He was subsequently known for creating the "Heavy Duty" training system, derived from the ideas of Nautilus creator Arthur Jones, for whom Mike worked at one time. Every Saturday evening, Ray would host so-called Saturday night squat parties. He just scratched the surface with that physique. Ray Mentzer Bodybuilder - TrulyHuge.com Mike did not get his ideas from Jones. Or is it the heavy use of these drugs combined with the rigors of bulking and cutting for multiple contests that eventually leads to health issues? 'Cotton Club' Jury Convicts 4 of Murder - Los Angeles Times But Mike wouldnt listen. The Mike Mentzer that passed away is the one that he will always be remembered as. 1979 IFBB Night of Champions 3rd Hewill always be remembered for not only having one of the greatest physiques of all time, but also for having one of the greatest stories. He is a member of famous with the age 48 years old group. BOTH were winners of the coveted Mr. America title. Radins decomposed body was found a month after his disappearance. Noticing the appreciative stares from envious strangers, and knowing that every time you hit the gym, youre pushing the boundaries of what you once thought was impossible - makes it all worthwhile. WebThe cause of Mike Mentzer's death was not disclosed, pending a coroner's investigation. But you watch. Ray's brother, Mike Mentzer won the rival IFBB Mr. America in 1976 during Ray's Junior title. Although he was no longer under the spotlight of the bodybuilding stage, Ray kept training hard behind the curtains. It was a respectable comeback, coming in at a modest 3rd place, after Roger Callard, and The Black Prince, Robby Robinson. Professional bodybuilder, author, entrepreneur, and philosopher. Joe Weider rehired Mike in the fall of that year, but after six months, Mentzer left to assume the editorship of. Professional athletes seeking every possible advantage and recovery method shouldn't surprise us, even when it's directly prohibited by their sport's rules and the law. Lived: 78 years. They cant take away the pain and no one can bring him back.. Greenberger called Mentzer the murderer. It was that morning that Mike was to be found dead by his sibling. The mortician said that Raymond Mentzer, who suffered from kidney problems and had been undergoing dialysis treatments, appeared very shaken by his brothers Later that night at the brothers apartment, despite Ray telling him he should turn in, Mike continued to work on the DVDs script. Mike Mentzer died on Sunday, June 10th, 2001. Then his brother died two DAYS later at age 47. 1975 ABBA Mr. USA 2nd (Medium) Ray went to bed. Your email address will not be published. In 1999, Ray started kidney dialysis 4 times each week, and extensive testing was performed on him to determine if he could handle a kidney transplant. Ray Mentzers income source is mostly from being a successful . We know that PEDs are widespread in professional sports like baseball, football soccer, and MMA. However, these werent the only methods Ray used to increase his training intensity. RIP. 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. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. And the more that look was rewarded, the more competitors pursued it. However,two people remained and supported him; a senior writer for Flex magazine called John Little, and Mikesex-girlfriend Julie McNew. It was time to 'Go back to what you know, Mike Mentzer!'". Along with Mentzer, accused of carrying out the murder. The weightsmoved in a perfectly controlled and slow manner. As I listened during that fateful May 2001 phone call I couldnt help but think the effusive fast-talking Mike was in the middle of a productive genius phase. Ray Mentzer June 12, 2001, Died Place. Fame? Mike was 49 and Ray was 47. 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. Compiled by Times researcher Michael Meyers. One of the greatest of all time in my opinion. In 2014, the Public Library of Science published a report investigating the mortality rate among active pro wrestlers. It was time to move on. 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. Evans, the former chief of Paramount Pictures and the producer of such hits as Chinatown and The Godfather, was not charged in the crime. For the answer to that question stay tuned for next weeks story. Dunn is a California native who has worked as a dishwasher in Sacramento, a printer in San Francisco and a bicycle repairman in Walnut Creek. June 21, 1995 . On May 13, 1983, Radin and Greenberger were on their way to dinner to work out their problems. He never wrote me off.. 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. His theories and writings continue to be a source for debate, and his books and articles remain popular (see, Mike told me he looked forward to celebrating his 50, Entering his first Olympia in his rookie year of 1979 the heavily fancied Mike lost out to a. loss, Mike planned to leave no stone unturned in his onslaught for the 1980 Olympia crown. Personal Trainer, Researcher, Author, Inventor Gym Owner, Doctor, Physical Therapist, Strength & Conditioning Specialist. It came to a similar conclusion: Steroid use can be a valid and significant factor in heart-related death. Previously, he had started dieting 12 weeks out. To gain further insight into Mikes 2001 death, it is necessary to turn the clock back 21 years. Three months after his death, it was found that Anyway in that May 2001 conversation Mike acted like the previous