ray mentzer cause of death

After a long and exhausting day of work, Ray went to sleep, while Mike stayed working late. But even non-traditional sports like cricket, NASCAR, cycling, and pro-wrestling "entertainment" sports have all made headlines with various reports of PED use. Thanks for the articles, Mike Mentzer Lives! In 2014, the Public Library of Science published a report investigating the mortality rate among active pro wrestlers. The weightsmoved in a perfectly controlled and slow manner. 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. Rice Mortuary in Torrance. Mikes form would be kept absolutely perfect. He is a member of famous with the age 48 years old group. Soon after in another magazine he took occasional pot shots at me. In January 1990 a hospitalized Mike experienced a Eureka moment. ), "I didn't think there was anything wrong in taking stimulants to make me work as hard as I was. In a career that spanned over three decades, he was one of bodybuildings most prominent, inspirational and controversial figures. He left Weider publications, and by 1982, his annual income "Had gone from $200,000 a year to zero.". Thank You Mike. Although he was no longer under the spotlight of the bodybuilding stage, Ray kept training hard behind the curtains. Prologue:Mike Mentzer died 13 years ago this month on June 10, 2001, aged 49. He also made similar calls to Joe Weider and photographer Chris Lund, with whom he had worked on books and other projects. 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. At the time of his passing, it was reported that he died after choking on food, but his autopsy report pointed elsewhere. Id answer them back. 2023 Greatest Physiques. 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! B comes in). Our exclusive interview with Val Segal, the person who spent the last hours with Mike and Ray Mentzer! "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). Great article, but the accomplished must be revisited. He dies on June 12, 2001 He was so fatigued that he couldn't even raise his arms, and had to stay in bed for the remainder of the day. He passed away less than 48 hours after Mike had died, leaving the bodybuilding world shrouded in black. 1979 IFBB Florida Pro Invitational 1st I dont see anyone beating him through the early eighties. At a bodyweight of a then unthinkable 250 plus pounds, he added even more muscle within a month, to 260 but leaner. Ray was troubled by this because he knew his brother had heart problems, and didnt want him to overtax his body. He is currently single. Nationality. Physical wear and tear such as collisions in contact sports or recreational drug use are said to be greater contributing factors. He is from United States. With 900-lbs squatted for 2 reps, Ray was one of the, if not the strongest bodybuilder during his prime. However, not long after closing the curtains on his bodybuilding career, Ray started having kidney problems. 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. 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. It just didn't feel like a normal contest; no one was being their usual self. Ray followed a similar training style to his brother Mike; it was called Heavy Duty Training. The mortician said that Raymond Mentzer, who suffered from kidney problems and had been undergoing dialysis treatments, appeared very shaken by his brothers death. Take a look. 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. Of all the subject matter we ever discussed fannies were never even bottom of the list butt I put it behind me. 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. Your email address will not be published. Ray Mentzer was born on August 2, 1953 and developed a love and passion for bodybuilding at a very young age. 1977 IFBB North American Championships 1st (MW) Almost unbelievably on going to the apartment Joanne found Ray had passed away. He started lifting weights at age 11 and competed a year later in his first contest. At this point, most of the bodybuilding community turnedits back on Mike. However, things didn't progress the way Mike had hoped, and after six months, he and Jones severed their business relationship. He began competing in the most elite shows around America, making a name for himself in the process. Patent on Dorsi Flexor,AD in Biology,BS in Psychology,M.Ed. Mike Mentzer went back to what he knew with a vengeance. It seemed the curtain had come crashing down in tragic Shakespearian style on Mike Mentzers last act and his name would fade into just a footnote on 20th century bodybuilding .. or would it? The next morning he discovered Mike dead in bed, apparently of a heart attack. For Ray, his brother's death was a great tragedy. He wrote that he was falling short of top spot so decided to give it up. WebI watched Mike Mentzer's star rise in the '70s and later came to know him a little. * Convicted of second-degree murder and kidnaping. I looked my best, but I didnt feel at my best. Mentzers body was discovered by his younger brother Ray Mentzer Sunday in the apartment they shared in Redondo Beach, California. 