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Downloaded from
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Official YIFY movies site:
YTS.MX

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D'ASARO OLD: Every time
you cross blades,

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every time you engage
in a competitive situation

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you are reenacting
a life death situation

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you're reenacting the duel.

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With somebody lived
and somebody dies.

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You don't really die physically
but you can undergo

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an ego death ego loss
and the death is a loss

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of self limitation things
that hold you back.

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The Rebirth is new knowledge,
greater awareness.

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SCHIFRIN: Maestro Maestro.
D’asaro. My Stro.

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NARRATOR: Michael D’Asaro
lived a complex life

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that doesn't fit nicely
into a conventional

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narrative but that
was the point.

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He didn't live his life to fit
anyone's expectations.

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HARKNESS: He was a very
complex person.

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You couldn't stick him in a
pigeonhole you could try

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but it wouldn’t wouldn’t work.

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NARRATOR: At the core though
there was one constant. Fencing.

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D'ASARO YOUNG: You can learn
all of life's lessons

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through fencing everything
you can learn through fencing

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fencing is a microcosm of life.

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BRADFORD: Fencing
was Michael's purpose in life.

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HARUTUNIAN: I cannot find
anybody who's loves

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fencing so much.
How Mike D’Asaro.

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NARRATOR: D’asaro was a world
champion fencer

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and then he wasn't.

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He was a hugely successful
college coach

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and then he wasn’t.

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Michael D’Asaro’s greatest
opponent was always

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Michael D’Asaro.

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And he lost more bouts than he
won. Or did he.

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If you think of Michael D’Asaro
as an artist then his medium

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was the sport of fencing
and how he expressed

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that art was in a constant
state of flux between

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destruction and construction.
Whether on himself.

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Or on his students.

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He would destroy
his assumptions about

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what fencing was in order
to find new ways

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to express himself.

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A Jungian process
of death and rebirth.

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SCHIFRIN: He
had his long hair.

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He was in a competition
in San Francisco.

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And he was covered
in rings of skulls.

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He had Ring skulls and necklaces
skulls and I walk up to him.

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He didn't even say hi.
He just goes.

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Death before rebirth.

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NARRATOR: It was a process
D’Asaro would embrace

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from the very beginning.

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D'ASARO YOUNG: Well I'm
originally

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from Brooklyn New York.

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NARRATOR: Stro
wasn't D’Asaro’s first nickname.

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As a child,

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his family gave him a slightly
less prestigious moniker.

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D'ASARO, BARBARA: When
he was born,

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my mother said I'm not going
to call him Michael and I'm

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not going to call him Anthony.

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And he was chubby as a baby
so my mother said

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I'm going to call him chubby.

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And growing up through
the years that's

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what I called him chubby
and when he went

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to college and they would say
Can I speak to Michael.

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I’d put the phone down and say
Hey Chubby you got a phone call.

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NARRATOR: D’asaro grew up
with his mom dad

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and sister in the projects
in the Red Hook

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section of Brooklyn.

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FEDERICO: Life in Red Hook
during the 50s.

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It was a rough neighborhood.

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MACLELLAN: The projects
were horrible

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living environment. You know,

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small places and people one
on top

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of the other and a lot of gangs.

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GARGIULO: You know
I had learned carte parry

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in a very little French sort
of way and it was kind

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of like this delicate
technical thing.

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He’s like no you know
this could be your life.

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And I just remember him
like taking my hand

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and kind of slapping it across
to like demonstrate that it was,

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it was about blocking something.

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D'ASARO, JR.: He had a cut
on the inside of his left wrist.

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BRADFORD: He was out
and about somewhere

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and a rival gang cornered
him and somebody took

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out a knife and tried to stab
him and he parried it.

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D'ASARO, JR.: And he would
always tell people

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that it was his first
four parry.

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BRADFORD: And he's got
the scar to show for it.

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D'ASARO OLD: But I got scars
all over my body

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from knife wounds.

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GOLDSTEIN: You were either
in a gang.

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Or you were gonna
get hit by the gang.

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SCHIFRIN: Michael came of age
as a street smart gang member.

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CHING: Michael was part
of a group called

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the Red Hook stompers.

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MACLELLAN: And his initiation
was he had to cut somebody.

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CHING: He was supposed to get
four inches of blood

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onto the blade of a knife
of the rival gang.

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He had found this guy
that he was a rival

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with the opposite gang and he
got on top of the guy.

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And he straddling the guy.

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MACLELLAN: He said he didn't
want to hurt the man.

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KONECNY: He knew he couldn’t
just stab him in the chest

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or something and kill him.

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CHING: He gets it's one
of those those Stro

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flashes of illumination.
Flips the guy over.

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MACLELLAN: And he stuck him
in his gluteus.

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KONECNY: Stabbed him
in the butt.

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CHING: Which is brilliant
because yeah that's not lethal.

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You're gonna get his four
inches of blood.

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That was just so Stro.

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D'ASARO YOUNG: I was in high
school and we had a ninth

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period gym.

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D'ASARO OLD: And I hated gym.

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Gym was like the worst
fucking thing you could do.

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D'ASARO YOUNG: Say well
if you went out for sport

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then you just gotta practice.
You don't have to go to gym.

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D'ASARO OLD: Great.
I’ll go out for sport.

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It's easier to cut out a team
practices than it is out

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of a class.

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D'ASARO YOUNG: But I
was never really good enough

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to make a high school team.

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D'ASARO OLD: And fencing,

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and they're always looking for a
warm body.

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D'ASARO YOUNG: So I saw all
the movies and I’d

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like to do that.

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D'ASARO OLD: I
was left handed.

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Aggressive mean nasty kid.

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D'ASARO, JR.: First thing
came to his mind was Hey

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this can help my knife fighting.

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D'ASARO OLD: You know maybe
I could pick up a point or two

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fighting with switchblade.

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MACLELLAN: He was very taken
by it.

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D'ASARO OLD: And I
was like really good.

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D'ASARO YOUNG: Probably
the first time in my in my

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life I have a feeling
of success.

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D'ASARO OLD: Up until
that point said I was good.

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Said I was talented.

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D'ASARO YOUNG: I was like
a shark tasting blood.

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The more I tasted,
the more I wanted.

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GARGIULO: He did give me
this idea that fencing

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had saved his life.

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SYKES: Here was something
that he was doing in one area

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where it was not good to do.

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And then there he is on the
fencing strip

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and it's totally affirmed.

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SCHIFRIN: Does he mean I can
whack somebody upside

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the head and I get credit
and I can stay in high

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school and I can graduate.

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D'ASARO OLD: People patting
me on the back,

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shaking my hand
give me a medals.

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D'ASARO YOUNG: And I got
totally hooked and totally

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involved in fencing.
It's been my whole life.

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NARRATOR: D’Asaro attended
Alexander Hamilton High School

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in Brooklyn.

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His high school won
the championship the first

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year he fenced. He placed
third individually.

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GLAZER: It's one of those
tough kind of schools.

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Not like Forest Hills.
We were all gentlemen.

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EISNER: The high schools
that had fencing teams

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would meet and compete
on Saturday mornings.

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GLAZER: And we went
to a competition a high

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school competition, and you know
there was Mike.

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EISNER: I had to fence Mike.
He killed me.

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He hit me from what seemed
to me a mile away.

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FEDERICO: He excelled
in the sport of fencing

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and actually from that got
him out of that area.

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There was a life after Red Hook.

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NARRATOR: Before D’Asaro left
Red Hook and went

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off to college,

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he married his high
school sweetheart,

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Leonora Federico.

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EISNER: They were married at
a high mass.

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FEDERICO: The whole entire
fencing team stood up

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and they made I was I call
it a canopy.

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They put all their swords up
and then they walked through.

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Wow, I thought I was watching
a movie.

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HURST: Michael,
if I understand

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the story correctly,

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was considered one
of the top prospects,

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high school prospects
in the country.

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D'ASARO YOUNG: But I
wasn't really

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interested in college.
I just wanted to get out,

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earn some money
spend some money,

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have a good time. That didn't
last too long.

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After about six seven months,
you know it was boring.

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And I wasn't enjoying myself.
Applied again at the university.

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I was accepted by NYU.

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GLAZER: NYU had a great
reputation as a, for their

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fencing teams.

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And it was because Hugo
basically corralled all

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the young good fencers
from high school.

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FEDERICO: Not many people
left Red Hook and excelled. So,

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getting into NYU was a big deal.

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GLAZER: So, we
had a scholarship

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right through you know
our entire college careers.

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EISNER: We all started out
as foil fencers.

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GLAZER: There was no epee
or saber fencing.

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That only started once you got
to college.

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BLUM: There are three weapons
in fencing. Foil,

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Epee and Saber.

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ORBAN: Saber is a kind
of equipment that you can slash.

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You can stab. And you can
duel with.

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BLUM: The Saber is the only
weapon for which a touch

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can be scored with a cut.

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But you can score a hit anywhere
on the body

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with a cutting edge,

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with the end third
of the back edge,

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or with the point anywhere above
a line,

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a theoretic line where
the legs meet the body,

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when you are in an en
garde position.

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LOSONCZY: Back and forth.
Cutting slashing.

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Controlled chaos. This is
what Sabre is about.

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GLAZER: Foil fencing
is basically you hit

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with the point of the foil.

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And you hit anywhere
on the torso.

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BLUM: But not head. Not arms.
Not legs.

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GLAZER: It was really meant
in the old days as a practice

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weapon for the dueling swords,
which would be Sabre and epee.

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KONECNY: Includes right
of way.

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The attacker has right of way.

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EISNER: You're obliged
obligated to parry an attack

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because you would do
that if there was no

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tip on the blade,

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because you'd want to protect
yourself first.

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KONECNY: At the time
I started fencing foil

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was the only choice for women.

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EISNER: Epee is a
dueling sword.

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The whole body is target.

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LEVY: Contrary to what
you see in the movies,

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the idea is not to hit
the other guy's blade

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but it's actually to stab
the other guy.

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And in epee fencing,

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you can hit him anywhere
from head to toe.

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THOMPSON: Epee is basically
where each touch,

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each point that scored
is like a mini duel

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to First Blood where
whoever of the two

237
00:10:02,917 --> 00:10:05,041
opponents hits the other
one first,

238
00:10:05,042 --> 00:10:06,499
gets the point. Or.

239
00:10:06,500 --> 00:10:09,457
EISNER: You can have
a simultaneous touch in epee

240
00:10:09,458 --> 00:10:11,916
where you can't have
a simultaneous

241
00:10:11,917 --> 00:10:13,624
touch in foil or saber.

242
00:10:13,625 --> 00:10:15,124
LEVY: You see somebody's
fencing and whoever

243
00:10:15,125 --> 00:10:17,582
stabs the other guy first,
that sort of epee fencing.

244
00:10:17,583 --> 00:10:18,791
GLAZER: You know,

245
00:10:18,792 --> 00:10:20,457
Hugo Costello was the coach
at NYU

246
00:10:20,458 --> 00:10:22,624
and he would say Okay Gene
you can continue

247
00:10:22,625 --> 00:10:25,582
to fence foil but you Mike
you're going to fence Sabre.

248
00:10:25,583 --> 00:10:27,124
PEREDO: We needed
a saber guy.

249
00:10:27,125 --> 00:10:29,207
There was an opening.
He was a good fencer.

250
00:10:29,208 --> 00:10:30,874
Did he object? Not at all.

251
00:10:30,875 --> 00:10:32,166
NARRATOR: The first year
D’Asaro

252
00:10:32,167 --> 00:10:34,749
was on the New York University
fencing team,

253
00:10:34,750 --> 00:10:38,457
the NYU violets won the national
collegiate championship.

254
00:10:38,458 --> 00:10:44,332
GLAZER: We went four straight
years never losing a match.

255
00:10:44,333 --> 00:10:46,791
MAKLER: And they were far
and away the best.

256
00:10:46,792 --> 00:10:49,541
GLAZER: And we were always
in contention for either

257
00:10:49,542 --> 00:10:50,999
first or second,

258
00:10:51,000 --> 00:10:52,916
the National
Collegiate championships,

259
00:10:52,917 --> 00:10:54,791
the eastern
intercollegiate championships.

260
00:10:54,792 --> 00:10:56,374
We thought we'd
never lose a bout.

261
00:10:56,375 --> 00:10:58,582
PEREDO: We had an attitude
that we would win.

262
00:10:58,583 --> 00:11:01,207
GLAZER: But whenever we lost,
it was viewed as an accident.

263
00:11:01,208 --> 00:11:03,332
MAKLER: They were so good
they didn't think

264
00:11:03,333 --> 00:11:04,707
about the score,

265
00:11:04,708 --> 00:11:07,207
what they did was time
the bouts.

266
00:11:07,208 --> 00:11:10,457
EISNER: One time there
was a contest that had Gene,

267
00:11:10,458 --> 00:11:14,749
Mike and Herb Cohen
on who could win a bout

268
00:11:14,750 --> 00:11:15,749
the fastest.

269
00:11:15,750 --> 00:11:18,332
COHEN: Mike has the record
for the fastest bout,

270
00:11:18,333 --> 00:11:20,749
which was 12 seconds.
But he got hit once.

271
00:11:20,750 --> 00:11:23,458
And of course when he got
off the Strip even though

272
00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:25,374
he broke the record
because we kept

273
00:11:25,375 --> 00:11:27,666
track of twelve seconds.
All right Mike. 12 seconds.

274
00:11:27,667 --> 00:11:29,082
That's good. But you got hit.

275
00:11:29,083 --> 00:11:30,999
He said well what do
you want me to do?

276
00:11:31,000 --> 00:11:32,042
I can’t parry.

277
00:11:34,667 --> 00:11:38,082
NARRATOR: For over 40 years,
Hungarian maestro Csaba Elthes,

278
00:11:38,083 --> 00:11:40,874
was the dean of American
saber fencing.

279
00:11:40,875 --> 00:11:44,957
In 1958 D’Asaro met with Elthes
to see if Elthes would help

280
00:11:44,958 --> 00:11:46,042
with D’Asaro’s training.

281
00:11:48,833 --> 00:11:50,916
COHEN: Csaba had all
the saber fencers.

282
00:11:50,917 --> 00:11:53,624
He was the most unique
coach that had all

283
00:11:53,625 --> 00:11:55,707
the competitors were all
his students.

284
00:11:55,708 --> 00:11:56,957
LEKACH: He was a very
tough guy,

285
00:11:56,958 --> 00:11:58,707
very hard very hard lessons.

286
00:11:58,708 --> 00:12:01,207
LOSONCZY: If you didn't do
something right,

287
00:12:01,208 --> 00:12:03,582
you would get the whack
on the leg.

288
00:12:03,583 --> 00:12:06,917
DECHAINE: Csaba would take
off his mask and say Mr. Sir.

289
00:12:07,667 --> 00:12:10,041
I tell you do it this way.

290
00:12:10,042 --> 00:12:13,375
He put his mask back on and go
through the action again.

291
00:12:14,250 --> 00:12:17,374
The third time before
he took off his mask,

292
00:12:17,375 --> 00:12:19,499
Csaba would whack
him across the knee.

293
00:12:19,500 --> 00:12:22,499
And then he'd take off
his mask and said Mr.

294
00:12:22,500 --> 00:12:24,792
Sir I give you three chances.

295
00:12:26,458 --> 00:12:29,332
GLAZER: So Mike was a great
talent without any

296
00:12:29,333 --> 00:12:30,332
real discipline.

297
00:12:30,333 --> 00:12:32,207
I think I was sort of the leader
of that to go

298
00:12:32,208 --> 00:12:35,291
to Mike and say Mike
why don't you join us

299
00:12:35,292 --> 00:12:38,457
and meet Csaba Elthes.
He was reluctant.

300
00:12:38,458 --> 00:12:39,874
We went to Csaba.

301
00:12:39,875 --> 00:12:42,832
We said hey we've got
this friend of ours

302
00:12:42,833 --> 00:12:44,957
who's really very very good.

303
00:12:44,958 --> 00:12:47,458
Csaba agreed says bring
him down.

304
00:12:48,125 --> 00:12:52,374
Mike agreed. He'll come.
Reluctantly.

305
00:12:52,375 --> 00:12:55,457
THOMPSON: He really thought
he was you know he was some

306
00:12:55,458 --> 00:12:57,249
kind of hot shot as a fencer.

307
00:12:57,250 --> 00:13:00,291
NONOMURA, R: So we bring Mike
up to sale Santelli and Csaba

308
00:13:00,292 --> 00:13:02,041
is going gonna give him
a lesson.

309
00:13:02,042 --> 00:13:03,999
THOMPSON: He went in there
thinking OK this is some,

310
00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:08,624
you know,
big name European coach but I'm
fast. I'm strong.

311
00:13:08,625 --> 00:13:09,624
I'm great.

312
00:13:09,625 --> 00:13:11,749
You know I'm going to really
impress this guy.

313
00:13:11,750 --> 00:13:13,958
GLAZER: Csaba starts to give
him this lesson

314
00:13:14,625 --> 00:13:17,207
and it was terrible to watch.

315
00:13:17,208 --> 00:13:19,374
THOMPSON: You know Csaba just
tore him apart.

316
00:13:19,375 --> 00:13:21,749
GLAZER: When Mike didn't do
something right he’d sma...

317
00:13:21,750 --> 00:13:23,582
You know again he’s in
a T-shirt,

318
00:13:23,583 --> 00:13:24,749
he’d smack him.

319
00:13:24,750 --> 00:13:27,666
Csaba keeps saying you are
stupid you don't

320
00:13:27,667 --> 00:13:28,874
know what you're doing.

321
00:13:28,875 --> 00:13:30,207
THOMPSON: It
was very humbling.

322
00:13:30,208 --> 00:13:31,874
I'm sure for Michael
at that time.

323
00:13:31,875 --> 00:13:35,749
GLAZER: Afterwards,
mike is it's almost tears.

324
00:13:35,750 --> 00:13:39,583
I go to Csaba and I say What do
you know what do you think.

325
00:13:40,250 --> 00:13:43,832
And Csaba says this is one
of the great

326
00:13:43,833 --> 00:13:45,708
talents I have ever seen.

327
00:13:46,292 --> 00:13:49,207
And when I went to Mike
and said Mike,

328
00:13:49,208 --> 00:13:51,999
Csaba thinks you have
this fantastic talent.

329
00:13:52,000 --> 00:13:54,042
He said it’s not true.
It's not true.

330
00:13:54,667 --> 00:13:55,707
MASSIALAS: Csaba
Elthes told me,

331
00:13:55,708 --> 00:13:57,332
he said you know what,

332
00:13:57,333 --> 00:14:00,082
Michael D’Asaro was the most
talented fencer I ever saw.

333
00:14:00,083 --> 00:14:04,624
Even though Michael
was anti-establishment rebel,

334
00:14:04,625 --> 00:14:07,249
he admired Csaba. I'd say
he loved Csaba.

335
00:14:07,250 --> 00:14:09,166
D'ASARO, JR.: Csaba taught
him the game,

336
00:14:09,167 --> 00:14:11,124
taught him the technique,
taught him the politics,

337
00:14:11,125 --> 00:14:13,291
but also taught him how to think
by himself.

338
00:14:13,292 --> 00:14:16,582
EISNER: The most beautiful
lessons of any

339
00:14:16,583 --> 00:14:18,999
student were Michael's.

340
00:14:19,000 --> 00:14:21,292
People would stop
and watch the lesson.

341
00:14:23,458 --> 00:14:24,457
And then they'd stop

342
00:14:24,458 --> 00:14:26,000
and you know people would.

343
00:14:26,917 --> 00:14:28,749
GLAZER: It
was like interesting

344
00:14:28,750 --> 00:14:33,957
to watch over a period
of time from this raw great

345
00:14:33,958 --> 00:14:37,332
fencer to this really
good looking classical

346
00:14:37,333 --> 00:14:39,041
Hungarian saber fencer.

347
00:14:39,042 --> 00:14:40,374
HURST: Michael looked
like the book said

348
00:14:40,375 --> 00:14:41,707
you ought to look.

349
00:14:41,708 --> 00:14:43,082
ORBAN: Remember
Michael Jordan?

350
00:14:43,083 --> 00:14:48,041
Everybody wants to be like Mike.
Well this was another Mike. Ok.

351
00:14:48,042 --> 00:14:49,666
Everybody wanted
to be like Mike.

352
00:14:49,667 --> 00:14:51,791
NARRATOR: It didn't
happen overnight.

353
00:14:51,792 --> 00:14:56,874
1958 and 1959 were down years
for D’Asaro as Csaba Elthes

354
00:14:56,875 --> 00:14:58,791
completely rebuilt
his saber skills.

355
00:14:58,792 --> 00:15:02,332
But that didn't mean he couldn't
be successful in other weapons.

356
00:15:02,333 --> 00:15:03,457
GLAZER: Yeah,

357
00:15:03,458 --> 00:15:06,416
the Pan American Games, I think
he was second in epee.

358
00:15:06,417 --> 00:15:10,207
MASSIALAS: Something happened
he screwed up in Sabre

359
00:15:10,208 --> 00:15:12,749
and he's like took an epee
and beat everybody.

360
00:15:12,750 --> 00:15:15,499
GLAZER: He trained in no
other weapon than Sabre.

361
00:15:15,500 --> 00:15:16,791
That's all he did.

362
00:15:16,792 --> 00:15:20,166
And he only when we don't
when it was required, so,

363
00:15:20,167 --> 00:15:22,832
okay I’ll fence foil. Okay,
I'll fence Epee.

364
00:15:22,833 --> 00:15:24,457
MORALES: But you see
his movement

365
00:15:24,458 --> 00:15:28,541
and his distance and his timing
and that was always great.

366
00:15:28,542 --> 00:15:30,749
He could certainly
hold his own in Epee.

367
00:15:30,750 --> 00:15:33,332
EISNER: But he was probably
the greatest three

368
00:15:33,333 --> 00:15:35,916
weapon fencer from my era.

369
00:15:35,917 --> 00:15:37,624
GLAZER: They knew him
as a saber fencer What's

370
00:15:37,625 --> 00:15:42,207
he doing being a world class
epee or a foil fencer.

371
00:15:42,208 --> 00:15:45,624
COHEN: He was not a classical
hand touch epee guy.

372
00:15:45,625 --> 00:15:47,541
He had a couple of good
sneaky shots.

373
00:15:47,542 --> 00:15:49,416
GLAZER: I don't know how
he did all these weapons.

374
00:15:49,417 --> 00:15:51,249
LEVY: So those of us
that made the finals

375
00:15:51,250 --> 00:15:53,917
in the 1959 nationals were put
on the Pan Am team.

