[Q]: Nasser. I understand you frequently spoke with Andreas Münzer
over the years. You also have inside information on his bodybuilding
background. Please tell me what you know. Give me your side of the
story.
Andreas Münzer was one of the nicest, most sincere
professional bodybuilders to have ever competed as a pro and he had the
physique to do some real damage – a true fan favorite. But he was taken
advantage of and this, in my opinion, finally cost him his life. As most
of us know, Andreas trained in Germany, his home country. The owner of
the gym where Münzer trained and was employed as a trainer was The
Gravedigger. The Gravedigger is the guy who is responsible for Europe’s
biggest muscle magazine, the “Sportrevue”, which is what I considered to
be a Bavarian-style farmer bodybuilding magazine: it did not focus on
many other German events and big international events at that time. The
Gravedigger is, or at least was, the IFBB vice president for Europe. He
is an angry, hostile, dictatorial old Bavarian conservative with an
over-proportioned watermelon head and a complete Nazi mentality and
world vision.
In Andreas’ case, I hold The Gravedigger to a very high degree
responsible for his death. The Gravedigger once had the poor guy
painting the walls of his gym until the early morning hours, despite the
fact that Münzer had to fly out to a pro show that morning. He also
always wanted to have Münzer in contest shape: in the off-season as well
as pre contest. So Münzer had to not only diet (as he “liked doing” as
The Gravedigger claimed) but he also had to consume pre-contest drugs
all year round, on a regular basis. The Gravedigger did not care for
Andreas’ health situation; he only cared for Münzer in regard to his
being the figurehead of that “Leistungszentru Gravedigger “. In other
words, Andreas as the employed one had to bite his teeth and tongue and
he had to diet in combination with permanently consuming pre-contest
drugs in order to keep his job. It was said that The Gravedigger forbade
Münzer to go to the doctor regularly because Andreas was “not supposed
to leave the gym”. Also The Gravedigger, as one of Europe’s main IFBB
guys, arranged many guest posing appearances for Andreas. The
Gravedigger could interfere with people and not recommend Andreas for
guest posing spots if he wanted to do so. Münzer neglected regular
medical checkups because of the pressure The Gravedigger had put him
under.
The IFBB Olympian Münzer, originally from Austria, was celebrated by the
German bodybuilding community as German when he was successful in
shows, and when he was in hard condition while guest posing, but when he
was less successful at shows he was “just the Austrian”, basically
regarded as a second-class human. These statements are based on my
personal experience. I am also a good friend of his former girlfriend
Elizabeth Schwarz, who for many years lived with him. Elizabeth is a
very attractive feminine looking girl who on three occasions finished in
second place at the Amateur Bodybuilding World Championships. Her
cooking skills and personality are also fantastic.
Andreas died in March of 1996, after he came 6th at the Arnold
Classic and 7th in the San Jose pro show (a week after the Arnold). On
the flight back to Munich, Germany, Andreas began bleeding internally.
He already had an ulcer from years back but had not gone to the doctor
for a while. This and the combination of the drugs he had taken in order
to get ready for the show cost him his life. When he was finally
hospitalized in Munich, upon arrival from his transatlantic flight, it
was already too late for him to receive proper help. Münzer did not die
from steroids: you cannot overdose on steroids. You can, however,
overdose on recreational drugs, diuretics and insulin. Nevertheless, in
my view, The Gravedigger is Andreas Münzer’s primary gravedigger. I can
only repeat and say: “Gravedigger, Du hast Andreas Münzer auf dem
Gewissen, Du hast Ihn umgebracht (Gravedigger, you have Andreas Münzer
on your conscience, you killed him).
[Q]: Did you ever train at Andreas’ gym?
No. At age 19 I began training at one of the best
bodybuilding gyms in Southern Germany, the “Sporting” in Stuttgart. At
this very well known gym at that time, many different German national
amateurs and pros worked out off and on (including Anja Albrecht and
Jusup Wilcosz) and also certain IFBB pros came from time to time. I
remember seeing back then guys like former IFBB pro John Brown.
