DELIVERED FROM EVIL
By Peter Vuono

     It was reported by the FBI in 2013 that law enforcement reported over 6,800 cases of hate crimes. These all dealt with race, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, and disability. Also, according to the Department of Health and Human services 1 in 3 school children are bullied each year in a variety of ways. It is unfortunate  that we have not gotten away from this type of behavior which made a huge mark on American history from June 10- Sept 22, 1692 in Salem, Ma. Here 19 people were hanged as witches and one man pressed to death because of a non-threatening  eccentricity of their personalities. Since I've been involved with strength training for most of my life, the case of George Burroughs was of great interest to me.
    Burroughs was born in Suffolk , England before moving to the Colonies. He was raised in Roxbury, Ma and became a congregational pastor. He graduated from Harvard and became minister of Salem shortly after.
   For a very long period of time, Pastor Burroughs was not paid a salary by his congregation and fell into debt with the inclusion of his first wife's burial expenses. He borrowed money from the well to do Putnam family and although the money  was paid back years later it created a great deal of antipathy from the Putnams.
  Burroughs moved to Falmouth, Maine and took up practice there but the French and Indian Wars and the Wabanaki Tribe pushed him to setting up practice in Wells Beach. However, the animosity created by his debt sent constables to Wells Beach to bring him back to Salem and be charged as a "Wizard" which was the male counterpart to "Witch'. However, an eccentricity was needed to show that George Burroughs was not like any other "normal" man. In his case, he was in possession of great physical strength in his hands and grip.
  Burroughs was accused of"Lifting weights beyond what could be humanly possessed". In the days of Salem, the weapon of choice was the William III Flintlock Rifle which was approximately 61" long. It was made of brass, iron and wood and was quite heavy. Burroughs could place the index finger of his hand in the muzzle and hold the flintlock strait out completely to the side supporting all the weight with his index finger.
  Burroughs was tried as a "Wizard" and was condemned to die on August 19,1692. As Burroughs mounted the ladder to the scaffolding, journalist Robert Calef was present. According to Calef, Burroughs gave a "Speech of innocence  and recited the Lord's Prayer so well worded and uttered with such composure and such fervent of spirit as was affecting and drew tears from many". It was also said in many Puritan courts that it was impossible for a "Witch" to utter the Lord's Prayer aloud. Nevertheless, the intrepid Pastor was put to death and buried in a shallow grave so poorly dug that his chin could still be shown.
  I sometimes think about the way things are today and I really don't believe that we've come a long way in these 322 years. We all have gifts and personality traits that set us apart from everyone else. Now, thanks to the bravery displayed by Pastor Burroughs, when I see these eccentricities, I try to look at them differently rather than allow my prejudices to become inflamed and aroused as they did with my New England predecessors. Maybe someday, all persons who possess the same antipathy as did the architects of the Salem Witch Trials will have their thoughts delivered from evil.

FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS-

Story by Peter Vuono, Title by John Donne

     One of my favorite movies as well as my son's is director Chris Bell's "Bigger, Stronger, Faster".
Every time we see it( and we watch it about 3 times per year), we go out to our broken down garage gym and train all the harder. The gist of the movie which is about the use of anabolic steroids is that steroids themselves are not the real villain; rather the true problem revolving around them is the "Win at all costs", attitude which has gripped America. Perhaps the most passionate and interesting character in the film is Chris Bell's older brother Mike.
    Mike was born in Poughkeepsie on March 18, 1971. He was the oldest of three brothers who relished sports and weightlifting. Mike excelled in football, powerlifting and professional wrestling. During the movie Mike was quoted as saying that he "Would rather be dead than average". Clearly, this feeling of inferiority plagued Mike as he had survived a suicide attempt. However, I think that the mistake that Mike had initially made is one that we all make. None of us is average. We are all made in the likeness and image of God.
     In addition to this, Mike had achieved a cache of  successes that only few can boast of achieving. He played division I football for the University of Cincinnati. He powerlifted  and built his body to Hurculean proportions and succeeded in working for the biggest wrestling organization of all time- the WWF.
    More importantly than this, he successfully found the right woman to become  his wife and life partner; something equally notable as all of the above. Mike's  fighting spirit to succeed never failed. He moved to a different environment, took on a new job,and became a teacher of pro wrestling . He revivified his life and succeeded in being the devoted husband, son and brother that he had always been. So you see; he had never really been average at all.
   When Mike tragically passed away on Dec 14, 2008 at the age of 37, his passing was greatly mourned by family, friends and all those who he inspired through the movie. However, we must remember that although his body ceased to function, his fighting spirit continued and never really gave up.
   Another great athlete who passed away in his 30's(Bruce Lee), once said"The key to immortality is by living a life worth remembering". I believe that Mike Bell did exactly that.