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. What could possibly be better than a well-balanced diet, which covers all of your nutritional needs.. There was a strain and tension in the air all the way through.. Insulin, HGH, and various diuretics supposedly gained traction in the '90s, and they tend to have a greater risk-to-reward ratio. Atty. Dont make the same mistake.. Those who misuse AAS are those who'd get results from healthy eating and lifting. Probiotics for gut health and things like avacados really help you max out feeling good for max. 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. I saw him in person in 1979 in Baton Rouge, at a book signing,The Mentzer Method to Fitness. I wasnt in control of my mind although I thought he was.. After a day of shooting, Ray turned It was early May of 2001, when out of the blue I received a phone call in FLEXs LA office from Mike Mentzer. At a bodyweight of a then unthinkable 250 plus pounds, he added even more muscle within a month. In a career that spanned over three decades, he was one of bodybuildings most prominent, inspirational and controversial figures. It seemed the curtain had come crashing down in tragic Shakespearian style on Mike Mentzers last act and his name would fade into just a footnote on 20, 2013 NPC Steve Stone New York Metropolitan, 2013 NPC National Bodybuilding Championships, 2014 NPC Steve Stone New York Metropolitan, Myostatin, Creatine and Wine - But Not All at Once, Physicians and Bodybuilders - Satellite Cells. Ultimately, Rays life was one full of success but also tragedy. ", 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. Prosecution claimed she was mastermind behind Radins murder but could not prove it. Later that night at the brothers apartment, despite Ray telling him he should turn in, Mike continued to work on the DVDs script. Being out from 1971 through to 1974. Click Here for Free Bodybuilding and Fitness Magazine Subscription, Click Here To Get A Free High Intensity Training eBook, Click Here for a Chance to Win Free Bodybuilding Supplements. 1979 IFBB Mr. Olympia 1st (HW) Ive seen this sort of thing happen before, but not very often, said Scott Carrier, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County coroners office. In 1983, Ray continued training extremely hard, using various routines. On Tuesday, June 12th, Ray was found dead in the same house in which his brother died. Ray and co. would lift extremely heavy weights, taking long breaks between sets. Mentzers body was discovered by his brother, 47-year-old Raymond Harry Mentzer, said David Rice, an owner of the L.R. Ray's brother, Mike Mentzer won the rival IFBB Mr. America in 1976 during Ray's Junior title. Lowe claimed that Greenberger and Evans paid for a contract hit against Radin. Although Greenberger conceded she left with Radin for dinner in the same limousine, she said Mentzer told her to get out of the car. Rather than blaming others, he realized it was he was the one out ofcontrol, not everybody and everything else. Check out our top rated fat burners to find out what actually works. Champion bodybuilders are known only to the relatively-small community who follow this fringe sport. However, these werent the only methods Ray used to increase his training intensity. Ray believed that by increasing the time under tension with these methods, hed improve his muscle growth. The Ray Mentzer story is one of success, but also tragedy. In 1999, Ray discovered he had kidney problems. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. It's probably even more true that other bodybuilding-related drugs bring higher risks than anabolic steroids. Your email address will not be published. At only 23, he captured both the Junior Mr. America title and the IFBB Mr. America championship. However, Mike was still able to take care of his younger brother. As soon as that realization hit, I was appalled at how much time I had wasted. 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. On May 13, 1983, Radin and Greenberger were on their way to dinner to work out their problems. Another great influencer of Mikes was a Russian-American novelist, philosopher, and play writer namedAyn Rand. To his credit John visited Mike and the psychotic episode was soon over. Mike would often keep his training week down to 3 working days with 4 for rest. You just cant beat that feeling of knowing that your physique is one youve worked hard for. To gain further insight into Mikes 2001 death, it is necessary to turn the clock back 21 years. Ray Mentzer and Mike Mentzer flexing together on a beach. Those who abuse AAS are the ones stacking eight compounds a week like they think their 290-pound idol does. The statements made have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (U.S.). You should add Ayn Rand as an influence. Data was collected from 1985 to 2011 and demonstrated that wrestlers were three to four times more likely than the general population to die between 30 and 50 years old. 