saw paul at the Olympia not long before he died. we were both kicking painkillers at the time (me nubain/torbugesic and him oxy and morphine). he was big still, maybe around 240/250, I didn't ask, and he was gonna compete in the next year. I thought it was "cool", and unfortunate that we had something in common.. we exchanged emails and ended the conversation with him saying "good luck" and I said I appreciated it. he seemed lonely and kinda down, like he didn't really want to be there (at the O) and seemed glad to be talking to somebody. I would've hung out and bullshited with him longer but my ex was getting bored and hungry just standing there waiting for me. I really thought things were gonna be fine for him. thought he'd kick just like I me, and that he'd get back to "normal"... training, competing, etc, like I had. never did email him, and the next I heard of him, he was dead of a heroin overdose. I couldn't believe it... I really thought he'd get off the shit just like I did.
