You won't have much luck. Ray suffered from kidney failure caused by Berger's Disease. Famed for his fracas with Arnold Schwarzenegger at the 1980 Olympia to hisHeavy Duty training style. Shohat, Greenbergers attorney, said the verdict of second-degree murder showed that the jury did not believe Greenberger was the driving force behind Radins killing. Arnold didnt even like cardio you know, probably because he didnt quite like a strict regimen diet. In 1983, ace inventor and entrepreneur Arthur Jones recruited Mike and brother Ray (1979 Mr. America) to work with him on research projects he was undertaking at his Nautilus headquarters in Deland, Florida. 1976 IFBB Mr. Universe 2nd (MW) Personal Trainer, Researcher, Author, Inventor Gym Owner, Doctor, Physical Therapist, Strength & Conditioning Specialist. Freeze,The Governator,and to many of his fans justArnie. WebThe grave site of Ray Mentzer. "John Little was one of the few who didn't approach me on the ignorant assumption that I was a 'loony' or a 'crazy.' I knew I had to wake up to that fact or my life would be over. Ray went to bed. Is it for money? Part of the reason for his success was he prescribed to his brother's concept of heavy duty training which involved very high intensity 45 minute workout sessions. Los Angeles, Calmes: Heres what we should do about Marjorie Taylor Greene, David Lindley, guitarist best known for work with Jackson Browne, dies at 78, ICE detainees allege retaliation for speaking about medical conditions at Otay Mesa center, Downtown L.A stabbing sends six to hospital; suspect arrested, San Diego Roman Catholic diocese facing yet another lawsuit from its insurance company, K-Pop isnt the only hot ticket in Koreatown how trot is captivating immigrants, Los Angeles is suddenly awash in waterfalls. Bullshit. Really. Ray Mentzer's net worth Thirty years ago, the average non-professional athlete was uninterested in using steroids. * June 2, 1989: Rider testifies during the preliminary hearing that murder suspects Mentzer and Marti, both former Flynt bodyguards whom he had supervised, had bragged about killing Radin. Almost miraculously, within a few days, he was establishing his personal-training business at Gold's Gym, Venice. He begantraining 3 times a week and bythe age of 15, Mikecould bench press 370lb (170kg), with a body weight of just165lbs (75kg). However,two people remained and supported him; a senior writer for Flex magazine called John Little, and Mikesex-girlfriend Julie McNew. The information presented on this website is intended to be used for educational purposes only. Ray's brother, Mike Mentzer won the rival IFBB Mr. America in 1976 during Ray's Junior title. 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Jordan Michael B. Handsome at Walk of Fame ceremony. Nice article, but there is a huge mistake in the compilation of Mike Mentzers bodybuilding achievements segment (despite Rudolpfh Plizetskaias attempt to rectify it) ; in 1978, Mentzer won the IFBB Mr. Universe in Acapulco, Mexico with the first and only perfect 300 score. Ray Mentzer (August 3, 1953 June 12, 2001) born in Philadelphia was the 1976 Junior Mr. America, 1978 IFBB Mr. USA and was winner of the 1979 AAU Mr. America competition. "It lasted 18 months, and every day of that period I had the same commitment and ambition I'd had in preparing for the 1980 Mr. Olympia. We may be able to send a man to the moon, he said later, but when it comes to recognizing the rightful winner of the 1980 Olympiad, mankind is surely arrested in its development., Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Desperate mountain residents trapped by snow beg for help; We are coming, sheriff says, Look up: The 32 most spectacular ceilings in Los Angeles, Winter storms ease drought conditions in California, report shows, 19 cafes that make L.A. a world-class coffee destination, Newsom, IRS give Californians until October to file tax returns, This fabled orchid breeder loves to chat just not about Trader Joes orchids, Best coffee city in the world? The Ray Mentzer story is one of success, but also tragedy. Mike offered to be a donor to his sibling who had won the 1979 Mr. America, before it was discovered that he had serious heart problems, which precluded him from being a candidate. Everything I did was marshaled into the spirit of improvement. He later was named to run science coverage. In 1999, after going to a check-up at the doctors, Ray received terrible news. As Workout Magazine ceased, Mike soon afterlost his beloved father, and, as if there wasnt enough for the bodybuilder to handle, his 10-year relationship with fiancee Cathy Gelfocame to an end. However, the doctors first needed to check if Mikes kidney was compatible with Ray. The next morning he discovered Mike dead in bed, apparently of a heart attack. His brother, Ray, was on medication and did not