigger than Mike with longer muscle bellies.

Wow the old fart finally bought a scanner.

Still boring everyone to tears at Ironage?

THE BEEF

[Danimal77]

Hard to believe it's been 9 years since Mike Mentzer's passing. I was living in Redondo Beach, CA at the time just about a mile and a half from where he lived. He was the one that most influenced and educated me and got me to try to think about what I was doing instead just blindly following the routines in the magazines.

5'8" and 225 pound man with 18 5/8" arms. Brilliant, ahead of his time and insane. Gotta love him .

[Vince B]

Ray was a big guy.

[Whiskey]

5'8" and 225 pound man with 18 5/8" arms. Brilliant, ahead of his time and insane. Gotta love him .

very thick looking, great forearms and calves

[pellius]

Ray Mentzer died two days later. In some ways he was bigger than Mike with longer muscle bellies.

Yes, Ray had a more traditional bodybuilder look. But that's what I liked about Mike. He had a different look than the other bodybuilders. Very densely muscled and powerful looking. And I love the way his arms looked hanging relaxed. They look so damn thick and almost deformed in some pics. And note that he lacked the main vein on his bicep that most everybody has.

When I started training at Gold's Venice, since it was on the way to UCLA, Don Ross introduced me to him. I was like a teenage girl meeting her favorite twink rock star. Thrilled as hell. I was a bit surprised and disappointed at this voice. It didn't fit my image of him. Very "nasally" and nerdy. But he did inspire me as a teen to go to the library and read the works of Nietzsche and William James. Whether you agree with him or not he was a thinking man and inspired, at least for me, to (try?) to think for myself and question commonly held beliefs.

Look at those f-ing arms. Hanging relaxed I thought they looked better than Arnold, Robby, Cole, Beckles and others of that era that were famous for their arms. He didn't have their bicep peaks but since I had no ambitious to be a bodybuilder flexing my muscles I was more inspired on how muscles looked standing relaxed.

[pellius]

Ray was a big guy.

Though I never saw Mike in public I use to see Ray fairly regularly around the South Bay (Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach, Torrance). He had a gym "Muscle Mill" in Redondo Beach. Even after it closed I'd still see Ray at El Pollo Loco chicken wolfing down a whole chicken. He was always pretty friendly though a bit intimidating. He was indeed huge. I remember once he walked into a 24 Hour Fitness in Torrance I use to sometimes go to train. He was always a monster. I remember being thrilled as hell and telling everyone that was Ray Mentzer. This was probably around 1998-99 or so. No one knew who he was. I thought that was so sad. Such is the fate of retired pro bodybuilders. I spoke with him a bit. Mentioned that I was seeing the same chiropractor he use to see. Still had his signed pics framed and on the wall in the office. Asked about Benny Podda who he trained with for a while. We both agreed Benny was one of a kind. When I mentioned some of my experiences with Benny he kind of nodded knowingly and smiled almost wistfully. Good days then, no doubt. All night squatting sessions. Great to be young, strong as a moose, and a little bit crazy. Max_Rep was part of that group. Even noworries I think. I didn't know it at the time but he was already a veteran on dialysis. Fucking pro bodybuilding. How many lives have been ruined? What was he? Forty seven or so when he died? I know. They both made the choice. Nobody forced them to do anything. Still.

That was the last time I saw him and spoke to him.

[wes]

First time I saw these two was in a mall in Springfield Mass. in the the 1970`s...........awe inspiring to say the least.

Both brothers forearms in short sleeved shirts were just insane.

[Mr Nobody]

I was able to train with Mentzer once in Venice around 2000 we sat outside afterwards while he smoked and talked about his career and life a great guy very smart not too long afterwards he was gone RIP he is missed in the BB world no doubt. RIP.

[pellius]

First time I saw these two was in a mall in Springfield Mass. in the the 1970`s...........awe inspiring to say the least.

Both brothers forearms in short sleeved shirts were just insane.

Was that before or after PI came out?

[PJim]

Not a day goes by that I don't regret not being able to meet him. RIP.

[Overload]

A very unique man in many ways.

R.I.P.

[Pollux]

Hard to believe it's been 29 years since Arnold beat the cry baby at the '80 Olympia. 