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. RIP Mike. Except this time, things were different. Another study in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology looked into the prevalence of kidney disease among steroid-using bodybuilders over two years and found signs of disease in the majority of lifters, some of it irreversible and irreparable. This would require a weight that would take you to failure in between 6 and 9 reps. Then, once you hit failure, keep going. And would these competitors have lived much longer without using them? Thirty years ago, the average non-professional athlete was uninterested in using steroids. Bad for metabolism, circad. Date of death. Dunn joined The Times in 1986 as a suburban reporter in the San Gabriel Valley and later moved to the Metro section, where he participated in coverage of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake and the 1992 Los Angeles riots. 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. Freeze,The Governator,and to many of his fans justArnie. 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. But today, if you walk into most weight rooms you're likely to be standing around a handful of AAS users, whether they look the part or not. This was met with anger from many contestants, including Mentzer. Its fair to say that Arthur Jones was the man behind the success of Mike Mentzer, and so should be classed as one of his major influences. Bodybuilding.com's authors include many of the top coaches, nutritionists, and physique athletes in the world today. Ray will stay remembered for his insane strength, and for his never-give-up attitude towards training and life. Mike being Mike, stayed up late to work on the scripts. A sad day for bodybuildingMike and Ray Mentzer Dead. 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. Products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any condition or disease. On top of this, Rays strength also increased. Its hard not to surmise that in his frail state of health (in the previous few months he had been rushed to the local emergency room several times) the death of his beloved brother was just too much to bear. ", As 1980 unfolded, however, Mike had no inkling that his competitive career was hurtling toward its conclusion. Greenberger, 43, and Robert Lowe, 44, were convicted of second-degree murder and kidnaping, requiring an automatic life sentence without possibility of parole. William Mentzer, 42, and Alex Marti, 30, were convicted of first-degree murder. 1980 IFBB Mr. Olympia 5th. The cause of death has not Do any supplements work? In fact, Rays workouts would last no longer than 45 minutes. She said she was pleased that her brothers killers had finally been brought to justice. Try to find a dozen healthy IFBB pros who successfully competed in the '90s. During this period, Ray was able to grow his physique by leaps and bounds. He won the Mr. Olympia title in 1979. Forced negatives did the same. Within a few days of leaving thehospital, he approachedGolds Gym, Venice, and convinced them to let him start up as a personal trainer. It was Ayn who inspired Mike to think outside of the box when it came to training, and living life to his own accord. He said Lowe and Greenberger did not know that Mentzer and Marti intended to kill Radin. Lowes attorney, Mark Kaiserman, said he also was disappointed in the verdicts and vowed to appeal. "I was consumed 24 hours a day by the thought: What can I do today in terms of training, diet, aerobics and motivation to improve myself? After making funeral arrangements for his brother, Ray In the year 1985 he claimed; 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. It's an undeniable fact that numerous top-level bodybuilders have died from some variation of "natural causes" often a heart attack or some form of organ failure before they hit 40 years old. I wanted the magazine to be the absolute best I could make it, and I worked harder than I'd worked in my entire life. Learn How rich is He in this year and how He spends money? He has a daughter who was born in 1986. They're just average lifters wanting to look better. Ray Mentzer of Centerburg, Knox County, Ohio was born on September 6, 1902. 