376
00:15:54,458 --> 00:15:56,624
One of whom on the epee team
was Jim Margolis

377
00:15:56,625 --> 00:15:59,082
and he got hurt. Mike
was practicing with us.

378
00:15:59,083 --> 00:16:01,874
He was a saber fencer, one
of the best in the country.

379
00:16:01,875 --> 00:16:04,707
I don't know if it was me
or who was but I sort

380
00:16:04,708 --> 00:16:06,999
of thought he would be great
to be on the epee team.

381
00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:08,999
KING: When he took
that epee medal.

382
00:16:09,000 --> 00:16:11,582
I certainly wasn't surprised.
I’d seen him fence epee.

383
00:16:11,583 --> 00:16:13,416
LEVY: Roland Womack
was untouchable.

384
00:16:13,417 --> 00:16:16,457
He probably was two bouts ahead
of everybody.

385
00:16:16,458 --> 00:16:17,916
When we finished for the gold.

386
00:16:17,917 --> 00:16:20,166
So Mike was in there close
with everybody else.

387
00:16:20,167 --> 00:16:21,499
And he got silver.

388
00:16:21,500 --> 00:16:22,916
We were way ahead
of everybody in that.

389
00:16:22,917 --> 00:16:24,792
So everybody got to say
they won a gold medal.

390
00:16:26,042 --> 00:16:29,916
NARRATOR: In 1959 D’Asaro
and the NYU violets lost

391
00:16:29,917 --> 00:16:32,791
to the Navy midshipmen
in the NCAA championship.

392
00:16:32,792 --> 00:16:35,916
Navy swept the top three
individual prizes as well

393
00:16:35,917 --> 00:16:37,958
in foil epee and saber.

394
00:16:40,167 --> 00:16:41,999
HURST: Al Morales
was the young

395
00:16:42,000 --> 00:16:43,582
bronze God of fencing.

396
00:16:43,583 --> 00:16:47,249
The rivalry between Al Morales
and Michael the collegiate

397
00:16:47,250 --> 00:16:49,707
rivalry was virtually legendary.

398
00:16:49,708 --> 00:16:52,707
LEVY: Mike and clearly
Al Morales from Navy

399
00:16:52,708 --> 00:16:54,374
were the best of the crop.

400
00:16:54,375 --> 00:16:56,624
MORALES: In all my fencing
with D’Asaro I was well

401
00:16:56,625 --> 00:16:57,791
above 50 percent with him.

402
00:16:57,792 --> 00:16:59,707
HURST: Even as a plebe,

403
00:16:59,708 --> 00:17:02,957
he would get out and make me
practice with him most days

404
00:17:02,958 --> 00:17:05,749
because his two great rivals
were Michael and a lefty

405
00:17:05,750 --> 00:17:07,124
from Columbia, Stuart Reuter.

406
00:17:07,125 --> 00:17:09,124
MORALES: He had handled me
fairly easily the first

407
00:17:09,125 --> 00:17:12,291
time we fenced,
because I didn't know much
about fencing.

408
00:17:12,292 --> 00:17:14,207
HURST: And I remember him
as technically being one

409
00:17:14,208 --> 00:17:16,291
of the most enjoyable fencers
to watch,

410
00:17:16,292 --> 00:17:18,374
especially compared
to Al Morales

411
00:17:18,375 --> 00:17:22,791
who who's had his own invented
style which was not

412
00:17:22,792 --> 00:17:23,916
esthetically pleasing.

413
00:17:23,917 --> 00:17:26,666
MORALES: I wasn’t as pretty
a fencer as he was.

414
00:17:26,667 --> 00:17:28,791
But I was always
smarter than he was.

415
00:17:28,792 --> 00:17:30,541
NARRATOR: In 1960.

416
00:17:30,542 --> 00:17:32,791
NYU returned the favor
to the midshipmen.

417
00:17:32,792 --> 00:17:35,582
They beat Navy in the college
championships

418
00:17:35,583 --> 00:17:39,500
and this time NYU took all
three individual top spots.

419
00:17:40,083 --> 00:17:43,249
D’Asaro took first in Sabre
by beating Al Morales.

420
00:17:43,250 --> 00:17:46,499
Fifty nine it was Navy all three
plus the national championship.

421
00:17:46,500 --> 00:17:48,582
The following year they flipped
around NYU

422
00:17:48,583 --> 00:17:50,832
was champion and Navy
was second.

423
00:17:50,833 --> 00:17:54,124
LEVY: Mike I think beat Al
to win the NCAA’s in their

424
00:17:54,125 --> 00:17:55,916
senior year in college.

425
00:17:55,917 --> 00:17:59,041
Their very long bout came
from behind and finally

426
00:17:59,042 --> 00:18:01,874
beat him by one.
MORALES: My match up
with Michael was pretty good.

427
00:18:01,875 --> 00:18:02,791
I won most of them.

428
00:18:02,792 --> 00:18:08,832
CHING: Fencing’s
all a game of deception

429
00:18:08,833 --> 00:18:12,791
and he was very good at
sort of hiding those skills.

430
00:18:12,792 --> 00:18:16,042
GLAZER: There were tricks
that the fencers would use.

431
00:18:16,708 --> 00:18:19,166
One of the tricks that Mike
learned this happened

432
00:18:19,167 --> 00:18:21,791
when he came back in
the NCAA championships.

433
00:18:21,792 --> 00:18:24,291
EISNER: Gene and I
and watching Mike

434
00:18:24,292 --> 00:18:28,124
fence and he's on the Strip
with a guy named Parmachek.

435
00:18:28,125 --> 00:18:31,541
Parmachek launches attack
and is going for Mike's head

436
00:18:31,542 --> 00:18:33,291
and Mike comes up to parry it.

437
00:18:33,292 --> 00:18:35,582
GLAZER: And the guy does
a feint and it cracked

438
00:18:35,583 --> 00:18:39,041
right across right across his.
You know right across his ribs.

439
00:18:39,042 --> 00:18:40,582
EISNER: Two hands go up.

440
00:18:40,583 --> 00:18:41,999
There are judges
is not electric.

441
00:18:42,000 --> 00:18:43,707
GLAZER: Mike grabs his leg.

442
00:18:43,708 --> 00:18:44,708
EISNER: In agony.

443
00:18:45,792 --> 00:18:47,957
GLAZER: For the judges hands
a quarter

444
00:18:47,958 --> 00:18:50,124
they're about to award.
You know they so.

445
00:18:50,125 --> 00:18:52,874
Start to come down.

446
00:18:52,875 --> 00:18:54,707
EISNER: Maybe it wasn't
a good touch.

447
00:18:54,708 --> 00:18:56,916
GLAZER: I think it was good
and the other guys

448
00:18:56,917 --> 00:18:58,166
I don't think so.

449
00:18:58,167 --> 00:19:00,207
The director says
well throw it out.

450
00:19:00,208 --> 00:19:02,082
EISNER: Mike picks up
his weapon.

451
00:19:02,083 --> 00:19:05,333
The director says ready fence.
He goes on wait wait.

452
00:19:06,542 --> 00:19:11,875
And we reveled in his getting
that touch thrown out.

453
00:19:12,500 --> 00:19:14,874
NARRATOR: In 1960 both
Al Morales

454
00:19:14,875 --> 00:19:17,541
and Michael D’Asaro
were selected to go to Rome

455
00:19:17,542 --> 00:19:20,833
as part of the United States
fencing team for the Olympics.

456
00:19:24,708 --> 00:19:27,041
HURST: In order to try
to build up a fencing

457
00:19:27,042 --> 00:19:28,791
structure within this country,

458
00:19:28,792 --> 00:19:31,916
instead of depending as we did
at that time on Hungarians,

459
00:19:31,917 --> 00:19:35,249
was to have both Al
and Michael fence

460
00:19:35,250 --> 00:19:36,874
in the individual competition.

461
00:19:36,875 --> 00:19:40,207
GLAZER: Al got knocked out
pretty soon and Mike kept going.

462
00:19:40,208 --> 00:19:42,666
He made a good presentation
of himself.

463
00:19:42,667 --> 00:19:44,791
HURST: Team on the other hand
took fourth and did

464
00:19:44,792 --> 00:19:45,874
it by beating the Russians.

465
00:19:45,875 --> 00:19:48,041
MORALES: So it came down
to really D’Asaro

466
00:19:48,042 --> 00:19:49,375
and I had to win a bout.

467
00:19:50,000 --> 00:19:52,207
That was not a given
against the Russians.

468
00:19:52,208 --> 00:19:54,666
I think they got nervous
because it wasn't going

469
00:19:54,667 --> 00:19:56,166
exactly the way they wanted.

470
00:19:56,167 --> 00:19:58,957
But D’Asaro won a bout
and I won a bout.

471
00:19:58,958 --> 00:20:01,999
And we beat the Russians.
Which was a major thing.

472
00:20:02,000 --> 00:20:03,457
GLAZER: And that was
like unheard of.

473
00:20:03,458 --> 00:20:04,957
MORALES: It put us forth
in the Olympics

474
00:20:04,958 --> 00:20:05,958
which is unusual.

475
00:20:08,292 --> 00:20:10,916
MAKLER: In 61 we were invited
to the Sabre

476
00:20:10,917 --> 00:20:12,916
invitation thing in Warsaw.

477
00:20:12,917 --> 00:20:16,624
BLUM: This was the first time
that an American team had been

478
00:20:16,625 --> 00:20:19,791
asked because the team
had finished fourth

479
00:20:19,792 --> 00:20:21,791
in the 60 Olympics.

480
00:20:21,792 --> 00:20:23,999
MAKLER: These were the best
fencers from these

481
00:20:24,000 --> 00:20:25,041
other countries.

482
00:20:25,042 --> 00:20:28,499
BLUM: I fenced well and Mike
fenced spectacularly.

483
00:20:28,500 --> 00:20:30,457
MAKLER: Mike had very good
results. In fact,

484
00:20:30,458 --> 00:20:31,957
I think he had the best result.

485
00:20:31,958 --> 00:20:34,499
BLUM: The world of fencing
was a gentlemen's a world

486
00:20:34,500 --> 00:20:35,833
that he was reaching toward.

487
00:20:39,458 --> 00:20:41,541
D'ASARO, JR.: Told stories
of you know about meeting

488
00:20:41,542 --> 00:20:46,416
Nazlymov and fencing Nazlymov
and beating Pawlowski in Poland.

489
00:20:46,417 --> 00:20:49,291
I mean this is their home
turf and no other poor kid

490
00:20:49,292 --> 00:20:51,041
from the streets has done
that no American

491
00:20:51,042 --> 00:20:52,374
has ever done it.

492
00:20:52,375 --> 00:20:54,832
BLUM: It was I think
the second year

493
00:20:54,833 --> 00:20:57,416
we were in Warsaw which would
have been 62.

494
00:20:57,417 --> 00:21:00,207
He was attracted to some
pretty Polish woman.

495
00:21:00,208 --> 00:21:04,749
But she didn't speak any English
and he didn't speak any Polish.

496
00:21:04,750 --> 00:21:08,792
But I spoke French
and she spoke French.

497
00:21:09,708 --> 00:21:12,166
So he he had me talk with her.

498
00:21:12,167 --> 00:21:15,125
You know I think the three
of us would sit there.

499
00:21:15,833 --> 00:21:19,624
He kept saying to her well
we we tell

500
00:21:19,625 --> 00:21:22,249
her I want to take her out.
No no no no no.

501
00:21:22,250 --> 00:21:26,082
And he said that if I beat
Pavlovsky will you go out for?

502
00:21:26,083 --> 00:21:28,083
If you beat Pawlowski Sure.

503
00:21:29,167 --> 00:21:31,124
COSTIN: Not too many people
can say that they beat

504
00:21:31,125 --> 00:21:32,125
Jerzy Pawlowsky.

505
00:21:32,917 --> 00:21:34,124
BLUM: And he beat Pawlowsky.

506
00:21:34,125 --> 00:21:36,041
Each touch he scored
it was a close bout,

507
00:21:36,042 --> 00:21:38,374
but each touch he scored,
he would point to her.

508
00:21:38,375 --> 00:21:43,749
The whole audience was aware
of the fact that he was making

509
00:21:43,750 --> 00:21:46,875
a play for her attention.
So we went out together.

510
00:21:47,917 --> 00:21:49,541
The three of us.
I had to go along.

511
00:21:49,542 --> 00:21:51,457
I was his I was his speaker.

512
00:21:51,458 --> 00:21:53,791
Paul Makler said
you get him back.

513
00:21:53,792 --> 00:21:55,291
I want him in bed.

514
00:21:55,292 --> 00:21:59,374
Here we are with six
or seven Polish fencers,

515
00:21:59,375 --> 00:22:01,916
me not speaking a word
of Polish and some

516
00:22:01,917 --> 00:22:04,332
of them speaking English
and some speaking French.

517
00:22:04,333 --> 00:22:06,124
I kept saying we got to go back.

518
00:22:06,125 --> 00:22:07,457
We've got to get
back to the hotel.

519
00:22:07,458 --> 00:22:08,792
You got to go back to the hotel.

520
00:22:09,375 --> 00:22:12,582
Finally he served in his said
in a voice that anybody

521
00:22:12,583 --> 00:22:16,541
in whatever bar we were
in could hear.

522
00:22:16,542 --> 00:22:19,082
He said Blum he said
you train your fucking

523
00:22:19,083 --> 00:22:20,916
way and I'll train mine.

524
00:22:20,917 --> 00:22:24,499
And so I got up and said
goodnight and then went

525
00:22:24,500 --> 00:22:25,499
back the hotel.

526
00:22:25,500 --> 00:22:27,582
He fenced beautifully
the next day.

527
00:22:27,583 --> 00:22:29,916
NARRATOR: After graduating
from NYU,

528
00:22:29,917 --> 00:22:32,291
D’Asaro took a job at
the Donahoe and Coe

529
00:22:32,292 --> 00:22:33,374
advertising firm.

530
00:22:33,375 --> 00:22:35,541
D'ASARO YOUNG: I worked
for about a year

531
00:22:35,542 --> 00:22:37,416
in the advertising
agency in New York.

532
00:22:37,417 --> 00:22:39,416
I thought I was la dee da
you know glamour

533
00:22:39,417 --> 00:22:43,708
and lots of money and wasn't any
of that at all.

534
00:22:44,375 --> 00:22:46,457
NARRATOR: Fortunately
or unfortunately though,

535
00:22:46,458 --> 00:22:49,332
D’Asaro’s fencing brought him
to the attention of the U.S.

536
00:22:49,333 --> 00:22:50,333
military.

537
00:22:53,917 --> 00:22:56,541
COHEN: Poujardieu,
who was something

538
00:22:56,542 --> 00:22:59,874
to do with the pentathlon
coaches in San Antonio,

539
00:22:59,875 --> 00:23:03,041
he was able to get fencers
to come and join

540
00:23:03,042 --> 00:23:04,499
his pentathlon training.

541
00:23:04,500 --> 00:23:06,291
But of course you had to join
the army.

542
00:23:06,292 --> 00:23:08,124
D'ASARO, JR.: Training
for the Olympics

543
00:23:08,125 --> 00:23:11,666
and dying in Vietnam. Yeah,
he took the right choice.

544
00:23:11,667 --> 00:23:14,249
MACLELLAN: The Army asked him
to come on the team

545
00:23:14,250 --> 00:23:16,499
because they wanted
his fencing skills.

546
00:23:16,500 --> 00:23:18,916
MORALES: He wasn't made
for the military.

547
00:23:18,917 --> 00:23:20,416
MACLELLAN: And he didn't even
think he'd have

548
00:23:20,417 --> 00:23:22,582
to go to boot camp. But he
had to go to boot camp.

549
00:23:22,583 --> 00:23:24,082
COHEN: He’s in boot camp
like everybody else.

550
00:23:24,083 --> 00:23:26,582
He says wait a minute now.
How far is this going to go.

551
00:23:26,583 --> 00:23:28,207
MACLELLAN: Could you imagine
Michael in boot camp?

552
00:23:28,208 --> 00:23:29,707
COHEN: No, he wasn't
too comfortable.

553
00:23:29,708 --> 00:23:32,124
And if he’d try to talk
to somebody like the sergeants.

554
00:23:32,125 --> 00:23:33,582
The sergeants tell him get
back in line and shut

555
00:23:33,583 --> 00:23:34,383
your mouth.

556
00:23:34,476 --> 00:23:36,082
MACLELLAN: So, he went
through boot camp

557
00:23:36,083 --> 00:23:37,582
and then he made
the pentathlon team

558
00:23:37,583 --> 00:23:39,082
and they didn't treat him
very specially.

559
00:23:39,083 --> 00:23:40,763
MORALES: He really
wasn’t a pentathlete.

560
00:23:41,500 --> 00:23:43,166
GLAZER: Mike D’Asaro
on horseback.

561
00:23:43,167 --> 00:23:46,041
Mike D’Asaro swimming.
Mike D’Asaro shooting.

562
00:23:46,042 --> 00:23:49,124
MORALES: His background
was not one that you could put

563
00:23:49,125 --> 00:23:51,082
into pentathlon training.

564
00:23:51,083 --> 00:23:54,125
I mean you see pictures of him
on a horse but he wasn't,

565
00:23:54,958 --> 00:23:56,124
he wasn't a good rider.

566
00:23:56,125 --> 00:23:58,041
MACLELLAN: He hated running.
He enjoyed shooting.

567
00:23:58,042 --> 00:23:59,041
MORALES: He couldn't shoot.

568
00:23:59,042 --> 00:24:00,457
MACLELLAN: He didn't
like to swim.

569
00:24:00,458 --> 00:24:01,457
He loved the horses.

570
00:24:01,458 --> 00:24:03,624
MORALES: You don't learn how
to ride a horse cross

571
00:24:03,625 --> 00:24:08,791
country 5000 meters at
a full gallop and 18 of 18

572
00:24:08,792 --> 00:24:10,582
or 20 obstacles overnight.

573
00:24:10,583 --> 00:24:12,874
They just expected him
to help with the fencing.

574
00:24:12,875 --> 00:24:15,041
And that was he was invaluable
for that.

575
00:24:15,042 --> 00:24:17,999
ORBAN: That he actually won
one of these skirmishes.

576
00:24:18,000 --> 00:24:21,832
That means horseback riding
shooting running and fencing.

577
00:24:21,833 --> 00:24:24,207
MORALES: But a lot of times
we would be fencing epee,

578
00:24:24,208 --> 00:24:27,416
he and I would fence saber
because we wanted to keep

579
00:24:27,417 --> 00:24:28,582
the saber skills up.

580
00:24:28,583 --> 00:24:30,541
KING: I was surprised Michael
lasted as long as he did

581
00:24:30,542 --> 00:24:31,374
in the army.

582
00:24:31,375 --> 00:24:33,916
He was not great
on authoritarianism.

583
00:24:33,917 --> 00:24:35,332
EISNER: I think
he liked that.

584
00:24:35,333 --> 00:24:37,124
He certainly look good
but I think he probably

585
00:24:37,125 --> 00:24:38,749
was in the best
shape of his life.

586
00:24:38,750 --> 00:24:40,499
NARRATOR: All that extra
practice paid off

587
00:24:40,500 --> 00:24:42,791
for D’Asaro during
his participation

588
00:24:42,792 --> 00:24:46,875
in the 1962 U.S. national
Fencing championship.

589
00:24:49,708 --> 00:24:51,874
MCDOUGALL: The story
of winning the Nationals

590
00:24:51,875 --> 00:24:53,291
against Danny Magay.

591
00:24:53,292 --> 00:24:56,124
As you know Danny Magay
was a wonderful fencer

592
00:24:56,125 --> 00:24:58,457
and our national Sabre champion
many times.

593
00:24:58,458 --> 00:25:01,249
MAGAY: I didn't know much
about him.

594
00:25:01,250 --> 00:25:04,499
But pretty quickly I found
out in the final,

595
00:25:04,500 --> 00:25:07,082
he turned out to be
an excellent fencer.

596
00:25:07,083 --> 00:25:09,457
MCDOUGALL: Michael said
that the bout got to,

597
00:25:09,458 --> 00:25:11,957
it was tied. It was probably
nine to nine.

598
00:25:11,958 --> 00:25:14,041
And I said well what did you do?

599
00:25:14,042 --> 00:25:16,624
And Michael said well I went
directly to the head of course.

600
00:25:16,625 --> 00:25:17,541
What else did you do?

601
00:25:17,542 --> 00:25:23,374
MAGAY: It was a feint of head
and he finished on the chest.

602
00:25:23,375 --> 00:25:27,333
GLAZER: That was sort
of the crowning achievement

603
00:25:28,000 --> 00:25:30,207
of his career up
until that point.

604
00:25:30,208 --> 00:25:32,249
OTERO: The most at sea
he had ever been

605
00:25:32,250 --> 00:25:35,124
in his life was the week
after he won the national.

606
00:25:35,125 --> 00:25:37,457
All of a sudden
I had no purpose.

607
00:25:37,458 --> 00:25:41,249
NARRATOR: But the gold medal
at the 1962 Nationals was just

608
00:25:41,250 --> 00:25:44,292
the beginning of a remarkable
string of victories for D’Asaro.

609
00:25:47,292 --> 00:25:48,832
KATZOFF: What Ed talked about
in those days

610
00:25:48,833 --> 00:25:51,957
when he was with Mike was the
hotel room drinking

611
00:25:51,958 --> 00:25:53,874
bouts and then fencing
the next day.

612
00:25:53,875 --> 00:25:56,874
SHAW: Michael can be asleep
or drunk and he still can

613
00:25:56,875 --> 00:25:58,082
beat anybody in the world.

614
00:25:58,083 --> 00:26:01,374
MORALES: We were in Vienna
for a military championship.

615
00:26:01,375 --> 00:26:03,582
ORBAN: And they gathered
the best talent

616
00:26:03,583 --> 00:26:06,166
that was in the U.S.
Army or the U.S. Navy.

617
00:26:06,167 --> 00:26:07,832
NONOMURA, R: The military
world championships

618
00:26:07,833 --> 00:26:10,541
is a much bigger venue
for fencing

619
00:26:10,542 --> 00:26:11,957
than than the Olympics.

620
00:26:11,958 --> 00:26:13,832
HURST: Michael established
a pretty enviable

621
00:26:13,833 --> 00:26:14,916
record in those.

622
00:26:14,917 --> 00:26:17,791
ORBAN: Michael happened to be
the top winner as far

623
00:26:17,792 --> 00:26:19,499
as the individual results.

624
00:26:19,500 --> 00:26:21,499
MORALES: We had a big
banquet afterwards.

625
00:26:21,500 --> 00:26:23,624
ORBAN: And Michael did
everything to the extreme.

626
00:26:23,625 --> 00:26:24,916
MORALES: Mike had a few.

