makaveli25
VET
- Joined
- Oct 7, 2007
- Messages
- 1,279
Victor Martinez is an awesome force of nature.
He's all smiles welcoming visitors to his "Muscle Maker Grill" in Edgewater, while constantly scanning the funky new joint for improvements. He's also about to begin training for what he hopes will be the fulfillment of a lifelong dream -- winning the Mr. Olympia title.
Yet you wouldn't know by looking at him that the world-famous bodybuilder is doing this with a horrifying memory still fresh in mind.
Last weekend, the decomposed corpse of Victor's missing sister was found stuffed into the airshaft of a downtown Manhattan office building, her face wrapped in duct tape, a gold crucifix pinned to her mouth. Martinez, 38, was the only family member with the strength to identify Eridania Rodriguez's body at a Manhattan coroner's office.
Now, he says, "I can't get that picture of her out of my mind."
Victor Martinez
Detectives believe the 46-year-old mother of three was killed by Joseph Pabon, an elevator operator who they said had scratches on his neck, hands and arms, as well as other bruises associated with a struggle, when they interviewed him.
Cops are tailing Pabon -- who has prior charges of choking his girlfriend and smashing her window with a bowling ball -- while awaiting results of DNA tests from Eridania's body. (UPDATE: Police arrest Pabon)
Despite the horror, Martinez still speaks softly, still sees what needs to be done to help his budding health food restaurant thrive. And he's ready to launch into full-time training this week at the nearby Can Do fitness center -- twice a day, six days a week -- for the September Mr. Olympia competition.
"I'm not going to say it hasn't been difficult," Martinez said, as workers in "Muscle Maker Grill" t-shirts hustled around him preparing for last night's "soft" launch. The official grand opening -- expected to attract athletes and celebrities -- is in early August.
Eridania was "the one to always cook all my meals before competitions. She was always there, always supporting me," he said. "When I was in training, she told her husband, 'You have to wait until I can cook for Victor.'
"To open a business now and to get ready [for the competition] without her here...," he said, his voice trailing off.
"Everyday life can get in the way of whatever you're trying to do. But when you have responsibilities, you have to detach. I have to put my family back together. I have to do this for her."
The eclectic family -- extremely large but closely knit -- includes four of Martinez's own children, two of whom are autistic, as well four nieces and nephews whose mother was just murdered.
It's an enormous obligation to suddenly become the clan's pillar, even with that perfectly V-shaped upper body -- and to fulfill his duties as official representative of the nationwide Muscle Maker Grill chain, which hopes to make Martinez's River Road eatery a cornerstone of its area business.
At the same time, the bodybuilding community is waiting to see whether Victor can bounce back from the knee injury come September, or whether the family tragedy will still be fresh enough to throw him off.
Don't count on it. You see, there's something about Victor that only those close to him understand: He has beaten adversity before, and if anything brings out the blinders-on focus of this mild-mannered manchild, it's a challenge.
Two years ago, his and Eridania's mother died right before a Mr. Olympia competition. Martinez went on to finish second, in what was considered an extremely controversial decision.
Soon after, Martinez tore a tendon in his knee. Many in the bodybuilding world thought he was finished.
But he knew better.
Victor went at his therapy aggressively, flexing the piece of plastic that replaced his tendon into a springy, pliable asset. He also spent time running in the pool -- "at least trying to, anyway," he said with a laugh.
eridania
Eridania Rodriguez
Earlier this week, services were held for Eridania in Washington Heights. Hours before, Victor Martinez was quietly stocking a refrigerator case at his eatery with sports drinks, making sure everything was in the right place, looking around to see whether he'd missed anything.
"He just keeps going, no matter what. He refuses to be brought down," says his business partner, Ande Taylor, who keeps a close eye on the technical and logistical ends of the operation. "He constantly takes whatever is thrown at him and uses it as the catalyst to rise above."
If you don't know him, you might mistake the thoughtful Martinez as brooding. But tell a joke, or mention children, and his smile bursts like fireworks.
"Every day I'm working toward my goal [of winning the title]," he said. "I've been working for this for the last 18 years."
Yet there's a loop that must be closed.
Family members, all of whom live with or near one anther in the Inwood section of Washington Heights, returned Eridania's body to their native Dominican Republic for burial. But Victor stayed behind.
"I'm not leaving until I see them lock [Pabon] up for what he did to my sister," he said, as his partner kept the staff hopping.
After posing for some photos, Victor politely excused himself so he could mingle with the employees and consult with company inspectors who'd come to check out the newest Muscle Maker Grille outlet.
Before he left, though, Victor asked if I needed anything else.
Well... to be honest... just one more photo?
He obliged without blinking.
Of course, it's this shot of him in front of the "Muscle Maker Grill" sign -- smiling, peaceful, grounded.
