Celebrating Lee Haney | The First Gentleman of Bodybuilding
Celebrating Lee Haney
The First Gentleman of Bodybuilding
This past Wednesday (November 11th) eight-time Mr. Olympia Lee Haney celebrated his 56th birthday. With those eight Mr. Olympia wins to his credit, Haney has the resume for us to acclaim him as history's greatest bodybuilder. More impressively, Haney is a leading candidate for the title of bodybuilding's greatest person. For more than 30 years, he's been a major figure on the bodybuilding scene, bringing dignity and class to everything he does. A spiritual man, he practices what he preaches, as in him establishing Harvest Home in Atlanta, which is a retreat for deprived youngsters. The man has a smile and a kind word for everyone he encounters. With his spectacular physique, outgoing personality, charisma and innate good nature, Haney became the ideal ambassador for bodybuilding--an overused title that fits him perfectly.
Even though he hasn’t competed for 24 years Lee Haney’s reputation as the first gentleman of bodybuilding is as solid as titanium steel and in fact grows (somewhat as his competitive physique used to do) year by year. I’m proud to say he calls me friend and I cherish the relationship we have forged over the years.
BACK TO 1984
I first saw Lee Haney in the flesh when he made his Mr. Olympia debut at the 1983 showdown in Munich, Germany. The newcomer finished third behind Samir Bannout (1st) and Mohamed Makkawy (2nd), who weighed 190 and 170 pounds respectively. Even then, at 230 pounds, the IFBB rookie had a “new breed” aura about him and most experts (and me as well) tipped him as a future Mr. Olympia.
My initial interview with the native South Carolinian was in April 1984 at the English Federation of Bodybuilders (EFBB) Southern Championships staged in Swindon, England. He was the guest poser and I was determined to source an interview and photo shoot with bodybuilding’s fastest rising star. In those days British magazines would vie with each other to make contact with visiting guest stars and nail them down for exclusives. At the time I worked for Bodybuilding Monthly and got a step up on the opposition by learning which hotel my quarry was staying in.
Not content with being cognizant of the hotel, I found out Lee’s room number and with my valued cohort, photographer Geoff Collins, in tow, I proceeded to the allotted room and knocked on the door. Not for me the manners of calling first. (In those days yours truly had more cheek than a Sumo tournament.) The door opened and there filling the threshold and blotting all light from the room was the giant dimensions of Lee Haney. I explained my mission and he graciously invited us in. Why? The word “pity” comes to mind. From the get-go he was the epitome of a Southern gentleman, someone of whom an English promoter’s wife said, “He’s just a big smile on top of a huge tracksuit.” He readily agreed to undertake an interview and photo shoot later in the day and mission accomplished my shutterbug friend and I left. Outside the room I asked Geoff, “Why didn’t you shoot some photos in there like I told you too?” My partner in crime replied, “I sort of froze – I kept looking at him and thinking I’ve never seen anyone that bloody big.” It’s a perception many of his rivals shared.
At that initial meeting he told me he would win the upcoming Mr. Olympia title. On November 3, 1984, at the Felt Forum, in Madison Square Garden, New York, he at age 24 duly won by a wide margin and he would retire in 1991 with eight Sandows in his possession.
THE EIGHT-SANDOW CLUB
There’s a very telling story about Lee’s deep interest in being supportive of others in somewhat unhappy times. In 2006 Ronnie Coleman was targeting to win his ninth Sandow and eclipse Lee Haney’s record. The other member of the exclusive 8-Sandow club, that would be Mr. Haney, was onstage at the climax of that Olympia ready to present the 2006 trophy to the winner. Finally there was only Jay Cuter and Coleman left onstage, and dramatically Cutler won. When the result was announced Ronnie quickly left the stage and went into a small office backstage. His body language was clear, “Leave me the hell alone!” Everyone did. But Lee Haney went and found him. Here’s Ronnie’s account of what happened next.
“Getting second in that show and knowing I should have won, was the biggest let down in the world for me. I went backstage and I was just talking to myself, saying I am done with bodybuilding, I am not doing the backstage studio shots, I am never going to compete again, I am not going on the next week’s European tour, I am never doing another appearance, I am just done. Lee came into the office and I told him what I was thinking. He said ‘Man, this bodybuilding thing is not just about winning, it’s about securing the lifestyle you’ve enjoyed for yourself and family these past few years. You lost the show but you don’t have to lose your career. You’ll still be mobbed by the fans at the banquet; you’ll always be Mr. Olympia. It’s 15 years since I won the title but I’m still announced as Mr. Olympia. Now go out there, do your studio photos, go on that tour. You were born to do this.’ It’s funny how things work; Lee and I are the only guys who have won eight Olympias. Maybe he was the only person in the world who I would have listened to at that point. Lee brought me back to reality -- he got my mind straight again. Of course I wasn’t done with bodybuilding. God had put me here for a purpose and I had to go on. God had also put Lee there that day for a purpose. He was invited to the show so that he an eight-time Mr. Olympia would perhaps present a ninth Sandow to me. But I thank God he put Lee there that day, not to hand me a trophy, but to basically save my life and career. People say there are angels everywhere, and on that day Lee was pretty much my angel.”
FINAL WORD
Of Lee Haney, Ronnie Coleman says, First of all I think Lee is the best bodybuilder of all time, because he won the Olympia a record eight times [and unlike me] never lost the title. But when I think of Lee I think not just of a man up there flexing and winning trophies. I see a man of God, a man of faith, a man taking care of his family and his family supporting him 1000 percent as he does his thing. We’re so lucky to have this man, exemplifying talent and goodness, as part of our community,”
So Mrs. Haney’s little boy turned 56 on Veteran’s Day. How apt that a man renowned for his aura of decency, sense of goodness, faith and dedication to core values should be born on Veteran’s Day, on which the best and most noble attributes of the human spirit are celebrated. Happy birthday, Lee. Thank you so much for all you do and continue to do for the sport.
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