Dear old-school-lifter,
You asked me to share my thoughts on Nasser. Again, I met him only a few times but here they are:
Nasser immediately struck me as different from most bodybuilders in that he didn't need to announce he was the biggest man in the room, he just let nature speak for him. But for his Leviathan physique, his quiet introverted nature would have caused him to become lost in the crowd.
Somehow it came up that my sister was born in Germany and apparently, so was he. I mentioned that I was born in Switzerland and then he took a curiosity as to what my parents were doing in Europe and how I became an American. I explained to him that my Father survived being in Hitler's death camps and actually saw Hitler live, twice. This fascinated Nasser and he asked me all about it. I told him my grandfather was shot at point blank range by a rife held by an SS member and left for dead. When I told him my grandfather survived and wrote a book, he asked me if I could get him a copy. I joked and said, "You read funny books for a coal-miner." This is a line from W. Somerset Maugham's "The Razor's Edge" and when Nasser said he was familiar with Maugham, he immediately had my complete admiration.
I asked Nasser how many languages he spoke and he joked, "That is a funny question for an American." I told him my Dad spoke 11 languages and played 9 instruments and Nasser was astute enough to state that this is almost always a result of being born in a place in which nations conquer, merge and then dissolve. Nasser talked about the troubles that plagued Egypt but more so of Yugoslavia. He seemed surprised that I even knew where it was. I told Nasser I enjoy studying languages and culture and he laughed when I told him my Godparents live in Pakistan. Ironically, we talked about the Sunni/Shiite issues.
Nasser was a prodigious eater. His plates of food were enormous. I just don't understand how these guys can eat and digest all that food.
Nasser laughed and made fun of guys and seemed to really despise the transparent people in bodybuilding. He complained that there were many fake people and that they would lie to your face just to steal some money or drugs. The topic of gay for pay came up and he heartily laughed at those who sold themselves like that. I got the impression that while bodybuilding was important to him, it remained only part of his lifestyle. He didn't seem to taken in by cars or fancy items, but rather, he seemed intrigued by anyone who claimed to know something about anything. I got the impression that he was looking through you at first and then, if you had any real substance to you, he would look at you and speak with you.
I found him soft-spoken, polite and intelligent. I don't know who on GetBig hates or likes what bodybuilders but for me, Nasser stood out, both in physical stature and humble intellect.
Harley
