Okay, has anyone else seen this kid? I was out in Los Angeles last week and caught something on tv about him ... including interviews with "fans" who are inspired by his work ethic. Meanwhile - and not for nothing - they were as overweight as they could be. Which is fine, except that they kept spouting about how he was so amazing and inspiring.

It's so gross. This cannot be healthy for a young, developing kid either.

Be warned. It ain't pleasant:
Little Hercules ... eeeeew

That is frightening.

I saw a little bit on TLC about him. I couldn't watch the rest. It was a bit disturbing.

[ April 01, 2005, 12:19 PM: Message edited by: Allen ]

I have no idea what to say--I find it very unnerving that parents would parade their 9 year old kid off in this manner

makes the Ramseys almost look normal

Right? It amazes me that no protestors have popped up to rally against this child abuse? (Which, yes, I do think it is.) I mean - people have no problem sticking their nose in the Schaivo case or protesting a gay pride march - so where are all the annoying people with no life to protest this?

Maybe I should stop by the drug store and pick up some poster board and a sharpie ...

It's so gross. My dad always told me when I was young that you couldn't work out before you were a teenager because you'd risk permanently damaging your growing muscles.

There was a news item about Richard Sandrak on 20/20 or Primetime or one of those shows about three weeks ago. In fact he and his mother were abused (beaten) by his father, who is now incarcerated, for years. It told of how he was kept from having friends as his father used him to make money, touring around the country making appearances and posing at bodybuilding shows. His father mixed up special shakes which provided most of Richard's nutrition during those years, but no one really knows what was in them. Of course the speculation is that there were steriods.

Now, Richard is 12 years old. In the interview he came off as highly intelligent, and spoke openly about his father and that whole experience. Under court order, he is not allowed to lift weights now, but he still practices martial arts and excercises daily. Although he still has a 6-pack, most of his extreme musculature is gone, and he looks very healthy. And he has friends now. It has a happy ending.

As far as working out at a young age being healthy, I don't know about weightlifting, but look at all the kids that are in gymnastics, wrestling, martial arts, etc.

Yeah, I meant more weightlifting.

Thanks for the information, MaxAllen! I'm actually very happy to read that.

how in the hell could you give your 9 year old kid steroids

that's evil