"Any man's death diminishes me,
Because I am involved in mankind.
And therefore never send to know
for whom the bell tolls,
it tolls for thee."  - John Donne

BIG MAN, BIGGER HEART

By Peter Vuono


    Mother Teresa once said that there are three routes to follow in how we should treat others.
She said,"The first is to be kind, the second is to be kind and the third is to be kind". Brockton Special Ed. teacher, Carl Yancey was an avid proponent of this credo. Carl, who on Sept. 28th was hit and killed by a hit and run driver had all the attributes to be a man who was feared. He was big, and tall with an imposing stature. However Carl decided to listen to the scriptures and entered the narrow gate. Unlike so many others who are led astray, Carl was kind, gregarious and caring. He had a knack of making both his students and his customers at his second job smile.  Rather than becoming an entity to be feared he became an ordained minister and was an example to all. He was a bulwark of living for others.
    Just as importantly, Carl taught in  a Brockton Public School which catered to some of the most needy Special Children. He used his imposing figure coupled with his ebullent personality to assist, teach, mold and inspire. He was a flag ship of the golden rule.
   So, today as I drove down the highway and had the temerity to ask God, why the good die young, like Carl, the Lord was patient with me and answered my question. I now knew why Carl passed so early with the words of Jesus ringing in my ears-"As long as you did it for these, the least of my brethren, you did it for me". Carl has received the reward that the rest of us so anxiously wait for.

OF MIGHT AND MORALS

By Peter Vuono

     Most of us would agree that nowadays more than ever both Hollywood and pro sports are devoid of the type of male role models which were seen so prevalently in the 1960's. This is a shame because I firmly believe that these men help to shape and mold the character of many of the young men who watch their work. One such person who had a great impact on me sadly passed away Sept 9th from ALS. This was character actor, Denny Miller.
     Miller, who was from Indiana moved to California in the 1950's to play basketball for UCLA. His dad was a Physical Education instructor at the same school. Miller, who was tall, blond and handsome worked for the Bekins Furniture Company as a mover to help make ends meet at home. He was discovered by a casting agent and without any acting experience, portrayed the first blond Tarzan in 1959 opposite Joanna Barnes in Tarzan, the Ape Man.He would go on to do over 200 television appearances and 14 years as the Gorton's Fisherman.
    Denny portrayed many tough guys but also many roles of character and strength. I believe that 3 in particular have affected my life for the better. In an episode of Gilligan's Island, Miller, who switched from basketball to bodybuilding did such a good and unique posing routine it caught the attention of Muscular Development Magazine and made him the subject of their Muscles in the Movies column. When I saw him pose way back in the 60's, I knew I wanted arms like his.
    More importantly, some of his roles are indelible in my mind for moral reasons and I do believe had much to do in molding my young personality. Miller was exceptional in portraying different types of people who are disabled.
     In 1971 in an episode of Gunsmoke he portrayed a deaf mountain man who risked his life to save kids who had fallen into a well. The role, however, which I have thought about for much of my life was his portrayal of a paraplegic confined to a wheelchair in the 1981 Incredible Hulk episode- "The Harder They Fall". I'll NEVER forget the line Miller spoke in the episode to Bill Bixby when he stated," This wheelchair doesn't mean my life ends; it just changes".
   I don't pretend to have the same type of serious disability but when poor health befell me, I thought of Denny Miller's role and realized that I should adapt and change rather than quit and give up. This is the kind of role model we children of the 60's were fortunate enough to have and it is just as  unfortunate that today's youth haven't this luxury.
   In Miller's Gunsmoke episode entitled "Lijah", he was seriously injured in rescuing the children from the well. I remember the final line he delivered when he told them."Don't worry, I'm not going to die". His words were prophetic because although Denny is gone his influence of strength, courage and wholesomeness has remained in the personalities of all those that he has inspired. Denny Miller will always remain a beacon of might and morals.

TESTOSTERONE DREAMING -

By Peter Vuono

   The following piece of my personal medical history is being published to help men everywhere who encounter the same problem. If you haven't yet, you will and I urge you to see an endocrinologist or at the very least, speak to me.

