MATARAZZO HAS HEART ATTACK

We received phone call today (Thursday November 8) from Mike Matarazzo, who told us he had suffered a heart attack on Monday, Nov 5. Matarazzo had been hospitalized for a couple days but is now back in his home in Modesto, California.

Arguably the most popular bodybuilder of the 1990s, Matarazzo was first diagnosed with heart problems three years ago, when, in December of 2004, he underwent triple bypass surgery. After this most recent setback, Matarazzo has had a pacemaker installed and has been instructed by doctors to take it easy for a while. According to Matarazzo, he had been "training regularly and eating clean" until the heart attack.

Matarazzo informed us he wanted everyone to know he is taking this latest challenge in stride, philosophically adding, "You just play the cards that life gives you." As for his condition, Matarazzo told us, "The doctors said only 25% of my heart was functioning." Those who know Mike will tell you 25 percent of the Matarazzo heart is about 120 percent that of a normal person's.

Let's all wish him well and a speedy recovery.


source: flexonline.com

X-MAN SECURITY

Breaking up fights isn’t exactly what you’d expect a top-level professional bodybuilder to be doing with his spare time in the off-season. But that’s exactly what Toney Freeman found himself doing when he made an appearance as the head guest bouncer on The Jerry Springer Show.

“One of my sponsors, Headblade, set it up,” Freeman said. “[Head of Security] Steve Wikos from the show is one of their guys, and a bunch of other guys on the show are too. I was up in Chicago to watch the International Fight League with [Headblade President] Todd Greene … they originally wanted a couple fighters, but they sent them my picture and they went crazy.”

According to Freeman, there was no lack of action on the show as he was called in to break up fights in each of the show’s three segments. “I broke up all the fights,” Freeman said. I was right in the middle of it all.”

Freeman apparently was so good that the show’s producers have already asked him to make a return appearance. “They loved me, Jerry loved me. They invited me back again,” Freeman said. “I’m not going to do it permanently, but I’ll definitely do it semi-permanently.”

The episode, which was filmed on November 4, will air within the next few months. “I don’t know the exact date yet, but I’ll put it on the [flexonline.com] boards when I get back,” said Freeman, who is vacationing in Aruba.

For more pictures of Freeman on the Jerry Springer Show, check out the forums at flexonline.


source: flexonline.com