This gym was basically the nemesis of the “Leistungszentrum Gravedigger ”
in Munich, Bavaria where many other German amateurs and also IFBB pro’s
like Peter Hensel, Andreas Münzer (like before also his country man
Arnold Schwarzenegger; both even from the same Austrian state of
Steiermark) had worked out.
I met Andreas in 1993 in Paris at the French IFBB pro show and a week
later in Nuremberg, Bavaria, at the German IFBB pro show. I beat him
twice (in both events) because I was just more ripped than even Andreas.
This was the first two times I ever qualified for the Olympia. Münzer
was a very calm guy. He was nice, polite and friendly. He was a hard
working bodybuilder who did not complain about anything. In later years,
Münzer had hardness to his body that was barely achieved by anyone in
the world of pro bodybuilding. He was so ripped he, to me, looked like a
reptile. He was in some shows so hard that if this were the decisive
criterion for winning, he would have been Mr. Olympia. It got to a point
where I could not match his hardness. In 1994 I visited him in Munich
at his work place, at his gym where he was a trainer. And he was eating
clean day in and day out. He was always more than ready for a guest
posing. And off-season he looked harder than 80 percent of today’s pros
on the day of their show. He was extremely dedicated to his profession
as an IFBB pro. I personally think that Andreas was too deprived from
fats and calories in the off-season so he must have suffered for much of
his bodybuilding life.
I have tremendous respect for Muenzer as an athlete and as a man. I only
saw him eating fatty foods in 1993 after my former wife and I took him
to lunch on the Sunday after the Paris pro show. We had some salmon in
fatty sauce and he had just one cheat hamburger and continued eating
chicken breast and rice. His biggest protein source was, besides chicken
breast, turkey, and lean fish, the daily egg whites. Of course I did
continue with my diet as well (for the German Grand Prix, seven days
later) but I did not stop at one hamburger the day after that show. Yes
Andreas was also a huge believer in “tons” of egg whites and he also
loved artificial liquid sweeteners (those the equivalent of “equal” and
“splenda” used widely in the US). This was the case during off-season
and pre-contest, which again was for Andreas was almost one and the
same.
[Q]: Did you ever talk with Andreas about his drug intake?
I never did specifically talk with Andreas about drugs.
He only told me once that Paul Dillett had complained to him that his
butt was always hurting so much from all these shots he (Paul) was
taking to get ready for the shows. I also want to make it clear here
that the media in general and the German media in particular portrayed
Andreas Münzer as the absolutely “insane freak” when it came to his
consumption of steroids. I do not know about Andreas’ drug intake but it
does not mean that the harder you are and/or the bigger you are, the
more drugs you should or must take. There is no direct correlation or a
general consensus among experts to reach these kinds of assumptions. But
a lot of people in general, but also bodybuilding folk, have a tendency
to think this way. Once again, Andreas died and The Gravedigger allowed
the German media to verbally destroy Münzer’s legacy and achievements
as an extremely dedicated professional bodybuilder. The Gravedigger did
nothing to defend the dead Münzer from all this patently wrong media
slander and the completely inaccurate accusations leveled at him. The
unthankful and backstabbing The Gravedigger was actually riding at the
top wave of the anti-Münzer propaganda. The Gravedigger wanted to come
out as the fine and innocent IFBB gentleman with a white vest and
collar. Shame on you Gravedigger!
Once Peter Hensel, IFBB pro and Olympian as well, originally from former
East Germany, who defected from the former communist state “GDR”, was
sitting in The Gravedigger office chair, waiting for The Gravedigger.
The Gravedigger showed up late and explained that his wife had passed
away (that day). Hensel simply said: “Scheisse Mann, musste dass denn
gerade heute passieren? Ich wollte doch mit Dir zum Kegeln gehen. Mist.”
Translated as: Shit man, why did this just have to happen today? I
wanted to go bowling with you. Shit.” Hensel was definitely less
sensitive compared with Münzer and The Gravedigger was way more
aggressive with Münzer.