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. Bullshit. After the autopsy, it turned out that the cause of death was a heart attack, a large dose of anesthetic was found in the man's body, and it contributed to the cardiac arrest. He had suffered a heart attack in his sleep. As Bill Pettis put it; Ray is one of the strongest bodybuilders I have ever seen in my life.. Despite his younger brother insisting he took a break. At one time, training for just six weeks to prove the invalidity of the Bulgarian system, he squatted 902 pounds for 2 repetitions. He was found dead in his apartment, due to heart complications, by his younger brother and fellow bodybuilder Ray Mentzer. 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. Expert Insights To Get Stronger, Gain Muscle Faster, And Take Your Lifting To The Next Level. Stutter reps increased the duration of each set by over 20 seconds. But you watch. Milk and Milk group products (Milk and cheese) Two servings per day. He was a millionaire by 20 and lived lavishly in a mansion on Long Island. It was the last time Radin was seen alive. Ray was 9 years old and Mike was 11 years old. Discover the cheat that athletes use to cut fat quickly and get defined muscles. Joe Weider rehired Mike in the fall of that year, but after six months, Mentzer left to assume the editorship of. Coming from a well-educated home, Mikesfather would regularly test and encouragehis academic knowledge using various rewards, including cash to ensure he excelled. In this timely tribute to Mike we review his final days and next week offer an appraisal of his place in the bodybuilding firmament. Goldman consistently found that the majority of athletes would eagerly accept the deal. - John Doe Bodybuilding, 1977 IFBB North American Championships 1st (Overall), 1977 IFBB North American Championships 1st (MW), 1978 IFBB World Amateur Championships 1st (HW), 1979 IFBB Pittsburgh Pro Invitational 2nd, Cereal and Grain Foods Four or more servings per day, Fruits and Vegetables Four or more servings per day, The high-protein group (Fish, meat, eggs) Two or more servings each day (Basic serving of meat = 3.5 ounces). All rights reserved. "Bodybuilders' Deaths Lead to Investigation", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ray_Mentzer&oldid=1121569006, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 13 November 2022, at 00:22. Your email address will not be published. Dont tell me about all this bullshit working out. Mike Mentzers life was certainly not one without tragedy. The results suggest that heavy steroid users are more likely to have irregular heart function and a higher mortality rate compared to natural lifters. At one time, training for just six weeks, he squatted 902 pounds for 2 repetitions. 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. 1975 IFBB Mr. America 3rd (Medium) The information presented on this website is intended to be used for educational purposes only. Professional bodybuilder, author, entrepreneur, and philosopher. To stay in shape he opted for thrice weekly workouts with fewer sets, and to compensate for the lesser volume, increased the intensity. Couldnt do Tom Bradys huh?!! 06/28/01 - New information on this tragedy can be found HERE! Mike won the rival IFBB Mr America in 1976. One day in late 1994 John Little rushed to my desk and told me he had just received a call from Mike, saying he was in Las Vegas and about to fly to the moon to meet with Bill Clinton and discuss the worlds problems. He was known for being a Bodybuilder. This may have been a bad move, as 2 years after the blacklisting, Mikehad virtually no income. 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. Mike believed that bodybuilders do not need the levels of protein they were sold by magazines. Both brothers had a history of health problems, including heart problems. In around mid-1983, Mike had managed to find a role as editor of Workout Magazine. Rays intense training was often followed by 3-4 days of complete rest. He has been a life saver for me, from last in my class in high school and 130lbs to 1985 Jr. Mr. Mississippi,1987 Mr. Mississippi,1985 Middle weight Southern Classic,1987 Light Heavy 3rd place Southern Classic,1988 Heavyweight 3rd place Southern Classic, on the same stage with Shawn Ray when he won Nationals,U.S. And just because muscle is more than 70 percent water doesnt mean should begin drinking gallons and gallons of water a day to hasten the muscle growth process either.. Last Known Residence . Mike Mentzer was born on the 15th of November, 1951. We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 2 August. A lot of people drink coffee and smoke cigarettes to stay stimulated and be productive. Death record, obituary, funeral notice and information about the deceased person. With steroids, there's use, there's misuse, and there's abuse, and they're very different things. It was these three unfortunate events, combined with the continued use of amphetamines that would lead to Mike Mentzers decline. Goes Out newsletter, with the week's best events, to help you explore and experience our city. There were two notable, and noble, exceptions: ex-girlfriend Julie McNew and John Little, senior writer for FLEX. As the courtroom clerk began reading the verdicts at 9:40 a.m., each of the defendants sat impassively, sometimes leaning to talk with their attorneys or sullenly gazing around the courtroom. According to our Database, He has no children. