It is so common for bodybuilders to look their best ever at the NPC's. The mass over quality in the pros kills bodybuilders looks. I think Shawn Ray looked his best at the NPCs.
@deathadone88 a lot of bodybuilders like Shawn Ray and Tom Prince looked their best at the NPCs. Unfortunately Prince went the size route but also he may have already been suffering medical issues when he hit the prod
Mike was a super representative of Bodybuilding. When he was guest posing at a contest after this one, I approached for autographed photo and mentioned that I had trained at Universe Gym while traveling, he smiled, took a few minutes to talk about the Gym, and noted the Gym in the Signature. THEN he quietly refused to accept the standard fee. Have been fortunate enough to have met many of the top competitors of the period. Mike and Phil Hernon are at the top of my list 👌 ! Unfortunately both gone 😪 WAY too soon. RIP 🙏 Mike and Phil.
Mike was indeed an incredible bodybuilder but paid the ultimate price for it. In 2007, Mike suffered a heart attack. He blamed it on his lifestyle choices, saying: “I'd have to say that everything that led to my heart problem began the minute I started getting serious about competitive bodybuilding. In order to get bigger, I'd eat five, six, seven pounds of red meat a day, no vegetables. And I'd stay away from fruits because of their sugar. Worst were the chemicals. I have so many memories of being alone in a hotel room the week, five days or two days before a contest, and doing unspeakable things to my body - steroids, growth hormones, diuretics - anything and everything that we as bodybuilders do to achieve a certain look. It has affected my whole life, so to all those guys who are on an eternal quest to get bigger and bigger and who are so vain about their never-say-die attitude, I say, "Change your attitude." Worry about keeping that body of yours as healthy as possible, because it's going to have to last you not just through your next contest or to the end of your bodybuilding contract, but for a long time. And a long time for a human being is nothing. It goes by real quick, even quicker when your health is gone and you have nothing to stand on.” He died in 2014. He was 47 years old.
That pose when Mike flares his arms out to his side and flexes his abs is a thing of beauty. I think this is the best he ever looked. His calves were on par with the greatest in the sport...Yates, El Sonbaty, Fankhouser, Pakulski. Such a great guy that passed way wat too early.
You sound like a newbie who just started watching and just learned a few names. We get it. You watch bodybuilding. Is a thing of beauty? On the other hand....doubt it.. lol
Damn, the talent pool was extraordinary in the 90s, all the guys in this video went on the become legends of the sport and all competed against each other when they were amateurs, that for the upload.
@@anythingbodybuilding1567 Paul dillet probably don't have the 'best' calves of all time but, it's definitely the most 'impressive' calves of all time considering his height
FYI, Universe Gym in Summerville? MA was a place where Mike had trained. Hard core 💪 on second floor of a concrete block building at the edge of a salvage yard. No AC, open windows, and intense workouts. Great place!
I knew Mike were it all started. He was a nice guy.Galaxy Gym in Medford Massachusetts. He weighed a mere 165 lbs, but his calves were enormous! He said he had a paper route that was mostly uphill. I ran into him in front of Gold’s Gym in Venice California. When he saw me, he said what the heck are you doing here ? ( I was out there visiting a friend) Obviously 🙄 he had a huge ego by then. It wasn’t the welcome 🙏 I was expecting. Rest In Peace ☮️, Mike.
Just imagine if Mike actually had the same mentality like Dorian. He would be a complete monster afront of those guys who are competing at the Olympia.
It's hard to believe that Matarazzo who looked huge was 231 lbs.....and Ronnie Coleman would be eventually 290 at around the same height....RIP Mike.....it just shows how f ing big these guys got in the late 90s
@@FloridaManMatty Yates had Mike from the back. But Mike had yates on Most Muscular, front double. Yates had lat spread, side chest. Tricep pose not sure. I think there was 1 Mr. O where Mike placed 6th, looked prob his best ever.
@ 9:40 I remember CA being like that. I was clean, less crowded and a special place to live. Now SoCal is a sewer with homeless everywhere and over crowding.
I always thought Mike never looked better than he did this night in 1991, even after he competed as a pro
It is so common for bodybuilders to look their best ever at the NPC's. The mass over quality in the pros kills bodybuilders looks. I think Shawn Ray looked his best at the NPCs.
@deathadone88 a lot of bodybuilders like Shawn Ray and Tom Prince looked their best at the NPCs. Unfortunately Prince went the size route but also he may have already been suffering medical issues when he hit the prod
Mike was a super representative of Bodybuilding. When he was guest posing at a contest after this one, I approached for autographed photo and mentioned that I had trained at Universe Gym while traveling, he smiled, took a few minutes to talk about the Gym, and noted the Gym in the Signature. THEN he quietly refused to accept the standard fee. Have been fortunate enough to have met many of the top competitors of the period. Mike and Phil Hernon are at the top of my list 👌 ! Unfortunately both gone 😪 WAY too soon. RIP 🙏 Mike and Phil.