five years had never happened and that we were continuing as if we had spoken a week earlier. Id never dreamed theyd end up like they were, but Mike and Ray are genetic freaks., Ray Mentzer was one of the bodybuilding greats of his era. Complex, B-12, B-2. His net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. Check out our guide to protein-rich foods to help you on your way - a completely new fitness level is just around the corner. Its been so many years and of course, you lose hope. Ray suffered from kidney failure caused by Berger's Disease. The Legendary Mentzer Brothers Mike being Mike, stayed up late to work on the scripts. In 1978, Ray became the IFBB Mr. USA champion. He was 33 years old. In the 1980s, Dr. Robert Goldman began asking top-level athletes if they'd accept a proverbial deal with the devil that guaranteed victory in every competition they entered but also guaranteed their death within five years. In her testimony, Greenberger said Evans had nothing to do with Radins death. There were two notable, and noble, exceptions: ex-girlfriend Julie McNew and John Little, senior writer for FLEX. Mike Mentzer - Greatest Physiques In fact, Rays workouts would last no longer than 45 minutes. We don't have much information about He's past relationship and any previous engaged. After a long and exhausting day of work, Ray went to sleep, while Mike stayed working late. Performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) is the term the public associates with anabolic steroids, even though it's a general category that can include anything from insulin to EPO, a blood "doping" endurance booster, and various non-steroid stimulants. While initially inspired by Bill Pearl, Mikes whole training philosophy was based on the work of Arthur Jones and HIT. Products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any condition or disease. I saw him on stage at the 1978 Mr. Universe qualifying posedown in Cincinnati (listed above as USA versus the World). 2023 Greatest Physiques. If you have any questions about Ray Mentzer's training, diet, etc. 1971 Mr. Lancaster 1st * Convicted of first-degree murder with special circumstances, subject to the death penalty. In the 50+ years since his article, plenty of bodybuilders have misused or abused steroids and other PEDs and have paid the ultimate price: These bodybuilders are thankfully still alive at the time of this writing, but have suffered major health issues. On top of this, Rays strength also increased. As Bill Pettis put it; Ray is one of the strongest bodybuilders I have ever seen in my life.. With steroids, there's use, there's misuse, and there's abuse, and they're very different things. Get our L.A. At one time, training for just six weeks, he squatted 902 pounds for 2 repetitions. Ray was troubled by this because he knew his brother had heart problems, and didnt want him to overtax his body. The mortician said that Raymond Mentzer, who suffered from kidney problems and had been undergoing dialysis treatments, appeared very shaken by his brothers death. Not only is he knownas one of the greatest bodybuilders in history, but also as an action movie star, and an American politician. 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. Ray died just two days after discovering his brother Mike Mentzer's dead body in the very same apartment due to heart failure. 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. It just didnt feel like a normal contest; no one was being their usual self. According to the prosecution, the deal began to come apart when Greenberger felt she was being cut out of the profits. Monday morning, June 11, 2001, an e-mail was sent to us saying that. He died from kidney failure, a complication resulting from Berger's disease in Rolling Hills, California. 1979 IFBB Florida Pro Invitational 1st WebNationality: American. Chris Colucci is a T Nation editor and the T Nation forum director. In 1999, Ray discovered he had kidney problems. At one time, training for just six weeks to prove the invalidity of the Bulgarian system, he squatted 902 pounds for 2 repetitions. Almost unbelievably on going to the apartment Joanne found Ray had passed away. To stay in shape he opted for thrice weekly workouts with fewer sets, and to compensate for the lesser volume, increased the intensity. Thanks for the articles, Mike Mentzer Lives! This biographical article relating to bodybuilding in the United States is a stub. In one article he said I had a fanny fetish. When he signed my book I was in AWE! CLICK HERE! Ray Mentzer didnt share the same opinion. "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. I wish he was still living too. He was unopposed). 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. However, Mike was still able to take care of his younger brother. Ray The long term results of the era are what we've been seeing over the past couple decades: consequences that are catching up with more and more bodybuilders as reports of health issues from mild to fatal have appeared. Jerry Brainum on the Demise of Mike and Ray Mentzer - YouTube Both brothers lived in Redondo Beach, and they shared an apartment together. He was found dead in his apartment, due to heart complications, by his younger brother and fellow bodybuilder Ray Mentzer. Arnold, despite breaking formation on several occasions and receiving a warning from the judges placed 1st. Mike wouldnt pick up a weight until 1975, but when he finally did, Mikecame back with full force. Answers here. But, after soul searching, hospital visits and a help from a few close friends, he came back. Rice Mortuary in Torrance. What can you take from this? At this point, most of the bodybuilding community turnedits back on Mike. 