[noworries]

Me and Ray trained almost everyday while I training for the World Championships.  He was so proud of strong I was getting.  He loved to tell me how he made some guy throw up in the morning while training him.  Ray weighed 300 back then and had monsterous thighs.  He squatted 900 for 2.  Once I moved to Hawaii we stay in contact much except when I came back to LA I would try to find him.  Last time I saw him before he died was at lunch at Rocky Cola's on PCH.  He saw me and went crazy like I was his long lost brother or something.  We sat down and had lunch.   He opened a small training place after selling Muscle Mill.  I can't remember the name.  I do remember that when Gold's opened in Redondo Beach it killed his business cause his place was just around the corner I think.  Ray was a fucking nut but really nice to me.  I only met Mike a couple times and didn't even talk to him.  I know he had alot of problems mentally.  Ray ended up selling Muscle Mill to a fireman friend of mine.  That was a great gym.  Here is a photo of me benching taken bu Gene Mozee who was going to do an article on me for Muscle and Fitness.  Never made it.  I talked to Gene recently and he thinks he has a bunch more photos form that shoot.  For those who don't Gene, he is a Hall of Fame photographer and journalist.  He did the first story on Arnold when he came to the US.  Gene also told me how he was the only person he know who could lay a 405 pound barbell on the ground then crawl under it and bench it.

[Mr Nobody]

Me and Ray trained almost everyday while I training for the World Championships.  He was so proud of strong I was getting.  He loved to tell me how he made some guy throw up in the morning while training him.  Ray weighed 300 back then and had monsterous thighs.  He squatted 900 for 2.  Once I moved to Hawaii we stay in contact much except when I came back to LA I would try to find him.  Last time I saw him before he died was at lunch at Rocky Cola's on PCH.  He saw me and went crazy like I was his long lost brother or something.  We sat down and had lunch.   He opened a small training place after selling Muscle Mill.  I can't remember the name.  I do remember that when Gold's opened in Redondo Beach it killed his business cause his place was just around the corner I think.  Ray was a fucking nut but really nice to me.  I only met Mike a couple times and didn't even talk to him.  I know he had alot of problems mentally.  Ray ended up selling Muscle Mill to a fireman friend of mine.  That was a great gym.  Here is a photo of me benching taken bu Gene Mozee who was going to do an article on me for Muscle and Fitness.  Never made it.  I talked to Gene recently and he thinks he has a bunch more photos form that shoot.  For those who don't Gene, he is a Hall of Fame photographer and journalist.  He did the first story on Arnold when he came to the US.  Gene also told me how he was the only person he know who could lay a 405 pound barbell on the ground then crawl under it and bench it.

great story keith.

[Master Blaster]

Hard to believe it's been 9 years since Mike Mentzer's passing.

Maybe if he had paid more attention to the Weider Principles and used higer volume he'd still be alive.

[funk51]

good stories i only saw mike mentzer once offseason and he was pretty impressive in person.

[wes]

First time I saw these two was in a mall in Springfield Mass. in the the 1970`s...........awe inspiring to say the least.

Both brothers forearms in short sleeved shirts were just insane.

A few years before PI.

[johnny1]

Me and Ray trained almost everyday while I training for the World Championships.  He was so proud of strong I was getting.  He loved to tell me how he made some guy throw up in the morning while training him.  Ray weighed 300 back then and had monsterous thighs.  He squatted 900 for 2.  Once I moved to Hawaii we stay in contact much except when I came back to LA I would try to find him.  Last time I saw him before he died was at lunch at Rocky Cola's on PCH.  He saw me and went crazy like I was his long lost brother or something.  We sat down and had lunch.   He opened a small training place after selling Muscle Mill.  I can't remember the name.  I do remember that when Gold's opened in Redondo Beach it killed his business cause his place was just around the corner I think.  Ray was a fucking nut but really nice to me.  I only met Mike a couple times and didn't even talk to him.  I know he had alot of problems mentally.  Ray ended up selling Muscle Mill to a fireman friend of mine.  That was a great gym.  Here is a photo of me benching taken bu Gene Mozee who was going to do an article on me for Muscle and Fitness.  Never made it.  I talked to Gene recently and he thinks he has a bunch more photos form that shoot.  For those who don't Gene, he is a Hall of Fame photographer and journalist.  He did the first story on Arnold when he came to the US.  Gene also told me how he was the only person he know who could lay a 405 pound barbell on the ground then crawl under it and bench it.

Great story Keith, very interesting insight.

[Vince B]

Ray told me he squatted 925 for two reps.

[johnny1]

Ray told me he squatted 925 for two reps.

That Pic of Ray and Bev Vince looks around Bondi Mid 1980s?

[Mr Nobody]

Ray told me he squatted 925 for two reps.

Ray was one of the strongest bodybuilders ever it has been documented by the nautilus facilities back in the day I understand good pic Vince.