627
00:26:24,917 --> 00:26:27,582
ORBAN: He was sitting right
across from me on this long

628
00:26:27,583 --> 00:26:28,583
wooden tables.

629
00:26:29,375 --> 00:26:31,957
And he's happy and singing
and drinking

630
00:26:31,958 --> 00:26:34,374
and singing and drinking.
All of a sudden we’re looking,

631
00:26:34,375 --> 00:26:37,000
I don’t see Michael anywhere.
So, I look down.

632
00:26:38,083 --> 00:26:39,457
He's underneath.

633
00:26:39,458 --> 00:26:42,332
He he slipped underneath
the big table.

634
00:26:42,333 --> 00:26:47,082
We got a hold of Michael
and we pulled him up. And.

635
00:26:47,083 --> 00:26:49,916
We kind of walked him outside
and we were waiting

636
00:26:49,917 --> 00:26:52,458
for the little buses.
Started to puke.

637
00:26:53,458 --> 00:26:57,292
OK so he puked on Al Davis foot.

638
00:26:57,958 --> 00:27:00,082
And I just kind of kept
him away too. You know.

639
00:27:00,083 --> 00:27:02,249
MORALES: We had take him put
him in the shower.

640
00:27:02,250 --> 00:27:05,082
ORBAN: And he's objecting
and he’s pleading

641
00:27:05,083 --> 00:27:06,666
begging not to kill him.

642
00:27:06,667 --> 00:27:09,916
And then we grab him and we put
him on the bunk.

643
00:27:09,917 --> 00:27:14,999
So next morning comes and wake
him up and we have a tournament.

644
00:27:15,000 --> 00:27:17,124
SHAW: They grab Michael out
of bed and they go Michael,

645
00:27:17,125 --> 00:27:20,332
Michael. and he's like yeah,
yeah. What’s going on.

646
00:27:20,333 --> 00:27:21,833
And they’re like Michael.

647
00:27:22,833 --> 00:27:24,582
It's time for your
individual event.

648
00:27:24,583 --> 00:27:27,999
ORBAN: We dress him. OK.
And he's fencing foil.

649
00:27:28,000 --> 00:27:31,749
RUSSELL: Gets on the strip
and he's having issues

650
00:27:31,750 --> 00:27:35,083
with hitting his opponent
and his coach yelled out

651
00:27:35,750 --> 00:27:37,582
hit the one in the middle.

652
00:27:37,583 --> 00:27:40,291
Soon as he made that connection
and he hit the person

653
00:27:40,292 --> 00:27:41,999
in the middle then it was over.

654
00:27:42,000 --> 00:27:43,875
ORBAN: He beats,
he destroys this guy.

655
00:27:44,500 --> 00:27:47,999
And he destroys the guy after
him and after him and after him.

656
00:27:48,000 --> 00:27:51,333
OTERO: He could barely walk
but once he got on that strip.

657
00:27:51,875 --> 00:27:54,041
Boom and he blew him out.

658
00:27:54,042 --> 00:27:56,124
ORBAN: Michael win
dual championship.

659
00:27:56,125 --> 00:27:58,792
Won individual and in
the team championship.

660
00:27:59,958 --> 00:28:03,832
United States with there level
of the fencing and going winning

661
00:28:03,833 --> 00:28:05,749
in the one this toughest
competition

662
00:28:05,750 --> 00:28:07,416
in the world Amazing.

663
00:28:07,417 --> 00:28:09,750
Amazing thing only
can do that Mike.

664
00:28:13,167 --> 00:28:14,791
MAKLER: And then in 63,

665
00:28:14,792 --> 00:28:18,332
I was captain of the Pan Am team
in Sao Paolo

666
00:28:18,333 --> 00:28:21,874
and Mike won the saber there.
We won all the events.

667
00:28:21,875 --> 00:28:24,249
NARRATOR: The culmination
of this remarkable string

668
00:28:24,250 --> 00:28:26,457
of accomplishments
was a decisive bout

669
00:28:26,458 --> 00:28:29,166
against D’Asaro’s idol
Jerzy Pawlowski at

670
00:28:29,167 --> 00:28:31,457
the World Championships
in Gdansk Poland.

671
00:28:31,458 --> 00:28:33,999
MASSIALAS: In those days
they had side judges

672
00:28:34,000 --> 00:28:36,916
behind each fencer. A referee.

673
00:28:36,917 --> 00:28:41,124
So basically an American fencing
like the national hero

674
00:28:41,125 --> 00:28:45,957
of Poland during the Soviet
communist days, this was not,

675
00:28:45,958 --> 00:28:47,749
you know, going to go well.

676
00:28:47,750 --> 00:28:50,707
OTERO: Pawlowsky was his big,
I'd say, his hero.

677
00:28:50,708 --> 00:28:52,457
Probably the best saber fencer
I'd ever seen.

678
00:28:52,458 --> 00:28:54,416
MASSIALAS: Somehow
miraculously the score

679
00:28:54,417 --> 00:28:56,457
is 9 9. Michael was like,
you know,

680
00:28:56,458 --> 00:29:00,249
going off and doing whatever.
Then he scores his last touch.

681
00:29:00,250 --> 00:29:04,375
So like this hush in the crowd.
And everybody is like ‘Oh”.

682
00:29:04,917 --> 00:29:07,792
And then they make the call
against Michael.

683
00:29:08,875 --> 00:29:11,124
And then of course everyone's
cheering for Pawlowsky,

684
00:29:11,125 --> 00:29:13,999
because it's a Pawlowsky thing.
Pawlowsky comes over he says,

685
00:29:14,000 --> 00:29:16,041
so oh sorry Michael.

686
00:29:16,042 --> 00:29:19,499
And Michael goes and grabs him
and gives

687
00:29:19,500 --> 00:29:21,041
him a kiss on the cheeks.

688
00:29:21,042 --> 00:29:23,957
And the crowd went
absolutely nuts.

689
00:29:23,958 --> 00:29:27,583
They were yelling, before
they were like Pawlowsky.

690
00:29:28,500 --> 00:29:31,249
Pawlowsky. And all of a sudden
when this happened,

691
00:29:31,250 --> 00:29:34,416
the crowd turned around and they
were yelling D’Asaro.

692
00:29:34,417 --> 00:29:35,417
D’Asaro.

693
00:29:36,792 --> 00:29:39,041
ORBAN: Here’s a guy
that being rooted

694
00:29:39,042 --> 00:29:40,791
for by the enemy.

695
00:29:40,792 --> 00:29:42,291
MASSIALAS: And
then the next day.

696
00:29:42,292 --> 00:29:44,541
PLATT: The fencing magazine
in Poland with Michael

697
00:29:44,542 --> 00:29:47,499
in a full lunge caption was that
the American fencing

698
00:29:47,500 --> 00:29:49,624
team is so bad that Jesus
Christ himself

699
00:29:49,625 --> 00:29:50,666
is now fencing for them.

700
00:29:50,667 --> 00:29:52,792
D'ASARO, JR.: These guys
were were born and bred

701
00:29:53,333 --> 00:29:57,333
to win Olympic gold medals
and be the top in the sport.

702
00:29:57,917 --> 00:29:59,499
And this guy from Brooklyn
comes out

703
00:29:59,500 --> 00:30:00,666
and just beats the crap out
of them

704
00:30:00,667 --> 00:30:01,791
when they're not expecting it.

705
00:30:01,792 --> 00:30:04,374
NARRATOR: So what can be said
about D’Asaro as a fencer.

706
00:30:04,375 --> 00:30:05,874
FEDERICO: He
wasn't a bragger.

707
00:30:05,875 --> 00:30:08,916
He didn't say I did this and
I did that and I'm

708
00:30:08,917 --> 00:30:10,416
going here and I'm going there.

709
00:30:10,417 --> 00:30:12,124
KING: It was about
the experience.

710
00:30:12,125 --> 00:30:15,416
FEDERICO: I think he let
his fencing skills talk for him.

711
00:30:15,417 --> 00:30:19,249
OTERO: He would talk about
other people's bouts as much

712
00:30:19,250 --> 00:30:20,832
as he’d talked about his own.

713
00:30:20,833 --> 00:30:22,874
HAYES: When he decided
to make that hit,

714
00:30:22,875 --> 00:30:24,666
there was there there
was nothing stopping it.

715
00:30:24,667 --> 00:30:29,417
There might be some correlation
between being a

716
00:30:31,417 --> 00:30:36,874
capable international
level fencer and being

717
00:30:36,875 --> 00:30:38,457
willing to destroy people.

718
00:30:38,458 --> 00:30:41,416
PLATT: Michael did have
an edgy side.

719
00:30:41,417 --> 00:30:45,207
As do most
successful competitors.

720
00:30:45,208 --> 00:30:47,291
This is a combative sport
and there's a there's

721
00:30:47,292 --> 00:30:50,707
a fierceness that's needed
and Michaels was not

722
00:30:50,708 --> 00:30:51,666
far from the surface.

723
00:30:51,667 --> 00:30:53,999
KING: You didn't see any
games or anything,

724
00:30:54,000 --> 00:30:56,999
any referee baiting
or any of those things.

725
00:30:57,000 --> 00:30:58,332
He just fenced.

726
00:30:58,333 --> 00:31:00,082
KOLOMBATOVICH: Ok,
they smoked some marijuana

727
00:31:00,083 --> 00:31:02,832
but when they got on that strip
and they were training,

728
00:31:02,833 --> 00:31:05,666
they were focused on one
thing and that was fencing.

729
00:31:05,667 --> 00:31:08,541
DOW: The fact
that he could fence

730
00:31:08,542 --> 00:31:12,458
with that stuff in him
was doubly impressive

731
00:31:13,167 --> 00:31:15,999
because these were not
performance enhancing drugs.

732
00:31:16,000 --> 00:31:17,707
LEVY: When he took off
his mask to shake

733
00:31:17,708 --> 00:31:18,957
your hands afterwards,

734
00:31:18,958 --> 00:31:20,791
he had the biggest
grin on his face.

735
00:31:20,792 --> 00:31:21,874
Even if he lost.

736
00:31:21,875 --> 00:31:23,542
Of course he could fence
every weapon

737
00:31:24,250 --> 00:31:28,291
and he was he was modest
about it but he was a great

738
00:31:28,292 --> 00:31:29,582
guy to have on a team.

739
00:31:29,583 --> 00:31:31,416
MORALES: You knew that he
was going to fence

740
00:31:31,417 --> 00:31:32,874
hard which is all we ask for.

741
00:31:32,875 --> 00:31:35,791
So I would classify
him as a good teammate.

742
00:31:35,792 --> 00:31:38,124
But not a I wouldn't
say great teammate.

743
00:31:38,125 --> 00:31:39,916
LEVY: He was supportive
everybody on the team

744
00:31:39,917 --> 00:31:41,957
and we all liked
watching him fence

745
00:31:41,958 --> 00:31:43,791
because he could beat anybody.

746
00:31:43,792 --> 00:31:47,499
MORALES: He wasn’t a showboat
but he was showy. Absolutely.

747
00:31:47,500 --> 00:31:48,792
That's part of his style.

748
00:31:50,000 --> 00:31:53,416
NARRATOR: Which brings us
to the 1964 Olympic team

749
00:31:53,417 --> 00:31:55,541
and D’Asaro’s selection
for that team.

750
00:31:55,542 --> 00:31:58,041
He won the 1962 nationals.

751
00:31:58,042 --> 00:32:02,499
He won the 1963 Pan Am Games
and he won the 1963

752
00:32:02,500 --> 00:32:04,332
military World Championships.

753
00:32:04,333 --> 00:32:07,332
D'Asaro was the only American
fencer to make it out

754
00:32:07,333 --> 00:32:09,707
of the pools and into direct
elimination at

755
00:32:09,708 --> 00:32:12,499
the World Championships
in Gdansk Poland where

756
00:32:12,500 --> 00:32:14,792
he was narrowly defeated
by Jerzy Pawlowsky.

757
00:32:15,500 --> 00:32:17,541
He had better international
results than any

758
00:32:17,542 --> 00:32:19,042
other American saber fencer.

759
00:32:19,625 --> 00:32:21,999
If they used the same selection
criteria they used

760
00:32:22,000 --> 00:32:23,374
for the Rome Olympics,

761
00:32:23,375 --> 00:32:25,707
it would appear D’Asaro was a
lock to make

762
00:32:25,708 --> 00:32:29,707
the team going to Tokyo.
But it was not to be.

763
00:32:29,708 --> 00:32:32,916
Rule changes made the selection
process more merit based.

764
00:32:32,917 --> 00:32:35,749
Your position on the team
would now be derived from a new

765
00:32:35,750 --> 00:32:37,374
point system based on your
results

766
00:32:37,375 --> 00:32:40,166
from national tournaments.
In 1963,

767
00:32:40,167 --> 00:32:43,332
D’Asaro had a down year
in the national tournaments.

768
00:32:43,333 --> 00:32:44,582
Despite the changes,

769
00:32:44,583 --> 00:32:47,124
D’Asaro still had enough
points to be third

770
00:32:47,125 --> 00:32:50,082
on the national team competing
in the Tokyo Olympics.

771
00:32:50,083 --> 00:32:52,249
Officials were so confident
of D’Asaro’s

772
00:32:52,250 --> 00:32:53,999
participation in the Olympics,

773
00:32:54,000 --> 00:32:56,958
D’Asaro was sent to Tokyo
for an Olympic test event.

774
00:32:57,583 --> 00:33:00,166
Unfortunately there was one
more complication.

775
00:33:00,167 --> 00:33:02,499
The Hungarian fencers
who had arrived

776
00:33:02,500 --> 00:33:06,375
in the United States after
the 1956 Hungarian Revolution,

777
00:33:07,000 --> 00:33:09,750
were now going to be allowed
fence for the U.S. team.

778
00:33:10,667 --> 00:33:13,541
The Hungarian fencers were given
points to indicate

779
00:33:13,542 --> 00:33:15,416
how they potentially
would have done

780
00:33:15,417 --> 00:33:17,374
if they were allowed fence
in the national

781
00:33:17,375 --> 00:33:18,542
qualifying events.

782
00:33:19,208 --> 00:33:21,499
Once the new numbers
were added D’Asaro

783
00:33:21,500 --> 00:33:24,957
slipped from third place on the
team to second alternate.

784
00:33:24,958 --> 00:33:27,166
Michael would not be going
to the Olympics

785
00:33:27,167 --> 00:33:29,292
in Tokyo in 1964.

786
00:33:30,167 --> 00:33:34,666
By 1965 it appears that D’Asaro
had left fencing behind him

787
00:33:34,667 --> 00:33:37,791
and embraced a life far removed
from competitive fencing.

788
00:33:37,792 --> 00:33:39,041
D'ASARO, JR.: He'd become
a hippie.

789
00:33:39,042 --> 00:33:41,458
GOLDSTEIN: And he had long
hair like Cyrano de Bergerac.

790
00:33:42,000 --> 00:33:43,666
NARRATOR: There are no
mentions of D’Asaro

791
00:33:43,667 --> 00:33:47,208
participating in any fencing
tournaments in 1965.

792
00:33:47,708 --> 00:33:50,207
His personal life was also
in a state of upheaval.

793
00:33:50,208 --> 00:33:51,374
He left his wife,

794
00:33:51,375 --> 00:33:54,833
Leonora and his six month old
son, Michael Junior.

795
00:33:55,667 --> 00:33:58,374
In 1966 D’Asaro returned
to fencing.

796
00:33:58,375 --> 00:34:00,957
He became a member of the
New York Athletic Club

797
00:34:00,958 --> 00:34:04,541
team that included Alex Orban
and Al Morales.

798
00:34:04,542 --> 00:34:07,249
That year D’Asaro took
third at Nationals

799
00:34:07,250 --> 00:34:10,457
and New York Athletic Club team
took first in the Sabre

800
00:34:10,458 --> 00:34:11,416
team event.

801
00:34:11,417 --> 00:34:13,249
D’Asaro fenced
internationally at

802
00:34:13,250 --> 00:34:14,583
Lake Balaton in Hungary.

803
00:34:15,083 --> 00:34:18,666
His USA team came in fifth
at the Warsaw World Cup.

804
00:34:18,667 --> 00:34:22,124
By the time of the national
championships in 1967,

805
00:34:22,125 --> 00:34:24,917
D’Asaro was ranked third
in the country in Sabre.

806
00:34:25,542 --> 00:34:27,582
A good showing at the Nationals
would assure

807
00:34:27,583 --> 00:34:28,707
him a place on the U.S.

808
00:34:28,708 --> 00:34:32,207
team for the Pan Am Games
and eventually the Olympics.

809
00:34:32,208 --> 00:34:34,582
TARASCIO: I recall going
to my first national

810
00:34:34,583 --> 00:34:37,791
championships in 1967.
It was in Santa Monica.

811
00:34:37,792 --> 00:34:40,124
We all heard about
this Michael D’Asaro.

812
00:34:40,125 --> 00:34:42,791
HURST: And there
was this a full out

813
00:34:42,792 --> 00:34:45,332
hippie sitting on the ledge.

814
00:34:45,333 --> 00:34:47,582
I walked by a little Daisy
in the

815
00:34:47,583 --> 00:34:50,416
beard and the whole thing.
Holy God.

816
00:34:50,417 --> 00:34:52,999
From somewhere in there
came out Hey, Buzz.

817
00:34:53,000 --> 00:34:54,832
How you doing. One
of these things.

818
00:34:54,833 --> 00:34:55,791
It was Michael.

819
00:34:55,792 --> 00:34:57,957
TARASCIO: Because this person
Michael D’Asaro was going

820
00:34:57,958 --> 00:34:58,858
to be fencing,

821
00:34:58,951 --> 00:35:00,791
a bunch of us kids went to watch
the finals.

822
00:35:00,792 --> 00:35:01,891
KOLOMBATOVICH: They
announced him.

823
00:35:01,892 --> 00:35:04,791
He comes on the strip with this
rose in his teeth

824
00:35:04,792 --> 00:35:05,832
and he threw it out.

825
00:35:05,833 --> 00:35:08,957
TARASCIO: And he was the hero
of every fencer

826
00:35:08,958 --> 00:35:11,499
that was probably
under 25 years old.

827
00:35:11,500 --> 00:35:14,791
NARRATOR: In a repeat
of D’Asaro’s 1966 U.S.

828
00:35:14,792 --> 00:35:15,999
nationals performance,

829
00:35:16,000 --> 00:35:18,374
D’Asaro came in third
individually

830
00:35:18,375 --> 00:35:21,124
and his New York Athletic Club
team took first.

831
00:35:21,125 --> 00:35:24,499
D’Asaro had earned the points
to be on the national team,

832
00:35:24,500 --> 00:35:27,416
yet he was still kept off
the team going to Mexico.

833
00:35:27,417 --> 00:35:29,207
D'ASARO YOUNG: I was the
Pan-American champion.

834
00:35:29,208 --> 00:35:31,999
Fenced in that competition.
I was third.

835
00:35:32,000 --> 00:35:34,166
And they take the top five.

836
00:35:34,167 --> 00:35:36,874
But they wouldn't
take me on a team

837
00:35:36,875 --> 00:35:38,832
because my hair was too long.

838
00:35:38,833 --> 00:35:41,749
DECHAINE: The powers
that we're putting together

839
00:35:41,750 --> 00:35:44,457
the preparations for the Pan
American Games

840
00:35:44,458 --> 00:35:46,791
in Winnipeg Canada 1967,

841
00:35:46,792 --> 00:35:49,624
came up to him and said
Well Mike you're at

842
00:35:49,625 --> 00:35:53,624
the top of the list for being
on the US team again.

843
00:35:53,625 --> 00:35:56,832
BURCHARD: He was challenged
by the American Olympic

844
00:35:56,833 --> 00:35:58,291
icon Avery Brundage,

845
00:35:58,292 --> 00:36:00,875
who ran everything for the
Olympic Committee,

846
00:36:02,250 --> 00:36:08,832
to either cut his hair or not
be on the Olympic team.

847
00:36:08,833 --> 00:36:10,207
D'ASARO, JR.: If you look at
those guys,

848
00:36:10,208 --> 00:36:12,041
those guys who get off
the bus in the suit and tie

849
00:36:12,042 --> 00:36:13,249
and you know the straight hair,
I mean,

850
00:36:13,250 --> 00:36:14,874
he's the only one
who's out there.

851
00:36:14,875 --> 00:36:17,624
They were calling out
who'd made the Pan Am team

852
00:36:17,625 --> 00:36:18,957
and they didn't call his name.

853
00:36:18,958 --> 00:36:20,332
KOLOMBATOVICH: He didn't cut
his hair.

854
00:36:20,333 --> 00:36:22,207
TARASCIO: Once he did
that I just had so much

855
00:36:22,208 --> 00:36:23,041
respect for him.

856
00:36:23,042 --> 00:36:24,707
CARTER: I mean
he had principles

857
00:36:24,708 --> 00:36:26,416
and he stood for something
and sometimes

858
00:36:26,417 --> 00:36:27,374
those are controversial.

859
00:36:27,375 --> 00:36:28,832
KING: Think he was pretty
bitter about it.

860
00:36:28,833 --> 00:36:30,041
MARTINEZ: And
he had great hair.

861
00:36:30,042 --> 00:36:33,291
I wouldn’t have had them
cut my hair either.

862
00:36:33,292 --> 00:36:35,082
KOLOMBATOVICH: He was not
allowed to compete

863
00:36:35,083 --> 00:36:37,332
on that Pan Am Games.

864
00:36:37,333 --> 00:36:39,332
And the next year's
Olympic Games.

865
00:36:39,333 --> 00:36:40,999
DECHAINE: I was so proud
of him.

866
00:36:41,000 --> 00:36:43,160
NONOMURA, R: I think
I respected him more for having

867
00:36:43,375 --> 00:36:44,457
stood his ground.

868
00:36:44,458 --> 00:36:46,957
TARASCIO: There is some
the good old boy network

869
00:36:46,958 --> 00:36:49,874
that took place and Michael
was not part of that.

870
00:36:49,875 --> 00:36:52,082
KOLOMBATOVICH: We got to keep
the guys with long

871
00:36:52,083 --> 00:36:53,207
hair out of it.

872
00:36:53,208 --> 00:36:55,874
We got to keep the poor
people out of it.

873
00:36:55,875 --> 00:36:58,124
MCDOUGALL: Frankly, they make
up any reason to get

874
00:36:58,125 --> 00:37:00,082
one guy off the team
so they could put their

875
00:37:00,083 --> 00:37:02,707
guy on you know so this happened
to be long hair.

876
00:37:02,708 --> 00:37:05,707
NONOMURA, G: You do
what you think is right.

