Author Topic: Ken Patera stories  (Read 68355 times)

Karl Kox

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Re: Ken Patera stories
« Reply #25 on: December 16, 2005, 12:54:04 PM »
that shit is crazy

LLES

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Re: Ken Patera stories
« Reply #26 on: December 16, 2005, 07:05:59 PM »
I remember talking to Ken in length about his style of training (Olympic lifting). He was/is a very articulate man. The one thing that really stood out was I was looking at his legs & I swear it was like you could see every  muscle fiber in them . It was crazy, he reminded me of a racehorse. I have met several pro BB'er's some of whom were in damn good shape too & I have never seen a set of legs that were even close to being "fibrous" like his were, & what really made that unique was he had a little beer-gut going too. It was like he was ripped & chubby at the same time. That's the only way I can describe it.

Jay Em

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Re: Ken Patera stories
« Reply #27 on: January 18, 2006, 08:20:18 PM »
I did an extensive feature on Patera in 1974 for Grimek(I did all my writing for Hoffman's publications through John) & Strength & Health.

I had recently graduated from college, so I thought it'd be a good opportunity to go home to Minnesota (from Los Altos, CA), visit family, friends and interview
Ken Patera. I had somewhat of an "in" because I knew Verne Gagne (world
'rasslin champ & promoter). I called Verne and got permission (backstage pro
wrestling then was very, very hush, hush) to attend taping of the Saturday eve television matches. Gagne even had his secretary accompany me, probably more to watch over me to make sure I didn't get to cozy with the "biG" secrets behind the curtains. They were taped in the famous Foshey (spl.) tower. Besides, Ken that evening (early), his nemesis Superstar Billy Graham was grappling...what a loveable heel he was. I understand Superstar posts on Get Big. I read some of his stuff and died laughing. I'll have to drop by and say hi.

Anyway, later that night I attended the big match between him and Superstar.
They had this gig where they were going to arm-wrestle. The script of course
called for plot and story development. And they milked it for all they had, both
Ken and Superstar, who really upset the apple cart when he overturned the
arm-wrestling table and proceeded to try and slice and dice Ken with remnants
of the table legs, etc., etc. I forgot who won. I believe Superstar was disqualified. No, could this really happen? Yea, hardcore wrestling fans, I'm
afraid Superstar didn't play fair that night. But who really cared, the throng of
believers were entertained. After the matches, I waited for Superstar at the
elevators. Big guy, Nice guy. Got a few quickie quotes, talked, laughed a little.
He did say that he thought Patera was (in real life) probably the strongest guy he had ever met. It was colder than H that night. I remember Superstar getting in his big black luxury car and speeding away. He peeled out so fast
the exhaust had not caught up with him.

It was either the next day or it was the same day as the taped tv matches, I
spent time with Ken in his car driving, asking questions and trying to get to
know him so I could serve him best and the reading public. He was quite re-
served, actually, quite easy going, articulate, seemingly very well read. I tried
my best to capture the essence of the man while revealing as much as I could.
He had just gotten married or was about to (very pretty woman...), who had a
few children.

For a big man around 300 pounds, Ken's most striking feature was his muscular, shapely legs. I believe that's where most of his strength came from,
in terms of foundational/core power. He never went over (as they call it) as a
hero. I guess the weightlifting/strength/Olympics mantra wasn't enough. Even
though they lied about him getting a medal at the Olympics (Gagne, AWA,etc.),
it didn't seal his fate. But, Patera did go over much more as a heel, with his
bleached blond hair and "attitude".

One thing for sure, his pure power and weightlifting feats will forever be
remembered. His particular abilities come along very seldom. Ken Patera was
to Weightlifting what George Foreman was to boxing.

kimo

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Re: Ken Patera stories
« Reply #28 on: August 23, 2007, 07:09:18 AM »
here are patera best lifting squat 820 for 3reps press behind the neck with 420 pounds standing military front squat 650 pounds an387pounds snatch iwonder the kind of snatch could kazmaier  post strong as he  was

BEAST 8692

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Re: Ken Patera stories
« Reply #29 on: August 23, 2007, 11:33:29 AM »
here are patera best lifting squat 820 for 3reps press behind the neck with 420 pounds standing military front squat 650 pounds an387pounds snatch iwonder the kind of snatch could kazmaier  post strong as he

not sure what kaz's best lifts were. probably wouldn't be hard to check, but check out onlyme's pic of kaz pulling on the rope? :o

the guy was about 6'4 but the thickness in his upper arms and forearms makes him look short.

i can only imagine what it must have been like standing next to kaz.

i can tell you right now onlyme, that pic of yours has given me much inspiration in my own weights workouts. kaz was the man in my book so if ken was anything like kaz (haven't seen much of ken) then respect. 8)

kimo

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Re: Ken Patera stories
« Reply #30 on: August 23, 2007, 11:38:15 AM »
iwas a kazmaier fan also would have been interesting to see patera ability in the power three

hazbin

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Re: Ken Patera stories
« Reply #31 on: September 05, 2007, 09:01:17 PM »
my dad is a retiered pro wrestler Killer karl Kox like my name here on get big.  He new Ken very well he says ken used to sit with his back against a building and he would take his car and let it Idell and Ken would make the car spin wheels with with his feet on the bumper.

