MR. WEIGHTLIFTING: Norbert Schemansky
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WEIGHTLIFTING QUOTES
Track and Field
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No one fits that mold better than national, world and Olympic champion Norbert Schemansky. He set an amazing 75 national, world and Olympic records, while winning nine national and four world championships--and four Olympic medals in four Olympic Games.
No one fits that mold better than national, world and Olympic champion Norbert Schemansky. He set an amazing 75 national, world and Olympic records, while winning nine national and four world championships--and four Olympic medals in four Olympic Games.
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Bak writes in the Introduction: “What Muhammad Ali and Joe Louis are to boxing, what John Grimek and Arnold Schwarzenegger mean to bodybuilding, and what Gordie Howe and Wayne Gretzky represent in hockey, Norbert Schemansky is to Olympic weightlifting.”
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In 2005, on the occasion of its 100-year anniversary, the International Weightlifting Federation recognized Schemansky (along with Tommy Kono) as “Best Weightlifter of 100 Years.” Bak says that Schemansky is "History's greatest heavyweight lifter." On a pound-for-pound basis he was unbeatable.
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In 2005, on the occasion of its 100-year anniversary, the International Weightlifting Federation recognized Schemansky (along with Tommy Kono) as “Best Weightlifter of 100 Years.” Bak says that Schemansky is "History's greatest heavyweight lifter." On a pound-for-pound basis he was unbeatable.
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Wicked Wit
Bak devotes the better part of one chapter to some stories showcasing Norb's understated, clever, dry wit. Here are several that I especially enjoyed.
Bak devotes the better part of one chapter to some stories showcasing Norb's understated, clever, dry wit. Here are several that I especially enjoyed.
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The first story comes from Tommy Kono, who had just won the 1954 Mr. World, a physique contest held in conjunction with the world weightlifting championship. "Norb came over to congratulate me. As he was shaking my hand he was weaving his head around and around, as if to say, 'It's a small world.'" Laughing hard at the memory, Kono added: "That's the kind of humor he had."
The first story comes from Tommy Kono, who had just won the 1954 Mr. World, a physique contest held in conjunction with the world weightlifting championship. "Norb came over to congratulate me. As he was shaking my hand he was weaving his head around and around, as if to say, 'It's a small world.'" Laughing hard at the memory, Kono added: "That's the kind of humor he had."
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Lou Riecke tells about checking into the Los Angeles YMCA. with Norb. This was back in the '60s, when the Black Panthers were in the news. "The clerk at the counter handed us some forms to fill out. So we fill them out and the clerk looks at Schemansky and says, 'You didn't fill in your religion. What's your religion?' Norb's got the blonde hair and blue eyes. He looks back at him as deadpanned as he can and says, 'Black Muslim.'.....It took [the clerk] a few seconds to realize Norb was kidding."
Lou Riecke tells about checking into the Los Angeles YMCA. with Norb. This was back in the '60s, when the Black Panthers were in the news. "The clerk at the counter handed us some forms to fill out. So we fill them out and the clerk looks at Schemansky and says, 'You didn't fill in your religion. What's your religion?' Norb's got the blonde hair and blue eyes. He looks back at him as deadpanned as he can and says, 'Black Muslim.'.....It took [the clerk] a few seconds to realize Norb was kidding."
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The next story is also from Lou Riecke. They were at the Tokyo Olympics. "A little Japanese guy comes up to us with some postcards," Riecke recalled. "Schemansky...asked how much. The guy says, 'Six dollars each.' Schemansky says, 'I'll give you two dollars.' The guy says, 'Oh no, six dollars.' So Norb throws up his hands and starts yelling, 'Police! Police!' The guy goes, 'Okay, okay, two dollars.' Norb didn't want them. He was just pulling the guy's leg."
The next story is also from Lou Riecke. They were at the Tokyo Olympics. "A little Japanese guy comes up to us with some postcards," Riecke recalled. "Schemansky...asked how much. The guy says, 'Six dollars each.' Schemansky says, 'I'll give you two dollars.' The guy says, 'Oh no, six dollars.' So Norb throws up his hands and starts yelling, 'Police! Police!' The guy goes, 'Okay, okay, two dollars.' Norb didn't want them. He was just pulling the guy's leg."
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The last one is a classic; I've heard it before. It happened during a car ride one evening in Detroit in 1958 on the occasion of the U.S.-Soviet match. It's told by Charles Fraser, who was in the backseat sandwiched between Schemansky and big Jim Bradford. Bob Hoffman and some other lifters were also in the car. Fraser, then a student at Michigan State, spoke Russian and had helped with translation back stage. They drove by Briggs Stadium (note the name, Briggs), where the Detroit Tigers and the St. Louis cardinals were playing.
The last one is a classic; I've heard it before. It happened during a car ride one evening in Detroit in 1958 on the occasion of the U.S.-Soviet match. It's told by Charles Fraser, who was in the backseat sandwiched between Schemansky and big Jim Bradford. Bob Hoffman and some other lifters were also in the car. Fraser, then a student at Michigan State, spoke Russian and had helped with translation back stage. They drove by Briggs Stadium (note the name, Briggs), where the Detroit Tigers and the St. Louis cardinals were playing.
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"Looking to make conversation, Fraser brought up the the name of Cardinals star Stan Musial. Norb, slightly grumpy over his convalescing back, threadbare finances, and lack of renown, was in no mood to discuss one of the most beloved and well-paid athletes in the country. 'Yeah?' he grunted. 'So what?'
"Looking to make conversation, Fraser brought up the the name of Cardinals star Stan Musial. Norb, slightly grumpy over his convalescing back, threadbare finances, and lack of renown, was in no mood to discuss one of the most beloved and well-paid athletes in the country. 'Yeah?' he grunted. 'So what?'
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"'Well, uh,' Fraser carefully responded, 'he's a great ballplayer. You know, a great athlete.'
"'Yeah?' Norb shot back. 'How much can he press?'
"'Well, uh,' Fraser carefully responded, 'he's a great ballplayer. You know, a great athlete.'
"'Yeah?' Norb shot back. 'How much can he press?'
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"There was a moment of silence, followed by an explosion of laughter. Everybody in the car was howling, except Norb, whom Fraser noted always made his wisecracks funnier by maintaining a stony face.
"There was a moment of silence, followed by an explosion of laughter. Everybody in the car was howling, except Norb, whom Fraser noted always made his wisecracks funnier by maintaining a stony face.
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"'Good old Norb,' Fraser reflected. 'He made you proud to be a weightlifter in three ways. By how he looked, by how he lifted a barbell--and by his outspoken pride in his chosen sport.'"
"'Good old Norb,' Fraser reflected. 'He made you proud to be a weightlifter in three ways. By how he looked, by how he lifted a barbell--and by his outspoken pride in his chosen sport.'"
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