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Jordan Michael B. Handsome at Walk of Fame ceremony. It become known as "Goldman's Dilemma.". The verdicts were sealed until Monday. MIKE AND RAY MENTZER DEAD - billdobbins.com His forte was his strength literally. 1975 IFBB Mr. America 3rd (Medium) On June 9th, 2001, Ray and Mike were working on their new training DVD calledHIT. Goldman consistently found that the majority of athletes would eagerly accept the deal. Of all the subject matter we ever discussed fannies were never even bottom of the list butt I put it behind me. Ray Mentzer's net worth According to our Database, He has no children. Sometimes I'd stay awake for two or three days at a time to meet dead lines. Or do they roll the dice just to build more muscle and drop more fat than the next guy? He was 225 pounds, And more cut than I'd ever been. We cover professional athletes, models and even social media stars to bring you the very best, up to date information in our profiles. If theres something to learn from Ray Mentzer, it would be; never take life for granted, make every day count, and dont spend time doing something you dont love lifes too short for that. Despite this Mike kept up a relentless pace in productive genius style and smoked heavily. Freeze,The Governator,and to many of his fans justArnie. Mentzer Cotton Club' Jury Convicts 4 of Murder Discover Ray Mentzer's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Theyd send me little pictures of themselves and all types of stuff. Eventually, investigators presented a tale of cocaine, sex and greed that they say involved the making of The Cotton Club, named after the famed Prohibition-era jazz club. [en] Vital records: Ray Mentzer at +Archives Friday. She was his biggest influence. A 2012 study in the American Journal of Cardiology investigated mortality rates among NFL players and actually saw that they were, overall, almost half as likely to die as comparably-aged non-athletes. From there, it wasonward and upwards. Her attorney argued during the trial that Greenberger had been framed for the murder by Milan Bellechesses, a Miami drug dealer and another Greenberger paramour who suspected Radin of stealing drugs. There was a strain and tension in the air all the way through.. Ray went to bed. It was a crushing blow. Would you accept this deal? Being out from 1971 through to 1974. But the next morning, he was back to "being a productive genius. One of the core principles of Rays training was doing low reps and heavy weight. Ray suffered from kidney failure caused by Berger's Disease. In January 1990 a hospitalized Mike experienced a Eureka moment. Ray MENTZER Julie, even though our relationship had ended, was very supportive, emotionally and financially, over that whole five-year period, Mike states. As reported at some length in the June 14th, 2001 edition of the Los Angeles Times, the Los Angeles County coroner's office is currently investigating the deaths of bodybuilding brothers Mike and Ray Mentzer, who died within two days of each other. But even non-traditional sports like cricket, NASCAR, cycling, and pro-wrestling "entertainment" sports have all made headlines with various reports of PED use. 1977 IFBB North American Championships 1st (MW) By the age of 23, Ray was a full-time competitor. The younger Mentzer was devastated as he went about making funeral arrangements. Ray Mentzer (August 3, 1953 June 12, 2001) was the 1976 Junior Mr. America, 1978 IFBB Mr. USA and was winner of the 1979 AAU Mr. America competition. He would talk with me at length, and I remember those conversations with fondness, which causes me to think fondly of John Little. He dies on June 12, 2001 which was only two days after the passing of his legendary brother. Rather than wallow in the dark aspects of Ray's death, it would be better to look towards his interesting life instead. Hed break down a typical bodybuilders diet into the following: Mans proper stature is not one of mediocrity, failure, frustration, or defeat, but one of achievement, strength, and nobility. Died from multiple organ failure in 1996, age 32. When I came to California in 1992 the guy I most wanted to meet was Mike Mentzer. confirmed that Arnold Schwarzenegger had a year before Mikes death called Mike to enquire about Ray Mentzers health problems, and had offered assistance. In 1983, he continued to train and ended growing to 250lbs on his very small frame. However, things didn't progress the way Mike had hoped, and after six months, he and Jones severed their business relationship. At least do light reps a couple of those days for arms, delts, lats, upper legs, abs. As soon as that realization hit, I was appalled at how much time I had wasted. There was no obviously apparent cause of death, but medical records indicate that he had a history of heart problems. Theyd send me little pictures of themselves and all types of stuff. . 