877
00:37:05,708 --> 00:37:08,250
And you you have
to have principles.

878
00:37:08,958 --> 00:37:11,207
And he showed that when
he wouldn't cut

879
00:37:11,208 --> 00:37:12,916
his hair just to make a team.

880
00:37:12,917 --> 00:37:14,624
NONOMURA, R: You know,
that’s Michael.

881
00:37:14,625 --> 00:37:16,332
It was his was his style.

882
00:37:16,333 --> 00:37:18,041
MACLELLAN: Michael the rebel,
the gunslinger,

883
00:37:18,042 --> 00:37:21,374
the anti-establishment,
he liked to drop out.

884
00:37:21,375 --> 00:37:24,374
He threw everything away
because he had athletically

885
00:37:24,375 --> 00:37:27,624
qualified to make the Olympic
team and just disappeared

886
00:37:27,625 --> 00:37:28,791
from everyone's lives.

887
00:37:28,792 --> 00:37:31,999
OTERO: He walked away
from the sport the way he walked

888
00:37:32,000 --> 00:37:33,292
away from the rest of his life.

889
00:37:39,667 --> 00:37:41,582
D'ASARO, BARBARA: He felt
he was a failure at

890
00:37:41,583 --> 00:37:42,583
what he was doing.

891
00:37:43,375 --> 00:37:46,249
And I don't know he just
got mad threw everything away.

892
00:37:46,250 --> 00:37:48,792
Took all his trophies
and threw them away.

893
00:37:49,458 --> 00:37:51,707
ORBAN: Our team kind of broke
up after that.

894
00:37:51,708 --> 00:37:53,999
MAKLER: In leaving New York,

895
00:37:54,000 --> 00:37:56,749
he really was leaving
his career.

896
00:37:56,750 --> 00:37:58,875
ORBAN: Had he stayed with,
with Elthes,

897
00:37:59,833 --> 00:38:02,207
he would have excelled as far
as I'm concerned

898
00:38:02,208 --> 00:38:04,457
because they know he was right
up there.

899
00:38:04,458 --> 00:38:06,624
HURST: Given the seasoning
that both he and Al

900
00:38:06,625 --> 00:38:08,749
had that they that might
have given

901
00:38:08,750 --> 00:38:11,124
us some interesting results in,
in 68.

902
00:38:11,125 --> 00:38:13,999
KING: If he had been
a competitor for many

903
00:38:14,000 --> 00:38:17,957
more years,
I think he would have
changed the way that a lot

904
00:38:17,958 --> 00:38:20,749
of young competitors
would look at fencing

905
00:38:20,750 --> 00:38:24,082
and he might have shortened
the journey from being

906
00:38:24,083 --> 00:38:27,749
an also ran country that never
saw good fencing up until,

907
00:38:27,750 --> 00:38:30,249
you know, where we started
doing well.

908
00:38:30,250 --> 00:38:32,832
ORBAN: I think he could have
won a World Championship.

909
00:38:32,833 --> 00:38:33,633
You know.

910
00:38:33,726 --> 00:38:35,541
He could have won
an Olympic champion.

911
00:38:35,542 --> 00:38:39,541
He could have won anything.

912
00:38:39,542 --> 00:38:41,166
OTERO: People came
to San Francisco to change

913
00:38:41,167 --> 00:38:41,967
their life.

914
00:38:42,059 --> 00:38:43,874
They left their old life
behind them.

915
00:38:43,875 --> 00:38:45,791
Michael left a whole
complicated real

916
00:38:45,792 --> 00:38:46,957
life behind him.

917
00:38:46,958 --> 00:38:48,999
BRADFORD: Moved
to San Francisco where

918
00:38:49,000 --> 00:38:51,541
he took acid everyday
for a year and ate

919
00:38:51,542 --> 00:38:53,374
brown rice and meditated.

920
00:38:53,375 --> 00:38:55,999
D'ASARO YOUNG: Did the whole
Haight Ashbury hippie scene.

921
00:38:56,000 --> 00:38:57,207
It was great. It was fabulous.

922
00:38:57,208 --> 00:38:59,666
NARRATOR: While D'Asaro
expanded his consciousness,

923
00:38:59,667 --> 00:39:01,791
he supported himself
by selling newspapers

924
00:39:01,792 --> 00:39:04,000
in the Haight Ashbury
section of San Francisco.

925
00:39:05,000 --> 00:39:06,874
A few blocks away
on Fillmore Street,

926
00:39:06,875 --> 00:39:09,249
the Halberstadt fencing club
had lost its maestro

927
00:39:09,250 --> 00:39:11,416
and was in search
of a new head coach.

928
00:39:11,417 --> 00:39:13,749
MACLELLAN: We went
to San Francisco to meet

929
00:39:13,750 --> 00:39:17,624
Hans Halberstadt and when we got
to Halberstadt fencing club,

930
00:39:17,625 --> 00:39:20,249
there was a sign on the window
saying the club

931
00:39:20,250 --> 00:39:22,041
was closed because Hans
was sick.

932
00:39:22,042 --> 00:39:24,625
And he never recovered.
And he died shortly after.

933
00:39:25,417 --> 00:39:27,832
MEBINE: Chuck Selberg
had left and so we didn't

934
00:39:27,833 --> 00:39:28,633
have a coach.

935
00:39:28,726 --> 00:39:30,541
LEKACH: I think
they were even

936
00:39:30,542 --> 00:39:31,916
considering shutting it down.

937
00:39:31,917 --> 00:39:36,291
GOLDSTEIN: Michael and I
were selling Berkeley Barb

938
00:39:36,292 --> 00:39:39,374
and Oracle's out of my
Cadillac and some guy comes

939
00:39:39,375 --> 00:39:41,499
up to him and says
Michael D’Asaro

940
00:39:41,500 --> 00:39:43,166
what are you doing here.

941
00:39:43,167 --> 00:39:46,082
TARASCIO: Jack Baker saw him
selling Berkeley Barb

942
00:39:46,083 --> 00:39:48,416
and says oh no. This is
you can't do this.

943
00:39:48,417 --> 00:39:51,417
MCDOUGALL: Jack Baker,
the chairman of AFLA,

944
00:39:52,292 --> 00:39:54,332
came in to the fencing
shop one day

945
00:39:54,333 --> 00:39:58,166
when I was working and said
Mike D’Asaro

946
00:39:58,167 --> 00:39:59,249
is in San Francisco.

947
00:39:59,250 --> 00:40:01,374
Jack tell him to come
and see me.

948
00:40:01,375 --> 00:40:02,582
I'd love to meet him. You know.

949
00:40:02,583 --> 00:40:05,874
BURCHARD: Michael went OK.

950
00:40:05,875 --> 00:40:07,749
NARRATOR: D’asaro
and John McDougal met at

951
00:40:07,750 --> 00:40:09,791
the Halberstadt fencers
club for what would be

952
00:40:09,792 --> 00:40:12,499
the start of the next chapter
in D’Asaro’s fencing journey.

953
00:40:12,500 --> 00:40:13,874
MCDOUGALL: Then Michael
walked around

954
00:40:13,875 --> 00:40:16,082
looked at the Salle,
looked at the Salle.

955
00:40:16,083 --> 00:40:19,957
Then he said this place
has good vibes. I said Yeah.

956
00:40:19,958 --> 00:40:20,916
What’s vibes?

957
00:40:20,917 --> 00:40:23,666
And he said
vibrations vibrations.

958
00:40:23,667 --> 00:40:27,707
BURCHARD: He had no idea
or any desire to do such things.

959
00:40:27,708 --> 00:40:29,624
Cause he thought he had left
fencing behind.

960
00:40:29,625 --> 00:40:35,292
I never in my life thought
of coaching fencing.

961
00:40:35,833 --> 00:40:37,541
The thought had never
entered my mind.

962
00:40:37,542 --> 00:40:40,874
But at that time,
yeah I needed a job.

963
00:40:40,875 --> 00:40:42,707
MCDOUGALL: Michael
then looked around a little

964
00:40:42,708 --> 00:40:44,957
more and he said look it,
he says,

965
00:40:44,958 --> 00:40:48,457
you get me a job teaching
fencing and I'll

966
00:40:48,458 --> 00:40:49,999
give you hippie lessons.

967
00:40:50,000 --> 00:40:51,840
GOLDSTEIN: And there
was an apartment there.

968
00:40:52,333 --> 00:40:57,041
And all kinds of the guys stuff
and all the fencing equipment.

969
00:40:57,042 --> 00:40:59,917
And he says Yeah I'll
be the maestro.

970
00:41:00,917 --> 00:41:03,041
OTERO: I was living next door
to Halberstadt.

971
00:41:03,042 --> 00:41:05,957
I got back from school one
day I looked out

972
00:41:05,958 --> 00:41:09,957
the window and I saw two
crazed hippies

973
00:41:09,958 --> 00:41:11,582
painting a Cadillac.

974
00:41:11,583 --> 00:41:15,374
Oh that's the hippie
guy who's now the fencing

975
00:41:15,375 --> 00:41:16,582
coach at Halberstadt.

976
00:41:16,583 --> 00:41:18,624
He's a better hippie coach
than a fencing coach.

977
00:41:18,625 --> 00:41:20,749
LEKACH: The Mike didn't go
to and the kind of coaching

978
00:41:20,750 --> 00:41:22,707
classes or anything.
He just started doing it.

979
00:41:22,708 --> 00:41:25,499
BRADFORD: He figured it out
and his role model of course

980
00:41:25,500 --> 00:41:26,791
was Csaba Elthes.

981
00:41:26,792 --> 00:41:28,041
MCDOUGALL: He was a
natural teacher.

982
00:41:28,042 --> 00:41:29,124
No problem there.

983
00:41:29,125 --> 00:41:32,499
Very difficult to teach yourself
something and then

984
00:41:32,500 --> 00:41:34,041
be so highly successful.

985
00:41:34,042 --> 00:41:35,916
MEBINE: It didn't take very
long at all and the place

986
00:41:35,917 --> 00:41:37,957
was we didn't have
room for anymore.

987
00:41:37,958 --> 00:41:40,666
OTERO: Okay. At San Francisco
in 67 of course you have

988
00:41:40,667 --> 00:41:41,791
a hippie fencing master.

989
00:41:41,792 --> 00:41:44,207
MARTINEZ: He was a hippie
but he was a Brooklyn hippie.

990
00:41:44,208 --> 00:41:46,541
NARRATOR: D’asaro’s
reputation quickly drew

991
00:41:46,542 --> 00:41:48,500
fencers from all
over the Bay Area.

992
00:41:49,125 --> 00:41:51,124
They came to see what he
had learned as a top

993
00:41:51,125 --> 00:41:53,374
ranked fencer and if
he could teach

994
00:41:53,375 --> 00:41:54,417
those skills to them.

995
00:41:55,167 --> 00:41:56,582
BAILEY: At that time
he was probably the most

996
00:41:56,583 --> 00:41:57,499
accomplished fencer,

997
00:41:57,500 --> 00:41:59,207
certainly on the West Coast
and I think

998
00:41:59,208 --> 00:42:00,749
that was a significant draw.

999
00:42:00,750 --> 00:42:02,832
KING: Friend of mine a woman
named Emily Johnson

1000
00:42:02,833 --> 00:42:05,457
said Guess Guess who's coaching
at Halberstadt now.

1001
00:42:05,458 --> 00:42:06,457
And I said who.

1002
00:42:06,458 --> 00:42:08,249
And she told me Mike
was there and I thought

1003
00:42:08,250 --> 00:42:10,207
that was really wonderful.
And I said Good.

1004
00:42:10,208 --> 00:42:11,249
I'm hurrying back.

1005
00:42:11,250 --> 00:42:13,090
LEKACH: But I said
What the hell. I’m going.

1006
00:42:13,750 --> 00:42:15,541
Let's see if I can get
lessons from D’Asaro.

1007
00:42:15,542 --> 00:42:17,582
MACLELLAN: He saw me fence
and he asked my parents

1008
00:42:17,583 --> 00:42:20,041
if they'd be willing to take me
to take lessons

1009
00:42:20,042 --> 00:42:21,082
from him in San Francisco.

1010
00:42:21,083 --> 00:42:22,207
LOSONCZY: Cause I had heard
that there

1011
00:42:22,208 --> 00:42:26,457
was a energetic cool dynamic
coach by the name

1012
00:42:26,458 --> 00:42:27,458
of Mike D’Asaro.

1013
00:42:28,083 --> 00:42:29,707
NONOMURA, G: There’s this guy
I’m looking at him

1014
00:42:29,708 --> 00:42:30,958
like is that D’Artagnan.

1015
00:42:32,458 --> 00:42:35,749
KING: He believed
in discipline and he taught

1016
00:42:35,750 --> 00:42:38,041
a very simple
straightforward game.

1017
00:42:38,042 --> 00:42:39,542
BURCHARD: Exactitude and high

1018
00:42:41,833 --> 00:42:44,582
standards and stuff I think
came from Csaba Elthes

1019
00:42:44,583 --> 00:42:46,916
because his reputation
was one of tolerating

1020
00:42:46,917 --> 00:42:48,249
nothing but perfection.

1021
00:42:48,250 --> 00:42:49,874
LEKACH: Mike was very hard
on the students.

1022
00:42:49,875 --> 00:42:51,124
The better students.

1023
00:42:51,125 --> 00:42:53,041
KING: The old coaching
was if you execute

1024
00:42:53,042 --> 00:42:55,749
it the way I tell you,
you will score.

1025
00:42:55,750 --> 00:42:58,166
Michaels was this is how
you do it,

1026
00:42:58,167 --> 00:43:00,332
now go out and use
your head and score.

1027
00:43:00,333 --> 00:43:02,707
D'ASARO, JR.: He was able
to take what his fencing style

1028
00:43:02,708 --> 00:43:05,707
which was so very creative
in thinking wise and what's

1029
00:43:05,708 --> 00:43:07,207
going to come next or what's
what do you feel

1030
00:43:07,208 --> 00:43:08,457
is going to come next.

1031
00:43:08,458 --> 00:43:09,916
As to what should logically
come next.

1032
00:43:09,917 --> 00:43:11,166
And translate that into
a lesson.

1033
00:43:11,167 --> 00:43:12,666
To me that was
his strongest point.

1034
00:43:12,667 --> 00:43:14,874
KING: He taught you do this.
You do that.

1035
00:43:14,875 --> 00:43:16,207
And Michael said hit him.

1036
00:43:16,208 --> 00:43:18,624
He instilled in you
that that love

1037
00:43:18,625 --> 00:43:19,957
that he had for the sport.

1038
00:43:19,958 --> 00:43:22,207
LEKACH: During the lesson
he would really cut you.

1039
00:43:22,208 --> 00:43:23,916
So you'd really had to parry
for example,

1040
00:43:23,917 --> 00:43:25,749
otherwise you get nice bruises.

1041
00:43:25,750 --> 00:43:27,999
MACLELLAN: He had me doing
so many lunges and advance

1042
00:43:28,000 --> 00:43:31,666
and retreating,
I almost would get on the floor
puking and he'd say get up.

1043
00:43:31,667 --> 00:43:32,916
Come on. Let's keep going.

1044
00:43:32,917 --> 00:43:34,916
BURCHARD: He’d be
with his casually

1045
00:43:34,917 --> 00:43:35,999
with his legs crossed,

1046
00:43:36,000 --> 00:43:37,832
talking to a colleague
across the room and he'd

1047
00:43:37,833 --> 00:43:40,499
look over and he'd watch
practice and then he’d yell out,

1048
00:43:40,500 --> 00:43:41,917
you call that a lunge.

1049
00:43:42,500 --> 00:43:45,374
NARRATOR: Despite his lack
of formal training as a coach,

1050
00:43:45,375 --> 00:43:48,082
D’Asaro’s teaching did
pay off for his students.

1051
00:43:48,083 --> 00:43:50,832
KING: He basically cleaned up
my game and I won two

1052
00:43:50,833 --> 00:43:52,207
more National’s with him.

1053
00:43:52,208 --> 00:43:54,750
OTERO: I won all three
weapons and under 19

1054
00:43:55,333 --> 00:43:56,457
West Coast championships.

1055
00:43:56,458 --> 00:43:59,375
NONOMURA, G: I won more under
him than anybody else ever.

1056
00:43:59,917 --> 00:44:01,499
LEKACH: Somehow I managed
to make the saber team,

1057
00:44:01,500 --> 00:44:02,416
you know,

1058
00:44:02,417 --> 00:44:05,207
beating out several other
potential candidates.

1059
00:44:05,208 --> 00:44:06,374
Surprise. Surprise.

1060
00:44:06,375 --> 00:44:08,624
But then I would mention
that D’Asaro was my

1061
00:44:08,625 --> 00:44:10,332
coach and then of course.

1062
00:44:10,333 --> 00:44:11,499
NARRATOR: As usual,

1063
00:44:11,500 --> 00:44:14,583
D’Asaro ran the club according
to his own rules.

1064
00:44:16,833 --> 00:44:19,416
OTERO: There was a two tier
population at Halberstadt.

1065
00:44:19,417 --> 00:44:20,749
MCDOUGALL: People
who were very straight

1066
00:44:20,750 --> 00:44:24,249
and didn't smoke and they stayed
in the salle all the time.

1067
00:44:24,250 --> 00:44:27,582
And the people that did smoke
which was about half the people,

1068
00:44:27,583 --> 00:44:30,457
would go out back and smoke
all they wanted out there

1069
00:44:30,458 --> 00:44:32,041
and nobody bothered
anybody else.

1070
00:44:32,042 --> 00:44:34,207
OTERO: Smoked a lot of dope
at Halberstadt.

1071
00:44:34,208 --> 00:44:35,457
MASSIALAS: At Halberstadt,
you know,

1072
00:44:35,458 --> 00:44:37,582
you trained took a lesson.
You went out.

1073
00:44:37,583 --> 00:44:39,666
OTERO: Talking to Michael,
in the back room,

1074
00:44:39,667 --> 00:44:41,124
late night stories.

1075
00:44:41,125 --> 00:44:42,666
You know Michael the first
time I saw

1076
00:44:42,667 --> 00:44:44,957
you I was looking out
the window and I saw

1077
00:44:44,958 --> 00:44:47,957
you with your buddy Jerry
painting that Cadillac.

1078
00:44:47,958 --> 00:44:50,500
What the hell was that about.
We were on acid.

1079
00:44:52,250 --> 00:44:53,332
NARRATOR: As the years
progressed at

1080
00:44:53,333 --> 00:44:55,541
Halberstadt D’Asaro
started to think

1081
00:44:55,542 --> 00:44:57,582
of coaching less as a part
time endeavor

1082
00:44:57,583 --> 00:44:59,499
and more as an avocation.

1083
00:44:59,500 --> 00:45:03,374
EISNER: I sort of marveled at
his ability to do that job.

1084
00:45:03,375 --> 00:45:04,999
OTERO: It was really kind
of in the course

1085
00:45:05,000 --> 00:45:07,957
of when I met him that he
transitioned from being

1086
00:45:07,958 --> 00:45:10,166
an accidental coach to saying,

1087
00:45:10,167 --> 00:45:11,582
oh maybe there's
something in this.

1088
00:45:11,583 --> 00:45:12,916
Maybe this is my life.

1089
00:45:12,917 --> 00:45:15,249
EISNER: When you're coaching
a team,

1090
00:45:15,250 --> 00:45:18,874
it has to be disciplined
and schedules and all

1091
00:45:18,875 --> 00:45:22,374
kinds of stuff which didn't
fit with my picture of Mike.

1092
00:45:22,375 --> 00:45:23,749
NARRATOR: In 1970,

1093
00:45:23,750 --> 00:45:25,832
D’Asaro accepted
an invitation to be

1094
00:45:25,833 --> 00:45:28,416
on the World Masters team
that was going to take

1095
00:45:28,417 --> 00:45:31,207
part in an international
competition in London.

1096
00:45:31,208 --> 00:45:33,916
It was a chance for D’Asaro
to compete once again

1097
00:45:33,917 --> 00:45:36,499
on the international
stage and maybe show

1098
00:45:36,500 --> 00:45:39,041
the AFLA what a mistake
they made when they didn't

1099
00:45:39,042 --> 00:45:42,374
select him for the 1967
Pan Am team.

1100
00:45:42,375 --> 00:45:45,124
OTERO: Raul Sudré, who was my
coach at Cornell,

1101
00:45:45,125 --> 00:45:48,416
he came up with the idea
of putting together a team

1102
00:45:48,417 --> 00:45:51,041
of American fencing masters
to create an American team

1103
00:45:51,042 --> 00:45:53,207
for the world
master championship.

1104
00:45:53,208 --> 00:45:54,832
BURCHARD: And
it was a great team.

1105
00:45:54,833 --> 00:45:56,582
OTERO: Sudré picked Michael
for the reason any

1106
00:45:56,583 --> 00:45:58,332
fencing coach picks anyone
for their team because they're

1107
00:45:58,333 --> 00:45:59,166
looking for the best.

1108
00:45:59,167 --> 00:46:00,957
NONOMURA, G: The same people
who are at the world's

1109
00:46:00,958 --> 00:46:02,124
masters are the same people
who were at

1110
00:46:02,125 --> 00:46:04,457
the World Championship.
For him to win that is
the same thing

1111
00:46:04,458 --> 00:46:05,999
is winning
the World Championship.

1112
00:46:06,000 --> 00:46:08,582
OTERO: He very much remained
Michael the hippie,

1113
00:46:08,583 --> 00:46:10,541
which for some of the other
people on the team

1114
00:46:10,542 --> 00:46:11,374
was difficult.

1115
00:46:11,375 --> 00:46:14,041
You know the Geraci’s
of the world.

1116
00:46:14,042 --> 00:46:15,707
Because if you look
at pictures from that,

1117
00:46:15,708 --> 00:46:18,874
the hair is absolutely long.
There he is in sandals.

1118
00:46:18,875 --> 00:46:21,041
TARASCIO: He took
that competition very seriously.

1119
00:46:21,042 --> 00:46:22,749
He really really got
into the training.

1120
00:46:22,750 --> 00:46:24,791
You would think that he
was really a world

1121
00:46:24,792 --> 00:46:25,957
class fencer still.

1122
00:46:25,958 --> 00:46:28,457
NONOMURA, G: And he went
to the Masters and he won.

1123
00:46:28,458 --> 00:46:30,582
BURCHARD: That was an amazing
eye opener to watch

1124
00:46:30,583 --> 00:46:32,916
everybody fencing. Watch them
win so many bouts.

1125
00:46:32,917 --> 00:46:35,124
TARASCIO: And I think
he wanted to like make

1126
00:46:35,125 --> 00:46:37,749
a statement to the AFLA,
that he was not gone.