[Q]: Of course what you have just discussed about The Gravedigger is
based on your personal experiences. Did Andreas Münzer tell you anything
about The Gravedigger that would support what you have just said?
Andreas very seldom went into detail criticizing people.
Andreas was also a non-confrontational person. But in regard to, The
Gravedigger I do remember clearly when “Gravedigger’s ” name once came
up in the course of general conversation; Andreas Münzer mentioned him,
referring to him as a “merciless slave chaser (in German: “gnadenloser
Sklaventreiber”) and an “arrogant user” (“arroganter Ausnuetzer”). At
that time I told Andreas that I thought The Gravedigger was a man
without conscience who wanted to use people for his own fame. The
Gravedigger wanted to originally be a bodybuilder but obviously he never
had the body for it. Personally I did always think that The Gravedigger
looked like a pervert. And if I am really honest with my feelings, I
always visualized The Gravedigger as being a molester. That’s the
impression he made on me.
But one thing Andreas did have to his advantage: he was happy to work
out in such a great gym as he did (On one level of the gym regular gym
members used to work out, and on the other level more progressed,
competitive bodybuilders worked out). However, Andreas was not happy
with the low pay and the excessive hours and overtime he had to do. As
precise and diligent as Münzer was with his body, he was as diligent at
his work place. With Andreas, The Gravedigger had the perfect working
machine. Otherwise Andreas did not want to give chubby The Gravedigger
too much attention. And he did not bring the subject of the abuser The
Gravedigger up again. Münzer was not into spoiling his days with
negativity.
[Q]: Andreas was always known as one of the more unassuming pros, a
guy who nobody said anything bad about. Did you ever see anything that
might contradict this line of thinking?
In late 2001, I guest-posed in Munich, Germany, at the
German amateur show, which was also the qualifier for the German team to
compete at the Amateur World Championships in Yangon, Myanmar. At this
contest I again met Elisabeth Schwarz. We talked about previous
happenings in the world of bodybuilding. A week later we met again and I
asked her if Münzer had anger issues in general or towards her in
particular, when dieting, especially since they were dieting together –
her for IFBB amateur shows and he for his IFBB pro shows. “No, not at
all” she told me. She also added that she was actually the one who was
loud if anyone was, whether it was on or off their respective diets. I
have never heard or personally seen any rage or verbal aggression
directly concerning Andreas. Have never even heard hearsay about that.
Andreas Münzer was, as most of us know by now, a very quiet and
laid-back character. He, for most of the time, let his body do the
talking. I remember on one IFBB Grand Prix in Europe in the early 90s,
in which Aaron Baker, Cormier, I and also Andy Münzer, among others,
competed. Wayne DeMilia, the chairman of the IFBB pro division at that
time and also being the kindergarten leader of the IFBB pro bodybuilders
in Europe during the European Tour, had counted all the competitors
twice “correctly” in the bus, which was parked in front of the local
hotel where the contestants were staying. So the count was complete and
the bus took off to the contest auditorium. After a couple of miles, I –
as the only one – realized that Andy was not on the bus. I immediately
notified Wayne about this. He ordered the bus driver to return “to get
Münzer” who had taken an afternoon nap and who was still asleep when we
arrived to collect him. Münzer’s conduct, when he entered the waiting
bus, was not panicky or worried at all. “Er war die Ruhe selbst”
(translated from German into English: “He was the calmness in person”).
[Q]: Not the kind of behavior befitting a drug monster.
One thing I do know for a fact is that the “super high
doses” of drugs Andreas Münzer allegedly took are not true. I know so
because I am not comparing it with someone who is only thought to take
high amounts of anabolic steroids but with what I have seen from guys
like Mike Francois, Roland Cziurlok, Milos, Sonny, and up to guys like
Shaun Davies and the Kovacs Monster. I saw Andreas’ medical journals.
