Take it from the bullied Belarusian: Andrei Arlovski and winning in front of someone else’s home crowd

Every father hopes for a son that would take the ropes and soon fulfill his athletic aspirations. However, this was not the case with Andrei Arlovski’s father for his own kid was a scrawny little one.
Yes, Andrei Arlovski, former Ultimate Fighting Championship Heavyweight Champion and known as “The Pit Bull,” was not one of the fiercest kids at school.

It was actually the opposite.

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Unfortunately, although he wasn’t the studious-type, he did not manage to escape the inevitable fate every underdog has to experience before receiving the glory: He was bullied, and he had to wait 14 long years to retaliate. When he turned 15, he decided to lift weights and gain some unimaginable pounds—and learn the nasty art of fist fighting and bone smashing.

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He eventually became a feared warrior in the octagon. Representing his native land Belorussia, he knocked every opponent that came his way, be it a fellow Soviet or an outsider. Then, after three years, fueled by a bully story he himself has experienced and inspired by a Belarusian stimulation, he went to America and continued beating the present bullies of the league—Ian Freeman, Vladimir Matyushenko, Paul Buentello, and his archrival, Tim Sylvia—in front of their respective home crowds, humiliating them with his blood-smeared fist apiece, with victory.

His success landed him on a TV show and a straight-to-DVD movie; the latter casts him as a villain with the angsts (countenance-wise, at least) of a bully-beater, while the former showcases him as a bullying victim and survivor, giving out anti-bullying lessons and mixed martial moves on counterattacking approaching adversaries.

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Brad Pyatt’s company website offers more information about mixed martial arts and athleticism.

Awesome pro athletes turned CEOs

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A career in sports won’t last forever. Athletes may be the pillar of endurance and athleticism in their heydays, but as the years pass by, they may suffer from major injuries or may need to retire from the active lifestyle because of old age.

While not a few athletes have been unfortunate to retire without a penny in the bank, there are those who have invested their money on business ventures and have succeeded.

The following are four of the most popular sportsmen who have made an impressive career shift from being athletes to entrepreneurs:

Oscar De La Hoya, the “Golden Boy” of boxing, is an Olympic gold medal winner and the youngest boxer ever to win five world titles. Today, he owns 50 percent of the international boxing management company Golden Boy Promotions, which generates more than $100 million annually, according to CNBC.com.

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American basketball legend Michael Jordan is considered as the best player in the history of basketball. His gravity-defying stunts in the court have earned him the title “Air Jordan.” Most remembered for playing for the Chicago Bulls, he is the current owner of the basketball team Charlotte Bobcats. He is also the spokesperson for Nike’s Air Jordan sneakers.

Legendary skateboarder Tony Hawk started his game at the age of 12 and became a professional at 14. He won 73 professional skateboarding competitions during his career and has made more than 80 tricks. After retirement, he founded two skateboarding companies, Birdhouse and Hawk Clothing. He also created the best-selling Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater Video game (in partnership with Activision).

Brad Pyatt is a former National Football League player who played for Indianapolis Colts and Miami Dolphins. After his four-year career in the NFL, he founded MusclePharm, a nutritional supplements company, which has grown at an average annual growth rate of 626 percent since its inception in 2008, making him one of the youngest pro athletes-turned-entrepreneurs at the age of 32.

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MusclePharm’s official website provides more information on Brad Pyatt’s career shift, as well as a complete list of its products.

Avoiding deficiencies: Nutrition tips for vegetarian athletes

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While many athletes, such as Manny Pacquiao and Brad Pyatt, normally include meat and fish in their diet, there are others who prefer vegan discipline.

Athletes like the aforementioned are required to maintain a balanced diet to keep their bodies in shape and make them deliver high-quality performance. In most cases, protein is a staple on their diet. However, there are a number of athletes who choose vegetarian lifestyle, making it hard for them to eat meat, the most common source of protein.

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The following are basic food recommendations for vegetarian athletes to help them avoid deficiencies and meet protein (among other nutrients) requirements without the need to deviate from their vegan diet:

• Low-fat dairy products and plants, like soy, are excellent alternative sources of protein. Heme iron, which is normally found in animal protein, can also be obtained from plant-based food items, such as wholegrain cereals, leafy green vegetables, figs, lentils and kidney beans, and some dried fruits.

• Ascorbic acid, commonly known as Vitamin C, is another required nutrient for athletes. Citrus fruits and Vitamin C-rich vegetables help synthesize non-heme iron from other foods. Hence, it is ideal to have a serving of citrus juice or vegetable salad in combination with iron-fortified wholegrain cereal or beans.

• Vitamin B12, a nutrient crucial in blood formation, is one of the most common nutrients missing from the diets of vegetarian athletes since it is only available in animal products. To get enough of this nutrient, B12-fortified foods like soymilk and cereal can be eaten and added to one’s meal.

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For more information on sports nutrition, log on to www.musclepharm.com.