Who here met Arnold Schwarzenegger?

[NorwegianMuscle]

None. Him and maybe 2-3 who are there lifting with him.

Oh wow! He was surrounded with black suits in a circle with there backs to the table and they stopped us. I wonder who they were?

 

[solarsentinel1]

After leaving Law Enforcement in Los Angeles, I lived in this world for a little while so my educated guess is that Arnold likely has a private security detail as a lot of famous Hollywood types do.

Private security details are usually former police officers or members of the military...so they often look the part (broad shoulders, dark suit, crew cut, etc). Depending on who they are protecting and the circumstances surrounding them at the time, their attitude can be anything from chill and laid back just part of the crowd to extremely visible and highly aggressive. Ironically, the big scariest looking bodyguards are usually patient and pretty nice, its the average height, slim, nothing special looking but former Special Ops guys that will light you up.

When Arnold was Governor of CA, he had security from a Division of the California Highway Patrol called DPS (Dignitary Protection Section).

Dignitary Protection Section

www.chp.ca.gov

The Secret Service is part of the Federal Government and protects the President, Vice President, and some of their family members. In certain circumstances the Speaker of the House and others in line for succession, and visiting foreign dignitaries also have Secret Service protection. Sometimes other federal officials will receive it upon request if there is reason to believe they are targeted for harm (such as a Senator, Congressmen, or Federal Judge who may have received a threat).

I know it may seem counterintuitive for a large and athletic man like Arnold to hire security protection, when he was in his prime, but it is not unusual at all. Once someone achieves enough fame most will seek out either full time protective details or at least security for specific circumstances and occasions. Even most boxers and UFC champions will have a detail because what they are protecting against is not some random dude who wants to have sparring match.
They are paying to be protected from stalkers, people with serious mental problems, fame seekers, and especially people looking to start something hoping it will result in a law suit in their favor. (If Arnold's bodyguard slaps and pushes you..... it's not going to have the same legal / financial risks as Arnold slapping and pushing you).

If they contract with some of the higher echelon companies their bodyguards are licensed to concealed carry with reciprocity between most states and in many cases in foreign countries. It is now becoming very popular for many of them to also deploy personal protection K9 Teams.

Anyhow...probably more than anyone cares to know, but thought I'd offer it up.

 

[LK3]

i never met arnold but i did bounce in a bar that bushes daughter went to sometimes. i didnt know who she was and the secret service were not dressed in black suits. plain clothes very discreet, the only reason i knew they were there is because i was told, some pointed out and was told who got special treatment, in through the back door, not searched and was told be careful as there a bunch of guys hidden with guns who dont fuck around. lol

i my experience high level pros are generally unseen until they need to be seen. famous people who put on show are the ones with a bunch of goons dressed black.

 

[solarsentinel1]

i never met arnold but i did bounce in a bar that bushes daughter went to sometimes. i didnt know who she was and the secret service were not dressed in black suits. plain clothes very discreet, the only reason i knew they were there is because i was told, some pointed out and was told who got special treatment, in through the back door, not searched and was told be careful as there a bunch of guys hidden with guns who dont fuck around. lol

i my experience high level pros are generally unseen until they need to be seen. famous people who put on show are the ones with a bVunch of goons dressed black.

 

[solarsentinel1]

100% true.

Experienced security pros usually advise their potectees and for themselves to be as "blended in" as possible.

Even when you see the big "goons" dressed in black..... if it is truly someone important like an elected official or foreign dignitary, rest assured there are a handful of very normal looking average joes very close by quite prepared to act.

To LK3's point there are some protectees who like being the center of attention and against the strong protests of their security detail they insist that they and their guards stand out. I have known two professionals who quit gigs over these sorts of unsafe demands from their client.

 

[Dawgpound_Hank]

I met him at a book signing of Arnold: Education of a Bodybuilder at a Lazarus Dept store in Columbus, OH back in '77 or '78. I was around 15 y.o. You guys gotta remember the guy is pushing 80 y.o - at that age, it's not uncommon to have lost 2" in height easily. So if he was around 6'1 in his prime (6'1.5 was his supposed measured height, not 6'2 as often listed), it's completely normal for him to be 5'11 now. One can see him being at least 6'1 in his prime is easy to believe via many pics of him with others back in the day who were 6'0 or over, ie, Carl Weathers, George Bush Sr, Mike Katz, Draper, Nubret, etc etc, not to mention how he towered over guys 5'9/5'10 like Zane, Oliva, Pearl and Tinnerino.

 

[Samson250]

I met him at a book signing of Arnold: Education of a Bodybuilder at a Lazarus Dept store in Columbus, OH back in '77 or '78. I was around 15 y.o.

That’s awesome!