Gladiator - A True Story of 'Roids, Rage, and Redemption by Dan Clark, aka Nitro

"These days, when I hear someone say, 'big boys do not cry, " I hear a voice within me answer:' I know. But people do. '"This is what Dan Clark many years of searching to discover, and the final words of the last chapter in this riveting and candid account of his life, career, and steroid dependence.

"Gladiator: the true story of 'roids, Rage and redemption, " Dan Clark, aka Nitro, star of the original "American Gladiators" television phenomenon, is the engrossing story of Clark's trip to the glitter and glamor of fame and the depths of hell because of the self -torment over his brother's death when he was a child and drug and steroid abuse that consumed his life for more than twenty years. The book pulls you like Clark shares his highs with stories about the glory, excitement, sex and money, along with tales of a darker time, pain, vomiting, fighting, and depression.

As millions cheered the popular "American Gladiators" star, which is games and toys modeled on it, they knew little about the night pissing blood, sticking needles, alcohol hand pills, getting arrested, grow breasts, and bloody fights with friends and others who have left and the emotional and physical scars.

Clark pulls no punches with the highs and lows. Sincere remarks like: "Everyone thought it would be great to have sexual intercourse with a star port. Well, let me tell you something ... It is." And laws, such as telling his son when he caught injecting steroids and asked if Dad was sick, "Yeah ... Dad is sick. go back to bed, so he can take his medication. I'm sick. I need help. .. I see myself in the mirror. Haggard. tired. "shame. a few paragraphs later he continues:" Hopefully, after that, my son will still love me. ... I hope you will forget ."

I enjoyed reading the story, Clark. It is well written and keeps you interested from beginning to end. I could not help but think of the interview I spent years with the late legendary bodybuilder / actor Steve Reeves. Reeves was vehemently against steroids, and one of the influences that kept me from trying them when younger, even when I saw what others are increasing their size and strength faster than me with their use. Reading "Gladiator, " which made ​​me very happy that I did not go down that road, because I knew I could easily have drifted into some of the same negative circles Clark found himself in. I hope this book helps people to wander down that path .

I also found it refreshing that Clark takes full responsibility for what happened. Too many want to blame the system. The wrong environment. Too many want to blame anyone or anything except themselves. Clark admits, "Every time I took steroids, it's my decision. my mistake. No one to blame but myself." He goes on to say: "I'm glad I made ​​a mistake. So maybe others will have to ."

In the epilogue, he does not try to present a positive anti-drug message on the basis of their nightmare. He wants to see more testing, education and punishment of perpetrators of the next generation of possible steroid use by drug side effects and addictive potential of steroids. He knows it will be difficult, because nobody wants to hear the truth, as it is not when he was taking them. I welcome Clark to tell her story and trying to use their tragic experiences to help others. This is a very good book, and I sincerely hope that this would not have others from wandering down that path. Clark's closing words in the epilogue to say it all: "Do not let this be your story or story about your child ."