1127
00:46:37,750 --> 00:46:39,666
NARRATOR: Being on the World
Masters team

1128
00:46:39,667 --> 00:46:42,624
had the added benefit of putting
D’Asaro in contact with some

1129
00:46:42,625 --> 00:46:44,291
of the top coaches
in the country.

1130
00:46:44,292 --> 00:46:47,124
He was invited to help at
seminars at Cornell University.

1131
00:46:47,125 --> 00:46:48,957
He was selected to coach
on the junior

1132
00:46:48,958 --> 00:46:52,499
world teams in 1973 and 1974.

1133
00:46:52,500 --> 00:46:54,374
MASSIALAS: Really met him at
the junior world

1134
00:46:54,375 --> 00:46:57,666
championships in 1974
in Istanbul Turkey.

1135
00:46:57,667 --> 00:47:02,041
LOSONCZY: And always gave me
the confidence that I can

1136
00:47:02,042 --> 00:47:06,000
make an impact
in this tournament,

1137
00:47:07,583 --> 00:47:11,291
even though there were no
junior fencers

1138
00:47:11,292 --> 00:47:14,041
from the United States
ever made the final.

1139
00:47:14,042 --> 00:47:21,208
So real fast forward, that day,
it was a two day tournament,

1140
00:47:22,458 --> 00:47:27,082
I made the final
and came in fourth.

1141
00:47:27,083 --> 00:47:30,457
One of the things that Michael
always sort of encouraged

1142
00:47:30,458 --> 00:47:32,874
the athletes to do is that
you know when you go

1143
00:47:32,875 --> 00:47:35,999
to fencing tournaments,
it's not about just fencing.

1144
00:47:36,000 --> 00:47:37,624
It's about
the entire experience.

1145
00:47:37,625 --> 00:47:39,249
Yes, you want to be
successful what you do

1146
00:47:39,250 --> 00:47:41,374
in fencing but it's really
about the overall

1147
00:47:41,375 --> 00:47:42,332
life experience.

1148
00:47:42,333 --> 00:47:44,416
And that’s something that he
really reinforced.

1149
00:47:44,417 --> 00:47:48,750
LOSONCZY: So, he was very
instrumental in us,

1150
00:47:49,583 --> 00:47:51,292
the US saber team,

1151
00:47:51,958 --> 00:47:54,582
getting a silver medal
in the Pan American Games

1152
00:47:54,583 --> 00:47:55,499
in Mexico City.

1153
00:47:55,500 --> 00:47:56,999
MACLELLAN: I think
he was extremely

1154
00:47:57,000 --> 00:48:00,541
excited and honored,
because Olympic coach.

1155
00:48:00,542 --> 00:48:01,542
Good title.

1156
00:48:04,833 --> 00:48:08,707
OTERO: In 1972 I graduated
from high school,

1157
00:48:08,708 --> 00:48:11,624
went off to college,
went to Cornell.

1158
00:48:11,625 --> 00:48:16,041
Cornell being in the Ivy League
fenced other Ivy League schools.

1159
00:48:16,042 --> 00:48:18,792
And one of those was Penn.

1160
00:48:19,792 --> 00:48:22,749
Penn had a shall we say
a much more colorful

1161
00:48:22,750 --> 00:48:25,166
team than most of the era.

1162
00:48:25,167 --> 00:48:28,500
Csizar recruited heavily out
of the black

1163
00:48:29,042 --> 00:48:30,582
community in Philadelphia,

1164
00:48:30,583 --> 00:48:33,666
was colorblind and just
wanted great athletes.

1165
00:48:33,667 --> 00:48:36,291
The Penn team was pretty cool.

1166
00:48:36,292 --> 00:48:41,874
Csizar was a traditional
fencing master i.e. a maestro.

1167
00:48:41,875 --> 00:48:45,624
Csizar had always been
maestro but given

1168
00:48:45,625 --> 00:48:49,667
the sort of cultural change
that was taking place there,

1169
00:48:50,375 --> 00:48:54,583
the guys fencing for him
shortened maestro to Stro.

1170
00:48:55,250 --> 00:48:58,499
I couldn't help but notice
that they simply reflexively

1171
00:48:58,500 --> 00:49:02,457
referred to Csizar as Stro.
I came back from my first break,

1172
00:49:02,458 --> 00:49:03,625
Christmas break,

1173
00:49:04,375 --> 00:49:07,707
reporting to Michael
and he was saying

1174
00:49:07,708 --> 00:49:10,457
what was it like. I said it was
great. Wonderful.

1175
00:49:10,458 --> 00:49:14,041
Love college fencing
and an interesting thing

1176
00:49:14,042 --> 00:49:16,457
there is a phenomenon at
the University of Pennsylvania

1177
00:49:16,458 --> 00:49:17,667
where they call Csziar Stro.

1178
00:49:18,417 --> 00:49:22,249
Everybody laughed and we sort
of picked up on it ourselves.

1179
00:49:22,250 --> 00:49:24,166
And called would call
Michael Stro.

1180
00:49:24,167 --> 00:49:25,666
It was almost facetiously.

1181
00:49:25,667 --> 00:49:29,457
Michael Tarscio took
that and ran with it.

1182
00:49:29,458 --> 00:49:34,416
He called Stro Stro repeatedly
from the get go.

1183
00:49:34,417 --> 00:49:36,624
He kind of insisted on it.
Meanwhile,

1184
00:49:36,625 --> 00:49:40,041
I went off back to back
to college.

1185
00:49:40,042 --> 00:49:43,916
But when I came back that summer
Michael D’Asaro was the Stro.

1186
00:49:43,917 --> 00:49:47,041
I think Tarascio really stuck
it to him.

1187
00:49:47,042 --> 00:49:50,624
Stuck it on him. Michael loved
it. It was cool.

1188
00:49:50,625 --> 00:49:53,957
And it reflected his place
in American fencing.

1189
00:49:53,958 --> 00:49:57,582
He wasn't a maestro in the
traditional sense.

1190
00:49:57,583 --> 00:50:00,875
He was the new version of a
fencing coach.

1191
00:50:01,458 --> 00:50:03,832
And that was a Stro.

1192
00:50:03,833 --> 00:50:06,832
NARRATOR: D’Asaro became
a popular choice for top level

1193
00:50:06,833 --> 00:50:08,749
coaching jobs around
the country.

1194
00:50:08,750 --> 00:50:12,791
Hugo Costello at NYU and Csaba
Elthes both offered

1195
00:50:12,792 --> 00:50:14,291
him coaching jobs in New York.

1196
00:50:14,292 --> 00:50:17,666
D'Asaro chose to remain in the
Bay Area and took a job

1197
00:50:17,667 --> 00:50:20,249
at San Jose State University
coaching the women's

1198
00:50:20,250 --> 00:50:21,250
fencing team.

1199
00:50:23,458 --> 00:50:25,957
BRADFORD: They hired
Michael D’Asaro to build

1200
00:50:25,958 --> 00:50:29,457
the woman's fencing team
because they had to meet

1201
00:50:29,458 --> 00:50:31,541
the title nine criteria.

1202
00:50:31,542 --> 00:50:35,249
NONOMURA, G: He was the wild
coach from the west coast,

1203
00:50:35,250 --> 00:50:37,999
as opposed to one of these staid
conservative

1204
00:50:38,000 --> 00:50:40,332
coaches from the east.
Selecting him,

1205
00:50:40,333 --> 00:50:42,999
it was on his merits. Purely.

1206
00:50:43,000 --> 00:50:45,124
MASSIALAS: Back then the bay
area was like nothing

1207
00:50:45,125 --> 00:50:48,416
in fencing.
GARGIULO: We were outcasts
over here on the west coast.

1208
00:50:48,417 --> 00:50:50,541
There wasn't a really
strong West Coast program.

1209
00:50:50,542 --> 00:50:54,082
YU: You can only get strong
and fencing in California,

1210
00:50:54,083 --> 00:50:55,624
if you work
with Michael D’Asaro.

1211
00:50:55,625 --> 00:50:57,749
NARRATOR: For the new job at
San Jose State,

1212
00:50:57,750 --> 00:51:00,291
D’Asaro opted to make
some lifestyle changes.

1213
00:51:00,292 --> 00:51:02,749
One of which would have been
unthinkable just

1214
00:51:02,750 --> 00:51:03,957
a few years prior.

1215
00:51:03,958 --> 00:51:06,541
NONOMURA, G: One day I walked
into the fencing club and he'd

1216
00:51:06,542 --> 00:51:07,791
cut off all his hair.

1217
00:51:07,792 --> 00:51:10,166
MASSIALAS: The hair was cut.
He had the straight laced.

1218
00:51:10,167 --> 00:51:13,582
Very different Michael than was
the pre San Jose days.

1219
00:51:13,583 --> 00:51:15,832
NARRATOR: D’asaro was able
to quickly attract top

1220
00:51:15,833 --> 00:51:17,666
level talent to the San
Jose State

1221
00:51:17,667 --> 00:51:18,499
fencing program.

1222
00:51:18,500 --> 00:51:19,791
YU: Michael D’Asaro,

1223
00:51:19,792 --> 00:51:24,041
because of his charisma
and incredible skills, you know,

1224
00:51:24,042 --> 00:51:26,249
drew people to San Jose State.

1225
00:51:26,250 --> 00:51:28,166
MACLELLAN: He did
the ultimate recruit for me.

1226
00:51:28,167 --> 00:51:30,207
Marriage. And then got
Vinny Stacy.

1227
00:51:30,208 --> 00:51:33,541
We had met Michael I think at
the national championships.

1228
00:51:33,542 --> 00:51:37,082
D'ASARO YOUNG: I met two
ladies on a junior team

1229
00:51:37,083 --> 00:51:39,374
that I coached back
then who were really

1230
00:51:39,375 --> 00:51:43,958
impressed with my coaching
and they were ready to go

1231
00:51:44,750 --> 00:51:45,958
to college and they came here.

1232
00:51:46,458 --> 00:51:47,957
JOHNSON: My name
is Stacy Johnson.

1233
00:51:47,958 --> 00:51:50,499
I'm originally from Texas.
Vince and I both are.

1234
00:51:50,500 --> 00:51:53,082
We just moved to California
especially to train

1235
00:51:53,083 --> 00:51:53,999
with Michael.

1236
00:51:54,000 --> 00:51:56,791
BRADFORD: And we were both
like Oh my God he's just

1237
00:51:56,792 --> 00:51:58,374
so fantastic.

1238
00:51:58,375 --> 00:52:02,249
KONECNY: I wanted to be
with the best women fencers.

1239
00:52:02,250 --> 00:52:04,707
BRADFORD: And we got
ourselves out

1240
00:52:04,708 --> 00:52:07,499
to California and started
to study under him

1241
00:52:07,500 --> 00:52:09,666
and we started to get
incredible results.

1242
00:52:09,667 --> 00:52:12,749
MASSIALAS: He had the most
dynamic women's program by far.

1243
00:52:12,750 --> 00:52:14,624
HARUTUNIAN: They’re dominate
the NCAA.

1244
00:52:14,625 --> 00:52:15,582
SCHIFRIN: They
were legendary.

1245
00:52:15,583 --> 00:52:16,749
D'ASARO, JR.: Didn’t have
results in Halberstadt.

1246
00:52:16,750 --> 00:52:18,957
Didn't have a whole lot
of results here in L.A.

1247
00:52:18,958 --> 00:52:20,750
San Jose? Man, he crushed it.

1248
00:52:21,625 --> 00:52:22,832
SCHIFRIN: Maybe he was
a former hippie.

1249
00:52:22,833 --> 00:52:24,207
Maybe he was a party guy.

1250
00:52:24,208 --> 00:52:27,374
But the reputation was also
he had an amazing

1251
00:52:27,375 --> 00:52:29,207
group of fencing athletes.

1252
00:52:29,208 --> 00:52:32,541
There was a Jekyll and Hyde
quality to D’Asaro's reputation.

1253
00:52:32,542 --> 00:52:35,249
SCHIFRIN: We were told stay
away from Michael D’Asaro.

1254
00:52:35,250 --> 00:52:36,791
YU: He is brutal.

1255
00:52:36,792 --> 00:52:38,999
SCHIFRIN: Kind of the scum
of the fencing world.

1256
00:52:39,000 --> 00:52:40,791
YU: He learned everything
from this Hungarian

1257
00:52:40,792 --> 00:52:43,499
maestro named Csaba,
who would hit people.

1258
00:52:43,500 --> 00:52:45,499
SCHIFRIN: As I grew older
as a young teen

1259
00:52:45,500 --> 00:52:47,999
I was like titillated
by that idea.

1260
00:52:48,000 --> 00:52:49,499
MACLELLAN: He did draw
the rebels.

1261
00:52:49,500 --> 00:52:51,791
I mean look at Greg and Peter
and Vinnie and Stacy.

1262
00:52:51,792 --> 00:52:53,207
And because that's the kind of
people

1263
00:52:53,208 --> 00:52:54,457
that could understand him.

1264
00:52:54,458 --> 00:52:56,124
NARRATOR: While D’Asaro did
manage to build

1265
00:52:56,125 --> 00:52:58,749
the top rank women's fencing
program in the nation,

1266
00:52:58,750 --> 00:53:00,957
when it came time to build
the men's program,

1267
00:53:00,958 --> 00:53:02,749
recruitment proved
far more difficult.

1268
00:53:02,750 --> 00:53:04,332
MACLELLAN: He couldn't get
any saber guys because they all

1269
00:53:04,333 --> 00:53:05,499
wanted to be on the these coast.

1270
00:53:05,500 --> 00:53:06,791
NONOMURA, G: Most
of the saber

1271
00:53:06,792 --> 00:53:07,916
fencers he had there,
he created.

1272
00:53:07,917 --> 00:53:10,166
MARTINEZ: He plucked me out
of the projects in New York

1273
00:53:10,167 --> 00:53:13,374
and I came to San Jose State
and my life is forever changed.

1274
00:53:13,375 --> 00:53:15,207
I don't think I would've
survived back there.

1275
00:53:15,208 --> 00:53:16,999
MASSIALAS: But everybody
that I saw that he worked

1276
00:53:17,000 --> 00:53:19,457
with for any sort
of period of time,

1277
00:53:19,458 --> 00:53:20,749
improved tremendously.

1278
00:53:20,750 --> 00:53:22,707
SCHIFRIN: I knew Michael
was a saber fencer.

1279
00:53:22,708 --> 00:53:24,582
I didn't know what he knew
about epee.

1280
00:53:24,583 --> 00:53:26,291
And I was an epee
national champion.

1281
00:53:26,292 --> 00:53:27,582
Junior champion. Under 20.

1282
00:53:27,583 --> 00:53:29,666
You know so he said
well let's fence.

1283
00:53:29,667 --> 00:53:33,416
And he proceeded to beat
me thoroughly and handily.

1284
00:53:33,417 --> 00:53:35,457
HURST: By that time Michael
had taken over

1285
00:53:35,458 --> 00:53:37,249
and turned first
into a West Coast

1286
00:53:37,250 --> 00:53:38,750
power and then national.

1287
00:53:39,292 --> 00:53:41,041
SCHIFRIN: I wanted to be
an Olympian. So,

1288
00:53:41,042 --> 00:53:44,499
I felt like it might be
smart for me to study there.

1289
00:53:44,500 --> 00:53:48,041
HARUTUNIAN: Mike settled.
He’s have wife. Family.

1290
00:53:48,042 --> 00:53:50,167
He’s have house.
He’s have garden.

1291
00:53:51,750 --> 00:53:54,332
NARRATOR: In his new role
as head coach at San Jose State,

1292
00:53:54,333 --> 00:53:56,166
D’Asaro kept some things
the same

1293
00:53:56,167 --> 00:53:59,832
in his coaching style but did
a complete turnaround in others.

1294
00:53:59,833 --> 00:54:02,499
BURCHARD: So he ran practices
with a stopwatch

1295
00:54:02,500 --> 00:54:03,624
and a clipboard.

1296
00:54:03,625 --> 00:54:04,916
Totally opposite
than he had been

1297
00:54:04,917 --> 00:54:05,791
in San Francisco.

1298
00:54:05,792 --> 00:54:07,749
NONOMURA, G: He realized
he had to get all these people

1299
00:54:07,750 --> 00:54:10,916
moving and when you're talking
about college students

1300
00:54:10,917 --> 00:54:13,957
some of them may be kind
of interested but not

1301
00:54:13,958 --> 00:54:15,000
showing it at all.

1302
00:54:15,542 --> 00:54:17,707
So he really had to work
hard to keep them going.

1303
00:54:17,708 --> 00:54:19,916
MACLELLAN: Michael's teaching
at Halberstadt and at

1304
00:54:19,917 --> 00:54:21,332
San Jose State was the same.

1305
00:54:21,333 --> 00:54:23,707
What was different was that
he was responsible

1306
00:54:23,708 --> 00:54:24,541
for so much more.

1307
00:54:24,542 --> 00:54:26,541
LEKACH: From a hippie
to a law abiding citizen.

1308
00:54:26,542 --> 00:54:29,041
He'd have a whistle and bark
orders and this kind of thing

1309
00:54:29,042 --> 00:54:30,166
like a basketball coach.

1310
00:54:30,167 --> 00:54:31,999
D'ASARO, JR.: At
San Jose State,

1311
00:54:32,000 --> 00:54:34,374
he was a very rough coach.
Lots of yelling.

1312
00:54:34,375 --> 00:54:35,916
Lots of screaming.
Lots of cursing.

1313
00:54:35,917 --> 00:54:36,874
SCHIFRIN: He
would berate you.

1314
00:54:36,875 --> 00:54:38,666
It was physically difficult.
He would hit you.

1315
00:54:38,667 --> 00:54:41,166
HARKNESS: It taught me how
how I don't want to coach.

1316
00:54:41,167 --> 00:54:44,666
GARGIULO: He had this amazing
ability to be sensitive

1317
00:54:44,667 --> 00:54:46,874
as well and this
was the contradiction

1318
00:54:46,875 --> 00:54:47,707
of Stro.

1319
00:54:47,708 --> 00:54:50,499
D'ASARO, JR.: Just as strong
and mean and loud

1320
00:54:50,500 --> 00:54:52,374
as he was when you were fucking
it up,

1321
00:54:52,375 --> 00:54:55,541
that's just as great as he
was when you were doing

1322
00:54:55,542 --> 00:54:56,374
it well.

1323
00:54:56,375 --> 00:54:58,249
NARRATOR: It's possible
that D’Asaro remembered

1324
00:54:58,250 --> 00:55:00,791
his days in the Army
as a pentathlete

1325
00:55:00,792 --> 00:55:02,499
and the benefits
of physical training

1326
00:55:02,500 --> 00:55:04,291
when he made conditioning
a priority

1327
00:55:04,292 --> 00:55:06,541
for the fencers
at San Jose State.

1328
00:55:06,542 --> 00:55:09,541
GARGIULO: Stro physically
was always pushing himself

1329
00:55:09,542 --> 00:55:12,457
and his students in ways
that fencing at the time

1330
00:55:12,458 --> 00:55:13,957
wasn't doing. So,
for the first month,

1331
00:55:13,958 --> 00:55:15,499
you didn't touch a weapon.

1332
00:55:15,500 --> 00:55:18,041
KONECNY: We didn't do a lot
of free fencing.

1333
00:55:18,042 --> 00:55:19,332
D'ASARO YOUNG: Idealistically
speaking,

1334
00:55:19,333 --> 00:55:22,207
people should be doing this for
six months to a year

1335
00:55:22,208 --> 00:55:23,791
before they even touch a weapon.

1336
00:55:23,792 --> 00:55:25,875
KNIES: We were all super fit.

1337
00:55:27,417 --> 00:55:28,749
HARKNESS: We are going
to make athletes.

1338
00:55:28,750 --> 00:55:30,917
MARTINEZ: And the first thing
he says is two miles.

1339
00:55:31,875 --> 00:55:33,332
HARKNESS: You're running
to the south campus,

1340
00:55:33,333 --> 00:55:35,249
to the stadium. You're going
to do sprints.

1341
00:55:35,250 --> 00:55:37,332
You're gonna do stairs. You know
you suffer together.

1342
00:55:37,333 --> 00:55:39,874
And you also find out how
far you can push yourself.

1343
00:55:39,875 --> 00:55:42,624
MACLELLAN: Lessons drilling
footwork fencing.

1344
00:55:42,625 --> 00:55:44,916
We get do all that in a day.

1345
00:55:44,917 --> 00:55:46,416
HARKNESS: Between
the athleticism and lessons

1346
00:55:46,417 --> 00:55:47,217
with Stro,

1347
00:55:47,309 --> 00:55:49,124
you couldn't be killed
with ordinary weapons.

1348
00:55:49,125 --> 00:55:51,707
GARGIULO: He was there
working his team

1349
00:55:51,708 --> 00:55:54,874
you know harder himself
than they were willing to work.

1350
00:55:54,875 --> 00:55:57,249
I mean he was infusing
them with passion.

1351
00:55:57,250 --> 00:55:58,499
BRADFORD: I'm a coach myself,

1352
00:55:58,500 --> 00:56:00,791
I don't know where he got
all of that energy.

1353
00:56:00,792 --> 00:56:03,207
NARRATOR: D’Asaro placed
an extraordinary emphasis

1354
00:56:03,208 --> 00:56:04,874
on footwork in his training.

1355
00:56:04,875 --> 00:56:08,124
SCHIFRIN: Michael
was a taskmaster in those

1356
00:56:08,125 --> 00:56:08,999
footwork sessions.

1357
00:56:09,000 --> 00:56:11,374
BAILEY: He would have
the class do like 100 lunges

1358
00:56:11,375 --> 00:56:14,041
before they ever started
the lesson or did anything else.

1359
00:56:14,042 --> 00:56:15,666
CHING: So many
freakin' lunges.

1360
00:56:15,667 --> 00:56:17,791
MARTINEZ: Ah, the footwork.
The footwork. The footwork.

1361
00:56:17,792 --> 00:56:18,999
The footwork. The footwork.

1362
00:56:19,000 --> 00:56:20,832
GARGIULO: I also had these
pictures of Stro

1363
00:56:20,833 --> 00:56:23,791
with his long hair doing
footwork with the waves.

1364
00:56:23,792 --> 00:56:26,791
SCHIFRIN: And we definitely
went over to Santa Cruz

1365
00:56:26,792 --> 00:56:27,874
and did footwork,

1366
00:56:27,875 --> 00:56:30,249
just like our coach Michael
D’Asaro used to do.

1367
00:56:30,250 --> 00:56:32,249
BAILEY: D’asaro I think
it was able to get some

1368
00:56:32,250 --> 00:56:35,041
of these kids at a relatively
young age where you can

1369
00:56:35,042 --> 00:56:37,583
instill in them the proper
fencing technique and the proper

1370
00:56:38,542 --> 00:56:39,749
conditioning that was required.

