(3) ESPN 30 for 30: `Arnold's Blueprint

Arnold's Blueprint focuses on Arnold Schwarzenegger's teenage years in the Austrian Army and is directed by Michael and Jeff Zimbalist, who previously directed the highly-acclaimed 30 for 30 film "The Two Escobars." The film focuses on the years before Arnold was the "Universe's Perfect Specimen," when a young Schwarzenegger seized upon an opportunity to use the sport of bodybuilding to catapult himself to international stardom. The short documentary will show how the young Austrian farm boy's mandatory military service played a critical role in his journey to international fame.

Arnold Schwarzenegger was 30 when `Pumping Iron showed in 1977, and I was just 18 years old.  He is 66, and I am 54, now.  ESPN knows it's apropos at this age to walk down memory lane, so it was that this short documentary covers his early personal life.  Long before the fame and size of bodybuilding, and long before the stardom and wealth of Hollywood.  All in an effort to surface the blueprint of what makes him tick and makes him such a success.

Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD

(2) `Raw Iron - The Making of `Pumping Iron

Arnold Schwarzenegger, as Conan the Barbarian

As the Terminator

Conan and the Terminator were just two of the roles that propelled Arnold Schwarzenegger into Hollywood royalty.  I was more the academic sort, so except for the seminal Terminator, I eschewed many of his films.  The plot and his acting were terrible, and he never quite smoothed out his rough Austrian accent.  They were forgettable, at best.  Still popular culture loved him and lapped him up, and that is what is most important for stardom.  `Raw Iron - The Making of `Pumping Iron, released in 2002, on the 25th anniversary of that iconic film, has Arnold Schwarzenegger covered.

In 1978, I happened into T'ai Chi.  I never really let go of lifting weights and getting fit, but going into the 1980s my whole notion of fitness changed drastically.  Throughout graduate school (1986 - 1993), for example, I worked out at Northwestern University and lifted massive weights and swam laps in the Olympic pool.  Still T'ai Chi brought on meditation, spirituality and philosophy as ways of being and exercising.

Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD

(1) `Pumping Iron was an Inspiration

Arnold Schwarzenegger

(image credit)

I was a small, skinny kid.  In 7th grade, for example, I remember weighing just over 70 pounds.  I was a conscientious, resourceful kid, and took it upon myself to get bigger and stronger.  It was the 1970s, and I discovered Arnold Schwarzenegger.  To say that he was an inspiration is an understatement.  I was enthralled, and I learned a lot about how to train with weights, how to eat for size and muscle, even how to pose in a bodybuilding contest.  One diet, for example, had me drinking a gallon of milk a day.  I definitely got stronger and more muscular, but nowhere near the level of competing.

I knew Arnold Schwarzenegger, before he became such a Hollywood star.  He talked about pursuing success on the big screen with the same forthright and vision that he poured into bodybuilding, but I didn't care about that pursuit.  I just cared about the latter.  I even had the book Pumping Iron already on hand, so when the film was released in 1977 I was stoked.  I was enthralled, as I knew many of the bodybuilders in its cast already.  It was about my inspiration coming to life.

Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD

Taking Comic Potshots at Donald Sterling

Benny, the Chicago Bull

Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD

Frank Caliendo Does Jon Gruden and More

ESPN is easily tops for me, not just for sports but also for fun in general.  I first saw Frank Caliendo a couple of weeks ago, and was rolling of the floor laughing at his impersonation of Jon Gruden.  In conceiving of light-hearted sports stuff for this week, I head over to YouTube and found more from Caliendo.

Below are outtakes from this segment:
  

Actually it looked a little more like a `Unicorn 2 Xbox Cowchocula!

Jon and Jay Gruden hang out, and talk some shop, courtesy of Caliendo.  What's more, we meet up with the Gruden family.

This dude is good.

Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD

Kazuya (aka Yoyo Baby) Murata is Boss!

I just saw the video of this 6-year old kid on the ESPN Highly Questionable, and marveled at both his skill and his confidence.

Yoyo Baby competed in the Asia Pacific Yoyo Championship last year.  It looks to be a blast.  

Yoyos were very popular in the Philippines when I was a kid myself, and managed to do Walk the Dog and Rock a Baby after a lot of tries.  

Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD

(3) Steve Nash is not the only Issue

In the third episode of an exclusive Grantland series chronicling Steve Nash's trying season with the Lakers, he reveals his feelings about the media members and fans who are calling for his retirement, questioning his motives, and accusing him of being greedy.

The issue with Steve Nash is that he is not the only issue.  There is the team, and its future, to consider.  There is the chatter in the media, focusing on whatever it deems right to focus on, even if it misses the big picture and the complex issues inside its frames.  There is voice of the fans.

A heartfelt documentary like this isn't exactly new.  But what is new is its distribution online and the opportunity to watch it and comment on it, unlike years ago when it was all on TV and we couldn't speak to it.  These points, plus its very human drama, are what I really like about it.

Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD