\n\i a candid conversation with hollywood's hottest action star about brains versus brawn, infidelity versus romance and kicking his way onto the big screen \p
\p\n
\f1\fs16\b PLAYBOY: \n Your suffering stopped when you finally got Menahem Golan, the co-owner of Cannon Films, to put you in a movie. What's the real story of how you caught his attention?\p
\b VAN DAMME: \n I tried to meet him for five, six years. Then I was going into a restaurant and he was coming out. I said, "Menahem it's me, Jean-Claude Van Damme. Remember all the pictures I sent you?" He was busy doing business. So I said, "I can do great action films." And I kicked above his head, like a 6'2" kick. I impressed him. He gave me his card and said, "Call me tomorrow."\p
\b PLAYBOY: \n He didn't think you were crazy? You could have kicked him in the head.\p
\b VAN DAMME: \n No, the guy is from Israel. He came with 20 bucks to this country, he liked that stuff. The next day I called him, he wasn't available. So I drove to his office. Now, imagine me, I was driving a taxi, cleaning carpets, delivering pizza. Here I am in the penthouse of Cannon, the biggest independent company at that time. They had signed Stallone for $12 million for \i Over the Top\n , and I was on the sofa outside waiting for Menahem, who was on the phone shouting some deal. I thought, He likes to yell, he's a salesman. I was there one P.M., two P.M., three P.M., four P.M., five P.M., six P.M. Sitting there all day as people came in and out. Finally he came out, tucking his shirt into his pants, and I go inside. This time I think, Jean-Claude, you're here for six years, everything is shit, this is your only chance to have a small part in a movie. Don't panic, don't sweat your hand when you shake his, be strong. I felt all Belgium was behind me. "Hey, we heard your son is a punching boy in America. How's the punching boy?" My father was in shame. I gave up my gym and everything. Imagine my father. I know about how Menahem came to America with $20, so I say to him, "I came to this country with $40 and I have nothing and I hope one day I can be somebody. I'm here for six years, nothing is going well in my life, so let's cut the bullshit. I know I've got something special. I'm inexpensive and I'm very good. You can make so much money with me, you can make me a star." I was almost in tears, and he saw my eyes were real. I said, "Look at my body," and I started to take off my shirt. "See the muscles I have." Then I took two chairs and did a split balanced between them. "See, I am flexible. I can do kicks, everything. I'm a young Chuck Norris. Maybe one day a Stallone. So what do you say?"\p
\t He said, "You want to be a star? I'll make you a star. You got a green card?" I say yes, which is a big fucking lie. "Do you have a lawyer?" "I will tomorrow." "An agent?" "Tomorrow." "Then you're going to make a movie. You're going to be the lead in \i Bloodsport\n ."
My legs are like cotton balls. I can't believe it. When I leave I'm jumping all over like an idiot.\p
\t But then \i Bloodsport \n was delayed and delayed. Four months later I was on a plane to Hong Kong. Thank God it was set in Hong Kong.\p
