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Got this from a website. A bit of the interview with Danny "The Giant Killer" Padilla.
[ Q ] In the 70s, when you were among the best bodybuilders in the world, who did you class as being a truly great bodybuilder? Why?
The Greatest was Arnold. He was the first tall guy who had almost a complete physique and back then this was unheard of. Today Arnold still continues to grow as a person and has done a lot for bodybuilding. Sergio Olivia I have to mention because to me he was probably one of the greatest bodybuilders pound-for-pound that anyone has ever seen.
[ Q ] Were things really different back in the 70s in terms of bodybuilding? In what way?
The guys were different. Then we did argue, but if anyone needed help we were there for each other. Today it is a little different. Its dog a eat dog world.
Back then we did it for the love of the sport. Yeah, we made money but nothing compared to what guys get today.
So I guess that's why it’s more cut throat than it was then. Also, it was little more fun. Now the guys are bigger, maybe even better than we were, but some of the physiques are kind of ugly.
It’s just part of the era, these guys are huge, cut up with big guts, just a new era with bodybuilding and part of what is going on with bodybuilding today.
[ Q ] The physiques certainly have changed. Who do you consider to be the best bodybuilder competing today? Why?
Today would be Ronnie Coleman, he is phenomenal because he is big, cut and most importantly, symmetrical.
[ Q ] Who in terms of bodybuilding served to inspire you when you were first starting out? Why?
Dave Draper was the first bodybuilder to inspire me because I was able to meet him in NY in my career. He was so very humble, a soft spoken guy who was strong and huge and an inspiration. Then when I met Sergio and Arnold it was also great, they both had a strong effect on me.
[ Q ] In your opinion, what are the main benefits of adhering to a bodybuilding program?
One of the main benefits of bodybuilding I think is that it is like a fountain of youth. I’m 53-year-old guy, hair isn’t grey and all in all I’m in pretty good condition.
Yeah, I have had some off-time due to open heart surgery but I recovered quickly because I was in good condition. I had good muscle tone.
[ Q ] These sound like excellent reasons for beginning a bodybuilding program. What advice would you give someone starting up in bodybuilding?
My advice for those starting out is to stay away from bodybuilding shows early in your career because everyone always wants you to compete.
You are better off building your body with the basic exercises (squats, benches, rows, dead lifts) to try and build your strength while making sure you build a complete body. Also, don’t take your entire life and surround it with bodybuilding. Theres family and education, which are both very important.
[ Q ] Excellent advice Danny. Where are you living at the moment? What is the bodybuilding scene like there?
I am living in Rochester at the moment and the bodybuilding scene isn’t too bad. We have a couple of professionals in the area, George Farah and Bob Chicerillo, who are coming up in the sport and they kind of got the Rochester area jumping around a bit. Rochester is a quiet little town, not really a hard core bodybuilding town as CA and FL are but it serves my purpose.
[ Q ] In the 70s, when you were among the best bodybuilders in the world, who did you class as being a truly great bodybuilder? Why?
The Greatest was Arnold. He was the first tall guy who had almost a complete physique and back then this was unheard of. Today Arnold still continues to grow as a person and has done a lot for bodybuilding. Sergio Olivia I have to mention because to me he was probably one of the greatest bodybuilders pound-for-pound that anyone has ever seen.
[ Q ] Were things really different back in the 70s in terms of bodybuilding? In what way?
The guys were different. Then we did argue, but if anyone needed help we were there for each other. Today it is a little different. Its dog a eat dog world.
Back then we did it for the love of the sport. Yeah, we made money but nothing compared to what guys get today.
So I guess that's why it’s more cut throat than it was then. Also, it was little more fun. Now the guys are bigger, maybe even better than we were, but some of the physiques are kind of ugly.
It’s just part of the era, these guys are huge, cut up with big guts, just a new era with bodybuilding and part of what is going on with bodybuilding today.
[ Q ] The physiques certainly have changed. Who do you consider to be the best bodybuilder competing today? Why?
Today would be Ronnie Coleman, he is phenomenal because he is big, cut and most importantly, symmetrical.
[ Q ] Who in terms of bodybuilding served to inspire you when you were first starting out? Why?
Dave Draper was the first bodybuilder to inspire me because I was able to meet him in NY in my career. He was so very humble, a soft spoken guy who was strong and huge and an inspiration. Then when I met Sergio and Arnold it was also great, they both had a strong effect on me.
[ Q ] In your opinion, what are the main benefits of adhering to a bodybuilding program?
One of the main benefits of bodybuilding I think is that it is like a fountain of youth. I’m 53-year-old guy, hair isn’t grey and all in all I’m in pretty good condition.
Yeah, I have had some off-time due to open heart surgery but I recovered quickly because I was in good condition. I had good muscle tone.
[ Q ] These sound like excellent reasons for beginning a bodybuilding program. What advice would you give someone starting up in bodybuilding?
My advice for those starting out is to stay away from bodybuilding shows early in your career because everyone always wants you to compete.
You are better off building your body with the basic exercises (squats, benches, rows, dead lifts) to try and build your strength while making sure you build a complete body. Also, don’t take your entire life and surround it with bodybuilding. Theres family and education, which are both very important.
[ Q ] Excellent advice Danny. Where are you living at the moment? What is the bodybuilding scene like there?
I am living in Rochester at the moment and the bodybuilding scene isn’t too bad. We have a couple of professionals in the area, George Farah and Bob Chicerillo, who are coming up in the sport and they kind of got the Rochester area jumping around a bit. Rochester is a quiet little town, not really a hard core bodybuilding town as CA and FL are but it serves my purpose.
