He contracted Bergers disease. Twice during his prep Mike awoke to find himself, "at death's door." During one of his evening training sessions, he was seen doing a 900-pound squat for two reps. And indeed there were warning signs about his health. It was at that event that Mikewould would be introduced toArthur Jones. 1979 IFBB Night of Champions 3rd Using a spotter, often his younger brother Ray, Mikewould go on to perform 2-3 forced reps, as negatives (lowering the weight slowly) beyond the point of muscle failure. The weight would be so heavy that by the 9th rep, Ray would reach failure. Its been so many years and of course, you lose hope. The passionate, dedicated and knowledgeable bodybuilder. Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. "I'd exhausted all avenues of thought on my predicament, and realized, On Saturday June 9, 2001 after a long day he wrapped filming of the DVD he so wanted to finish. In the midst of the chaos that day, Ray completely forgot that he needed to turn up for his kidney dialysis treatment. rhyth. WebRay Mentzer Cause of Death Sadly, Ray Mentzer would contract Berger's Disease which would lead to kidney problems that contributed to his passing. Matarazzo had triple-bypass open heart surgery at 38, a heart attack at 41, and died at age 47 while waiting for a heart transplant. Julie, even though our relationship had ended, was very supportive, emotionally and financially, over that whole five-year period, Mike states. At the time of his passing, it was reported that he died after choking on food, but his autopsy report pointed elsewhere. The verdicts were sealed until Monday. In January 1990 a hospitalized Mike experienced a Eureka moment. He soon took part in the Junior Mr. America and IFBB Mr. America, winning both contests. Thanks for the articles, Mike Mentzer Lives! Rice said that although Michael Mentzer had appeared robust, his medical records showed that he had a history of coronary-related problems.. All rights reserved. At a bodyweight of a then unthinkable 250 plus pounds, he added even more muscle within a month, to 260 but leaner. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Ray Mentzer. He began competing in the most elite shows around America, making a name for himself in the process. Arnold was also set to take part in a bodybuilding video with the two brothers but death came too quickly for this to happen. 1971 AAU Teen Mr America 2nd A lot of people drink coffee and smoke cigarettes to stay stimulated and be productive. It was a respectable comeback, coming in at a modest 3rd place, after Roger Callard, and The Black Prince, Robby Robinson. He enjoyed the work, but he relied upon amphetamines to meet deadlines, on occasion staying awake for two or three days straight. Mentally, he went into a different gear and battened down the hatches earlier and more securely than for any other competition. In around mid-1983, Mike had managed to find a role as editor of Workout Magazine. The mortician said that Raymond Mentzer, who suffered from kidney problems and had been undergoing dialysis treatments, appeared very shaken by his brothers death. Ray Mentzer (August 2, 1953 June 12, 2001) was the brother of Mike Mentzer and winner of the 1979 AAU Mr. America competition. Health became an afterthought. His physique was a blockbuster and he later won the contest. Everything I did was marshaled into the spirit of improvement. Mike being Mike, stayed up late to work on the scripts. Mike Mentzer is one of the classic bodybuilders of the early years. Theyd send me little pictures of themselves and all types of stuff. 1978 IFBB World Amateur Championships 1st (HW) It was Ayn who inspired Mike to think outside of the box when it came to training, and living life to his own accord. I was using a lot of amphetamines to make me productive. 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. The next morning he discovered Mike dead in bed, apparently of a heart attack. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Unlike bodybuilding, the deaths of other professional athletes aren't as strongly linked to performance enhancing drugs. Ray was on the waiting list for a transplant, and the obvious choice was his 21-month older brother Mike. However, not long after closing the curtains on his bodybuilding career, Ray started having kidney problems. Within a few days of leaving thehospital, he approachedGolds Gym, Venice, and convinced them to let him start up as a personal trainer. * Another ex-Flynt bodyguard. 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. On June 9th, 2001, Ray and Mike were working on their new training DVD calledHIT. He started dieting in February for the October contest. 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!". As Mike puts it in his book Heavy Duty: The fact that muscle is only 22 percent protein suggests that our protein requirements are not nearly that high. The doctors put him on a kidney dialysis treatment soon after, along with putting him on a kidney transplant waiting list. Your email address will not be published. All rights reserved. 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. I looked my best, but I didnt feel at my best. He became a professional bodybuilder after that 1978 Universe win. "Heavy
Duty" involves doing very few, extended sets (using techniques like
negative repetitions, forced reps, partial reps and done primarily on machines
