Part 2, Chapter 9 -
The year is 73, and Mike is again depressed, his bodybuilding hampered by a shoulder injury, and not loving military life. He takes Ziegler up on an offer for him to work for a few hours a week. The offer extends to Ray also. There he had them test and run tests on others using an early electronic muscle stimulation machine.
He'd also regale Mike with tales of Sayle (
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Selye), and of the right wing Japanese writer Mishima (
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yukio_Mishima). Mentzer was supposedly very taken by Mishima's Sun and Steel novel, where he examines the link between the body, fitness, and the mind, and how they work and balance or change each other.
Fast forward to mid 1974, Mentzer is free from the Air Force and heading to Florida to work with Jones. (Jones had also rehired Viator at this point and the "Colorado Experiment" was still big news at this point.), he quickly grows bored with Jones, and heads back to Maryland to enroll in med school. Ziegler also finds him work as an orderly. There, at school, he meets Kathleen, his first serious girlfriend. And by 1975, he is back in serious training with Ray, and occasionally Dave Mastorakis.
Also in 75, he and Dave take a trip to California for the Mr Universe. It is supposedly Mentzer's first time out west. He marvels at Gold's Gym, watches some of Pumping Iron being filmed, and meets Arnold for the first time. Mentzer is both nervous, and somewhat off put by Arnold's braggadocios nature, and somewhat mean spirited joking.
It's the night of the 75 Universe and Arnold and Weider have stacked the audience with everyone from old bodybuilding stars to the cast of "Stay Hungry". Mike takes third that night, and accidently annoys Robby Robinson by stealing his thunder that night. Robby was 1st, but many were abuzz at Mentzer's return.
Backstage he supposedly meets Pearl, who has some kind words for him. Their moment is undone by Joe Weider, who eyes Mike up and down, and requests a meeting in the morning. Mike celebrates by going to Monty Python's "The Holy Grail" with Dave. Weider's car will pick Mike, Dave, and Robby up late in the morning. Robbie is regal in physique, but wearing his tattered gym clothes. Mentzer takes it as Robby's "Fuck you" to the establishment/Weider, and admires it somewhat.
They wander the Weider offices, which are done up absurdly in fancy French furniture, vases, taxidermy, and paintings of stripped to the posing strap Weider champs adorning the walls. They are later greeted my Joe and Armand Tanny, gym owner, and old time bodybuilder. Armand will interview Mentzer for Weider's magazines, at the end Mentzer will make a bold prediction for print -
"In a year from now, I'll be as good as Arnold."
Three weeks later, Dave, Mike, and Ray are in Mass for the Jr Mr America. Mike wins, Ray takes second. The crowd marvels at the brotherly tag team. Mike relishes the title, but still wants the real Mr America title. He gives himself one year to get there.
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We're now half way through the book.