When I began dating Elizabeth in late 2001 she also told me all about
what he was taking. Again, the German media totally exaggerated Andreas’
so-called “monstrous steroid consumption” as they phrased it. A regular
Mr. USA bodybuilding class winner (still amateur) takes much more, as I
have witnessed. By the way, the German media speculated that “Nasser El
Sonbaty” would be the next dead German bodybuilder. I was nicknamed
“the walking pharmacy” – pure irresponsible speculation. It would be
like me saying that guys like Cutler, Coleman and Yates, because of
their massive size, and Mr. Olympia status, took so many anabolic
steroids and other guys who placed lower or never won any pro show took
very little.
When I guest posed in Vancouver, Canada, at the end of 1996, with the
Zebra (Flex Wheeler) and Ronnie, I heard that Andreas Münzer had been
arrested and detained in Vancouver after he had flown in for the same
reason (to guest pose – a year before me). Customs had found anabolic
steroids on him, and bail was posted. But hours later the Canadian
promoter, Sergio B, bailed Andreas. Sergio did not want to have his
famous bodybuilding show running without the announced guest poser.
Münzer was lucky in that when he was detained in Vancouver, B. C.,
Canada that he had a guy like Sergio B. to help him out, which the
Japanese IFBB pro and Olympian Hidetada Yamagashi did not have, when he
was arrested at the LAX (Los Angeles, CA) airport on 8/12/2007. Hidetada
also remained in custody for many weeks because no one seemed to be
interested and willing to take care of the – as far as I remember –
almost $ 200,000.00 US Dollar bail of his (you must bring up 10% of that
amount to be released). Hidetada’s “great friend” Milos, who had waited
at the airport for his arrival (Hide flew in from Japan) did not do one
thing for him. Milos dropped Hide like a hot potato; further proof of
the great friendship offered by the DCM.
One guy I know and who was before arrested by the DEA for such a thing,
told me “if you do such things” always have $20,000.00 to $ 25,000.00 US
Dollars ready, to either bail yourself out or to pay a lawyer an
advance. I believe Hide did not foresee the possible consequences of his
actions in this situation. Mostly, under such circumstances, all
friends, and especially all bodybuilding friends (brothers in iron) –
just disappear. There is a very good German proverb that could apply
here: ” In der Not sind alle Freunde tot (in misery/in need, all friends
are dead). Münzer was lucky to be bailed out but he was not very lucky
on the other side because not long after that he was dead.
Q: You say you saw Andreas’ “medical” journals. To your recollection, what did these journals say?
I would not like to go into detail about Münzer’s drug
intake. But I can definitely say, that what I have seen, read and
memorized is basically the same “things” most of other champions/guys
take; there were just more water-based drugs and less “heavy” stuff such
as high testosterone doses like Cypionate, Enanthate, Omnadren,
Sustanon and Anadrol 50. If I thought or had the impression that Münzer
was a high-dose anabolic user, I would not have a problem saying so.
Again, I personally would say that he was not in the high range as like a
Kovacs syndrome, an Oxycontin Palumbo or a Milos drug dose guy.
[Q]: To your knowledge, what drugs contributed to Andreas’ deteriorating-health?
I do not think that there is ever one sole reason as to
why someone died. Mostly “they”, the medical authorities, do give you
one “big reason” but say that it is just a syndrome, an accumulation of
personal dispositions, natural deterioration, a combination of facts we
even do not know about. How does global warming and pollution in the
ocean affect us, our food chain, the effect of water (which is never
100% clean, just “cleaned”), the consumption of different drugs over the
years, and I’m not just talking about bodybuilding related drugs here?
There is so much speculation but non-substantive proof that Andreas died
of this or that specific drug or drug combo. Just food deprivation,
deprivation of serotonin levels can take a toll on anyone. Recently I
read that in Japan there is an accumulation/a phenomenon where more and
more white-collar-people are dying of intense work hours, like 80 to 100
hours per week. So, is this related to drugs, food, sleep, a chemical
imbalance in the brain or body, lack of social contact or is it “just”
stress? So I will then ask: “Can a bodybuilder also die of stress?” And
if not, why not?