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Ray, his brother, who is also suffering from illnesses, found him. 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. If you have any questions about Ray Mentzer's training, diet, etc. The verdicts were sealed until Monday. His brother, Ray, was on medication and did not take the medication hence he died next. [/QUOTE] On June 10, 2001, at approximately 9:00 AM, Mike Mentzer's heart stopped beating while he was asleep. Earlier this year, a blood clot broke loose from his leg and went to his lung. For five years Mike did crazy things and was regularly hospitalized. Your email address will not be published. He also did stutter reps and slow negatives. Ray Menzter, age 47, was reportedly very shaken up by the He begantraining 3 times a week and bythe age of 15, Mikecould bench press 370lb (170kg), with a body weight of just165lbs (75kg). He quickly fell in love with the iron and began sculpting his body. He never wrote me off.. Ray Mentzers income source is mostly from being a successful . State prison correction officers brutally pummeled an inmate serving a life sentence for the murder of a Suffolk County mom, driving him to suicide, a disturbing new lawsuit charged Monday. And yet, as I listened to Mikes effusive language, the phrase productive genius kept on surfacing in my mind. WebThe grave site of Ray Mentzer. They cant take away the pain and no one can bring him back.. Mike Mentzer died on Sunday, June 10th, 2001. In 1983, he flew to Florida in order to be trained by Arthur Jones. To get back in the action, Mike entered1975 IFBB Mr. America to see where he stood. "Editing Workout was one of the most enjoyable things I've ever done," Mike claims. In 1980, he lost the title to Schwarzenegger, and the embittered Mentzer stated publicly that he felt he was robbed. "If they want more definition, I'll give 'em more definition," he vowed. We know that PEDs are widespread in professional sports like baseball, football soccer, and MMA. View popular celebrities life details, birth signs and real ages. Our exclusive interview with Val Segal, the person who spent the last hours with Mike and Ray Mentzer! Ray Mentzer (August 2, 1953 June 12, 2001) was the brother of Mike Mentzer and winner of the 1979 AAU Mr. America competition. Mike Mentzer started bodybuilding at age 12. WebA: Mike Mentzer's cause of death was heart complications. WebPennsylvania, United States. He was called as a witness during the preliminary hearing but refused to testify, claiming 5th Amendment protection against self-incrimination. Its hard not to surmise that in his frail state of health (in the previous few months he had been rushed to the local emergency room several times) the death of his beloved brother was just too much to bear. He was at his competitive peak in his early-30s, when "mass monsters" dominated bodybuilding, and he claimed to eat up to seven pounds of red meat per day at his biggest. His physique was a blockbuster and he later won the contest. He was the brother of fellow bodybuilder Ray Mentzer. However, year also marked his worstdefeat; 10th place at the AAU Mr. America. . In a career that spanned over three decades, he was one of bodybuildings most In 1971, Mike suffered a severe shoulder injury that puta long-term pauseon histraining. He was obsessed with the thought of making movies. The two moved in together in an apartment, which saw them grow closer over the following months. Mike Mentzer won the Mr. Universe title in 1978 and the heavyweight division of the Mr. Olympia contest in 1979. Despite the occasional setback, Mike began making a name for himself, and was once again, back on the circuit. The jury, which had been deliberating since July 10, reached their decisions Friday. 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. All rights reserved. He never wrote me off., In January 1990 a hospitalized Mike experienced a Eureka moment. Ray's brother, Mike Mentzer won the rival IFBB Mr. America in 1976 during Ray's Junior title. For the record, we now know Arnold was terrific when Ray fell ill and offered his personal help and support. Sally Lipscomb said she was satisfied with the verdicts even though Greenberger and Lowe had escaped a possible death sentence.