 Thats what I call leg strength.

i saw that on wwf back in 82 or 83. it was a van. looked pretty cool, but they never panned out and showed the whole van.

onlyme

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Re: Ken Patera stories
« Reply #32 on: September 07, 2007, 01:01:18 AM »
i saw that on wwf back in 82 or 83. it was a van. looked pretty cool, but they never panned out and showed the whole van.

Yes thats what we did with Kaz.  He is tied to my Bronco and he is holding a rope that is tied to the bumper of the press van.  We were doing a segment on a local news station and he thought it would have looked cool.  He held the van enough to make it spin its tires.  It was on camera

kimo

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Re: Ken Patera stories
« Reply #33 on: September 07, 2007, 10:40:02 AM »
so how about patera total in the power three903 617 860 makes sense to me

The Squadfather

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Re: Ken Patera stories
« Reply #34 on: September 07, 2007, 01:23:43 PM »
so how about patera total in the power three903 617 860 makes sense to me
probably more like 525-530 on the bench, 785-790 deadlift and 840-850 squat.

brock125

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Re: Ken Patera stories
« Reply #35 on: September 07, 2007, 03:50:29 PM »
I thought I read Patera's best press was over 500 strict  and maybe a 600 push press?

onlyme

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Re: Ken Patera stories
« Reply #36 on: September 08, 2007, 12:35:00 AM »
probably more like 525-530 on the bench, 785-790 deadlift and 840-850 squat.

How do you know this were you there.  Were you even born yet.  I doubt it on both. 

kimo

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Re: Ken Patera stories
« Reply #37 on: September 09, 2007, 11:10:25 AM »
patera could push press 55o poundsaccording to david p willoughby .iwas just guessing at his ability inpowerlifting .ithik he would have been great every where

brock125

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Re: Ken Patera stories
« Reply #38 on: September 09, 2007, 04:03:47 PM »
With a 550 push press it would be awesome to see what he could press on a strongman log.

kimo

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Re: Ken Patera stories
« Reply #39 on: September 13, 2007, 09:45:44 AM »
yes you are correct for the log press people forget his physique also

BayGBM

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Re: Ken Patera stories
« Reply #40 on: November 18, 2007, 11:00:16 PM »
 :D

kimo

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Re: Ken Patera stories
« Reply #41 on: December 14, 2007, 06:46:36 AM »
those obsessed with calf devlopment should have asked ken advice on this he and serge reding had great calves , did they labor on the calf machine .as olympic lifters

Montague

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Re: Ken Patera stories
« Reply #42 on: December 15, 2007, 01:46:31 PM »
Verne Gagne always said that Patera would have won the Olympic gold medal in weightlifting if he hadn’t been out all night trying to attack the German girls the night before.


kimo

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Re: Ken Patera stories
« Reply #43 on: April 07, 2008, 04:13:22 PM »
just toobad this macdonlad incident happened . it  became a joke  with time.

Montague

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Re: Ken Patera stories
« Reply #44 on: April 07, 2008, 07:39:20 PM »
I was just in the store tonight and saw the official Ken Patera "Classics" figure from Jakks Pacific.
Decent likeness.


Ruffneck

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Re: Ken Patera stories
« Reply #45 on: April 10, 2008, 06:40:12 AM »


Ken was a strong guy but his promos were not as strong lol

Keep your eye on Mene Gene during the promo!!

kimo

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Re: Ken Patera stories
« Reply #46 on: February 08, 2011, 10:54:55 AM »
how about twisting parcometers . is this a joke . with bare hands

crownshep

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Re: Ken Patera stories
« Reply #47 on: February 14, 2011, 07:14:32 AM »
Ken Patera on the WSM from 1977 as well as franco columbo and Lou Ferrigno.


funk51

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Re: Ken Patera stories
« Reply #48 on: February 14, 2011, 10:15:59 AM »
Ken Patera on the WSM from 1977 as well as franco columbo and Lou Ferrigno.


don't forget teenage mr a mike dayton the guy who hangs himself
F

kimo

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Re: Ken Patera stories
« Reply #49 on: May 12, 2011, 12:42:21 PM »
a loong time ago . ferrigno won the steel bar bend but ken won tire toss. its funny that bruce wilhelm won the whole thing . he is no stronger than ken . those contests takes more stamina than strentgh.