Gladiator: A True Story of 'Roids, Rage, And Redemption by Dan Clark, aka Nitro, star of the original "American Gladiators" televison phenomena

"These days, when I hear someone say, 'Big boys don't cry,' I hear a voice inside me answer, 'I know. But men do.'" This is a lesson it took 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 addiction.

"Gladiator: A True Story of 'Roids, Rage, And Redemption" by Dan Clark, aka Nitro, star of the original "American Gladiators" television phenomena, is an engrossing tale of Clark's journey into the glitter and glamour of fame and the depths of hell due to self-torment over his brother's death when he was a child and the addiction and abuse of steroids that consumed his life for over twenty years. The book pulls you in as Clark shares his highs with stories of fame, excitement, sex, and money, along with the tales of the darker times of pain, vomiting, fighting, and depression.

As millions cheered the popular "American Gladiators" star, who had games and toys modeled after him, little did they know about the nights of pissing blood, sticking needles, consuming handfuls of pills, getting arrested, growing breasts, and the bloodied fights with friends and others that left both emotional and physical scars.

Clark pulls no punches with the highs or lows. Candid observations such as, "Everyone thinks it would be great to have sex with a port star. Well, let me tell you something. . . It is." And the lows such as telling his son when caught injecting steroids and asked if Daddy is sick, "Yes. . . daddy's sick. Go back to bed, so he can take his medicine. I am sick. I need help. . . I catch sight of myself in the mirror. Haggard. Tired. Ashamed." A few paragraphs later he continues, "I hope, after this, my son will still love me. I hope. . . he will forget."

I enjoyed reading Clark's story. It was well written and keeps you interested from the beginning to end. I couldn't help but think of the interview I conducted years ago with the late legendary bodybuilder/actor Steve Reeves. Reeves was vehemently against steroid use, and one of the influences that kept me from trying them when younger, even when I saw others increasing their size and strength faster than me with their use. Reading "Gladiator" made me very happy that I never went down that road, because knowing myself, I could easily have drifted into some of the same negative circles Clark found himself in. I hope this book helps keep others from straying down that path.

I also found it refreshing that Clark takes full responsibility for everything that happened. Too many want to blame the system. Blame the environment. Too many want to blame anyone or anything other than themselves. Clark admits, "Each and every time I took a steroid, it was my decision. My fault. No one is to blame but me." He goes on to say, "I'm glad I made the mistake. So maybe others won't have to."

In the Epilogue, he does try to present a positive anti-drug message based on his own nightmare. He wants to see more testing, punishment of offenders, and the education of the next generation of possible steroid users/abusers about the harmful side effects and addictive potential of steroids. He knows it will be difficult, because no one wants to hear the truth, just as he didn't when he was taking them. I applaud Clark for telling his story and attempting to use his tragic experiences to help others. This is a very good book, and I sincerely hope that it does keep others from straying down that path. Clark's final words in the Epilogue say it all, "Don't let this be your story or the story of your child."




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