Hoffman/Weeder Wars - Not at all PC - Physical Culture & Iron Game History - Discussion Areas - Olde Time Physical Culture - NaturalStrength.net

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Hoffman/Weeder Wars - Not at all PC

Author	Comment
M BOB WHELAN	Hoffman/Weeder Wars - Not at all PC	Lead	[-]
Posts: 298 (26-Jun-08 14:09:12) Administrator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Tags : None An interesting read: That last post I had here I found out came from Muscle Memory. Click on Link in post below. Last Edited By: M BOB WHELAN 26-Jun-08 14:12:00. Edited 1 time.
M BOB WHELAN		#1	[-]
Posts: 298 (26-Jun-08 14:09:36) Administrator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Try again: http://www.musclememory.com/articles/fairyTale.html
J Duggan		#2	[-]
Posts: 535 (26-Jun-08 14:28:29) Moderator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Very interesting. Unfortunately, at the time those articles were written, they could have no way of predicting how much influence "weedy" would grow to wield. But they did have the knowledge to realize that he was and would continue to be bad for the iron game and physical culture in general. Between weedy and his protege the austrian oaf ( now the governor of california) I can't think of two persons who would do more to ruin the once healthy, proud sport of bodybuilding, and help turn it into the drug-infested joke that it is today. (And who influenced countless numbers of persons to take part in the farce and get involved into the whole boobybuilding drug sub-culture, while they themselves profitted greatly.)
grffn		#3	[-]
Posts: 608 (26-Jun-08 15:49:03) Moderator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I have never heard of those mags. Are they that bad? or was Strength and Health trying to crush a competitor? Its hard to believe Weedy could survive that bad press!!!!!!!! Those articles could be written today and be relevant. They would be met by a firestorm by the p.c. police tho. Not that I really care much but does anyone know what Weedy is doing these days? He sold off his mags. Probably counting the loot. But guys like him never fully go away.
Silverback1946		#4	[-]
Posts: 64 (26-Jun-08 18:25:35) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Back in the day you were either a !*!+%! Guy or a Hoffman Guy. I was a Hoffman guy but learned later they both had some things to hide. Jim B. Had to edit because it didn't like correct spelling of Weeder? Go figure? Last Edited By: Silverback1946 26-Jun-08 18:28:52. Edited 1 times.
M BOB WHELAN		#5	[-]
Posts: 298 (26-Jun-08 19:02:21) Administrator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I have the correct spelling in the profanity filter! :-))) Last Edited By: M BOB WHELAN 26-Jun-08 20:08:20. Edited 1 times.
grffn		#6	[-]
Posts: 608 (26-Jun-08 19:43:41) Moderator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Jim I never really heard bad things about Hoffman. What did he have to hide? I understand if you want to leave it alone tho.
M BOB WHELAN		#7	[-]
Posts: 298 (26-Jun-08 20:07:38) Administrator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Read John D. Fairs book about Muscletown USA. Its pretty critical of Hoffman (a little too biased against Hoffman I think) but it is still a good book. I was always a 100% Pro York/Hoffman/Grimek guy.
bigcracker		#8	[-]
Posts: 105 (26-Jun-08 20:54:11) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	This is too weird. I was on the phone with Mr. Kono yesterday and just talking about lifting in general and i casually mentioned that one of the things I like about weightlifting is it is always truthful in that 100lbs is always 100lbs. He laughed and said unless you ordered from Weeder back in the 50s and 60s. He said he once got a 50lb plate from Weeder's company (one of several incarnations he had back then) and it weighed 45 lbs...not 50. According to him the guy was a shady character and a ruthless manipulator.
Silverback1946		#9	[-]
Posts: 64 (26-Jun-08 22:05:53) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I read things in Fairs book that went along with what I had heard from others closer to the action. I met Hoffman once at a meet but now I don't recall where? He was a big Man.
Silverback1946		#10	[-]
Posts: 64 (26-Jun-08 22:20:00) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I just read the link Bob put up. Guys that's the way it was. I remember those Magazines and others that made you feel weird about buying S&H and Iron Man, since they were all in the same area. And it's true about being careful where your pictures would end up. The way it worked is: A physique photographer would take your photos for free (we didn't have any money) Give you a set but you had to sign a letter saying that the negs. were the property of the Photographer and he could sell them to whomever. Some funny stories there.