[Q]: You also speak of pre contest drugs Andreas was permanently on.
What were these drugs and how did they, in your view, affect him?
I do not believe that is healthy for the body to take,
over long periods of time, drugs including prescribed medicines and
antibiotics, or even vitamins or anything in that direction. Even an
excessive, frequent and long duration intake of Vitamin C, for example,
can be damaging for some people in the long run. But pre-contest
bodybuilding drugs like water based varieties – dissolved in water –
like Winstrol for instance, does stay in the system for shorter periods.
And the reason why many people use injectable Winstrol, like Andreas
did in off-season, all year around, is that the injectable version,
which is more popular than the oral version, does not easily convert
into estrogen hormones. It also keeps the water retention to a minimum.
Winstrol produces good muscle gains and keeps bodybuilders who stick to a
cleaner diet in good shape. Other bodybuilding drugs, next to Winstrol,
which have the same non-aromatizing effect and barely retain much
water, are drugs like Parabolan, Equipoise, Masteron, and in combination
with these injectables is the injectable Primobolan, which keeps water
retention very, very low.
Also there is a common use of Primobolin acetate tablets (from the
Schering company), which also burn body fat among bodybuilders, or
simply for the guys who love the hard “surfer dude look” and Oxandrolone
tabs. Again, all these drugs taken for shorter periods of time do not
create any emergencies. But using all of these drugs for longer periods
of time – like over many, many months with short breaks over many years –
causes a negative balance of hormones in the body. Adding calorie
reduced diets to this with contests and guest-posing appearances where
you want to look great is definitely not the smartest thing to do. And
additionally adding thyroid hormone, GH, IGF 1 and Insulin can result in
hormonal chaos within the system. All these things taken can have
individually different side effects. Some people also have, for
instance, an ulcer problem or a pancreas problem that they had not been
(clearly) aware of, so things can get out of control, especially when
not having regular medical check-ups by QUALIFIED doctors.
But in contrast, I have read and seen the “over-dosages” of drugs
Andreas took, how he had so many drug dealers getting drugs from him,
how irresponsible he was in most areas of his life, how obsessed his was
with his “steel body” – all written and fabricated by the extremely
sensation-hungry and anti-bodybuilding German media. The German media,
even relatively accurate magazines like “Der Spiegel”, a politics and
society magazine, tore Münzer into pieces and portrayed him as the
ultimate monster that was willing to die for his “artificial steroid and
drug-induced beauty”. The mirror (Der Spiegel) is a German weekly
magazine, published in Hamburg. It is one of Europe’s largest and most
influential weekly magazines with a circulation of more than one million
per weekend; other, more truth related magazines, stepped down to an
almost unprecedented low level and acted like the very famous, but also
very cheap (financially and morally), German “sex, gossip and some news
magazines”, as I would describe them. “Die Bildzeitung” (the picture
magazine) is tabloid-style and broadsheet in size. It is the
best-selling newspaper in Europe and has the seventh-largest circulation
worldwide. The Bildzeitung’s closest English-language stylistic and
journalistic equivalent is often considered to be “The Sun” in the UK –
the second highest selling European tabloid newspaper.
Münzer was also kind of maliciously pictured in that way, to a degree,
where you got the impression that he was belonging to a kind of body
sect, which was worshipping body-enhancing drugs with the alliance of
the devil. Münzer’s achievements on the contest stage – according to the
raging German media – were also solely based on drug use. In that same
context, a picture in one of the German magazines of me was posted with
the remark that I, Nasser, would be the next to die. Bodybuilding in
Germany and Andreas’ family and friends took a devastating hit with the
sensation-craving German media exploitation of Andreas’ death. Since
Andreas’ death, so much untruth and the most absurd rumors have been,
and are still circulating, about “Andy” as he was also called. The
German bodybuilding media is in general and in particular extremely
anti-bodybuilding. Also California’s governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is
constantly mocked and ridiculed in the German media because of his
bodybuilding past. But The Gravedigger kisses Arnold Schwarzenegger’s
ass regularly but distanced himself completely from Münzer. Münzer’s
“friend” The Gravedigger does not want to have anything to do with
Münzer any more.