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. Were disappointed, but Im very thankful the jury didnt convict her of first-degree murder.. Mikes form would be kept absolutely perfect. While hospitalized it was discovered that he had experienced two silent heart attacks, wherein the victim is unaware theres a problem. Arnold was also set to take part in a bodybuilding video with the two brothers but death came too quickly for this to happen. In enthusiastic tones Mike told me he looked forward to celebrating his 50th birthday in November. He was a judges favorite, andmany competitors believed with his new fame he could win purely on popularity. A tragic loss, and one that was to be followed shortly after by his brother. Great profile! Hed do squats for hours on end, together with a few other guys. Mike would often keep his training week down to 3 working days with 4 for rest. On the morning of Tuesday, June 12, Joanne Sharkey (General Manager of Mikes business but who was in essence like an older protective sister to the brothers) received a call from Rays dialysis unit that he hadnt turned up for his appointment. Mike Mentzer was born in Pennsylvania. Coupled with an overwhelming amount of calories he ate, Ray soon reached the 250lbs mark of weight. The brash and ambitious Radin had made his name in New York by producing a series of successful vaudeville revivals and police union benefits. Ray followed a similar training style to his brother Mike; it was called Heavy Duty Training. Coming from a well-educated home, Mikesfather would regularly test and encouragehis academic knowledge using various rewards, including cash to ensure he excelled. Two days before the 1980 Olympia tookplace, Mike was revisited by thedeaths door feeling. He wrote that he was falling short of top spot so decided to give it up. And Mike wasnt joking. In 1971, Mike suffered a severe shoulder injury that puta long-term pauseon histraining. The jury, which had been deliberating since July 10, reached their decisions Friday. Ray and Mike Mentzer were probably the most legendary bodybuilding brothers of all time. The judge went way out on a limb and hes going to be in for a big fall if hes wrong, Kaiserman said. Once he reached that point, Ray would have his training partner help him do another 2-3 forced reps, controlling the weight with slow and perfect form. Prologue: Mike Mentzer died 13 years ago this month on June 10, 2001, aged 49. In fact, he achieved his biggest physique during this period. It may be more accurate to say steroids don't kill people, abusing steroids kills people. In the last 15 years, roughly one in five wrestler deaths were connected to recreational drug overdose. This was considered such an outrageous weight for a small man that it fueled rumors of significant steroid use although, quite honestly, no one knows for sure and to speculate without definitive facts would be unfair to his memory. Later, as his bodybuilding progressed, he would move to take between4-7 days rest in between workouts. He begantraining 3 times a week and bythe age of 15, Mikecould bench press 370lb (170kg), with a body weight of just165lbs (75kg). It was on a visit to the West Coast in 1982 that he met Greenberger, an alluring drug dealer with links to the Latin American drug underworld who also had ambitions of breaking into the movie business. In 2001, Mentzer lived in an apartment in Los Angeles, where his brother Ray found his lifeless body. No, not every pro has had issues. "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. Many bodybuilders sell themselves short. WebJerry Brainum on the Demise of Mike and Ray Mentzer Leo and Longevity 120K subscribers Subscribe 490 Share 21K views 2 years ago In this clip from the longer interview of He started lifting weights at age 11 and competed a year later in his first contest. Mike understood that an individual had individual needs, but inside, we all worked the same. Your email address will not be published. Ray Mentzer Only now can I appreciate her friendship., John Little was one of the few who didnt approach me on the ignorant assumption that I was a loony or a crazy. John understands quite a bit about the power of ideas and the way they work in the mind. WebThe cause of Mike Mentzer's death was not disclosed, pending a coroner's investigation. In her testimony in April, Greenberger denied that she was involved in the murder, saying that her ex-lover, Mentzer, killed Radin on the orders of Bellechesses. 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. WebThe two joined a long list of high-profile bodybuilders around 30 or so major competition winners and other prominent athletes over the past three decades who have died prematurely due to drug overdoses, heart attacks and other organ failures, and cancer. Almost miraculously, within a few days, he was establishing his personal-training business at Gold's Gym, Venice. He is from United States. What could possibly be better than a well-balanced diet, which covers all of your nutritional needs.. He would talk with me at length, and I remember those conversations with fondness, which causes me to think fondly of John Little. Both brothers had a history of health problems, including heart problems. A native of Germantown, Pennsylvania, he died of heart failure in Rolling Hills, California at the age of He has lived along the levees of the Sacramento Delta, the Powell-Hyde Street cable car line and the shaded streets of Pasadena. 1980 IFBB Mr. Olympia 5th. After a stint at the New York Times, Dunn returned to Los Angeles in 1998 as a reporter and then editor in The Times Business section. I just have to comment that Burt should get a life and realize that if he was half the man Mike was hed be something! 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