BODYBUILDING & THE MOVIES: When Arnold’s Two Worlds Collide.
BODYBUILDING & THE MOVIES
When Arnold’s Two Worlds Collide.
By Peter McGough
Arnold Schwarzenegger has enjoyed three careers: Bodybuilding, movies and politics.
With the Hollywood Oscars being awarded this weekend and the Arnold Classic taking place a week later on March 2, it seemed opportune to juxtapose two of those careers by using the titles of some of Arnold’s movies and connect them to the 25-year history of the bodybuilding contest that bares his name.
THE LONG GOODBYE (1973)
Nobody ever took longer to say I’m outta here!” on a bodybuilding stage than Britain’s Paula Bircumshaw at the 1992 Ms. International in Columbus. Chagrined that her 155 ultra-muscled physique had not made the posedown, and encouraged by an audience who chanted “Paula! Paula!” at her exclusion, she walked out onstage in her sweats as the six finalists lined up. Looking toward the judging panel she mimed a gesture that …. Well, done to excess you may go deaf. Anyway, the audience went nuts. She then left the stage and re-appeared in the auditorium, which caused many sections of the crowd to jump to their feet in applause. She then ran down to the stage and right in front of the VIP section jumped up and down punching the air with her fist. The theater was in bedlam as she left the scene. For her pains the IFBB slapped Paula with a six-month suspension.
STAY HUNGRY (1976)
Something that should apply to the contest preps of all the Arnold Classic entrants.
THE TERMINATOR (1984)
In 2001 reigning Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman – in what many thought was his career best shape – was the true Terminator, his victory being the most dominant in the contest’s history.
RAW DEAL (1986)
A feeling experienced by Flex Wheeler in 1996 when, in the most controversial Arnold decision ever, he finished second to Kevin Levrone. The duo still argues about it to this day.
PREDATOR (1987)
Say hello to Kai “The Predator” Greene who won two Arnold Classic titles: 2009 and 2010.
THE RUNNING MAN (1987)
In December 2002, Kevin Levrone (two time Arnold champ, 1994 & ’96) challenged British sprinter Dwain Chambers – then one of the world’ fastest – to race in a 60 meter dash. Chambers won in 6.64 seconds, with Levrone coming home in a commendable 7.2 seconds.
TWINS (1988)
1.) At many Arnold Classics we have been treated to bodybuilding’s version of Twins in the shape of host Arnold and his lifelong friend, Franco Columbu.
2.) At the 2000 Arnold Classic, Flavio Baccanini, at 4’11” and 145 pounds, faced up to 6’1” 290 pounder Gunter Schlierkamp. Gunter was sixth and Flavio 14th.
3.) Tonya Knight who won the 1991 Ms. International was once married to a twin, John Poteat. Where does he get such information, you ask? Why doesn’t he keep it to himself is the collective cry?
TOTAL RECALL (1990)
At the finals of the 1990 Arnold Mike Ashley was announced second only to be told a few days later (see also THE 6th DAY) that original winner Shawn Ray (along with Samir Bannout, Nimrod King and Rolf Moeller) had failed the drug test and so he – Ashley – took the title and first place prize money.
CLICK HERE to see Shawn Ray and Mike Ashley, after 23 years, discussing the 1990 Arnold
KINDERGARTEN COP (1990)
Given the antics of some of the pros maybe an appropriate title for IFBB Pro League Chairman Jim Manion
TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY (1991)
Well, judgment day for this year’s Arnold Classic contenders is March 2.
CHRISTMAS IN CONNECTICUT (1992)
Connecticut based Evan Centopani enjoyed a much more pleasant Yuletide last year than those he experienced in 2010 and 2011 when he was dieting for the 2011 and 2012 Arnold Classics.
Arnold directed, but did not appear, in the above TV movie.
LAST ACTION HERO (1993)
An accolade to be accorded Kai Greene, as at both his Arnold wins (2009 & 2010) he was behind at the prejudging before at the finals, vaulting over Victor Martinez and Phil Heath respectively, to claim victory from the jaws of defeat.
TRUE LIES (1994)
Maybe a phrase to describe the common bodybuilding syndrome of non-winning competitors saying after the contest, “Two hours before prejudging I was perfect and then ……..”
JUNIOR (1994)
1.) The youngest winner of the Arnold Classic was Shawn Ray, who on the day of his 1991 (for real) win was 25 years and 172 days old. Second youngest was Rich Gaspari who was 25 years and 299 days old for his 1989 victory. Remarkably at that tender age Gaspari had won eight pro shows and been Olympia runner-up on three occasions (1986-’88).
2.) In the movie Arnold plays a scientist who becomes pregnant in which he displays his swollen midriff, mimicking a trend of distended bellies among bodybuilders.
ERASER (1996)
Paul Dillett would wish to erase from memory his epic collapse onstage at the 1994 Arnold. This happened at the prejudging when, during his individual mandatories, Dillett went into a back double-biceps pose, which was the signal for the mother of all cramps to attack his whole body. With Dillett facing away from the audience an expeditor rushed to his aid. At this point the giant Canadian slumped forward into the expeditor’s arms. Three more expeditors scrambled onstage and each grabbed one of Dillett’s limbs. Unfortunately, the 270-pounder was facing downward, incapacitated by head-to-toe cramps that rendered him rigidly immobile. In this ungainly mode he was carted offstage like one of the slain extras in Gladiators. It was a scene that somehow lacked the grace of the Queen of England exiting the Royal Balcony.
P.S. I know it’s a stretch to connect Eraser to Dillett’s collapse, but no history of the Arnold Classic would be complete without this episode.
BATMAN & ROBIN (1997)
At the opening of the 1997 evening finals Arnold Schwarzenegger came onstage to present a trailer of his upcoming film Batman & Robin. Which prompted his longtime friend Franco Columbu to appear and so we were once again presented with the shtick of bodybuilding’s version of the Dynamic Duo.
END OF DAYS (1999)
From its 1989 inception through 1993 the whole Columbus bash consisted of just one day’s activity: The Saturday wherein only the Ms International and Arnold Classic were contested. In 1994 the Fitness International was launched which was staged on the Friday night. Gradually the event mushroomed into the Arnold Sports Festival where today 18,000 athletes take part in 45 sports spread over four days. End of days indeed.
THE 6TH DAY (2000)
Seems to fit in with Shawn Ray’s 1990 experience wherein on March 3 he was crowned champ only to be told six days later that he had failed the drug test and the victor’s spoils would go to Mike Ashley.
TERMINATOR 3: RISE OF THE MACHINES (2003)
Echoing the 21st century trend of free weights losing favor to machine alternatives.
AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS (2004)
An apt analogy for the continuing globalization of the Arnold Sports Festival, with Columbus, Brazil and Spain already scheduled for this year and other sites being slated for 2014.
THE LAST STAND (2013)
An apt encapsulation of Lee Labrada’s participation in the 1995 Arnold. Months before he had announced it would be the final contest of one of the most illustrious careers bodybuilding has seen. As he came offstage for the last time with his fifth place trophy I was witness to one of the most poignant bodybuilding moments I’ve ever seen. This gentleman of the sport looked at his physique in a mirror and with a tear in his eye said, “I will never look like this again. I’ll just take one last look.”
Keep checking on musculardevelopment.com as we start to ramp up our unrivalled coverage of the 2013 Arnold Sports Festival.