

I still can’t believe how sharp his memory and attention to detail was. He was always showing support and there was no denying that bodybuilding was his life. I know he was head of security at one and maybe was at the other to show support. The last time I saw Andy was back in Pittsburgh for either the TCM Nats or the North Americans in 2019. For most of us, that level of candor would require digging deep and probably choosing our words carefully, but Andy was an open book. Whenever he was asked a question, you could tell the answer was from the heart.

When i interviewed Andy, he showed StrengthAddicts the same level of interest that he did MD, RX, or any of the big websites of that time. On the flipside, when it comes to the interview with the local paper, the rockstar might be late, give crappy answers, look bored and probably just not care – like really not care. They want the millions who see it, to be floored by the rockstar’s rebel without a cause spin to life. Chances are, the rockstar will dress up, wear cool threads, and go out of their way to look like they don’t care, but really do, for MTV.
Andy haman bodybuilder free#
One interview is with MTV and the other interview is with a local free newspaper. For example, let’s say you’re a rockstar and you have two interviews scheduled for a given day. You can always tell if the person really has their heart in it or not. It’s one thing to do an interview, but it’s quite another to show that interview real importance. When you have a superstar on that level, taking the time and showing the interest that he showed, that really validates a journalist’s work. One of my favorite guys to interview was Andy Haman. I had done little interviews, here and there, since 2008, but those two years in Columbus, OH, gave me the foundation for everything that would come. If he got burned, he got burned, but he worked his ass off and he always went the extra mile because that’s the kind of guy he was. But Andy invested all his faith into his word – and – their word. I even remember telling him that that could be dicey, especially given how unpredictable the industry was becoming. They had a guy who never asked for a contract, who did everything based on a handshake, and no matter how many times the company restructured, he always had his spot. If, let’s say, you didn’t have any goals, he’d press you a bit, to see what it was you really wanted to achieve. The conversations weren’t rooted primarily on chitchat he wanted to know about your family, your trials and tribulations, and what your goals were.


That’s what being a champion is all about it’s not about flaunting what you have – whether that be material wealth, physical strength, or anything else.Īndy talked to his fans like one would talk to an old friend and that interaction, no matter how short, made a lasting impression. Maybe the viewer was never going to incline press 500lbs for reps, but they were going to feel like they could, through hard work and perseverance. He incorporated humor as a way to cut the tension and keep things relaxed. I think a lot of people saw how strong Andy was, but many didn’t realize he’d spent a lifetime getting up to these impressive numbers. The Haman’s were all about healthy eating and longevity. He was honest and goodhearted he truly cared about his fans and he wanted to make a difference through fitness. He was one of the few guys whose personality, and overall demeanor, wasn’t affected by the camera. Whenever I’d see him, whether at the Arnold Classic or local shows, we’d always talk and share some laughs. He was a real friend to me when I was first getting started doing event coverage.
