Hello Ric! A few questions of interest.

[TheLion2005]

Ric,

It is a pleasure to read about bb from your perspective. You were and are really on the inside. I'm still smiling about the Arnold comments.

Some questions:
(1) Did you ever meet the guys from the late 40's and 50's like Reeves? It is amazing what that group accomplished. Any favorites?

(2) Super Star Billy Graham... What a guy he is! I enjoyed his performances and his adventurous spirit. Did you lock up with him?

(3) I was able to be around a few stars who were from or came to the Michigan area and always found them to be either heros or disappointments. My favs ... Ed Corney, Samir, Larry Scott, Tom Platz and Don Howard. Just great guys who liked to laugh and enjoy themselves. Who were/are yours?

Thanks

[ricdrasin]

I never met Reeves but did know some of the guys as some are still around today. They all hung out in Santa Monica and I lived a block off the beach. Many would hang in muscle beach and do chins and dips during the day. Then eventually Muscle Beach closed and moved to Venice where it is now.

Superstar Graham was a friend of mine. WE wrestled a few times and drove to the matches together. He'd hang out on my patio and lay in the sun with me. Great guy and lots of laughs.

I got along with everyone. Waller was a close friend as was Arnold and Franco. Zane was off in his own world and still is today.

[TheLion2005]

Speaking of Waller ....
I can remember a calf routine he detailed in one of the mags.
It seemed he got great results from one-leg calf raise with a db.
I've always gotten a great pump from this move and Waller had big calves.

Did you see him use this?

[ricdrasin]

I never tried doing that.. But, maybe I will tomorrow. Most guys with good calves had them at birth.

[hanuri]

I get the impression you are gently telling us ( well after asked ..) Frank Zane was / is not an easygoing guy? Perhaps too eduacated and lack of being able to cope w all kinds of people......get what I´m after?

[ricdrasin]

Frank is a nice guy. Very conservative and not a whole lot to say when you are around him. He's a scientologist and has his own beliefs. I really never hung out with him more than a couple of times. I don't like being around people who take themselves so serious.

[hanuri]

I see you meant that belief of his .... actually he has been guite a man of mystery in public all this time. Never have I seen him open really or like. But wise man he must be .
Remember when he snapped on Arnold after his ( was it second Mr O) win around ´78? Arnie asked for television " how does it feel to be Mr O two times in a row" or like ..... "almost as good as when I did beat you ..." came reply. At that time Arnold was considered as never lost a bb comp , but actually Frank had beaten him!( bunno the contest though)
So an answer like that to a bb icon Arnold in live broadcast , well at least he had the guts to do so. Ahnold was not that happy about the answer I think...

[ricdrasin]

Well, Frank would speak his mind but I never thought of him as a fun loving guy to hang with like Arnold was.

[hanuri]

Perhaps Frank has no time for fun.... anyway it´s great to have flesh around legends , how they acted in real life and so on. Well now that we are at it , did you ever hang w one of my biggest heroes Robby Robinson? Up to date that man looks like a statue to me. Even now he looks darned good after all these years ..( ok someone else falls in this category too ....)!

[ricdrasin]

Robby has a lot of issues with people and from what I'm told will sue someone at the drop of a hat for some income. HOwever, when I used to train at the beach, he was always nice to me and went out of his way one day to get me a lifting belt from Weider's office. I thought that was really nice of him.