rather than using free weights). Forced negatives did the same. As soon as that realization hit, I was appalled at how much time I had wasted. It just didnt feel like a normal contest; no one was being their usual self. Champion bodybuilders are known only to the relatively-small community who follow this fringe sport. It may be more accurate to say steroids don't kill people, abusing steroids kills people. One of the core principles of Rays training was doing low reps and heavy weight. As he waited for the kidney transplant, Ray discovered that his brother Mike had serious heart issues which led to Mikes death on June 10th, 2001. However, these werent the only methods Ray used to increase his training intensity. This biographical article relating to bodybuilding in the United States is a stub. I always admired Mike Mentzer and knew from my own experience that his training philosophy had great validity. 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. He said Lowe and Greenberger did not know that Mentzer and Marti intended to kill Radin. Stutter reps increased the duration of each set by over 20 seconds. Sadly, Ray Mentzer would contract Berger's Disease which would lead to kidney problems that contributed to his passing. In 1978, Ray became the IFBB Mr. USA champion. 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. Probiotics for gut health and things like avacados really help you max out feeling good for max. Bodybuilding.com's authors include many of the top coaches, nutritionists, and physique athletes in the world today. workouts. He was the brother of fellow bodybuilder Ray Mentzer. * Convicted of second-degree murder and kidnaping. Is it for money? The initial reports of Ray's death circulating through the bodybuilding
community were that he had committed suicide, but this has yet to be confirmed. Almost miraculously, within a few days, he was establishing his personal-training business at Gold's Gym, Venice. how to use them. I hoped and expected for acquittal, said Edward Shohat, Greenbergers attorney. Arnold Schwarzenegger - He's been named the Austrian Oak, The Terminator,John Matrix, Mr. * 1987: About 4 1/2 years after the murder, sheriffs investigators receive first major break in the case when they are introduced to William Rider, former brother-in-law and security supervisor for Hustler magazine publisher Larry Flynt. He dies on June 12, 2001 which was only two days after the passing of his legendary brother. The following morning, on the 10th of June 2001, Ray found that his brother would never wake up. Ray Menzter, age 47, was reportedly very shaken up by
the death of his brother. The call was answered by a sheriffs deputy, who told Rice that Raymond Mentzers body had been found a short time earlier. Once he reached that point, Ray would h Over 60% of his daily calories came from carbs. One year earlier, in 1979 Mike had started using amphetamines. One of Rays biggest influences in bodybuilding was Bill Pearl. The 1980, IFBB Mr. Olympia in Sydney was Mikes next major competition. I saw him on stage at the 1978 Mr. Universe qualifying posedown in Cincinnati (listed above as USA versus the World). The improvements Ray saw in his physique soon paid off. To compound the loss of Mike, on June 11th, at approximately 9:00 PM, Ray died in his sleep. In 1999, after going to a check-up at the doctors, Ray received terrible news. 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 In 1983, he continued to train and ended growing to 250lbs on his very small frame. I need he steroid routine. Joe Weider rehired Mike in the fall of that year, but after six months, Mentzer left to assume the editorship of. Tragically, Ray died just 2 days later, after missing his kidney dialysis treatment. Jones was an accomplished trainer, and inventor of many of the early exercise machines he began training Mike, firmly believing in the teens potential. In the 1960s, Iron Man publisher Peary Rader wrote an editorial to address the issue of steroids in bodybuilding and to warn readers not to get involved with the drugs. They also had the same time-lapse conversation with him, and he even came up to the office and had lunch with the Master Blaster. Then his brother died two DAYS later at age 47. He is not dating anyone. Take a look. Click Here for the interview we did with Mike Mentzer just before he died. He worked as deputy national editor from 2007 to 2011 and played a central role in the coverage of some of the biggest national stories of recent years, including the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and the 2008 election of President Obama. In 1999, Ray discovered he had kidney problems. Mike Mentzer died on Sunday, June 10th, 2001. In 2001, Mentzer lived in an apartment in Los Angeles, where his brother Ray found his lifeless body. 1979 IFBB Pittsburgh Pro Invitational 2nd He would also become a bodybuilding legend for his 20+ inch arms and the ability to squat in excess of 900lbs for 2 repetitions. 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. A handful never even saw 35. 