RIP Mike Matarazzo
I use to workout with Kyle Norris in the 80’s. RIP Kyle
Mike was indeed an incredible bodybuilder but paid the ultimate price for it. In 2007, Mike suffered a heart attack. He blamed it on his lifestyle choices, saying: “I'd have to say that everything that led to my heart problem began the minute I started getting serious about competitive bodybuilding. In order to get bigger, I'd eat five, six, seven pounds of red meat a day, no vegetables. And I'd stay away from fruits because of their sugar. Worst were the chemicals. I have so many memories of being alone in a hotel room the week, five days or two days before a contest, and doing unspeakable things to my body - steroids, growth hormones, diuretics - anything and everything that we as bodybuilders do to achieve a certain look. It has affected my whole life, so to all those guys who are on an eternal quest to get bigger and bigger and who are so vain about their never-say-die attitude, I say, "Change your attitude." Worry about keeping that body of yours as healthy as possible, because it's going to have to last you not just through your next contest or to the end of your bodybuilding contract, but for a long time. And a long time for a human being is nothing. It goes by real quick, even quicker when your health is gone and you have nothing to stand on.” He died in 2014. He was 47 years old.
Only two alive and well out of the top five-Cormier and Caputo. Mattarazo dead, Norris dead, Wheeler destroyed.
I believe heart disease ran in his family, reading from an article about him.
RIP to our iron Brothers
Hindsight is always 20-20.
And most of the time it's always too late. No rewind.
That pose when Mike flares his arms out to his side and flexes his abs is a thing of beauty. I think this is the best he ever looked. His calves were on par with the greatest in the sport...Yates, El Sonbaty, Fankhouser, Pakulski. Such a great guy that passed way wat too early.
You sound like a newbie who just started watching and just learned a few names. We get it. You watch bodybuilding. Is a thing of beauty? On the other hand....doubt it.. lol
Mike is a Local Legend out here in Massachusetts!
Please check my post. Don't know if you are aware of former Universe Gym in Somerville? I know Mike had trained there at one time.
Damn, the talent pool was extraordinary in the 90s, all the guys in this video went on the become legends of the sport and all competed against each other when they were amateurs, that for the upload.
Yes back in the 90s, the USAs and Nationals were stacked. All legends.
Rip Kyle. Miss u brother.
Makes me nostalgic!So much quality!
WOW!
Never knew how GOOD Mike matarazo is!
I used to see him as "calves guy"
All legends
Matarazzo 💪🇷🇺
Is that Shawn Ray on commentary?
Yes
@deathadone88 he's got a lot to say😂
Matarazzo calves and Dorian Yates calves, the best of the fucking game
Don’t forget Paul Dillett’s calves. Nobody really talks about his but I think some of the best ever
@@anythingbodybuilding1567 true
i thought wheeler looked good but then mike comes out and it's over
@@thereefster yeah mike looked good here.
@@anythingbodybuilding1567
Paul dillet probably don't have the 'best' calves of all time but, it's definitely the most 'impressive' calves of all time considering his height
FYI, Universe Gym in Summerville? MA was a place where Mike had trained. Hard core 💪 on second floor of a concrete block building at the edge of a salvage yard. No AC, open windows, and intense workouts. Great place!
I knew Mike were it all started. He was a nice guy.Galaxy Gym in Medford Massachusetts. He weighed a mere 165 lbs, but his calves were enormous! He said he had a paper route that was mostly uphill. I ran into him in front of Gold’s Gym in Venice California. When he saw me, he said what the heck are you doing here ? ( I was out there visiting a friend) Obviously 🙄 he had a huge ego by then. It wasn’t the welcome 🙏 I was expecting. Rest In Peace ☮️, Mike.
Matarazzo, wow!
This is an amazing lineup
This was the best Matarrazo ever looked imo.
Just imagine if Mike actually had the same mentality like Dorian. He would be a complete monster afront of those guys who are competing at the Olympia.
Sean Ray always favoring the black bodybuilders
SHAWN****
Mike looked INSANE. Holy shit !!!! I'd kill for those freaking "Red Woods" below his fukin knees. OMG !!!! WTF ????
It's hard to believe that Matarazzo who looked huge was 231 lbs.....and Ronnie Coleman would be eventually 290 at around the same height....RIP Mike.....it just shows how f ing big these guys got in the late 90s
Yeah back then 240 was considered monstrous. Now, you can weigh 240 and be only 5'6"
Pecs of a bodybuilder
I wish that DORIAN YATES STANDS RIGHT NEXT TO MIKE MATARAZZO IN THE DAY ! HOO YOU THINK SHOULD BE THE WINNER ON THOSE -?
In 1991? Yates would have won a side by side. Every year subsequently, Dorian’s lead would have gotten bigger and bigger.
@@FloridaManMatty Yates had Mike from the back. But Mike had yates on Most Muscular, front double. Yates had lat spread, side chest. Tricep pose not sure. I think there was 1 Mr. O where Mike placed 6th, looked prob his best ever.
Back when bodybuilding had proper physics not the mass monster look they got nower days💪
@ 9:40 I remember CA being like that. I was clean, less crowded and a special place to live. Now SoCal is a sewer with homeless everywhere and over crowding.
Rip Kyle. Miss u bro.
RIP Big Mike.
RIP Kyle Norris