[Q]: Andreas Münzer dropped in his placements from the year 1995 to 1996. Did you notice his deteriorating state?
I would not necessarily say that Andreas deteriorated
that drastically in this time frame because it is just a period of a
year or two. But the general deterioration applies to most people
gradually, including Münzer, Arnold, Bannout, Yates and others along
with myself. We could establish the thesis in Münzer’s case that his
body stopped slowly but surely responding less to drugs and diets. But
we could also say that he got sick (er). Or we could say that he lost
his “fire” – which I do not think. Personally I would say that Münzer,
because of his hardness in the off-season, could not add too much more
hardness in the pre-contest phase because off-season and pre-contest was
basically the same for him. I think further that even from a certain
point with harder workouts and more workouts, different training
techniques and even more “discipline and determination” Andreas could
not achieve much more. He was at his physical max when he passed away.
And I also believe that his body’s response to drugs and diets was not
as good as in previous years. Most likely his body was health-wise
declining at a much earlier stage, but Münzer, with his extremely strong
will, forced and pushed his body despite discomfort and agonizing pain –
which most internet warriors like most of the fat, obese, lazy,
jealous, ugly, childish and goal-less and heavily oblivious big parts of
the get bigger crowd and losers from other “bodybuilding” sites never
experience.
Here again it is The Gravedigger who carries primary guilt and fault to
expect from Münzer the almost impossible – to be hard and ripped all
year round. A human, even if he is great like Münzer was, is still not a
machine. And even machines have their breakdowns. But I would also
secondarily like to blame guys like Jim Manion and other users in the
judging panel to expect athletes to be year in and year out in top
shape. And top shape means next to a having a great tan, great posing
and smile also big ass kissing towards them and very much the use of all
kinds, all sorts and mega-amounts of drugs – while Manion and company
indulge in lavish festivities, fatty food and alcohol. And these people
are those who are talking about deteriorating shapes of athletes because
they want them to step as frequently as humanly possibly onstage to
generate more money for them. Manion would never expect his son JM to
become a body builder. Hell no. He does not want his son to become a
bodybuilding fatality like Don Long, Mike Morris, Mike Dragna, Kenny
Wheeler and Tom Prince (just mentioning some pros, not mentioning the
many more including countless amateurs who got sick because of the
demands of the “leaders” like Manion and company).
Wayne DeMilia would also not expect or want his son Marcellus to
become a bodybuilder either. But again, these users are, in the end,
making fun and cracking jokes about people who show up in poorer shape
and condition because of those competitors’ physical inability to arrive
in perfect shape each time. It is impossible to peak perfectly multiple
times throughout the year. There are too may shows in the IFBB pro
ranks which pay very poorly. But the bodybuilders are treated almost
like racehorses. When a racehorse breaks a foot or a leg, then it is no
longer profitable. It is shot right away. Bodybuilders do not get shot
with guns (with exceptions like Ray McNeill) but get shot with needles.
And in many cases you have to just wait for too many shots over extended
periods of time to cause a casualty or these guys just drop out because
of fear of more health issues, or they are so deteriorated from being
used for too long without getting the proper reimbursement, which is
often “only” a fair placement. And then everyone, including the so
concerned and responsible freaks in the IFBB suits, asks: “why did this
happen to Andreas, why does Wheeler need a new kidney?”
Either they (the bodybuilders) comply with the demands to look great
(which means brutal diets and regular drug intake) in order to make
money, or they deteriorate (which can be extreme after several contest
years, combined with injuries and a general shutdown of their abused
systems) or they just get out of the sport, which is lead by the
aforementioned users, abusers and manipulators. And then, after so many
shows the “men in charge” – the despotism judging clique acts all
surprised by incidents “involving the drug monsters” like Münzer, and
many others. But the show must go on as Manion and The Gravedigger would
say.