1371
00:56:39,750 --> 00:56:41,916
SCHIFRIN: Well I don't know
if he is good with beginners.

1372
00:56:41,917 --> 00:56:43,957
But I think
he inspired beginners.

1373
00:56:43,958 --> 00:56:46,582
NARRATOR: D’asaro believed
in individualized lessons.

1374
00:56:46,583 --> 00:56:48,957
Everyone was trained
according to their

1375
00:56:48,958 --> 00:56:50,041
own abilities.

1376
00:56:50,042 --> 00:56:52,249
JOHNSON: Michael's lessons
were not formulaic.

1377
00:56:52,250 --> 00:56:56,207
OTERO: Michael would make
it up each time for each person.

1378
00:56:56,208 --> 00:56:57,749
D'ASARO, JR.: He would teach
his students how to think

1379
00:56:57,750 --> 00:56:58,624
for themselves.

1380
00:56:58,625 --> 00:57:00,499
And come up with their
own style that fits them.

1381
00:57:00,500 --> 00:57:02,249
MACLELLAN: Because he really
was able to adapt,

1382
00:57:02,250 --> 00:57:05,249
like any good coach, adapt
to any student's ability.

1383
00:57:05,250 --> 00:57:06,999
D'ASARO, JR.: Greg didn't
fence like anybody else.

1384
00:57:07,000 --> 00:57:08,166
He was twitchy. He was twitchy.

1385
00:57:08,167 --> 00:57:09,707
Greg was the only
one I knew flicked.

1386
00:57:09,708 --> 00:57:11,207
Schifrin was kind
of the same way.

1387
00:57:11,208 --> 00:57:13,207
You know he’s sort of stay out.
Where's the distance.

1388
00:57:13,208 --> 00:57:15,332
Maybe I’m up here. Maybe not.
Maybe I’m down here.

1389
00:57:15,333 --> 00:57:16,541
Where all the other epee fencers
were like

1390
00:57:16,542 --> 00:57:17,374
like you know regimented.

1391
00:57:17,375 --> 00:57:21,207
4 6 4 6 up 7 8. It's his
students that do that.

1392
00:57:21,208 --> 00:57:23,291
And that's incredible. I mean
Joy was the same way.

1393
00:57:23,292 --> 00:57:25,207
Gay was the same way. You know,
actually Gay wasn’t.

1394
00:57:25,208 --> 00:57:26,791
Gay was a perfect
classic fencer.

1395
00:57:26,792 --> 00:57:28,249
So he could do anything.

1396
00:57:28,250 --> 00:57:30,917
SCHIFRIN: Every time you step
on the Strip,

1397
00:57:32,083 --> 00:57:35,499
you give your best performance.
Every time.

1398
00:57:35,500 --> 00:57:38,082
Whether it's practice.
Whether it's a bout.

1399
00:57:38,083 --> 00:57:40,457
You're always give
your best performance.

1400
00:57:40,458 --> 00:57:43,249
BRADFORD: And he could be
very intense,

1401
00:57:43,250 --> 00:57:45,999
like just so focused on you.

1402
00:57:46,000 --> 00:57:49,582
And he could just draw
out of you a really

1403
00:57:49,583 --> 00:57:51,332
high level of performance.

1404
00:57:51,333 --> 00:57:53,624
NARRATOR: D’asaro challenged
his students constantly.

1405
00:57:53,625 --> 00:57:56,082
You could argue his methods
bordered on a form

1406
00:57:56,083 --> 00:57:58,041
of cruel and unusual punishment.

1407
00:57:58,042 --> 00:58:01,916
KNIES: He came from the mean
Daddy school of giving lessons.

1408
00:58:01,917 --> 00:58:05,041
SCHIFRIN: Michael's idea
about the lesson was it would be

1409
00:58:05,042 --> 00:58:06,957
so difficult and so grueling.

1410
00:58:06,958 --> 00:58:09,707
BAILEY: Any lesson you take
any fencing you do.

1411
00:58:09,708 --> 00:58:12,624
MACLELLAN: Should be so much
harder than the competition.

1412
00:58:12,625 --> 00:58:15,041
So when you get to the
competition it's easy.

1413
00:58:15,042 --> 00:58:17,499
HARKNESS: He said that's why
he was such a you know

1414
00:58:17,500 --> 00:58:19,166
abusive bastard on the Strip.

1415
00:58:19,167 --> 00:58:21,832
Because after lessons with him
what can they possibly

1416
00:58:21,833 --> 00:58:22,733
do to you?

1417
00:58:22,784 --> 00:58:24,749
PLATT: Fencing you is nothing
like being yelled at by Michael.

1418
00:58:24,750 --> 00:58:26,499
GARGIULO: Mike knocked
the weapon out of my hand,

1419
00:58:26,500 --> 00:58:27,374
took a shoe,

1420
00:58:27,375 --> 00:58:29,416
picked it up with his weapon
and flew it at

1421
00:58:29,417 --> 00:58:31,041
me and said I’m done tonight.

1422
00:58:31,042 --> 00:58:34,624
BRADFORD: And he could be
in a bad mood and ask

1423
00:58:34,625 --> 00:58:36,541
you to make a parry four
and you think you're gonna

1424
00:58:36,542 --> 00:58:40,999
make a perfect tiny parry
four and he would like whack

1425
00:58:41,000 --> 00:58:43,041
you on the head and go too big.

1426
00:58:43,042 --> 00:58:44,722
MARTINEZ: He whacked the shit
out of me.

1427
00:58:45,792 --> 00:58:46,999
HARKNESS: The guys
who were consistently

1428
00:58:47,000 --> 00:58:48,041
bleeding at the end
of the lesson

1429
00:58:48,042 --> 00:58:49,541
were the Sabre guys.

1430
00:58:49,542 --> 00:58:51,249
And they weren't like oh
they were like they're

1431
00:58:51,250 --> 00:58:52,166
pumped up by it.

1432
00:58:52,167 --> 00:58:53,499
BRADFORD: When
he was a young man,

1433
00:58:53,500 --> 00:58:56,874
a coach abusing an athlete
was acceptable.

1434
00:58:56,875 --> 00:58:58,624
We didn't call it abuse.

1435
00:58:58,625 --> 00:59:01,791
We said the coach was trying
to motivate the student.

1436
00:59:01,792 --> 00:59:04,041
KNIES: He would hit me once,
I wouldn't let him hit me again.

1437
00:59:04,042 --> 00:59:07,041
So, I'd keep the distance
or I'd make that that parry.

1438
00:59:07,042 --> 00:59:09,499
BRADFORD: So, Michael
was abused by his coach

1439
00:59:09,500 --> 00:59:11,291
and he brought that to coaching.

1440
00:59:11,292 --> 00:59:12,999
NARRATOR: But how much
was too much?

1441
00:59:13,000 --> 00:59:15,333
Did he cross the line
into abuse?

1442
00:59:18,375 --> 00:59:19,935
TARASCIO: It was just
Michael myself.

1443
00:59:20,417 --> 00:59:22,166
And he broke me.

1444
00:59:22,167 --> 00:59:23,791
HARKNESS: The theory was
that you had to break

1445
00:59:23,792 --> 00:59:26,082
somebody down completely
and then rebuild him.

1446
00:59:26,083 --> 00:59:29,207
DECHAINE: Michael always
tried to feel out his pupil.

1447
00:59:29,208 --> 00:59:32,416
See what his pupil was capable
of so that he wouldn't

1448
00:59:32,417 --> 00:59:35,249
push it beyond what the student
was capable of.

1449
00:59:35,250 --> 00:59:36,499
HARKNESS: Just another lesson
with Stro,

1450
00:59:36,500 --> 00:59:38,832
where nothing you did was right.
Everything you did was wrong.

1451
00:59:38,833 --> 00:59:40,916
And not only was everything
wrong but everything

1452
00:59:40,917 --> 00:59:42,749
was wrong and you were a bad
person for doing

1453
00:59:42,750 --> 00:59:44,291
everything wrong. And everything
was wrong,

1454
00:59:44,292 --> 00:59:46,582
you were a bad person
for doing everything wrong

1455
00:59:46,583 --> 00:59:48,124
and you'll never
do anything right.

1456
00:59:48,125 --> 00:59:50,916
He's not taking it easy on me
and I actually dropped.

1457
00:59:50,917 --> 00:59:52,041
HARKNESS: No no.

1458
00:59:52,042 --> 00:59:54,041
Wrong wrong wrong and you're
stupid and you're wrong.

1459
00:59:54,042 --> 00:59:56,291
That's not a fucking parry.
This is a fucking parry.

1460
00:59:56,292 --> 00:59:58,416
This is a riposte? You call
that a fucking riposte?

1461
00:59:58,417 --> 01:00:00,257
TARASCIO: And I thought
the lesson was over.

1462
01:00:00,333 --> 01:00:01,666
He said get up.

1463
01:00:01,667 --> 01:00:03,874
HARKNESS: And
I'm just so fed up.

1464
01:00:03,875 --> 01:00:06,041
I can't do anything right.

1465
01:00:06,042 --> 01:00:07,666
And so I'm hitting
him as hard as I can.

1466
01:00:07,667 --> 01:00:09,916
Tears are starting to stream
down my face I'm

1467
01:00:09,917 --> 01:00:11,124
so fucking pissed.

1468
01:00:11,125 --> 01:00:13,457
TARASCIO: And the lesson
continued until I dropped

1469
01:00:13,458 --> 01:00:14,999
maybe three four or five times.

1470
01:00:15,000 --> 01:00:17,082
HARKNESS: And I’m hitting him
as hard as I can.

1471
01:00:17,083 --> 01:00:19,791
Hitting him as hard as I can.
Hit him as hard as I can.

1472
01:00:19,792 --> 01:00:21,707
TARASCIO: One of the few
times that I wished

1473
01:00:21,708 --> 01:00:22,957
I'd never been a fencer.

1474
01:00:22,958 --> 01:00:24,624
HARKNESS: Why you hitting me
so hard?

1475
01:00:24,625 --> 01:00:27,707
Because I want to kill you.

1476
01:00:27,708 --> 01:00:29,832
TARASCIO: He broke me
to 98 percent.

1477
01:00:29,833 --> 01:00:33,583
HARKNESS: Oh. OK.
Nice and easy now.

1478
01:00:35,292 --> 01:00:39,374
Nice and easy. That was pretty
good. OK. Nice.

1479
01:00:39,375 --> 01:00:43,833
OK. Now lunge. Right. Good. OK.
Good lesson.

1480
01:00:46,417 --> 01:00:47,499
TARASCIO: He never did
that after that.

1481
01:00:47,500 --> 01:00:50,166
But one time just to show
that when you're fencing,

1482
01:00:50,167 --> 01:00:51,291
you don't give up.

1483
01:00:51,292 --> 01:00:53,541
SCHIFRIN: It would never
occur to me to quit.

1484
01:00:53,542 --> 01:00:55,749
He was mean and miserable
and horrible to me, too.

1485
01:00:55,750 --> 01:00:57,457
But I just thought well that's
Michael like.

1486
01:00:57,458 --> 01:00:59,457
HURST: When you become
a varsity coach,

1487
01:00:59,458 --> 01:01:03,124
by definition you have to strive
to produce a winning team.

1488
01:01:03,125 --> 01:01:05,749
Whether the kids are happy
or not isn't what is going

1489
01:01:05,750 --> 01:01:08,999
to necessarily impress
the athletic director and get

1490
01:01:09,000 --> 01:01:10,082
another year’s contract.

1491
01:01:10,083 --> 01:01:12,249
NARRATOR: Some of D’Asaro’s
teaching examples owed

1492
01:01:12,250 --> 01:01:14,749
more to the streets of Red Hook
than traditional

1493
01:01:14,750 --> 01:01:16,458
old school fencing lessons.

1494
01:01:20,833 --> 01:01:25,124
CHING: He would use analogies
that were often very street.

1495
01:01:25,125 --> 01:01:27,082
HARKNESS: The seconde parry
one was a classic

1496
01:01:27,083 --> 01:01:28,499
because this was pure Stro.

1497
01:01:28,500 --> 01:01:30,666
CARTER: I remember someone
asking like how do

1498
01:01:30,667 --> 01:01:32,916
you take parry seconde.

1499
01:01:32,917 --> 01:01:34,582
HARKNESS: You don’t know
what seconde is?

1500
01:01:34,583 --> 01:01:35,999
CHING: It's like you got
a beer bottle.

1501
01:01:36,000 --> 01:01:37,666
HARKNESS: And you break
it on the bar before

1502
01:01:37,667 --> 01:01:38,707
you cut the motherfucker.

1503
01:01:38,708 --> 01:01:39,957
CARTER: That motion,

1504
01:01:39,958 --> 01:01:42,207
when you crack the bottle
is parry seconde.

1505
01:01:42,208 --> 01:01:44,417
HINTON: Oh it kind
of just clicked.

1506
01:01:45,417 --> 01:01:47,374
We know exactly what you mean.

1507
01:01:47,375 --> 01:01:48,499
HARKNESS: Seconde.
We know how to parry

1508
01:01:48,500 --> 01:01:49,916
seconde now.

1509
01:01:49,917 --> 01:01:51,916
NARRATOR: The formidable
passion D’Asaro brought

1510
01:01:51,917 --> 01:01:54,499
to coaching in the gym
didn't translate very

1511
01:01:54,500 --> 01:01:55,916
well to competitions.

1512
01:01:55,917 --> 01:01:57,374
MASSIALAS: There's different
elements about strip

1513
01:01:57,375 --> 01:02:00,082
coaching tactics emotions all
that kind of stuff.

1514
01:02:00,083 --> 01:02:02,332
And I think he would have
been very good about that.

1515
01:02:02,333 --> 01:02:04,332
BRADFORD: He was not a great
strip side coach.

1516
01:02:04,333 --> 01:02:06,749
CHING: He was almost
regularly kicked out of the gym.

1517
01:02:06,750 --> 01:02:08,624
BRADFORD: He was great
in the salle.

1518
01:02:08,625 --> 01:02:10,582
He was terrible at fencing
tournaments in fact

1519
01:02:10,583 --> 01:02:11,666
we banned him.

1520
01:02:11,667 --> 01:02:13,416
CHING: He would be yelling
at us.

1521
01:02:13,417 --> 01:02:15,999
BRADFORD: And he could get
too emotional and get

1522
01:02:16,000 --> 01:02:19,166
us too upset. So we kept
him away.

1523
01:02:19,167 --> 01:02:21,082
NARRATOR: The one thing no
one could question

1524
01:02:21,083 --> 01:02:23,332
was the fact D’Asaro pushed
himself to be better

1525
01:02:23,333 --> 01:02:26,332
as a coach just as hard
as he pushed his athletes

1526
01:02:26,333 --> 01:02:27,874
to be better fencers.

1527
01:02:27,875 --> 01:02:31,791
HARUTUNIAN: I cannot express
how much this guy all

1528
01:02:31,792 --> 01:02:35,082
the time looking to everybody
who is doing anything.

1529
01:02:35,083 --> 01:02:38,124
Can he learn something
and improve his fencing.

1530
01:02:38,125 --> 01:02:39,874
HARKNESS: A lot of other
coaches seem to think

1531
01:02:39,875 --> 01:02:40,749
I know it all.

1532
01:02:40,750 --> 01:02:41,999
Michael never said he knew
at all.

1533
01:02:42,000 --> 01:02:43,416
And every year he would have
new information.

1534
01:02:43,417 --> 01:02:45,749
He always sought out information
and would come

1535
01:02:45,750 --> 01:02:48,707
in and inflict it on us. I.E.
hundred lunges with a brick.

1536
01:02:48,708 --> 01:02:49,957
D'ASARO YOUNG: I never
considered myself

1537
01:02:49,958 --> 01:02:52,249
a coach because I never thought
I knew enough myself.

1538
01:02:52,250 --> 01:02:54,750
I was learning always learning.

1539
01:02:55,750 --> 01:02:57,291
HARUTUNIAN: Mike sponge.

1540
01:02:57,292 --> 01:02:59,749
He’s one take what he's
thinking right

1541
01:02:59,750 --> 01:03:03,624
for fencing and putting
in his so he's can give

1542
01:03:03,625 --> 01:03:05,499
something more to his students.

1543
01:03:05,500 --> 01:03:08,082
THOMPSON: He was the first
person I definitely worked

1544
01:03:08,083 --> 01:03:11,624
with who who brought in some
different drills that were all

1545
01:03:11,625 --> 01:03:13,707
about the mentality of fencing.

1546
01:03:13,708 --> 01:03:15,750
JOHNSON: We did sports
psychology work.

1547
01:03:16,500 --> 01:03:20,582
And that was really kind
of the nascence of that.

1548
01:03:20,583 --> 01:03:23,332
SCHIFRIN: I think great
teachers create

1549
01:03:23,333 --> 01:03:27,041
the space for students
to flourish in their own way.

1550
01:03:27,042 --> 01:03:29,332
CHING: Michael would say
he's only has us for a couple

1551
01:03:29,333 --> 01:03:30,166
hours a week.

1552
01:03:30,167 --> 01:03:31,832
You know if you can
do more do more.

1553
01:03:31,833 --> 01:03:34,124
HAYES: Michael didn't impress
me as a deep thinker.

1554
01:03:34,125 --> 01:03:38,458
He was curious and he
would pursue a theme.

1555
01:03:39,042 --> 01:03:41,541
But but I didn't think
he was a deep thinker

1556
01:03:41,542 --> 01:03:43,124
in the sense of a
scholarly mind.

1557
01:03:43,125 --> 01:03:45,124
HARKNESS: If you just talked
to him briefly

1558
01:03:45,125 --> 01:03:46,874
you'd be like what, he's an
inarticulate mook.

1559
01:03:46,875 --> 01:03:49,124
BRADFORD: He was a fabulous
tactician but he didn't

1560
01:03:49,125 --> 01:03:50,499
have the words for tactics.

1561
01:03:50,500 --> 01:03:52,499
SCHIFRIN: He was smart
but he wasn't articulate.

1562
01:03:52,500 --> 01:03:54,416
OTERO: Michael taught
by example.

1563
01:03:54,417 --> 01:03:56,416
SCHIFRIN: He could perform.
He could show you.

1564
01:03:56,417 --> 01:03:58,624
Just grab the weapon.
This is how you do it.

1565
01:03:58,625 --> 01:04:00,499
HARKNESS: Then you listen
to what his words

1566
01:04:00,500 --> 01:04:02,332
are and you're
like he’s somebody

1567
01:04:02,333 --> 01:04:04,207
who's got a ton of depth.

1568
01:04:04,208 --> 01:04:06,541
SCHIFRIN: And yet like any
great fencer,

1569
01:04:06,542 --> 01:04:09,707
there's something hidden.
He's might appear friendly,

1570
01:04:09,708 --> 01:04:12,374
but he's going to try
to soundly defeat you.

1571
01:04:12,375 --> 01:04:14,916
HARKNESS: He could suss out
what a person is about

1572
01:04:14,917 --> 01:04:15,749
very quickly.

1573
01:04:15,750 --> 01:04:17,249
But we also say
that about fencing.

1574
01:04:17,250 --> 01:04:19,207
You know if you're on the strip
with somebody your

1575
01:04:19,208 --> 01:04:21,124
if you're fencing with somebody,
you know what they're about.

1576
01:04:21,125 --> 01:04:23,249
SCHIFRIN: You really do meet
somebody on the fencing strip.

1577
01:04:23,250 --> 01:04:26,457
Because you get to know
who they are. And sadly,

1578
01:04:26,458 --> 01:04:28,582
and unfortunately, you get
to know who you are.

1579
01:04:28,583 --> 01:04:31,249
HARKNESS: You can't be
that good and not understand

1580
01:04:31,250 --> 01:04:32,916
things at a really deep level.

1581
01:04:32,917 --> 01:04:34,957
NARRATOR: Although he looked
the part of a conforming

1582
01:04:34,958 --> 01:04:36,624
member of society,

1583
01:04:36,625 --> 01:04:39,375
some things about D’Asaro
never changed.

1584
01:04:44,000 --> 01:04:46,124
KONECNY: He wasn't a typical
fencing coach.

1585
01:04:46,125 --> 01:04:47,916
He was not straight laced.

1586
01:04:47,917 --> 01:04:50,541
HURST: There was a favorable
view of substance

1587
01:04:50,542 --> 01:04:51,749
abuse with that team.

1588
01:04:51,750 --> 01:04:53,416
CHING: When it came
to his job,

1589
01:04:53,417 --> 01:04:55,332
he was sober as he needed to be.

1590
01:04:55,333 --> 01:04:57,041
MASSIALAS: He never drank.
He never smoked.

1591
01:04:57,042 --> 01:04:59,624
He never dropped acid that I
knew of when we worked.

1592
01:04:59,625 --> 01:05:02,457
CHING: After we'd won,
we’d get really drunk.

1593
01:05:02,458 --> 01:05:04,207
HARKNESS: As
soon as we got in,

1594
01:05:04,208 --> 01:05:05,082
he'd be drinking.

1595
01:05:05,083 --> 01:05:06,374
Seemed only fair
because probably about

1596
01:05:06,375 --> 01:05:08,249
a third of the team was drinking
during the tournaments.

1597
01:05:08,250 --> 01:05:09,999
SCHIFRIN: We worked hard at
San Jose State.

1598
01:05:10,000 --> 01:05:13,124
We worked very very hard.
We trained very very hard.

1599
01:05:13,125 --> 01:05:14,207
And we played hard.

1600
01:05:14,208 --> 01:05:16,207
HARKNESS: I know there's
a lot of marijuana use

1601
01:05:16,208 --> 01:05:17,207
and some cocaine use.

1602
01:05:17,208 --> 01:05:18,582
You know nobody drug tests
a coach.

1603
01:05:18,583 --> 01:05:21,749
KNIES: Michael believed
that fencing was more

1604
01:05:21,750 --> 01:05:23,416
than just a physical sport.

1605
01:05:23,417 --> 01:05:26,375
There was a spiritual
and certain intellectual side.

1606
01:05:27,042 --> 01:05:28,791
SCHIFRIN: We go to Michael
D’Asaro’s house

1607
01:05:28,792 --> 01:05:33,207
for Christmas and everybody
is given a little baggie.

1608
01:05:33,208 --> 01:05:35,457
KNIES: He gave the members
of the fencing

1609
01:05:35,458 --> 01:05:36,707
team magic mushrooms.

1610
01:05:36,708 --> 01:05:38,749
KONECNY: With a little
you know note.

