Bikers,Flintstones Vitamins and Back on the Horse!

This begins part 3- Life was flowing at a quick and interesting rate. I was staying at Doug's apartment and working in his gym. Later I would drive 20 minutes to Dancing Gymnast and help Kurt train our newly picked team.Diane was still in California consulting on a movie. I was beginning to see the makings of a career here. I had worked at gymnastics camps before, but never with the same gymnasts day after day. It was amazing to see them learn so fast. We would work all day then go to Kurt's apartment and study films of the best gymnasts in the world. We would drink Meisterbrau and watch each skill over and over in slow motion. Kurt would make comments, like "Checkout that flip flop(back handspring)is that pure power or what?" or "Look at the late timing on those giants. That's the latest tap I've ever seen.It's no wonder he flies." In the beginning it all looked pretty much the same. After weeks of watching the same tapes over and over again I began to see what Kurt was talking about. When we were in the gym a strange thing began to happen. Time flew by and my desire to do gymnastics returned. When the kids were finishing their strength training Kurt and I would begin to tumble.(The following descriptions may confuse those not familiar with gymnastics)Kurt would warm up with a layout and go right into double backs and full in back outs. I hadn't yet learned to do a double back on floor. I scored decently in college with a double twisting layout. Kurt had never competed.I swallowed my pride and asked him if he would teach me how to tumble. He frown at me and said "Why would I want to do that? For that matter why do you?" I said "Well, working with these kids, watching videos all night and seeing you tumble circles around me is waking something up in me." Kurt laughed saying "Well you better just put it right back to sleep." Sensing I was serious he said"Are you willing to do what I tell you without arguing?" Like a kid getting his hopes up, I said "Yes! You say it and I'll do it." Kurt said " O.k. run down there and do a double back right now. I said "Without a spot?" Kurt sneered and said "Sure I could do with watching a human sacrifice" I got pissed and snapped back " You think I can't do it. O.k. you're right I can't, but that doesn't mean I'm not capable of learning one." Kurt replied glibly "Look at you! You're a ringman big and strong, not quick and bouncy! Why do you want to tumble? Besides you a big guy, I can't spot you." I walked away saying "Whatever! I heard you could be a dick, but this is the first time I've actually met a spineless one." I put my gear away and went out to my 450Honda Hawk. I jumped on the starter revved it up and left to go to Doug's gym. As he would say "Got the hell out of Dodge." He had just come back from the clinic he was at. The 20 miute ride took me 10. It was almost 10pm and everyone was headed home. Doug asked me if I wanted to sta and swing some pipe(high bar). Doug was a former ncaa high bar champion. Everyone loved to watch him swing. He then said " Kurt called saying you'd want to train, so he's on his way too." Oh great! Just who I wanted to see. Doug sat beside me and started to stretch and said "I think I'm going to compete in Farmingdale this year. Do you want to train with us? I'm trying to get Kurt to compete for the first time. Can you believe that?" I asked " Did he say he wanted to?" Doug grinned slyly saying "Well, sort of the same way you asked me to learn how to swing high bar remember?" Oh boy did I remember! You see when I got to college I told the coaching staff I would do everything except high bar. The year before I watched my best friend Steve Scandale break his neck and die on a dismount. Everyone respected my wishes. Everyone but Doug that is. One day he called me in to the gym early and told me in his best fake mexican accent. "Listen to me god dammit! I didn't give a shit what you want to do or don't do. Junno know who I am god dammit?I am going to make you swing high bar or put my boot up your pussy ass god dammit!" I laughed because Doug was half my size and a lot weaker. He responded "You think that's funny ring boy? It's not me who's going to do the ass kicking Holmes. It's your little tiny roommate Signor McRae, who has offered to do the honors." Kevin(just picture Apollo Creed) had just walked in to the gym. I said "See ya!" and ran my scared ass out of there and hid in the cafe. Peeking out the window I saw them climbing the steps . I tried to run out the emergency exit, but they caught me and dragged me back to the gym. I begged and pleaded, but they dragged me up on the high bar and literally carried me around the bar. My hands barely even touched it. This went on everyday instead of lunch until I finally felt safe enough to swing with only one spotter. Getting back to Dougs' gym I felt a sinister pleasure at the prospect of Dougie putting Mr. Sulkala in his place. Kurt walks in takes of his shoes and starts tumbling into the pit. Doug joins him and finally I do too. This began a long training tradition that lasted for over 10 years. Yes Kurt did compete. Yes, I learned and competed a double back in the pike position no less. Between Kurt and Doug I became one of the most successful junior national coaches in the country. Between us we put more than half of the olympic team for men and woman. My gymnastics career soared beyond what I thought possible. I see the need for a part 4 so I will quickly explain the photos. The first is of a gymnastics pit. The same as I trained in at Dougs. The second is a glimpse of what I looked like at my prime. Pommel horse became one of my best events, along with tumbling. The third is the first national commercial I did(Flintstone vitamins). I was the the ring guy at the end if you remember the commercial. I took the money from that and other commercials and built a gym with Diane changing the name to Deer Park Gymnastics. The last is a picture of the biker gang who freely voluteered to build the new gym. I will elaborate more on these events in part 4. Thank you . Jody