Classic bodybuilding quote:
“There are too may shows in the IFBB pro ranks which pay very poorly.
But the bodybuilders are treated almost like racehorses. When a
racehorse breaks a foot or a leg, then it is no longer profitable. It is
shot right away. Bodybuilders do not get shot with guns but get shot
with needles.” Nasser El Sonbaty on the reality facing pro bodybuilders.
[Q]: Did anyone warn Andreas to taper back on his dosage of drugs or take it easier with his diet?
There are always people who warn others. But I personally
believe that most of these people – with very rare exceptions like
family, very close friends and sometimes a partner – are just talk. They
like to hear themselves talking. Andreas’ parents, his extended family
and his former partner Elizabeth, all of whom he lived with, were Andy’s
biggest and most loyal supporters. I personally do not believe that
people around Andreas were really concerned about him, notwithstanding
the mentioned exceptions. Most people around him wanted to feed of him.
Feed of his positive energy and positive attitude. They wanted to suck
out his workout knowledge and his “drug program”. Most people are simply
users. I would say that 95% of all people are users, abusers and takers
in one form or the other.
Fake friends, fake buddies and insincere workout partners (who wanted
the most and the best for themselves by teaming up with Andy)
surrounded Andreas, along with his friend “The Gravedigger”, who just
“wanted the best for him”. The Gravedigger did not treat him as he
wanted and or wants himself (The Gravedigger) to be treated. The
Gravedigger took advantage of him (Andreas) to promote himself, his ”
Sportrevue “, and was, by having Münzer, drawing and adding more members
and clients to the gym. Also if Münzer had been a US champion and not
just a “ripped European”, Manion would have portrayed him as the “most
outstanding ripped specimen” in human history. Münzer would be the
incarnation of American determination and the rebirth of American
spirit. Münzer would be the avant-garde of a new “hard” elite group of
US bodybuilders. I am convinced that if Münzer always had, for example,
an English sounding name like “Bob Fye” or “Steve Board”, that his
career would have been, in the US, crowned by much more success. If a
dumb person now says: “but Arnold was also Austrian”, I can only say:
“Yes you idiot, but Arnold was the man in the ‘70s and Joe had, back
then, the ultimate say in bodybuilding. Münzer, who came through the
ranks in the ‘90s, did not have the outgoing charisma and “I want
everything” attitude Arnold had. I also remember that Münzer was
supposed to receive a Weider contract from Joe the year he passed away.
But things developed in another direction.
The Gravedigger was prejudiced towards Münzer because he was Austrian
and so prejudiced too was Manion, the small town person who is
prejudiced towards everything that is not “Philly”-related or not
English/American related or connected. Also Manion does not like Arnold,
as he told me and he (Manion) does not even like California.
Additionally, Manion personally always favors East Coast bodybuilders
over West Coast bodybuilders. And his “power base” is for the biggest
part established on the allegiance of mostly East Coast IFBB pro judges.
Let’s see how the 2008 Olympia results will go this year, “correctly
adjusted” (manipulated) by the Manion judging panel!
[Q]: Thank you for your honesty and candor Nasser. Do you have any concluding thoughts on the final days of Andreas Münzer?
According to Elizabeth Schwarz, Andreas’ former partner,
Andreas – as she told me – indeed started bleeding internally after his
last contest, the San Jose Pro show in 1996. He was also supposedly
internally bleeding for the remaining 30 hours of his life (including on
the transcontinental flight and the transatlantic flight). He was in
excruciating pain. After landing in Munich, Germany, he was immediately
rushed to the hospital but during surgery he was pronounced dead. The
help came too late. It is not true that he refused a blood transfusion
as some people have reported. Further, the rumor circulated that the
cause of his bleeding was his use of the oral drug “Cytadren”
(Aminoglutehimide) which is by the way a non-steroid.
No comments:
Post a Comment