take the medication hence he died next. [/QUOTE] On June 10, 2001, at approximately 9:00 AM, Mike Mentzer's heart stopped beating while he was asleep. Earlier this year, a blood clot broke loose from his leg and went to his lung. * Convicted of second-degree murder and kidnaping. He became a professional bodybuilder after that 1978 Universe win. 1975 ABBA Mr. USA 2nd (Medium) Mohammed Benaziza: Seven total Grand Prix wins in 1990 and 1992, 1st place at the 1990 Night of Champions (beating You can do a lot with the correct carb loads and B-Vitamin mix i.e. The Cotton Club project began after Greenberger introduced Radin to Hollywood filmmaker Robert Evans, who was then her boyfriend. To compound the loss of Mike, on June 11th, at approximately 9:00 PM, Ray died in his sleep. A case of riseand fall. He always knew what he wanted and worked hard for it. I looked my best, but I didnt feel at my best. This would allow him to rebuild his muscle tissue from the damage hed caused with extremely heavy weights and going past failure in his sets. I wanted the magazine to be the absolute best I could make it, and I worked harder than I'd worked in my entire life. Mike Matarazzo, pro bodybuilder. I saw no problem for me because I was convinced I was focused enough and that my use was channeled in a positive direction. [Mike had taken a three year course, commencing in 1974, at the University of Mayland, with the eventual goal of being a psychiatrist , but he dropped out in 1977 disillusioned with the subject. Entering his first Olympia in his rookie year of 1979 the heavily fancied Mike lost out to a Frank Zane whom he outweighed by some 30 pounds. At the center of the real-life drama was Radin, a 275-pound, cocaine-sniffing high school dropout from Long Island, N.Y., who had come to California in the early 1980s with dreams of breaking into the movie business. "I was consumed 24 hours a day by the thought: What can I do today in terms of training, diet, aerobics and motivation to improve myself? 1971 AAU Mr. America 10th Greenberger, Mentzer, Marti and Lowe were arrested in 1988--five years after Radins body was found by a beekeeper in a desolate canyon 65 miles north of Los Angeles. Erroneously attributing their lack of satisfactory progress to a poverty of the requisite genetic traits, instead of to their irrational training and dietary practices, they give up training. The day before, both he and brother Ray were working on a fitness DVD titled HIT. As Im certain you know, it is very difficult to have great muscle memory retention (and probably thus the shoulder injury he dealt with early on) if you go that long in total resting states. 1979 IFBB Southern Pro Cup 1st Mike would often keep his training week down to 3 working days with 4 for rest. During one of his evening training sessions, he was seen doing a 900-pound squat for two reps. Ray followed a similar training style to his brother Mike; it was called Heavy Duty Training. Prior to his career at The Times, Dunn worked at the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong, the Danbury News-Times in Connecticut and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. I was 19 years old,me and 2 friends drove from Carrollton,Ms to Baton Rouge to see him. This biographical article relating to bodybuilding in the United States is a stub. Heavy Duty Training revolved around doing extremely intense exercises in a short period of time. Kaiserman said he will file an appeal after Lowes sentencing Aug. 16, basing the appeal in part on Rappes decision to allow prosecutors to use secretly taped conversations among several defendants as evidence. This would make him go beyond the point of muscle failure. In 1999, Ray discovered he had kidney problems. The two brothers dying within 48 hours of each other shocked the bodybuilding world. Mike Mentzer won the Mr. Universe title in 1978 and the heavyweight division of the Mr. Olympia contest in 1979. WebNationality: American. * October, 1988: Greenberger, Robert Lowe, William Mentzer and Alex Marti are arrested by sheriffs deputies and held in connection with the slaying of Radin. Mike Mentzer placed 5th. Arnold Schwarzenegger - He's been named the Austrian Oak, The Terminator,John Matrix, Mr. So you have to wonder why so many seem eager to risk their lives and health for success. Click Here for the interview we did with Mike Mentzer just before he died. After making funeral arrangements for his brother, Ray This was in no small part due to his new training routine, Heavy Duty Training, which was created by his 21-months older brother Mike Mentzer. "The magazine was doing fairly well, when, just as it started to turn a profit, the financial people - for whatever reason - pulled the plug on the whole thing and we ceased operation. Mike had a heart attack during his sleep. This routine was based on doing 6-9 reps per