Thread: Did the "1980 Mr. Olympia" kill Mike Mentzer?

no way, it had nothing to do with the 1980 Olympia IMO, I think he (and his brother) would have traveled the same path regardless.

Originally Posted by Robert

no way, it had nothing to do with the 1980 Olympia IMO, I think he (and his brother) would have traveled the same path regardless.

Care to expnad on that?
My initial thought was the same as yours, but I think there was some Phycological issues to it also.

Originally Posted by Robert

no way, it had nothing to do with the 1980 Olympia IMO, I think he (and his brother) would have traveled the same path regardless.

Originally Posted by dg806

Care to expnad on that?
My initial thought was the same as yours, but I think there was some Phycological issues to it also.

I just have this idea that had Mentzer won that he would have been in a better place and perhaps not relied so heavily on amphetamines. He also would have been making more money via sponsorships, guest posings, seminars, etc. which may have led him to a healthier and more positive existence.

Originally Posted by Robert

no way, it had nothing to do with the 1980 Olympia IMO, I think he (and his brother) would have traveled the same path regardless.

So are you saying his breakdown after the loss had nothing to do with the Olympia?

The stories I've read suggested he wigged out to the point of having to be institutionalized. Then there was the drug abuse...

I know his brother died of another ailment (complications of Berger's disease) that had nothing to do with the Olympia at all.

Ray, 1979 AAU Mr. America, died two days after findng his older brother Mike dead in their apartment. Ray had been ill for some time and was a kidney dialysis patient.

"Originally, Mike's body was sent to a funeral home in nearby Torrance. However, given the suspicious circumstances of the deaths of two brothers dying within two days of each other, the remains of both Mike and Ray have been sent to the coroner's office in order to determine cause of death. The initial reports of Ray's death circulating through the bodybuilding community were that he had committed suicide," according to photographer Bill Dobbins.

More @ Mentzer Dead

I suspect that much like married couples who die only days apart, Ray was so distressed by Mike's death that his body just gave up.

The 1980 Mr. Olympia finally proved to me the bias and politics in bodybuilding.

Arnold should have NEVER taken the prize. Mentzer sure was ticked about the whole thing, I do know that much. If I'm not mistaken the 1980 event was the last Mr. Olympia to be televised on a national station...I remember watching it on ABC's "Wide World of Sports"...the thrill of victory, and the agony of defeat!!!

Originally Posted by boobuddy12345

The 1980 Mr. Olympia finally proved to me the bias and politics in bodybuilding.

Arnold should have NEVER taken the prize.

I go back and forth on that decision. Arnold was nowhere near his peak, but even a reduced Arnold was very impressive against the other competitors on that stage, imo.

Originally Posted by boobuddy12345

Mentzer sure was ticked about the whole thing, I do know that much. If I'm not mistaken the 1980 event was the last Mr. Olympia to be televised on a national station...I remember watching it on ABC's "Wide World of Sports"...the thrill of victory, and the agony of defeat!!!

I believe you're right. They were booing Arnold from what I've read. Incredible.

Really wish Mentzer had competed in '81. I wonder if they would have still awarded the title to Franco.

any sport where there are judges, you're at their mercy.

Originally Posted by boobuddy12345

The 1980 Mr. Olympia finally proved to me the bias and politics in bodybuilding.

Since you're asking for opinions, I'm of the opinion that the powers that be in pro bb at that time felt that even though he wasn't at his best, that Arnold was the best ambassador for promoting and advancing the sport. I believe it had just as much to do about his charisma as his physique.

Mike was a quitter, no matter what hapend in 1980 Mike would eventually found a reason to quit.

Originally Posted by stepaukas

any sport where there are judges, you're at their mercy.

True enough.

Originally Posted by chesty4

Since you're asking for opinions, I'm of the opinion that the powers that be in pro bb at that time felt that even though he wasn't at his best, that Arnold was the best ambassador for promoting and advancing the sport. I believe it had just as much to do about his charisma as his physique.

His charisma certainly didn't hurt.

Originally Posted by GeorgeForemanRules

Mike was a quitter, no matter what hapend in 1980 Mike would eventually found a reason to quit.

Perhaps, but I'd certainly love to read a "What if?" tale of Mentzer's 1980 Olympia win.

Originally Posted by chesty4

Since you're asking for opinions, I'm of the opinion that the powers that be in pro bb at that time felt that even though he wasn't at his best, that Arnold was the best ambassador for promoting and advancing the sport. I believe it had just as much to do about his charisma as his physique.

...well, I'd hate to bust my balls in the gym for years, and do everything else necessary to win this title, to have someone with "charisma" win the title.
Arnold was a Weider ass-kisser...with placings based on physique and condition Arnold should not have even taken second place.
Arnold may get the award for the "world's most self-absorbed man". I cannot tolerate to even look at him.

Charisma counts, but even from the physique Arnold brought to the stage there may be merit to his winning the prize that year. Arnold at 75% was impressive if not better than the other competitors, imo.

They're all shorter than Schwarzenegger and so lose a point there, imo. No, I'm no IFBB judge, but all things being otherwise equal I'm impressed by the taller competitor with the bigger guns. That's Arnold.

Frank Zane was one of the few to beat Arnold, but 1980 was not 1968.

I always thought Roger Walker (center, below) was the one who was robbed at that show.

Also, remember seeing Arnold in Pumping Iron? He was/is a master at head games and intimidation in the gym and on the stage.

arnolds calves look like mine in that pic, small and high. haha

^heh

I'll never criticize anyone's calves.

I was very much into bodybuilding at the time everyone was shocked that Arnold won he was small and not nearly as hard as some of the other competitors, Menzter was amazing looking in the pics I saw and should have won easily this contest was definitely fixed to the hilt.

No way,thats bad news..

:-(

Originally Posted by Curt James

I just have this idea that had Mentzer won that he would have been in a better place and perhaps not relied so heavily on amphetamines. He also would have been making more money via sponsorships, guest posings, seminars, etc. which may have led him to a healthier and more positive existence.

Yep, amphetamines did kill him! He still has the prettiest shape of all guys wearing a mustache!

yes possibly