   My whole life, I wanted to be strong. When I was finally turned on to weight training and specifically, powerlifting, I decided to compete in contests starting in 1973 and I continued up to 1996. At some of those early meets, I had a buddy lift whose name was Paul. He was in his mid fifties and had an enormous deadlift of about 550 at 165 bodyweight! What always stymied the younger crowd, however was why was it that Paul ALWAYS did 550 and never improved. When I went back to powerlifting in 2004 at age 51, I would soon find out the answer!
   I deadlifted 500 at age 51 and at  a bodyweight of 189. I was happy as I won the Master's Division,and the Best Lifter award for Masters(over 40). However, I thought about why it was that I was nowhere near the 567 that I did at age 35 at only a 178 bodyweight. I went to the laboratory to find out, in addition I read EVERY book I could find on steroids, testosterone and hormonal replacement. I had a few articles published and went through(at this writing),  5 endocrinologists. I became a 21st century Ponce deLeon!
   What happened to me was exactly what happened to Paul and every other man on the planet since time began. At first it would be called aging but the name would evolve to Manpause, Andropause, and hypogonadism. A rose, however, by any other name, is still a rose.
   Men lose one to two percent of all testosterone per year each year after the age of 30! Through blood tests two levels are checked. First the total testosterone and next the free testosterone. Your body uses a very small amount of all the testosterone you have due to a hormone known as sex hormone binding globulin(SHBG).The SHBG binds to testosterone and every bit that is bound to it CANNOT be used by the body. Every year more and more SHBG binds to testosterone in your blood to a point where not enough is made. The symptoms are legion. They include, depression, low libido, ED, loss of strength , loss of muscle mass, indecisiveness,loss of energy  and loss of height!
  Total levels of testosterone run from 300 ng/dl  to 1100 ng/dl. Mine was in the low 300's and I had EVERY one of the above mentioned symptoms except ED. It was time to do something.
   The first endocrinologist I saw asked me to take the precurser DHEA, which is a weak androgen. It's supposed to precurse into testosterone in the blood and increase testosterone levels BUT, I explained to my doctor that there was documented research showing that DHEA CAN bind to testosterone recepters in the cells and PREVENT testosterone from binding with it's own receptors. He disagreed  with me and my DHEA level went up 600 percent and my testosterone fell to about 251! I was put on Androgel.
  In six days, too much of the Androgel converted into dihydrotestosterone which is found abundantly in the prostate. I incurred benign prostate hyperplasia(BPH), which is akin to a yeast infection on steroids! I went off the drug and went on a regimen of lycopene, saw pallmetto and stinging nettles herbs and I was relieved of the symptoms. The NEXT endocrinologist had NO idea for an alternative . I then turned to brilliant endocrinologist, Dr. Andre Guay.
  Dr. Guay put me on Clomid, which is a fertility drug which I have been on for 4 years. I won't bore you with the chemistry but generally, it caused the pituitary to excrete more gonadotropins which, in turn will produce MORE estrogen in women and MORE testosterone in men. My testosterone levels went up to 400 ng/dl and eventually to 613! Then tragedy struck. I incurred a heart attack and a quadruple bypass.
  For unknown reasons, my levels started to fall. In 2013 they were 430 and in 2014-348. Dr Guay suspected that I was no longer responding to the drug. He suggested a weight loss(which does raise testosterone levels) and the posibility of Depo-testosterone injection. However he retired!
  World renown Harvard psychiatrist Dr. Harrison"Skip" Pope who is seen in the movie "Bigger, Stronger, Faster" directed me to his colleague at Harvard, Dr. Shalender Bhasin who is regarded as the world's foremost authority. With Dr. Bhasin, I also consulted with his very astute colleague, Dr. Anna Ross.
   Much to my disappointment, Dr. Bhasin said that there was research which cited that cardiac events DO occur in elderly men on testosterone replacement and that there were also studies stating the opposite! He said it was a VERY gray area where he could not at this time make a recommendation. This tale is not yet over. I was asked to go off Clomid to get my own system(HPTA) working again and levels would be checked. If I  descend to, say 100 ng/dl a plan would be put into effect. The future is unsure for me as it is for you. However, I learned that I cannot reanimate myself, I can't turn back the clock, or get my strength back as ancient Samson did. I have come to the realization that I must accept my body and all it's intricacies as God had made it and not be so desirous of the fountain of youth. As the Greek philosopher Epicurus once said,"Him who a little will not content, nothing will content".

