(very short version)

In 1983 I began to compete in Arm Wrestling.  In 1983 I won the Nationals in San Diego, CA and the American Cup at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.  I competed until 1986 and retired after I won the World Armwrestling Championships in Las Vegas, NV.  I won quite few tournaments, thanks allot to my trainer and workout partner Ray Mentzer.  In 1985 I began a new career in acting.  I did this until 1995.  I have worked on more than 40 commercials (McDonalds, Old El Paso Salsa, Apple Computer and many more) and appeared in such TV shows as Dynasty, Knotts Landing and General Hospital.  I have been featured in many publications around the country including many newspapers, Time Magazine (Nov. 1987) and Planet Muscle (May 2003). 

I have been lucky enough to meet, work and become friends with many celebrities and sports heroes.  Some of them include, Muhammad Ali, Chuck Norris, Sly Stallone, Leslie Nielson, Steve Carlton, Dr. J, Rick Barry, Rod Laver, Bjorn Borg, Whitney Houston, Akebono, Catherine Bach, Jake LaMotta, Richard Roundtree, Mike Tyson, Jean Claude VanDamme, Richard Kiel, Susan Anton, Arnold Schwarzenegger and many more.

In 1989, I moved to Hawaii. I came here doing an appearance for the Special Olympics and loved it so much I stayed.  Since then I have been involved with many local charities including the American Lung Association, American Cancer Society, MDA, Special Olympics, The Kidney Foundation, No Hope in Dope and others.  I loved speaking at more than 30 schools in Hawaii on anti-drug issues and other positive topics.  I love Hawaii.

EVERYTHING CHANGES......EVEN WHILE YOU'RE SLEEPING

In 1998 I moved back to Los Angeles to train for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia.  I was on my way to possibly break the world record in the Discus.  With more than 2 years to train I was throwing the Discus 196 feet.  Less than 50 feet from the current world record.  I felt I could have done very well in Sydney and even had a great chance to break the record and bring it back to the United States.  On March 1, 1998 everything changed. 

I was bit by what the doctors told me was a brown recluse spider.  To make a very long story short, I spent the next 28 days in the hospital and the following 6 months barely able to walk and actually crawling on my hands and knees.

I opted to keep my leg against the doctors recommendation of amputation.  There are times I regret that decision, but overall I am happy I did.  I have had many complications and other medical things happen to me as a result of this bite.  The most damaging and discouraging is the weight gain due to the inactivity and depression that had set-in because of the bite.  I went from riding my bike 28 miles a day 3 to 4 days a week and pulling a 120 lb. truck tire around Diamond Head Crater, still benching 500, to being stuck in the bathtub for hours because of the pain I had in my leg and lower back.  I would literally at times be crawling through my condo in Las Vegas on my hands and knees and collapse in the middle of the floor for an hour or more.  This intense pain lasted for the next 4 years.  Monthly reactions to my lower leg resulted in 103 degree fever, severe reddening of the lower leg, peeling of the skin, tremendous swelling (calf would measure 31"+), fluid leakage from the lower leg and extreme pain.   As recent as Christmas of 2006 I spent two weeks in the hospital because my leg swelled to over 32", my leg is still bothering me.

My strength has diminished greatly too (from bench pressing just shy of 600 lbs. to barely doing 135 lbs.)  This was the most embarrassing and humiliating part of the past several years besides the weight gain.  I loved going to the gym everyday and riding my bike and rollerblading.  That is what I missed more than anything.  There are so many stories yet so little space.

Well, now I am feeling 100 times better and am back in the gym.  My strength is what is coming back very fast.  I have set a goal for myself and look forward to reaching it soon.  When I do, look for me on Oprah.  I will post progress pics as I go along.  Nowadays I design websites on the side while I help market a gym and still help people market their ideas.  Contact me if you need any help with marketing.