From the Golden Eagle.... I vividly remember
my first bodybuilding contest when I was a senior in high school.
It was the 1973 Mr. Adonis competition, which was held at the Detroit
YMCA basketball court. We had a makeshift stage underneath the basketball
hoop. In fact the posing light was wired on to the hoop. I trained
really hard for this show with full support of my gym teacher, Mr.
Sargent, and my classmates. The only equipment available to me were
the five old Universal machines - we made up routines as we went.
There was no squat rack or free weights available. There was a wrestling
mat in the middle of the gym.
After the workouts,
I would stand at the mirrors in the locker room, and my friend Rob
would tell me "God, you look great! Just like the guys in the
magazines!" And I would reply, "doesn't my one trap look
bigger than the other; it looks odd??" He would say, "Of
course it does look a little strange, but look at me." Rob
was a bit thinner.
Gradually, Rob
recruited the whole gym class, and they would all cheer me on, even
while we were running track - it felt great with that kind of support.
My biggest concern was not my diet or training, but I was really
scared that no one would applaud while I was on stage during my
posing routine. But to my surprise and sheer delight, Rob brought
about a 100 guys from my class to the event, and when I walked out
on stage a roar came from the crowd from all over the court, screaming
my name. To heighten the day even more, I won the title of Mr. Adonis
1973. To date, that show has been just as important and meaningful
as any Mr. Olympia contest I competed in! Those were the days!
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