A force of nature. An amazing man. You can be sure bodybuilders won't be the only ones rooting for Victor Martinez.
He's all smiles welcoming visitors to his "Muscle Maker Grill" in Edgewater, while constantly scanning the funky new joint for improvements. He's also about to begin training for what he hopes will be the fulfillment of a lifelong dream -- winning the Mr. Olympia title.
Yet you wouldn't know by looking at him that the world-famous bodybuilder is doing this with a horrifying memory still fresh in mind.
Last weekend, the decomposed corpse of Victor's missing sister was found stuffed into the airshaft of a downtown Manhattan office building, her face wrapped in duct tape, a gold crucifix pinned to her mouth. Martinez, 38, was the only family member with the strength to identify Eridania Rodriguez's body at a Manhattan coroner's office.
Now, he says, "I can't get that picture of her out of my mind."
Victor Martinez
Detectives believe the 46-year-old mother of three was killed by Joseph Pabon, an elevator operator who they said had scratches on his neck, hands and arms, as well as other bruises associated with a struggle, when they interviewed him.
Cops are tailing Pabon -- who has prior charges of choking his girlfriend and smashing her window with a bowling ball -- while awaiting results of DNA tests from Eridania's body. (UPDATE: Police arrest Pabon)
Despite the horror, Martinez still speaks softly, still sees what needs to be done to help his budding health food restaurant thrive. And he's ready to launch into full-time training this week at the nearby Can Do fitness center -- twice a day, six days a week -- for the September Mr. Olympia competition.
"I'm not going to say it hasn't been difficult," Martinez said, as workers in "Muscle Maker Grill" t-shirts hustled around him preparing for last night's "soft" launch. The official grand opening -- expected to attract athletes and celebrities -- is in early August.
Eridania was "the one to always cook all my meals before competitions. She was always there, always supporting me," he said. "When I was in training, she told her husband, 'You have to wait until I can cook for Victor.'
"To open a business now and to get ready [for the competition] without her here...," he said, his voice trailing off.
"Everyday life can get in the way of whatever you're trying to do. But when you have responsibilities, you have to detach. I have to put my family back together. I have to do this for her."
The eclectic family -- extremely large but closely knit -- includes four of Martinez's own children, two of whom are autistic, as well four nieces and nephews whose mother was just murdered.
It's an enormous obligation to suddenly become the clan's pillar, even with that perfectly V-shaped upper body -- and to fulfill his duties as official representative of the nationwide Muscle Maker Grill chain, which hopes to make Martinez's River Road eatery a cornerstone of its area business.
At the same time, the bodybuilding community is waiting to see whether Victor can bounce back from the knee injury come September, or whether the family tragedy will still be fresh enough to throw him off.
Don't count on it. You see, there's something about Victor that only those close to him understand: He has beaten adversity before, and if anything brings out the blinders-on focus of this mild-mannered manchild, it's a challenge.
Two years ago, his and Eridania's mother died right before a Mr. Olympia competition. Martinez went on to finish second, in what was considered an extremely controversial decision.
Soon after, Martinez tore a tendon in his knee. Many in the bodybuilding world thought he was finished.
But he knew better.
Victor went at his therapy aggressively, flexing the piece of plastic that replaced his tendon into a springy, pliable asset. He also spent time running in the pool -- "at least trying to, anyway," he said with a laugh.
eridania
Eridania Rodriguez
Earlier this week, services were held for Eridania in Washington Heights. Hours before, Victor Martinez was quietly stocking a refrigerator case at his eatery with sports drinks, making sure everything was in the right place, looking around to see whether he'd missed anything.
"He just keeps going, no matter what. He refuses to be brought down," says his business partner, Ande Taylor, who keeps a close eye on the technical and logistical ends of the operation. "He constantly takes whatever is thrown at him and uses it as the catalyst to rise above."
If you don't know him, you might mistake the thoughtful Martinez as brooding. But tell a joke, or mention children, and his smile bursts like fireworks.
"Every day I'm working toward my goal [of winning the title]," he said. "I've been working for this for the last 18 years."
Yet there's a loop that must be closed.
Family members, all of whom live with or near one anther in the Inwood section of Washington Heights, returned Eridania's body to their native Dominican Republic for burial. But Victor stayed behind.
"I'm not leaving until I see them lock [Pabon] up for what he did to my sister," he said, as his partner kept the staff hopping.
After posing for some photos, Victor politely excused himself so he could mingle with the employees and consult with company inspectors who'd come to check out the newest Muscle Maker Grille outlet.
Before he left, though, Victor asked if I needed anything else.
Well... to be honest... just one more photo?
He obliged without blinking.
Of course, it's this shot of him in front of the "Muscle Maker Grill" sign -- smiling, peaceful, grounded.
A force of nature. An amazing man. You can be sure bodybuilders won't be the only ones rooting for Victor Martinez.