1611
01:05:38,750 --> 01:05:41,207
Go to the mountains
in Santa Cruz

1612
01:05:41,208 --> 01:05:45,207
or wherever with a friend
and just have a nice day.

1613
01:05:45,208 --> 01:05:47,374
SCHIFRIN: I did take those
mushrooms and they were amazing.

1614
01:05:47,375 --> 01:05:49,499
KNIES: We went out
to Big Basin out

1615
01:05:49,500 --> 01:05:52,416
in the Redwoods in the
in the forest

1616
01:05:52,417 --> 01:05:54,916
and we ate our shrooms
and we really

1617
01:05:54,917 --> 01:05:57,332
had this kind of Alice
in Wonderland

1618
01:05:57,333 --> 01:05:58,499
profound experience.

1619
01:05:58,500 --> 01:06:00,791
SCHIFRIN: And it was expected
that we would take these

1620
01:06:00,792 --> 01:06:03,666
and that's going to be a mind
expanding experience.

1621
01:06:03,667 --> 01:06:07,166
KNIES: Did it affect my my
fencing and make me

1622
01:06:07,167 --> 01:06:08,375
a better competitor.

1623
01:06:08,875 --> 01:06:12,542
I ended up winning
the Western intercollegiate

1624
01:06:13,167 --> 01:06:15,416
Pacific Coast championships. So,

1625
01:06:15,417 --> 01:06:17,291
I believe that there
was a connection.

1626
01:06:17,292 --> 01:06:21,041
SCHIFRIN: That's outrageous
now to think of a coach

1627
01:06:21,042 --> 01:06:26,792
giving illegal hallucinogens
to the whole team.

1628
01:06:27,292 --> 01:06:29,041
KNIES: Michael was very much
a shaman.

1629
01:06:29,042 --> 01:06:31,249
And that was part
of his charisma

1630
01:06:31,250 --> 01:06:34,499
that it wasn't just all
macho you know hit them

1631
01:06:34,500 --> 01:06:35,791
first hit them harder.

1632
01:06:35,792 --> 01:06:38,374
That there was a broader context
to being

1633
01:06:38,375 --> 01:06:40,791
able to make the touch first.

1634
01:06:40,792 --> 01:06:43,707
SCHIFRIN: But we kind
of like well that was Michael.

1635
01:06:43,708 --> 01:06:46,374
Oh is that what the coach
wants us to do.

1636
01:06:46,375 --> 01:06:47,957
That sounds like a
wonderful idea.

1637
01:06:47,958 --> 01:06:50,249
So there's this kind
of metaphysical

1638
01:06:50,250 --> 01:06:53,874
quality that he tried to imbue
and inspire in us.

1639
01:06:53,875 --> 01:06:56,166
NARRATOR: Harsh training
methods and quirky behavior

1640
01:06:56,167 --> 01:06:58,332
are only acceptable as long
as they produce

1641
01:06:58,333 --> 01:06:59,416
positive results.

1642
01:06:59,417 --> 01:07:01,874
Despite all the rumors
and turmoil surrounding

1643
01:07:01,875 --> 01:07:03,582
the San Jose State team,

1644
01:07:03,583 --> 01:07:05,916
no one can claim
they weren't successful.

1645
01:07:05,917 --> 01:07:08,124
DECHAINE: They all seemed
to respond to him in a way

1646
01:07:08,125 --> 01:07:11,582
that allowed him to bring
out the very best in them.

1647
01:07:11,583 --> 01:07:13,374
HURST: Can always tell
a pretty good coach

1648
01:07:13,375 --> 01:07:15,374
when there's a certain
consistency you know

1649
01:07:15,375 --> 01:07:18,207
from year to year to year.
Not just based on some stars.

1650
01:07:18,208 --> 01:07:19,082
Of course,

1651
01:07:19,083 --> 01:07:21,332
you're going to have a really
good year if you have

1652
01:07:21,333 --> 01:07:22,166
some stars.

1653
01:07:22,167 --> 01:07:23,957
SCHIFRIN: His team
was the baddest, partiest,

1654
01:07:23,958 --> 01:07:26,374
hardest working,
most winningest.

1655
01:07:26,375 --> 01:07:28,874
We love being
Michael's students.

1656
01:07:28,875 --> 01:07:30,625
NARRATOR: Other people's
views of D’Asaro

1657
01:07:31,208 --> 01:07:32,457
weren't quite as favorable.

1658
01:07:32,458 --> 01:07:34,207
HAYES: I took one of my
students to one

1659
01:07:34,208 --> 01:07:39,749
of his workshops and suggested
that she even go to San Jose,

1660
01:07:39,750 --> 01:07:41,249
take some lessons.

1661
01:07:41,250 --> 01:07:46,999
But Michael decided that the
situation was not

1662
01:07:47,000 --> 01:07:49,333
that he was going to augment
that students

1663
01:07:50,417 --> 01:07:52,291
instruction but that
he was going

1664
01:07:52,292 --> 01:07:53,541
to take that student.

1665
01:07:53,542 --> 01:07:55,749
I remember one of the
kitchen table

1666
01:07:55,750 --> 01:07:58,707
conversations we had where
Michael was saying

1667
01:07:58,708 --> 01:08:01,124
to me Look this is how it is.

1668
01:08:01,125 --> 01:08:03,791
They're big fish and there
little fish and the big fish

1669
01:08:03,792 --> 01:08:05,582
eat the little fish until
the bigger fish comes

1670
01:08:05,583 --> 01:08:07,343
along and then the bigger
fish eats that one.

1671
01:08:07,875 --> 01:08:09,374
NARRATOR: By 1983,

1672
01:08:09,375 --> 01:08:11,624
D’Asaro was no longer being
chosen to coach

1673
01:08:11,625 --> 01:08:12,791
the national squad.

1674
01:08:12,792 --> 01:08:15,833
Drug and alcohol use were cited
as the reasons for the ban.

1675
01:08:18,417 --> 01:08:20,957
D'ASARO, JR.: Again there
are so many sides to this.

1676
01:08:20,958 --> 01:08:22,832
Him the great fencer
him the great coach.

1677
01:08:22,833 --> 01:08:25,416
Him the not so great dad.
But him the great mentor.

1678
01:08:25,417 --> 01:08:28,416
COSTIN: He was super
intelligent in how

1679
01:08:28,417 --> 01:08:31,624
to teach fencing. He was
teaching three weapons.

1680
01:08:31,625 --> 01:08:33,207
I don't think that's
an easy thing.

1681
01:08:33,208 --> 01:08:35,207
HARKNESS: Some people
who know him marginally will

1682
01:08:35,208 --> 01:08:37,332
know him as hard
drinking boozing,

1683
01:08:37,333 --> 01:08:38,999
drug taking mad man.

1684
01:08:39,000 --> 01:08:41,749
PLATT: The fact that he
looked like he did

1685
01:08:41,750 --> 01:08:44,499
drugs and then it turns out
that he did might have really

1686
01:08:44,500 --> 01:08:47,707
negatively affected how
Americans view this person

1687
01:08:47,708 --> 01:08:49,791
who they thought maybe
unfairly maybe fairly

1688
01:08:49,792 --> 01:08:52,291
should have been an ambassador
for American fencing.

1689
01:08:52,292 --> 01:08:54,124
KATZOFF: He really embraced
the hippie life and all

1690
01:08:54,125 --> 01:08:56,332
that went with it. So there
were some problems.

1691
01:08:56,333 --> 01:08:58,374
HURST: Now we're not having
some guy

1692
01:08:58,375 --> 01:09:00,916
who essentially advocates
drug use as one of our coaches.

1693
01:09:00,917 --> 01:09:02,707
I mean we're not that stupid.

1694
01:09:02,708 --> 01:09:06,832
SCHIFRIN: I did know a lot
of the east coast fencing

1695
01:09:06,833 --> 01:09:09,249
politics hated Michael D’Asaro.

1696
01:09:09,250 --> 01:09:14,166
HURST: It certainly was not
a question that his his skills

1697
01:09:14,167 --> 01:09:15,416
had not been recognized.

1698
01:09:15,417 --> 01:09:17,041
MASSIALAS: And then there
was an incident after

1699
01:09:17,042 --> 01:09:18,332
eighty one world champs...

1700
01:09:18,333 --> 01:09:19,749
I mean the World
University Games

1701
01:09:19,750 --> 01:09:21,541
that he was kind of hanging out.

1702
01:09:21,542 --> 01:09:23,749
And they had gone out drinking
after the tournament

1703
01:09:23,750 --> 01:09:25,332
was over and so on so forth.

1704
01:09:25,333 --> 01:09:27,332
They came back and then
they were able

1705
01:09:27,333 --> 01:09:31,374
to use really a minorly
nothing but then used

1706
01:09:31,375 --> 01:09:34,416
it as an excuse to sort
of blackball him from being

1707
01:09:34,417 --> 01:09:35,750
coach from that point on,

1708
01:09:36,417 --> 01:09:38,916
which included the 84 Olympics
which he had three

1709
01:09:38,917 --> 01:09:41,332
students on the team.
Myself being one of them.

1710
01:09:41,333 --> 01:09:43,374
HURST: The decision
was was regrettable

1711
01:09:43,375 --> 01:09:46,582
and even the people making
it didn't really want to do

1712
01:09:46,583 --> 01:09:49,124
it but they felt
they had no choice.

1713
01:09:49,125 --> 01:09:50,124
MASSIALAS: When
he was working,

1714
01:09:50,125 --> 01:09:51,207
he was very serious.

1715
01:09:51,208 --> 01:09:53,041
And I know because you
couldn't be

1716
01:09:53,042 --> 01:09:55,249
stoned and be working with me
at a level

1717
01:09:55,250 --> 01:09:56,457
without me knowing it.

1718
01:09:56,458 --> 01:09:58,082
SCHIFRIN: He never missed
a practice.

1719
01:09:58,083 --> 01:09:59,624
I never missed a lesson.

1720
01:09:59,625 --> 01:10:02,041
He's still ran the hardest
footwork sessions.

1721
01:10:02,042 --> 01:10:05,624
NARRATOR: In 1985, at only
forty 47 years of age,

1722
01:10:05,625 --> 01:10:08,333
D’Asaro retired from San Jose
State University.

1723
01:10:09,292 --> 01:10:11,374
The university opted
to cancel the varsity

1724
01:10:11,375 --> 01:10:13,458
fencing program
at the same time.

1725
01:10:18,458 --> 01:10:21,416
MARTINEZ: It was really sad
to see the program stop.

1726
01:10:21,417 --> 01:10:23,041
KOLOMBATOVICH: I think
he simply sort

1727
01:10:23,042 --> 01:10:28,124
of burnt out by all the constant
constant pressure.

1728
01:10:28,125 --> 01:10:30,332
D'ASARO, JR.: When I
was living with him

1729
01:10:30,333 --> 01:10:31,791
he was drinking heavily,
smoking pot,

1730
01:10:31,792 --> 01:10:32,999
mushrooms things like that.

1731
01:10:33,000 --> 01:10:34,499
And then all of a sudden
he's like well

1732
01:10:34,500 --> 01:10:35,499
I'm going to become vegetarian,

1733
01:10:35,500 --> 01:10:37,707
we're all going to move up
to Oregon and live off the land.

1734
01:10:37,708 --> 01:10:39,249
NARRATOR: D’Asaro decided
to move to Ashland, Oregon,

1735
01:10:39,250 --> 01:10:42,124
an area he had looked into with
his old fencing pal,

1736
01:10:42,125 --> 01:10:43,082
Charles Selberg.

1737
01:10:43,083 --> 01:10:46,041
SCHIFRIN: I know he just
wanted to cash out and buy

1738
01:10:46,042 --> 01:10:48,541
a house without having
any payments.

1739
01:10:48,542 --> 01:10:50,957
MACLELLAN: We moved
into Oregon and left

1740
01:10:50,958 --> 01:10:51,916
San Jose State.

1741
01:10:51,917 --> 01:10:53,707
I don't think there was anything
at San Jose State

1742
01:10:53,708 --> 01:10:55,416
that caused Michael
to want to do that.

1743
01:10:55,417 --> 01:10:58,791
It was just another opportunity
for him to drop out.

1744
01:10:58,792 --> 01:11:01,207
MASSIALAS: I think
had he been in that same

1745
01:11:01,208 --> 01:11:04,666
path as he was and being
selected and participating,

1746
01:11:04,667 --> 01:11:08,874
I think he would have deferred
those things until a later time.

1747
01:11:08,875 --> 01:11:10,292
Maybe after 84 85.

1748
01:11:11,167 --> 01:11:13,916
KOLOMBATOVICH: He stopped
working at the high

1749
01:11:13,917 --> 01:11:15,791
high level that he had.

1750
01:11:15,792 --> 01:11:18,124
So it was some sort
of a retirement.

1751
01:11:18,125 --> 01:11:21,500
But at the same time
his coaching was still

1752
01:11:22,458 --> 01:11:23,457
right on the money.

1753
01:11:23,458 --> 01:11:25,624
NARRATOR: D’Asaro’s marriage
to Gay did not

1754
01:11:25,625 --> 01:11:27,082
survive the move to Oregon.

1755
01:11:27,083 --> 01:11:28,249
JOHNSON: When you have,
I think,

1756
01:11:28,250 --> 01:11:30,707
a big age difference like there
is between them.

1757
01:11:30,708 --> 01:11:32,916
You're having these
different experiences

1758
01:11:32,917 --> 01:11:34,541
of evolution in your life.

1759
01:11:34,542 --> 01:11:36,041
SCHIFRIN: He was her
first love.

1760
01:11:36,042 --> 01:11:39,666
She was what 14 15 even
younger when they met

1761
01:11:39,667 --> 01:11:42,041
and then they got married
when she’s 20

1762
01:11:42,042 --> 01:11:45,041
and they're together you know
through her 30s you know.

1763
01:11:45,042 --> 01:11:46,374
So like enough already.

1764
01:11:46,375 --> 01:11:49,750
BRADFORD: As she ages,
she's mellowing.

1765
01:11:50,583 --> 01:11:53,375
As Michael aged,
he did not mellow.

1766
01:11:53,917 --> 01:11:55,749
SCHIFRIN: They always seemed
like chalk and cheese.

1767
01:11:55,750 --> 01:11:57,291
You know they always seemed
like what is Gay

1768
01:11:57,292 --> 01:11:58,374
doing with Michael?

1769
01:11:58,375 --> 01:12:00,750
KOLOMBATOVICH: I think
it simply got old.

1770
01:12:01,375 --> 01:12:04,041
Mike's drinking certainly
was part of that.

1771
01:12:04,042 --> 01:12:06,166
MACLELLAN: I essentially went
from my father to my

1772
01:12:06,167 --> 01:12:08,957
father and it was time
to disengage from my father.

1773
01:12:08,958 --> 01:12:10,332
D'ASARO, JR.: If I
had to guess he just

1774
01:12:10,333 --> 01:12:11,166
outgrew him.

1775
01:12:11,167 --> 01:12:12,874
NONOMURA, G: At the time Gay
wanted to move

1776
01:12:12,875 --> 01:12:14,374
forward with a career.

1777
01:12:14,375 --> 01:12:17,791
And she was working on becoming
a clinical psychologist.

1778
01:12:17,792 --> 01:12:20,458
So Michael and I went into
this psychotherapy training.

1779
01:12:24,750 --> 01:12:26,957
After like three sessions,
Michael dropped out.

1780
01:12:26,958 --> 01:12:29,999
Because he couldn't be
around people

1781
01:12:30,000 --> 01:12:31,000
and reveal himself.

1782
01:12:31,542 --> 01:12:34,125
And that was so significant
to me. In my,

1783
01:12:34,792 --> 01:12:40,375
my life where I was growing
and delving deeper and growing.

1784
01:12:40,917 --> 01:12:45,499
And he was caving in. And that
impacted me so much.

1785
01:12:45,500 --> 01:12:48,207
And I never could see
him the same after that.

1786
01:12:48,208 --> 01:12:52,457
A little sad here.
So I realized,

1787
01:12:52,458 --> 01:12:55,041
it was time for me to be
independent and continue

1788
01:12:55,042 --> 01:12:56,708
my growth and exploration.

1789
01:12:57,208 --> 01:13:00,750
And I told Michael I
wanted to separate.

1790
01:13:07,958 --> 01:13:09,198
TARASCIO: He was devastated.

1791
01:13:09,708 --> 01:13:10,832
MACLELLAN: When I chose
to leave him,

1792
01:13:10,833 --> 01:13:12,791
he truly still loved me.

1793
01:13:12,792 --> 01:13:15,166
MARTINEZ: So that whole
idyllic lifestyle

1794
01:13:15,167 --> 01:13:17,874
that they were putting together
up in Ashland was gone.

1795
01:13:17,875 --> 01:13:20,541
NARRATOR: D’Asaro decided
to leave Oregon and accepted

1796
01:13:20,542 --> 01:13:22,542
a coaching position
in Los Angeles.

1797
01:13:28,208 --> 01:13:31,207
SHAW: When I heard that Gay
and Michael were divorcing,

1798
01:13:31,208 --> 01:13:33,166
the moment I heard it,

1799
01:13:33,167 --> 01:13:35,666
I told Ted Katzoff
I'm calling Michael.

1800
01:13:35,667 --> 01:13:37,332
COSTIN: First when I met him,

1801
01:13:37,333 --> 01:13:38,791
he was the coach
of United States.

1802
01:13:38,792 --> 01:13:40,291
I was like Demi-god to me.

1803
01:13:40,292 --> 01:13:44,041
But then when I met
him again at Westside,

1804
01:13:44,042 --> 01:13:46,999
he looked a little bit like a
bum from New York City.

1805
01:13:47,000 --> 01:13:49,291
NONOMURA, G: He grew his hair
back out in Los Angeles.

1806
01:13:49,292 --> 01:13:51,916
He was back to having his long
main affair again.

1807
01:13:51,917 --> 01:13:53,707
MASSIALAS: In many ways
had gone back

1808
01:13:53,708 --> 01:13:57,749
to his Haight Ashbury days at
that point in time.

1809
01:13:57,750 --> 01:14:00,916
RUSSELL: I saw this guy
with long hair and these skull

1810
01:14:00,917 --> 01:14:03,416
rings and different things
you know coming up to me

1811
01:14:03,417 --> 01:14:05,999
and looking at me as if
he's recognized me

1812
01:14:06,000 --> 01:14:07,541
and I was like who is this guy?

1813
01:14:07,542 --> 01:14:09,541
And then I looked into his eyes
and I’m like Oh my gosh.

1814
01:14:09,542 --> 01:14:10,541
You know Stro.

1815
01:14:10,542 --> 01:14:12,874
HARKNESS: The big change
was when he he and Gay split

1816
01:14:12,875 --> 01:14:15,124
and he moved to Los Angeles
and that's where I really

1817
01:14:15,125 --> 01:14:19,916
think he started to become more
or less of that fighter and more

1818
01:14:19,917 --> 01:14:21,749
of a maybe more philosophical.

1819
01:14:21,750 --> 01:14:23,582
D'ASARO, JR.: That was a
totally different guy.

1820
01:14:23,583 --> 01:14:25,249
He was giving lessons
in flip flops.

1821
01:14:25,250 --> 01:14:26,582
And he’s laughing.

1822
01:14:26,583 --> 01:14:29,957
D'ASARO OLD: I’m teaching
fencing now as a means

1823
01:14:29,958 --> 01:14:35,499
of personal expression.
Personal Development.

1824
01:14:35,500 --> 01:14:38,416
Get in tune with yourself.
And people were like Oh,

1825
01:14:38,417 --> 01:14:40,874
your father's the best. He's so
sweet. I’m like sweet.

1826
01:14:40,875 --> 01:14:42,082
Are you insane.

1827
01:14:42,083 --> 01:14:44,499
RUSSELL: I honestly don't
recall why I ended up just,

1828
01:14:44,500 --> 01:14:46,499
you know, trying a lesson
with Michael.

1829
01:14:46,500 --> 01:14:49,749
I knew he was kind
of unmistakable character

1830
01:14:49,750 --> 01:14:51,666
and he was somebody
who I knew had been

1831
01:14:51,667 --> 01:14:53,291
a great fencer and he
had coached a lot

1832
01:14:53,292 --> 01:14:54,541
of great athletes.

1833
01:14:54,542 --> 01:14:56,582
KATZOFF: He was giving
wonderful great lessons

1834
01:14:56,583 --> 01:14:58,082
and making great corrections
and really

1835
01:14:58,083 --> 01:15:01,082
helping people along
without having to be

1836
01:15:01,083 --> 01:15:02,374
verbally crazy.

1837
01:15:02,375 --> 01:15:06,291
SHAW: He was just of course
so charismatic and so good.

1838
01:15:06,292 --> 01:15:10,791
COSTIN: At work he was always
a little bit on the sloppy side.

1839
01:15:10,792 --> 01:15:12,666
OTERO: When he came
to Los Angeles

1840
01:15:12,667 --> 01:15:15,166
and thought you know I'm
going to take lessons again.

1841
01:15:15,167 --> 01:15:16,124
I can't face competitively.

1842
01:15:16,125 --> 01:15:18,291
I've got a knee but I can
take a lesson.

1843
01:15:18,292 --> 01:15:19,791
THOMPSON: He had a huge smile
on his face

1844
01:15:19,792 --> 01:15:20,707
every time I saw him.

1845
01:15:20,708 --> 01:15:22,957
I mean he was somebody who was
laughing all the time.

1846
01:15:22,958 --> 01:15:24,749
He didn't live lavishly,
that's for sure.

1847
01:15:24,750 --> 01:15:26,666
He he lived in a
simple apartment.

1848
01:15:26,667 --> 01:15:29,374
SHAW: He seemed to get along
with anybody and everybody.

1849
01:15:29,375 --> 01:15:31,916
He just seemed to be you know
just knowledgeable,

1850
01:15:31,917 --> 01:15:36,791
good natured, affable, powerful,
funny.

1851
01:15:36,792 --> 01:15:38,749
MARTINEZ: I felt that there
was something lost.

1852
01:15:38,750 --> 01:15:41,249
Because last time I saw
him was with Charles Selberg

1853
01:15:41,250 --> 01:15:42,541
in the Colestin Valley.

1854
01:15:42,542 --> 01:15:44,791
You know and and now
he's in L.A.

1855
01:15:44,792 --> 01:15:47,624
some apartment teaching fencing.
Not his salle.

1856
01:15:47,625 --> 01:15:49,707
RUSSELL: There was a sense
of frustration

1857
01:15:49,708 --> 01:15:52,957
because he had tried
to positively change the sport

1858
01:15:52,958 --> 01:15:54,666
for years and years and years.

1859
01:15:54,667 --> 01:15:58,749
And at the end he never
really felt that he did.