set at the maximum weight he could lift. In 1982, after years of competing, Mike decided to step down from his competitive career and focus on new endeavors. He also did stutter reps and slow negatives. The weight would be so heavy that by the 9th rep, Ray would reach failure. Mikes story is one of tragedy, but also of redemption and dedication. Ray went to bed. Mike Mentzer was a complex and gifted man who left an indelible mark on the bodybuilding landscape. The point is, though, Ray did have his own take on training but was less publically vocal. When I came to California in 1992 the guy I most wanted to meet was Mike Mentzer. Ray Mentzer (left) and Mike Mentzer (right) posing. He was a judges favorite, andmany competitors believed with his new fame he could win purely on popularity. cycle, and energy level (where Vit. This would require a weight that would take you to failure in between 6 and 9 reps. Then, once you hit failure, keep going. For five years Mike did crazy things and was regularly hospitalized. Expert Insights To Get Stronger, Gain Muscle Faster, And Take Your Lifting To The Next Level. He changed my life and my entire training routine. Chevron - Safe Disposal of Drilling Fluids From High Temperature & Pressure Wells Anirudh Tunga, Jayachandran Devaraj, Fabio H. Ribeiro, Ray Mentzer, accepted ACS Journal of Safety & Health, 2021. Lowe claimed that Greenberger and Evans paid for a contract hit against Radin. * Another ex-Flynt bodyguard. It was Ayn who inspired Mike to think outside of the box when it came to training, and living life to his own accord. The next morning he discovered Mike dead in bed, apparently of a heart attack. 1980 IFBB Mr. Olympia 5th. Your email address will not be published. 1979 IFBB Florida Pro Invitational 1st Died from multiple organ failure in 1996, age 32. Ray Menzer was born in August 1953, in Pennsylvania, USA. READ OTHER ARTICLES LIKE THIS ONE IN THE MCGOUGH REPORT, Mike Mentzer died 13 years ago this month on June 10, 2001, aged 49. * Former bodyguard for Hustler magazine publisher Larry Flynt. Like other great bodybuilders, Ray discovered his passion for the lifting sport early in his life. Ray Mentzer died at age 92 years old on June 21, 1995. Heres what Bill said about Ray and Mike; Mike and Ray Mentzer used to write to me when they were young kids back in Pennsylvania. During one of these squat gatherings, Ray achieved an astonishing feat lifting a 900-lbs squat for 2 reps. Back in the day, many bodybuilders believed that a high-protein diet was the number one key to building muscle. Ray was on the waiting list for a transplant, and the obvious choice was his 21-month older brother Mike. Eventually, the Ray Mentzer bodybuilding training sessions led to him bulking up to a shocking 275lbs. 1976 IFBB Mr. America 1st (Overall) Mike won the rival IFBB Mr America in 1976. Greenberger introduced Radin to Evans and together they struck a deal to finance The Cotton Club.. 2023 Greatest Physiques. Ray is one of the strongest bodybuilders I have ever seen in my life and Mike is equally as strong.. He won the Mr. Olympia title in 1979. As Mike wrestled with his demons, the bodybuilding community, to its discredit, took a detached stance toward his circumstances. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. Ray's brother, Mike Mentzer won the rival IFBB Mr. America in 1976 during Ray's Junior title. If you have any questions about Ray Mentzer's training, diet, etc. The younger Mentzer was devastated as he went about making funeral arrangements. Instead of focusing only on proteins, he ate a well-balanced diet that consisted of several food groups such as; grains, vegetables, fruits, meat, and good fat sources. It was a crushing blow. We cover professional athletes, models and even social media stars to bring you the very best, up to date information in our profiles. He described this feeling as being at deaths door. It made me feel like a productive genius.". Please consult with your own physician or health care practitioner regarding any suggestions and recommendations made. What can you take from this? He was the brother of fellow bodybuilder Ray Mentzer. Id never dreamed theyd end up like they were, but Mike and Ray are genetic freaks. He was defeated by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1980 Mr. Olympia Insulin, HGH, and various diuretics supposedly gained traction in the '90s, and they tend to have a greater risk-to-reward ratio. He soon took part in the Junior Mr. America and IFBB Mr. America, winning both contests. He was the brother of fellow bodybuilder Ray Mentzer. He was obsessed with the thought of making movies. * Convicted of second-degree murder and kidnaping. Achieving lower body fat with a higher body weight meant packing on more muscle. Mike Mentzer died on Sunday, June 10th, 2001. Despite this Mike kept up a relentless