"Shawn won't be responding but I'm gonna guess this chaps his ass."
Shawn:
I dont run from the truth. Yes, I can confirm this quote, Tonay and I were very good friends, there was a "Surface" attraction at first, we were both thrown together in Venice beach at the ages of 22-23 yrs old, the top of our field and travleing the world. We never went beyond 1st base, we fell into the "Friendship Zone" rather quickly but even after Lonnie made this statement, Tona and continued to train together off and on as well as befriend one another. Tonya told me when Lonnie said this statement and of course Lonnie told me he said it too off the cuff but deep down it didn't bother me because Lonnie and I were better friends than Tonya and I were. I was dating a Raiderette at the time Tonya and I were chillin, she was damaged from the Rick Valenti relationship which drew her closer to me. In the midst of her sadness, I was enjoying the good life, not looking for love and certainly not fighting for it either.
Lonnie and I have a "Love / Hate" relationship that still exists today. We love to hate differnt things and are very opinionated and passionate about the sport, the issues in the sport and things beyond the sport.
Tonya was an sounds like she still is an upbeat happy individual that went through what sounds like some hard times (Drugs, Alcohol, Relationships, Money, Work, Family Issues).
I wished her the best way back in the day and went on about my career!
In the mid 90's she asked me and Palumbo to be Guests at her and her husband at the time contest, that was the last I heard of her until around 2002 when I got an email from her Aunt asking if I was still "Single" and if I could reach out to Tonya because I was the one person she talked about and thought could help her. I had just gotten Engaged and politely said I was unavailable to pursue that.
Lonnie is alright be me or we never would be talking today. Lonnie and I met in 1986 at a Track Meet in Walnut, Ca when I was attending Mt. Sac College and just lost the Jr. Nationals to Eddie Robinson. We have been "Frienamies" ever since.
Comments like the one he made, was Par for the Course. We took Jabs at each other all the time and he didn't stop or break up anything of importance to me at the time with his comments but Tonya was a Country Girl who never even Kissed a Black Guy and that was a huge step in her realizing "People are People" no matter the color. However, like many people in this sport, she was all consumed with what other people thought of her, her sefl image was damage, opinions of her matter the most and of course not having been around Black people socially from Kansas to Kissing one or possibly becoming Romantically Lined to one was a huge step, one she wa ill prepared to handle after an Abusive Relationship and speaking to a Journalist in our Sport who wrote a Gossip Column!
Its nice to hear that Tonya came out of the Dark environement that took over her life, hopefully now that she has found Normalcy, she can make a better future for herself and her son.
She was right, she could out Lunge me, she actually taught me how to lunge properly and the results helped make me a better bodybuilder!
No harm no Foul, Lonnie and I are remain close friends.
He recently attended my Fathers Funeral, gave my daughters Birthday Presents and will have my oldest daughter perform at his West Coast Classic again this summer!
Click here to watch her at this years show:
As for Tonya, well while we never "close