1860
01:15:58,750 --> 01:16:01,124
NARRATOR: As the 1990s drew
to a close,

1861
01:16:01,125 --> 01:16:03,332
D’Asaro health started to fail.

1862
01:16:03,333 --> 01:16:06,207
He beat colon cancer only
to succumb to another

1863
01:16:06,208 --> 01:16:07,417
form of the disease.

1864
01:16:11,292 --> 01:16:12,874
SHAW: The first thing
that started to happen,

1865
01:16:12,875 --> 01:16:14,332
that i knew something was wrong,

1866
01:16:14,333 --> 01:16:16,666
was he was getting angry
at people at the club

1867
01:16:16,667 --> 01:16:18,249
for encroaching on his space.

1868
01:16:18,250 --> 01:16:21,166
OTERO: There I was one night,
taking a lesson with Michael.

1869
01:16:21,167 --> 01:16:22,166
We're having a wonderful time.

1870
01:16:22,167 --> 01:16:23,624
D'ASARO, JR.: I had a lesson
over here.

1871
01:16:23,625 --> 01:16:24,957
He had a lesson next to me.

1872
01:16:24,958 --> 01:16:26,082
And he kept floating
into my strip.

1873
01:16:26,083 --> 01:16:27,249
SHAW: He was losing
his equilibrium

1874
01:16:27,250 --> 01:16:28,874
and he was slanting off.

1875
01:16:28,875 --> 01:16:30,749
D'ASARO, JR.: I’d smack him
in the head.

1876
01:16:30,750 --> 01:16:32,999
Get the fuck off my strip.
Stay on your own strip.

1877
01:16:33,000 --> 01:16:35,041
SHAW: And he was getting
pissed off at people.

1878
01:16:35,042 --> 01:16:36,291
Watch the space.
Stop bothering me.

1879
01:16:36,292 --> 01:16:38,791
OTERO: Michael asked me to do
an action. I did.

1880
01:16:38,792 --> 01:16:41,874
And then he oriented
himself for the next

1881
01:16:41,875 --> 01:16:45,332
action pointing it looking
straight ahead is six o'clock.

1882
01:16:45,333 --> 01:16:47,249
He was pointing off,
like eight o'clock.

1883
01:16:47,250 --> 01:16:49,457
SHAW: And he didn't realize
that he was going slanted.

1884
01:16:49,458 --> 01:16:50,791
OTERO: Michael,
what's going on?

1885
01:16:50,792 --> 01:16:52,666
D'ASARO, JR.: Are you OK.

1886
01:16:52,667 --> 01:16:54,832
OTERO: In the middle
of that lesson,

1887
01:16:54,833 --> 01:16:56,457
his brain tumor kicked in.

1888
01:16:56,458 --> 01:16:58,041
D'ASARO, JR.: It
was a geobalstoma

1889
01:16:58,042 --> 01:16:59,957
that was right in a place
they couldn't operate on.

1890
01:16:59,958 --> 01:17:01,791
OTERO: He broke
in that lesson

1891
01:17:01,792 --> 01:17:03,208
and never came back.

1892
01:17:05,875 --> 01:17:07,541
NARRATOR: D’Asaro attended
his last national

1893
01:17:07,542 --> 01:17:08,999
championship in 2000.

1894
01:17:09,000 --> 01:17:10,666
MACLELLAN: He walked
into this tournament

1895
01:17:10,667 --> 01:17:13,582
and he was very puffy.

1896
01:17:13,583 --> 01:17:15,958
His skin was like alligator
and gray.

1897
01:17:17,167 --> 01:17:19,791
And it just shocked
the crap out of me.

1898
01:17:19,792 --> 01:17:21,916
HARUTUNIAN: I looked
to the Mike. I feel very,

1899
01:17:21,917 --> 01:17:23,416
very sad.

1900
01:17:23,417 --> 01:17:25,874
RUSSELL: And he was sitting
just looking out over

1901
01:17:25,875 --> 01:17:26,999
everything that was happening.

1902
01:17:27,000 --> 01:17:29,416
It was after that that
I realized

1903
01:17:29,417 --> 01:17:31,374
that he was there
saying goodbye.

1904
01:17:31,375 --> 01:17:32,999
HINTON: You know
seeing Michael,

1905
01:17:33,000 --> 01:17:34,666
this strong guy,

1906
01:17:34,667 --> 01:17:38,374
you know being just worn down
by his illness, man.

1907
01:17:38,375 --> 01:17:39,207
It was pretty bad.

1908
01:17:39,208 --> 01:17:40,999
HARKNESS: Stro was down
in L.A..

1909
01:17:41,000 --> 01:17:42,124
Brain tumors progressing.

1910
01:17:42,125 --> 01:17:44,374
GOLDSTEIN: He knew
he had some kind of fatal

1911
01:17:44,375 --> 01:17:45,374
thing happening.

1912
01:17:45,375 --> 01:17:47,291
HARKNESS: A lot of people
down in L.A.

1913
01:17:47,292 --> 01:17:48,582
were just like yeah whatever.

1914
01:17:48,583 --> 01:17:50,082
He's just gonna drink himself
to death.

1915
01:17:50,083 --> 01:17:52,999
They didn't didn't seem to have
much of a use for him.

1916
01:17:53,000 --> 01:17:56,082
And Connie Yu,
because Connie Yu is both
a smart person

1917
01:17:56,083 --> 01:17:57,166
and a compassionate person,

1918
01:17:57,167 --> 01:17:59,374
was just like you know
we always Stro come up

1919
01:17:59,375 --> 01:18:01,041
once a year and do a camp.

1920
01:18:01,042 --> 01:18:02,957
Let's have Stro come up and do
a camp.

1921
01:18:02,958 --> 01:18:04,874
YU: The students who had
learned from him

1922
01:18:04,875 --> 01:18:06,041
over these workshops,

1923
01:18:06,042 --> 01:18:08,832
when they saw him at
that last workshop there

1924
01:18:08,833 --> 01:18:10,791
was one kid Charlie Knable,

1925
01:18:10,792 --> 01:18:14,124
he just it's just it's awful
seeing Michael like this.

1926
01:18:14,125 --> 01:18:16,874
HARKNESS: So, we do the camp.
I stand in for him.

1927
01:18:16,875 --> 01:18:18,499
It would go well.
He'd field questions.

1928
01:18:18,500 --> 01:18:20,291
He’d kind of leaning
against one the pillars.

1929
01:18:20,292 --> 01:18:21,832
He could still move
his hand somewhat.

1930
01:18:21,833 --> 01:18:22,874
So that was fine.

1931
01:18:22,875 --> 01:18:25,332
It was a good reminder
of how good

1932
01:18:25,333 --> 01:18:26,999
he was that even
in that condition

1933
01:18:27,000 --> 01:18:29,082
that he was still engaging.
He could still teach.

1934
01:18:29,083 --> 01:18:31,375
GOLDSTEIN: I think
he resolved in his own mind

1935
01:18:33,000 --> 01:18:36,708
what was going to take place.
Because he had lived that way.

1936
01:18:37,250 --> 01:18:39,166
He was able to meet
things head on.

1937
01:18:39,167 --> 01:18:41,082
D'ASARO, JR.: Between
the drugs they were giving him

1938
01:18:41,083 --> 01:18:42,207
that affected brain so badly,

1939
01:18:42,208 --> 01:18:43,957
there wasn’t a whole
lot of hey let's let's

1940
01:18:43,958 --> 01:18:46,124
clear up past 40 years.

1941
01:18:46,125 --> 01:18:48,541
We never really had that moment
that why did you this.

1942
01:18:48,542 --> 01:18:50,500
Why did you leave us.
But I miss him.

1943
01:18:51,208 --> 01:18:52,499
I've got lots of questions.

1944
01:18:52,500 --> 01:18:55,167
NARRATOR: D’Asaro kept
teaching right up until the end.

1945
01:18:55,667 --> 01:18:57,827
HARKNESS: So he lights up
and he’s smoking. He goes,

1946
01:18:58,000 --> 01:19:00,374
you know I was a vegetarian
for a while. Right. Said yeah,

1947
01:19:00,375 --> 01:19:02,541
when you lived with Gay.
So what do I get?

1948
01:19:02,542 --> 01:19:05,041
Fucking stomach cancer.
I beat that.

1949
01:19:05,042 --> 01:19:07,125
You know I've been smoking
since I was 12.

1950
01:19:07,792 --> 01:19:10,167
How are my lungs? Perfect.
What do I get?

1951
01:19:10,750 --> 01:19:11,750
Fuckin' brain tumor.

1952
01:19:12,458 --> 01:19:14,749
It just goes to show something's
going to get you.

1953
01:19:14,750 --> 01:19:16,249
Just don't worry about it.

1954
01:19:16,250 --> 01:19:17,582
BURCHARD: Later on,

1955
01:19:17,583 --> 01:19:20,041
we realized that you know
that was that amazing

1956
01:19:20,042 --> 01:19:24,332
attitude in the face of imminent
death that he didn't care.

1957
01:19:24,333 --> 01:19:26,083
SCHIFRIN: A few months before
he died,

1958
01:19:26,708 --> 01:19:29,666
he visited me and he
had no hair.

1959
01:19:29,667 --> 01:19:35,291
He was bald from chemotherapy
and he was barely walking.

1960
01:19:35,292 --> 01:19:40,916
This man who had been this cat,
this predator, this cheetah,

1961
01:19:40,917 --> 01:19:43,624
this panther on the Strip.

1962
01:19:43,625 --> 01:19:46,874
Who had humbled me
in my physical prime.

1963
01:19:46,875 --> 01:19:50,207
He'd humbled me. Here he can
barely walk.

1964
01:19:50,208 --> 01:19:52,666
He needs help going
to the bathroom.

1965
01:19:52,667 --> 01:19:57,624
And he's told me about how
difficult it was for him

1966
01:19:57,625 --> 01:19:59,499
to ask for help.

1967
01:19:59,500 --> 01:20:04,291
He told me that his mother told
him you never ask for anything.

1968
01:20:04,292 --> 01:20:07,874
And he said but Peter he said,
that's not the hardest part.

1969
01:20:07,875 --> 01:20:11,166
It's not asking. It's allowing
the help,

1970
01:20:11,167 --> 01:20:13,124
allowing someone to help
me go to the bathroom.

1971
01:20:13,125 --> 01:20:15,374
Allowing some to catch my arm.

1972
01:20:15,375 --> 01:20:18,666
BURCHARD: He would tell us
that can only control

1973
01:20:18,667 --> 01:20:19,874
what you can control.

1974
01:20:19,875 --> 01:20:23,082
You can control the fact
that you have

1975
01:20:23,083 --> 01:20:25,124
practiced more than anyone else.

1976
01:20:25,125 --> 01:20:27,999
You can control you're in better
shape than anyone else.

1977
01:20:28,000 --> 01:20:33,582
You can control your technique.
You can control your distance.

1978
01:20:33,583 --> 01:20:36,291
You can control all of that.
You can't control the referee.

1979
01:20:36,292 --> 01:20:38,916
You can't control the opponent
you're going to have.

1980
01:20:38,917 --> 01:20:42,166
You can't control that stuff.
But if you do control,

1981
01:20:42,167 --> 01:20:45,041
and are better prepared, all
the things you can control,

1982
01:20:45,042 --> 01:20:46,874
your chances of success
are much better.

1983
01:20:46,875 --> 01:20:49,167
And so I, I continue
to use that today.

1984
01:20:50,042 --> 01:20:56,082
I had this wonderful sweet
dinner at Connie Yu’s house.

1985
01:20:56,083 --> 01:21:01,041
He was so full of life
and joyful and joking with us.

1986
01:21:01,042 --> 01:21:03,292
You know, let me show you my
brain scan.

1987
01:21:04,292 --> 01:21:06,833
And to see him in this,

1988
01:21:07,708 --> 01:21:11,124
in this condition and then
to see him still

1989
01:21:11,125 --> 01:21:15,374
so full of life was was a lesson
I'll never forget.

1990
01:21:15,375 --> 01:21:18,374
JOHNSON: The three of us came
together when he was very ill,

1991
01:21:18,375 --> 01:21:22,374
rented a hotel suite
and we stayed and visited

1992
01:21:22,375 --> 01:21:24,749
him before he passed.

1993
01:21:24,750 --> 01:21:26,457
MACLELLAN: It
was bittersweet.

1994
01:21:26,458 --> 01:21:28,374
We talked about old times.

1995
01:21:28,375 --> 01:21:31,166
JOHNSON: And it was kind
of the perfect goodbye.

1996
01:21:31,167 --> 01:21:33,749
MACLELLAN: But it was so sad
to see him in that condition.

1997
01:21:33,750 --> 01:21:35,124
You know after seeing
the vibrant

1998
01:21:35,125 --> 01:21:36,541
Michael all those years.

1999
01:21:36,542 --> 01:21:39,457
JOHNSON: We had fun
and reminisced and thanked him.

2000
01:21:39,458 --> 01:21:42,083
KATZOFF: I think
he was accepting of it.

2001
01:21:43,625 --> 01:21:46,166
It wasn't kind to be a battle
down to the wire, you know,

2002
01:21:46,167 --> 01:21:48,125
like Cyrano de Bergerac,
you know,

2003
01:21:49,375 --> 01:21:51,874
fencing against the specter
of death.

2004
01:21:51,875 --> 01:21:56,332
BRADFORD: Michael always
taught us it was it's not

2005
01:21:56,333 --> 01:21:58,000
over till the fat lady sings.

2006
01:21:59,000 --> 01:22:00,400
LOSONCZY: You’re
like on a cliff,

2007
01:22:01,083 --> 01:22:06,624
holding your fingers and it's 4
0. But you have the ability

2008
01:22:06,625 --> 01:22:08,916
to bring it up to 4 4
and to win.

2009
01:22:08,917 --> 01:22:11,541
HARKNESS: However tired
you are. However beat up,

2010
01:22:11,542 --> 01:22:14,957
however much pain you're in,
you can still go further.

2011
01:22:14,958 --> 01:22:17,582
SCHIFRIN: He believed
he was going to beat it,

2012
01:22:17,583 --> 01:22:18,624
until he didn't.

2013
01:22:18,625 --> 01:22:20,999
D'ASARO, BARBARA: I think
it was December 12th

2014
01:22:21,000 --> 01:22:23,124
and Anna Harris called me
and told me my

2015
01:22:23,125 --> 01:22:24,624
brother passed away.

2016
01:22:24,625 --> 01:22:29,333
LOSONCZY: When I found out
that he had passed away,

2017
01:22:30,125 --> 01:22:32,332
it was part of me passing away.

2018
01:22:32,333 --> 01:22:34,582
PLATT: As of today, we're
living in a greyer world.

2019
01:22:34,583 --> 01:22:38,041
Than Michael really for for me
as a as a fencing coach

2020
01:22:38,042 --> 01:22:40,249
and as a person who knew
him and knew of him and heard

2021
01:22:40,250 --> 01:22:41,291
stories about him,

2022
01:22:41,292 --> 01:22:43,917
he really did make the world
a more colorful place.

2023
01:22:48,792 --> 01:22:51,749
BLUM: He produced
good fencers.

2024
01:22:51,750 --> 01:22:53,957
HARKNESS: He had fencers
on every Olympic

2025
01:22:53,958 --> 01:22:55,249
team from 76 to 88.

2026
01:22:55,250 --> 01:22:57,082
BRADFORD: He was part
of opening the door

2027
01:22:57,083 --> 01:22:59,749
for women's sports
because he took us

2028
01:22:59,750 --> 01:23:04,124
seriously when so many
other males in the sport

2029
01:23:04,125 --> 01:23:06,582
of fencing were poo pooing us.

2030
01:23:06,583 --> 01:23:10,332
CHING: His legacy like any
great master all that resides

2031
01:23:10,333 --> 01:23:11,133
within his students.

2032
01:23:11,184 --> 01:23:13,082
KATZOFF: So many of his top
students are still

2033
01:23:13,083 --> 01:23:14,416
around as coaches.

2034
01:23:14,417 --> 01:23:16,541
JOHNSON: He was not
of the establishment

2035
01:23:16,542 --> 01:23:21,082
but his champions became
part of the establishment.

2036
01:23:21,083 --> 01:23:22,957
SCHIFRIN: He's
that the pebble

2037
01:23:22,958 --> 01:23:25,291
and then we are the ripples.

2038
01:23:25,292 --> 01:23:27,666
MASSIALAS: I don't think
I would be doing now

2039
01:23:27,667 --> 01:23:31,791
what I'm doing at this level
of success without being able

2040
01:23:31,792 --> 01:23:34,916
to have the same passion
and that he helped

2041
01:23:34,917 --> 01:23:35,916
instill in me.

2042
01:23:35,917 --> 01:23:38,916
HINTON: We carried on what
he he he he gave us.

2043
01:23:38,917 --> 01:23:41,707
CHING: Greg Massialas’s kid
is doing phenomenal.

2044
01:23:41,708 --> 01:23:44,541
I think you can trace
that directly to the influence

2045
01:23:44,542 --> 01:23:45,457
of Michael D’Asaro.

2046
01:23:45,458 --> 01:23:47,124
MASSIALAS: My students came
back with three medals

2047
01:23:47,125 --> 01:23:48,624
from the Olympics something
that would've

2048
01:23:48,625 --> 01:23:49,791
been sort of unheard of.

2049
01:23:49,792 --> 01:23:54,166
JOHNSON: Elevated the game.
He elevated the consciousness.

2050
01:23:54,167 --> 01:23:56,041
He elevated the art.

2051
01:23:56,042 --> 01:23:58,666
BRADFORD: He opened the door
for fencers around

2052
01:23:58,667 --> 01:24:02,416
the country by producing
Olympians on the West Coast.

2053
01:24:02,417 --> 01:24:04,541
When we were all supposed
to be from the East Coast.

2054
01:24:04,542 --> 01:24:06,166
KOLOMBATOVICH: A lot
of people are dead now

2055
01:24:06,167 --> 01:24:08,249
we don't talk about
because they're not

2056
01:24:08,250 --> 01:24:09,292
worth talking about.

2057
01:24:10,125 --> 01:24:12,249
And he certainly
is someone that is.

2058
01:24:12,250 --> 01:24:13,832
SCHIFRIN: When
he was inducted

2059
01:24:13,833 --> 01:24:16,750
to the San Jose State
hall of fame I spoke.

2060
01:24:18,000 --> 01:24:21,666
And I called him an asshole.
But he was. He was cruel.

2061
01:24:21,667 --> 01:24:23,791
He could be really
horrible you know.

2062
01:24:23,792 --> 01:24:25,791
But he was so many things.

2063
01:24:25,792 --> 01:24:28,332
HINTON: And that was one
of the things I remember

2064
01:24:28,333 --> 01:24:29,957
you know him really you know,
building,

2065
01:24:29,958 --> 01:24:31,374
building me up you know.

2066
01:24:31,375 --> 01:24:33,041
Making me believe
in myself more.

2067
01:24:33,042 --> 01:24:35,583
YU: She said Michael always
believed in me.

2068
01:24:36,375 --> 01:24:37,582
And that made the difference.

2069
01:24:37,583 --> 01:24:39,332
D'ASARO, JR.: He's just
a mentor.

2070
01:24:39,333 --> 01:24:41,082
Somebody who could take fencing
and use

2071
01:24:41,083 --> 01:24:42,832
that as a metaphor for life.

2072
01:24:42,833 --> 01:24:44,749
COSTIN: Once you know him,

2073
01:24:44,750 --> 01:24:46,916
it's kind of difficult
to forget about him.

2074
01:24:46,917 --> 01:24:51,707
When I think about this coach
that had the hugest impact,

2075
01:24:51,708 --> 01:24:52,707
really made me,

2076
01:24:52,708 --> 01:24:56,042
made everything I was as a
fencer, it was Stro.

2077
01:24:56,750 --> 01:24:58,041
And yet, technically,

2078
01:24:58,042 --> 01:25:00,707
I probably worked with him
for the least amount of time.

2079
01:25:00,708 --> 01:25:03,624
SCHIFRIN: I remember asking
him like why, why are you coach,

2080
01:25:03,625 --> 01:25:06,416
Stro? You know. And he goes,
it's all I know how to do.

2081
01:25:06,417 --> 01:25:08,041
COSTIN: I miss him.

2082
01:25:08,042 --> 01:25:10,207
SHAW: He was a natural
referee. Natural.

2083
01:25:10,208 --> 01:25:12,124
Everything about fencing,
he could eat it.

2084
01:25:12,125 --> 01:25:14,166
HARKNESS: But I would not
have traded that time

2085
01:25:14,167 --> 01:25:15,457
for anything.
That was formative.

2086
01:25:15,458 --> 01:25:17,749
SCHIFRIN: And he helped me
make the Olympic team.

2087
01:25:17,750 --> 01:25:19,916
He really helped me
make the Olympic team.

2088
01:25:19,917 --> 01:25:23,624
BRADFORD: Michael took me
in and tolerated my

2089
01:25:23,625 --> 01:25:26,832
ignorance in the beginning,
which was hard for him.

2090
01:25:26,833 --> 01:25:29,624
He really made me the fencer
that I was.

2091
01:25:29,625 --> 01:25:32,707
D'ASARO, JR.: He did
everything on his own terms.

2092
01:25:32,708 --> 01:25:34,124
You know, look,

2093
01:25:34,125 --> 01:25:36,499
I'm gonna I'm gonna prove
to you that I'm the best.

2094
01:25:36,500 --> 01:25:38,416
No matter what — no matter
what I'm wearing.

2095
01:25:38,417 --> 01:25:39,874
No matter how I look.

2096
01:25:39,875 --> 01:25:41,541
No matter what my
hair length is.

2097
01:25:41,542 --> 01:25:43,457
No matter who I'm fucking.
I'm the best.

2098
01:25:43,458 --> 01:25:44,624
HARKNESS: He's a very
complex person.

2099
01:25:44,625 --> 01:25:47,999
And that's I mean that to me
was how I remember him.

2100
01:25:48,000 --> 01:25:51,832
BRADFORD: You know sometimes
when I'm in a bit of a spot

2101
01:25:51,833 --> 01:25:54,291
or somebody is, you know,

2102
01:25:54,292 --> 01:25:57,667
rubbing me wrong or something's
going wrong, I can,

2103
01:25:58,458 --> 01:26:00,583
I can hear Michael
saying Well fuck you.

2104
01:26:02,000 --> 01:26:04,167
BRADFORD: Thank you Michael
the sorrow. Thank you.

2105
01:26:05,000 --> 01:26:11,417
Thank you strobe taskmaster.
Shaman. Leader. And.

2106
01:26:12,542 --> 01:26:15,792
Just a brilliant. Fencing.
Strobe.