pace in productive genius style and smoked heavily. Full Name: Ray MentzerWeightNationalityProfessionEra225 - 235lbs (102.1 - 106.6kg)AmericanBodybuilder1970, 1980Weight225 - 235lbs (102.1 - 106.6kg)NationalityAmericanProfessionBodybuilderEra1970, 1980. To get back in the action, Mike entered1975 IFBB Mr. America to see where he stood. Atty. Originally, Mike's body was sent to a funeral home in nearby Torrance. In spring of that year a blood clot broke loose from his leg and went to his lung. 1977 IFBB North American Championships 1st (Overall) - John Doe Bodybuilding, 1977 IFBB North American Championships 1st (Overall), 1977 IFBB North American Championships 1st (MW), 1978 IFBB World Amateur Championships 1st (HW), 1979 IFBB Pittsburgh Pro Invitational 2nd, Cereal and Grain Foods Four or more servings per day, Fruits and Vegetables Four or more servings per day, The high-protein group (Fish, meat, eggs) Two or more servings each day (Basic serving of meat = 3.5 ounces). Not 48 hours later, Ray was found dead in his apartment losing his battle against Bergers Disease. You'll be seeing more and more serious heart problems, and worse, once these guys hit 40." The jury also found that Mentzer and Marti killed Radin for financial gain during a kidnaping--special circumstances that open the possibility of death in the gas chamber for both men. Can you boost GH naturally? In the 1970s, Michael Mentzer created shock waves in the bodybuilding industry by preaching the notion that seven-day-a-week training was unnecessary. Bodybuilding began to separate from physical fitness in the 1950s. Mentzer was also dealing with the fallout caused by the ending of his near decade relationship with Cathy Gelfo. Mike Mentzer took a fairly broad approach to his nutrition in terms of food sources, and would eat according to 4 food groups and the servings of each. Mike being Mike, stayed up late to work on the scripts. Lipscomb said that because a death occurred during the kidnaping, Greenberger and Lowe will be in prison for the rest of their lives. 2023 Greatest Physiques. Life isnt without hardships, and no matter how difficult things may seem or how far from the path you have strayed, you can always turn things around. In a sport that, at its core, requires eating well, losing fat, and exercising, why do we see so many bodybuilders dying from similar causes at unusually-young ages? Data was collected from 1985 to 2011 and demonstrated that wrestlers were three to four times more likely than the general population to die between 30 and 50 years old. "Editing Workout was one of the most enjoyable things I've ever done," Mike claims. You just cant beat that feeling of knowing that your physique is one youve worked hard for. And it's not always the biggest guys or only the top-ranking pros who struggle, but their drug use is consistent enough to draw some conclusions. The first and obvious choice for Rays kidney transplant was his brother, Mike. The combination of being emotionally distraught, which can cause an individual to lose conceptual control, exacerbated by my use of amphetamines did something to my emotional core that led me to perform irrational acts that I thought were rational. When a bodybuilder dies at an early age from organ-related failure, this is the kneejerk response you'll hear from bodybuilding fans: "He had a preexisting condition and would've had that same problem whether he was a bodybuilder or a school teacher!". WebThe cause of Mike Mentzer's death was not disclosed, pending a coroner's investigation. WebMentzer died on June 10, 2001 in Rolling Hills, California. Burt The passionate, dedicated and knowledgeable bodybuilder. Theyd send me little pictures of themselves and all types of stuff. Another great influencer of Mikes was a Russian-American novelist, philosopher, and play writer namedAyn Rand. Before he left FLEX in early 1996 we had what seemed a productive and rewarding friendship. Forced negatives did the same. In my opinion Mr. Mentzer may have went a bit beyond then rested too long, especially up to 7 days. As for his protein sources, they included chicken, beef, and high-quality dairy. Check out our top rated fat burners to find out what actually works. A handful never even saw 35. CLICK HERE! 1978 IFBB World Amateur Championships 1st (HW) If you knew these seven things about lifting or bodybuilding beforehand, would you even bother walking into a gym? Later that night at the brothers apartment, despite Ray telling him he should turn in, Mike continued to work on the DVDs script. He never wrote me off., In January 1990 a hospitalized Mike experienced a Eureka moment. No, not every pro has had issues. Gross abuse of anabolic steroids (AAS), growth hormone, insulin, and diuretics are some of the major factors believed to be responsible for a disproportionate number of lean and muscular corpses.