J Duggan		#11	[-]
Posts: 535 (27-Jun-08 11:35:22) Moderator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Fair's book, Muscletown, was a good book. I, too, felt that he kind of went out of his way to expose Hoffman's faults. He wasn't perfect, but then again, who is? My good friend Larry was a dyed in the wool York man, and when I joined his gym, back in the early 80s ( wow time flies!) it was York or nothing. The weights and bars were all from York ( Larry would never even consider anything else) and the old magazines that were stacked behind the desk were either S&H or Muscular Development. The limited supplements he sold were either Hoffman's Hi-Proteen or Energol. After a short time there, I quickly realized that many of my preconceived notions about training were wrong. Larry had briefly worked at York during the 70s, and the stories he told about Hoffman were positive. He said the entire York gang were friendly, supportive, and always willing to help anyone who asked. Hoffman may have been a bit of a huckster, but most successful businessmen are, to some extent. A funny story about inaccurate weight plates. Larry had a brother who once worked for Dan Lurie ( in Brooklyn) and, in addition to causing a long time feud between the brothers ( like I said, with Larry, York came before family loyalties) , his brother used to say that Lurie's 100 Lb. plates NEVER weighed what they said. They were always a few pounds light or heavy. He also said that Lurie was the cheapest son of a gun he ever knew---his exact phrase was that Lurie threw nickel around as if they were manhole covers.
Selvey 26		#12	[-]
Posts: 9 (14-Jul-08 12:16:48) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I've always been a York man too. I liked Fairs Book but just didn't let what was written about Hoffman bother me at all. It was a good history read but I also feel it went out of its way to go negative on Hoffman.
Stan Jaffin		#13	[-]
Posts: 33 (15-Jul-08 13:06:13) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	In another thread we learned through the poster's correspondence with Tommy Kono that Hoffman, not #%@$#%, first led weight trainers down the steroid path. An olde tyme lifter told me that York's Olympic bars were always preferred over #%@$#%'s. The former always weighed 45 lbs while the latter were usually 37-38 lbs and bent under load.
J Duggan		#14	[-]
Posts: 535 (15-Jul-08 13:14:25) Moderator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Most people who've read the book say the same thing. I've known some people who are long-time lifters, and many of them used to go to the old York picnics, and to some of the weightlifting contests. I've never heard of a negative story regarding Hoffman. They all described him as generous, encouraging, and friendly. Some of them even have their original York bars and plates ( from the 50s!) He was a man many years ahead of his time, and did more for weight-training than any one individual ever has. He was described as the "Father of World Weightlifting" and truer words were never spoken. I wonder how many "Bob Hoffman boys" are still around who are leading healthy, strong lives?
decker14626		#15	[-]
Posts: 13 (20-Jul-08 21:16:17) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I think it's funny the way they refer to homosexuals. If they tried to print that today, they'd have the ACLU, GLADD, and a hundred other groups bringing law suits against them. I remember when if you were gay, you kept it to yourself. This really doesn't have anything to do with Hoffman or Weedy, just my two cents.
J Duggan		#16	[-]
Posts: 535 (21-Jul-08 10:29:47) Moderator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	It's definitely true that the article would never be able to published today. Most of the articles back then would never see the light of day if they were written in today's climate of not being able to criticize anything or anyone for fear of offending someone. Everybody is a victim today, and everything is offensive. What a damn shame.
jonsgym		#17	[-]
Posts: 7 ( 3-Aug-08 07:43:59) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Perhaps we should all take a leaf out of the Australian way of telling it like it is. I visit OZ quite a bit and love the straight forward way they say and do things, for example--- Hide quoted text - Does the UK Need A Leader Like This? Prime Minister John Howard - Australia Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law were told on Wednesday to get out of Australia , as the government targeted radicals in a bid to head off potential terror attacks. Separately, Howard angered some Australian Muslims on Wednesday by saying he supported spy agencies monitoring the nation's mosques. Quote: 'IMMIGRANTS, NOT AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT. Take It Or Leave It. I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Bali, we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Australians.' 'This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom' 'We speak mainly ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society . Learn the language!' 'Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian, right wing, political push, but a fact, because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture.' 'We will accept your beliefs, and will not question why. All we ask is that you accept ours, and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us.' 'This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our Christian beliefs, or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage y ou take advantage of one other great Australian freedom, 'THE RIGHT TO LEAVE'.' 'If you aren't happy here then LEAVE. We didn't force you to come here. You asked to be here. So accept the country YOU accepted.' Maybe if we circulate this amongst ourselves, UK citizens will find the backbone to start speaking and voicing the same truths. We need politicians and folks in general to tell it like it is and not bow down to all the bulls--t.
M BOB WHELAN		#18	[-]
Posts: 298 ( 3-Aug-08 08:04:26) Administrator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Amen to that.
grffn		#19	[-]
Posts: 608 ( 3-Aug-08 20:18:19) Moderator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Australia obviously doesn't have an ACLU!! That stuff would never fly in the US of A!!! Too bad, I loved every damn word of it!!!!
dblutz10		#20	[-]
Posts: 15 ( 4-Aug-08 20:24:54) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I double, triple, and quadruple that........................