For anyone who is not familiar with The Iron Sheik.
www.eagle-sports.com/Photos/Sheik.jpgBy request...
Circa, summer 1990... I'm working with David Zellon, Vince & the boys at Weider's Muscle Camp. Weider's Muscle Camp was a pretty cool camp for bodybuilding enthusiast, held for several 5-day sessions at LMU (a few miles south of Venice, in Los Angeles County).
The whole thing was a great chance for people to come to LA/Venice during the summer and train with Pro bodybuilders and get some education from some solid bodybuilding & strength coaches & writers.
It's 9 pm and I'm supposed to drive over to LAX and pick-up this weeks main Guest Star, Lee Haney. Before I leave, I find out that Haney's flight is delayed by almost (3) hours. Ok... cool... it's Haney!
Around mid-night I'm waiting at the gate and Haney comes walking off the plane. I give him a big wave & smile (No, we had never meet before) and we proceed to get his bags and then drive back to campus. As we pass a Ralphs Market, Haney asked if we can stop in for some stuff... cool, it's Haney! :)As we're walking across the dark parking lot, a strange voice yells out, "Haney!! You're nothing! I'll crush you Lee Haney. I'm the true champion and you're nothing!!" (something like that). I'm thinking, "Great, now I'm going to get in a fight with some drunk Haney Hater at mid-night in the parking lot at Ralphs." Well, I turn and see Haney is smiling & starting to laugh. Haney calls out. "Sheik!!" It's The Iron Sheik! They are good friends and exchange greetings, hugs, etc.
The Sheik had clearly been drinking (more power to The Iron Sheik!) and insisted that we follow him to the Baja Canteena (down the hill in Marina Del Rey) for a drink. Haney is tired, it's 3am in Atlanta, where Lee lives, but Haney agrees.
We get to the Baja Canteena and The Iron Sheik has vodka & Budweiser or something like that, I have a Coors Light and Haney had a light beer (I think). After much story telling & The Sheik demonstrating many wrestling moves on me or Haney, it's almost last call and Haney is running out of gas. We say good night and The Sheik insist on one more drink and one more "Camel Clutch"
www.ddtdigest.com/features/buchanan/sheik.htm(The Sheik's deadly finishing move) demonstration.
As we are halfway out the door, walking side-by-side, the Iron Sheik jumps us from behind and puts us in a Three Stooges style double-headlock! The Sheik is 6' 2" 250 easy and extremely strong. The Sheik is yelling, "You see Haney! I'm am the real champion! You and your fat friend are nothing! I can crush you both, Ha HA Ha Ha!!"
We both grab one of The Sheik's legs and lift him up and we have his feet above his head and he still has us in the double-headlock and is still yelling, "I'm the champion! I'm the real Champion!!! You're nothing little Haney! Nothing!! Ha Ha Ha Ha!"
We eventually get free and that's all. Haney was laughing the entire way back to the LMU campus.
