Part 2, Chapter 11.
Late 76, Montreal, Mentzer's first Universe try. Boyer Coe and Lou Ferrigno greet him backstage, both giving him a great chance at winning in their opinions, but to his shock Ben Weider ignores him. Then he sees that Ben was introducing Robby Robinson to all the judges and heavyweights in the room, and he understands he will not win, The fix is in.
He does not hate Robinson, it isn't his fault, and what if Robbie really did win honestly tonight?
In the morning, after a few moments with Weider scribe Jack Neary, Mentzer is headed back to his pre-med studies in Maryland. He will not stop training, instead, he will document everything and experiment. Low caries, high calories, zig zagging calories, he tries it all. He monitors steroids, he monitors sweat levels, etc..... Everything matters.
He also develops an interest in Zen Buddhism, specifically the type offered by Shunryu Suzuki (
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shunry%C5%AB_Suzuki ). Mike digs Suzuki's approach that everything should be done simply, with attention and intensity.
Mentzer also starts to believe he can will things into being. That visualization, plus concentration, plus an understanding of how the body works, will allow him to win.
Mike also moves from an interest in psychiatry to an interest in anti-psychiatry. His new belief that self governance is the best medicine, and access to drugs, sex, any pleasures, or even suicide was the key to freedom.
The start of 77 is busy for him. He is invited to the premier of Pumping Iron. He starts to envision his own star power. He also sees flaws in his fellow champions - Arnold, an unrelatable oaf with an accent. Franco, a wild, satyr looking crude goatherder. Lou, a sleepy giant. Katz, a balding ogre of a man.
Mike began to see himself as the most civil of these men.
After the Pumping Iron premiere, he is invited on a two week European tour, where he not only bodybuilds, but enjoys the finer things Europe has to offer - food, museums, libraries, night life.
When he arrives home, he is greeted by a letter from Joe offering him a job writing for Weider in LA. Mike had impressed Weider, Tanny, and Neary that day months back.
Weider, himself, wanted to hedge his bets in the bodybuilding world by hiring Mentzer. He could feel Arnold moving away from him, developing his own empire. So he sought out three bodybuilders to take his place - Mentzer, Robinson, and Zane. Robinson, a hero for black youth. Zane, an Apollo or David like figure with his lean and aesthetic physique. And Mentzer, a Herculean throwback to the strongmen of yore.
But Weider decided to throw the most energy at Mentzer, feeling he had the most drive, intelligence, and vision of the three.
So off Mike left, with brother Ray in toe. He had some disdain for the Gold's Gym crew blindly following Arnold, and standard bodybuilding dogma. So he sought out a new band of friends - Jack Neary, Danny Padilla, and a few other not so famous, and sometimes foreign bodybuilders.
Mentzer was also finding fortune in his mail order courses that he named "Heavy Duty". Heavy as in serious, Duty as it was a man's duty to train, whether he liked it or not.
It was coming up roses for Mentzer till November of 77, when he'd square off against Kal Szkalak, who had beaten him recently once before. While ahead on points during the pre judging, Mentzer allowed himself to come in overconfident at the night show, leading to a surprise when Kal was declared the winner.
Mike, when home, throws himself into preparation for the 78 Universe. A show he'd go on to win with a perfect score. And to make it better, Bill Pearl would present the trophy.
But as there is light, there must also be darkness. Weider has been growing tired of Mentzer's dismissal of other Weider bodybuilders, and Weider training methods. He sees it alienating his customers. But Mentzer will not budge. It is Heavy Duty or no way. Thus began a war of words, spoken, and in print, between Mike, Joe and Weider associates. Weider insists "The Weider Principles" work and Mentzer used, and uses versions of them to build and maintain his base. Mentzer for his part, tells everyone Weider is wrong, and Arnold trains poorly.
Mike thinks the Universe win will quell things, but it doesn't. In fact, Weider isn't the only one growing tired of Mike. Arnold has called Joe to issue a warning "Tell Mike to stop talking about me in public, or I will do everything to end his career." Joe tells him to take Arnold's threat seriously.
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That's it for tonight, the last hour or so I've just been running on pure schmoe powered autism. We'll start again tomorrow
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