Chris Aceto muistelee:
http://www.getbig.com/boards/index.php?topic=31819.0
"I'll Miss You Paul.
by Chris Aceto
Editor’s Note Chris skipped his usual training info this month to remember one of the all-time greats; Paul Demayo
Friday morning I was sitting with Chris Cook in his room at the Toronto Pro show. The topic of discussion - my favorite- how it takes a very strong person to make it in the sport of bodybuilding. It’s a head game. We were also talking about talented bodybuilders. I brought up Paul DeMayo’s name. Two hours later, my cell phone rang. “Chris, Paul Demayo died.” I took the news as readily and easily as a waiter had just told me he was out of diet coke. Would you mind diet Pepsi? In other words, it didn’t seem to bother me. Which bothered me. I just couldn’t wrap my mind around it. Or, I went into denial, something I am pretty good at; simply reflecting bad news. I’m not sure if it was the contest that weekend that was on my mind, or the fact that I, like many, new Paul had some issues and was only half surprised at the terrible turn of events
Flying back to Maine, I started to think about Paul. And started to cry, When I caught myself, or tried to keep myself from crying aloud, it got worse. I couldn’t stop. I couldn’t stop from thinking about one of the best bodybuilders I had ever known. A great person – truly with a good heart - and an incredible sense of humor. Paul and I met in 1989. He came to my apartment in Massachusetts where I was going to College. He was preparing for the Jr Nationals and had asked if I could help. I recall being completely in awe of his arms and quads and very pleasantly surprised that he had no ego. Really. None. He was so pleasant to be around. He was young- I think 20- and I told him right off, “Paul you are going to be one of the best pro’s ever. Even if you don’t win this show, you’re going to do major damage in the future so just be prepared to go with the flow these coming two years. I think the first year I ended up overdieting him and he got 7th. The next year he got 3rd, A guy with skinny legs and a heck of an upper body got second. His name was Flex. Yes that Flex. The following year, Paul made a ton of improvements. He looked nuts and won the Jr’s. At that show, we were seeing the true beginning of greatness. The kid got sick as hell the night before. Puked his guts up, only to be cracking jokes 30 minutes later. He also was very helpful to a couple of bodybuilders in the show who hadn’t quite hit their peak. He was concerned for them both and asked me if there was anyway to help them “Cuz they’re good guys,” said Paul in that one-of-a-kind thick Boston accent. At the weigh in, Paul looked like a Mr Olympia contender – just check out pictures. That weekend JM Manion took that now famous side tricep shot which is still one of the best shots ever by anyone, anywhere. So I am telling Paul, “I guarantee you are going to win, No One can beat you! ( I get a little crazy and biased contest time). What’s Paul say? “Yea Chris, no one can beat me but this freak.” I thought he was kidding. He wasn’t. Weighing in right before him was someone with a bus load of fans. They had all driven up from Maryland. This kid looked like he fake delts. He went onto be sort of famous. I think his name was Levrone- something like that. I just remember the delts. “My God Chris,” Says Paul, “I show up looking like a freak and this kid comes out of completely no where. I got the luck of the Red Sox.”
Paul went on to win the nationals much later and had, like lots of people, a lot of issues. He was the type who actually liked other bodybuilders. He specifically always talked about Dillet, Wheeler, and Cormier. He admired their physiques. He also use to brag about Mike Matarazzo before Mike hit it bigtime. He was a jokester too. Cracking jokes right up til prejudging at shows and non stop at other times during the year when he wasn’t so focused on competition. He was incredibly likable because he didn’t take himself too seriously. He was kind and always would ask other people how they are doing – and remembered, very often, little personal things others may have once told him about themselves. He was a throwback really. Almost like a bodybuilder from Arnold’s era. Fun loving.
That’s my small little insight on Paul. Sort of my own eulogy. I am sure Paul’s family and friends are completely stunned, hurt and terribly saddened at his death. There’s nothing I can write here to make anything better. It’s even challenging to write anything about him. To do him justice – to say what would need to be said for people to understand what a good guy he really was – would take 100 pages. 200, 300. Or More. You can’t capture in words, the real type of guy he was- deep down. I like a lot of people who knew him as a bodybuilder, and friend, – will miss him. However, I’ll get over it in time. People always do. Even friends. But, I’d imagine his family will not. I can not imagine for a second how much they must miss him. Because they know Paul intimately. The real Paul. One of the best."