06/28/01 - New information on this tragedy can be found HERE! We cover professional athletes, models and even social media stars to bring you the very best, up to date information in our profiles. Not 48 hours later, Ray was found dead in his apartment losing his battle against Bergers Disease. Monday morning, June 11, 2001, an e-mail was sent to us saying that Mike Mentzer has passed away June 9th. Ray, his brother, who is also suffering from illnesses, found him. To compound the loss of Mike, on June 11th, at approximately 9:00 PM, Ray died in his sleep. Ray suffered from kidney failure caused by Berger's Disease. In enthusiastic tones Mike told me he looked forward to celebrating his 50th birthday in November. Check regularly for the latest, Greatest Physiques. It made me feel like a productive genius.". They're just average lifters wanting to look better. Ray Menzer was born in August 1953, in Pennsylvania, USA. 1976 IFBB Mr. America 1st (Medium) He always knew what he wanted and worked hard for it. He was defeated by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1980 Mr. Olympia Id answer them back. Our exclusive interview with Val Segal, the person who spent the last hours with Mike and Ray Mentzer! Not only is he knownas one of the greatest bodybuilders in history, but also as an action movie star, and an American politician. Rolling Hills, California, United States. In 1971, Mike suffered a severe shoulder injury that puta long-term pauseon histraining. 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. cycle, and energy level (where Vit. Please consult with your own physician or health care practitioner regarding any suggestions and recommendations made. Soon after in another magazine he took occasional pot shots at me. And would these competitors have lived much longer without using them? There was no obviously
apparent cause of death, but medical records indicate that he had a history
of heart problems. Check regularly for the latest, Greatest Physiques. RIP Mike. Freeze,The Governator,and to many of his fans justArnie. Later that night at the brothers apartment, despite Ray telling him he should turn in, Mike continued to work on the DVDs script. Iwrote in my book Heavy Duty II: Mind and Body that the idea is not more is better or less is better but precise is best; and as I learned from training close to 2,000 people plus myself that the precise amount of exercise required to induce optimal growth stimulation isnt nearly as much as youve been led to believe or would like to believe.. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. In 1971, Mikewon his first competition, the Mr. Lancaster at the age of 18. 1979 IFBB Mr. Olympia 1st (HW) You won't have much luck. His early use of amphetamines to make him productive, the passing of his father and the gradual rejection of the bodybuilding community were all major contributing factors to his decline. Ray had to wait for another donor. He left Weider publications, and by 1982, his annual income "Had gone from $200,000 a year to zero.". Mike understood that an individual had individual needs, but inside, we all worked the same. Do any supplements work? that is what I am interested in. It wasnt until the morning of the competition that he felt he had recovered. Greatest Physiques is the number 1 destination for the best looking bodies on the planet. Ray Mentzer died at age 92 years old on June 21, 1995. Greenberger, 43, and Robert Lowe, 44, were convicted of second-degree murder and kidnaping, requiring an automatic life sentence without possibility of parole. Ultimately, Rays life was one full of success but also tragedy. Here's where they're hiding. At a bodyweight of a then unthinkable 250 plus pounds, he added even more muscle within a month. He was a proponent of heavy duty training along with Mike and although retiring from competition in 1982, carried on training to the heavy duty high intensity principles. Ray and co. would lift extremely heavy weights, taking long breaks between sets. ", Two days before the 1980 Mr. Olympia being staged in Sydney, Australia, Mike had that same "death's door feeling," which again confined him to bed for a whole day. One of these protocols included the famous Heavy Duty Training. Mikesfirst set of weights wasbought for him by his father. 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. Although he wasnt stage-level-ripped, Rays gigantic and muscular frame was a sight to be seen. Check out our guide to protein-rich foods to help you on your way - a completely new fitness level is just around the corner. The fact that anabolic steroids were finding their way into gyms in the 1960s was no coincidence. Though the football players were, not surprisingly, associated with significantly higher rates of neurological and musculoskeletal disease. Known for his feats at the 1978 IFBB Mr. USA and 1979s, Ray was a sight to be seen during his prime. WebTo compound the loss of Mike, on June 11th, at approximately 9:00 PM, Ray died in his sleep. In short, man can and ought to be a hero.. He was declared dead Monday, about 24 hours after his brother died. Eventually, as the fatigue set in, Mike finally decided to call it a day and turn to bed. in Phychology,BSN in Nursing, now 16 year old son will compete in Teen Mr. Mississippi in July! He later was named to run science coverage. And Mike wasnt joking. Try to find a dozen healthy IFBB pros who successfully competed in the '90s. A native of Germantown, Pennsylvania, he died of heart failure in Rolling Hills, California at the age of * June 10, 1983: New York theatrical producer Roy Radins decomposed body is found near Hungry Valley Road in northeast Los Angeles County nearly a month after he was last seen getting into a limousine with Karen Greenberger on May 13.