THE DRAGON

By Peter Vuono


     When we see or hear about Bruce Lee, most of us think about martial arts. To those of us who practice it, we think about how Lee was the originator of Jeet Kune Do or "The Way of the Intercepting Fist". Others think about the Green Hornet, or his cinematic battles with Chuck Norris in Return of the Dragon or with Kareem Abdul Jabar in Game of death. However, Lee's entire life was a continuous contribution to his fellow man.
    Lee Jun Fan was born Nov. 27, 1940 at  Jackson Street Hospital in SanFrancisco between the hours of 6:00AM and 8:00AM. This is both the year and the hour of the Dragon. The Dragon is the symbol of strength, power, good fortune AND HEAVEN. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lee Hoi Chuen were entertainers performing in SanFrancisco.The baby was Christened Lee Jun Fan because it means"Return Again". Lee's mom had always hoped that he would one day again return to America.
   Although a nurse in the hospital nicknamed him "Bruce', his parents called him by a feminine name,"Sai Fon", which means "Small Phoenix". 
In the Chinese culture, men are typically given feminine names to fool the evil spirits from taking their souls.
    Bruce returned to America to Seattle as his mom had hoped and graduated from Edison Technical High School. He then enrolled in the University of Washington majoring in philosophy. In 1964 he would start teaching gung fu in Oakland and marry his college sweetheart Linda Emory.
    Lee's life entailed so much more than just being a martial artist. He was a director, writer, artist and teacher as well as being a husband and loving father. However to this author two of his accomplishments warrant special note. Bruce Lee gave the Asian people a face. It was a face of strength, honor, pride and dignity. A face that has and will always endure. His other notable contribution was his philosophy of life. Lee, like many in the Asian culture believed in seeking the Tao(pronounced Dow), which is interpreted as the "Way of the Universe". In one of his published works- Striking Thoughts- Lee comments on every aspect of life from his personal interpretation of the Tao. I have found that reading and embracing what he has said has made me a better person.
    There is a Chinese proverb that states,"If the dark element seeks to achieve a position in which it is not entitled and tries to rule instead of serving,it draws down upon itself the fury of the dragon". 
   I am convinced that any person who reads and embraces Lee's Striking Thoughts of philosophy will walk a path of righteousness  which will ultimately lead to the paradise of the Dragon.


AFTER THOUGHT- The following is a letter of comfort from Bruce Lee to his closest friend Taky Kimura after Kimura had sustained an enormous hardship. Kimura would later become Lee's caretaker after Bruce Lee was laid to rest July 31, 1973 at Lakeview Cemetery in Seattle.

" Life is an ever -flowing process and somewhere on the path some unpleasant things will pop up- it might leave a scar- but then life is flowing on and like running water, when it stops, it grows stale. Go bravely on , my friend because each experience teaches us a lesson".

GEORGE FRENN- TRIUMPH AND TRAGEDY

By Peter Vuono

     In 1975 I trained at the bob Backus Olympic Health Club in Pembroke Ma. This studio, which was one of the first of it's kind was the invention of Bob Backus who was an Olympian in 1952, a Pan Am champ in 1955 and a track and field hall of famer in 1965. Bob was kind and gregarious. This, coupled with his extraordinary resume drew strong men and super athletes from all over the country. Ken Patera trained there for the world's strongest man contest with club member Steve Sanderson, who in the 80's did an official 920 high bar squat!
    The immortal Dave Draper visited and brought with him a magnificent bench made of driftwood that Dave constructed himself. This bench adorned the lobby and was admired by all. Gold medal winner Harold Connolly visited frequently as did Olympian Al Hall. Last but not least was the Californian superman whom Bob mentored in the hammer throw, George Frenn.
    When it comes to strength, George was synonymous with legend. In 1967 he won the senior national powerlifting championships in York  with Bob Backus and Bill West of the original Westside Barbell Club at his side. At this meet Frenn won his class, became the first heavyweight to squat 700lbs. and broke 9 American and National records in one meet, a feat which I do not believe was ever duplicated by any other man.
   In July of 1970, his picture appeared on the front cover of Sports Illustrated and again in 1972 on the front cover of Strength and Health. George competed in the Pomona Police Officer's Power Meet in Pomona Ca. in 1971 at Garey High School. As a heavyweight(242) George bench pressed 520, squatted 853 and deadlifted 740 to become the first man to total 2100. Although only a heavyweight, George's record surpassed Jon Cole's superheavyweight record by 40 lbs.
   Frenn went on to compete in the 72 Olympics in Munich in the hammer throw and competed in one of the early World's Strongest Man competitions. Perhaps one of George's most valiant milestones was that he was one of the first Olympians to compete in the very first Gay Olympics in 1982. Shortly thereafter, George retired from the school dept. after teaching Science for 32 years. He later received another well deserved accolade by being inducted into the California powerlifting hall of fame along side of the immortal Pat Casey.
   I remember training with George in 1975 at the Backus Gym. I'll never forget the thrill of meeting an idol who would become one of history's greatest athletes. On June 26th, 2006, George Frenn's life abruptly, unexpectedly and sadly came to an end. There was much conjecture in the strength world as to how and why this occurred. I would rather dwell on the thought that George Frenn was an inspiration and a valiant warrior who insisted on being himself in a world that too often demands that we all become something else

"No one day will erase you from the memory of time"-Virgil