Breeding winning attitudes

Former Mr. New Jersey helps students ‘psych out’ opponents

By:Cynthia Cannon
   Athletes in training at Princeton University’s Stephens Fitness Center leave the gym with more than a better "bod" for their efforts.
   They just might pick up a few runway tips.
   Newly appointed fitness supervisor Michael Greenblatt has earned celebrity status in the gym.
   His weekdays are consumed with helping students and corporate staffers pump iron and beat treadmill times. But when the weekend arrives, he struts his stuff on the runway. Recently, he modeled the Eddie Bauer fall line at the Freehold Mall.
   Mr. Greenblatt thrives in the limelight, he admitted recently at the fitness center. Modeling and fitness training are only two components of his daily juggling act. To keep things exciting, he adds acting to the repertoire of activities. His clean-cut, GQ-worthy looks have won him stints on television soap operas. He’s also landed roles in three films.
   Audiences spotted him in 1998 fleeing a tidal wave in Steven Spielberg’s movie, "Deep Impact."
   He is anxious to catch the premiere of the upcoming film "The Yards," in which he portrays an irate businessman.
   He filmed the movie in New York City in the summer of 1999, along with James Caan and Faye Dunaway.
   PU students often wonder what it is that keeps him going. "We’re just so happy to have him on campus," said diver and junior Danielle Stramandi of Lawrenceville. The current university record holder on the one-meter springboard and 10-meter platform trains with Mr. Greenblatt three times a week. She is among the first students arriving to the gym when Mr. Greenblatt opens its doors at 6 a.m.
   The trainer explains that he’s helping Ms. Stramandi improve her strength and flexibility in order to be "more explosive on the platform."
   "Danielle is a future U.S. Olympian," he says.
   Breeding a winner’s attitude among trainees like Ms. Stramandi is Mr. Greenblatt’s modus operandi. "In the same way that I constantly want to land bigger roles for myself, I motivate athletes to strive for reachable goals," he emphasized.
   "Winning is psychological," he stresses to students. "Often it means out-psyching your opponent. The trick is in preparation. If an athlete doesn’t win a competition, there’s something she’s not doing psychologically."
   Mr. Greenblatt says he is well-versed in the field of psychology. He earned a bachelor’s degree in the science at Monmouth University, while he served as captain of the tennis team and member of the soccer team. He later served as fitness trainer at his alma mater for six years.
   When the Stephens Fitness Center was built in Dillon Gym in spring 1999, Mr. Greenblatt was hired to serve as fitness supervisor. He began his post happily in January. "I’ve trained so hard to get into an Ivy League school and I knew I couldn’t have done it academically when I entered college, so this was my way of getting in," he said.
   He loves working with the students. He acquired the fitness bug, he said, at age 12. Playing Little League baseball, he had some great hits, but had a pinch runner to tag the bases. He was too overweight to run. After that season, he adopted a diet and workout regimen, losing about 60 pounds. He’s been keeping up with his workouts ever since.
   Once on the Princeton campus, Mr. Greenblatt says he’s experienced some bittersweet days. He has been grieving the loss of his mother, Liz Temesy, who died in April 1999 after battling cancer. Ms. Temesy was employed in Princeton for 12 years. "My mom always inspired me to work hard for what I wanted. I sometimes believe she had a part in my accepting the trainer’s position at Princeton. I talk to her all the time. I need to be close to her spirit in some way."
   "My mom was my first television fan," he continued. In 1990, Mr. Greenblatt pursued appearances as a contestant on TV game shows. "I didn’t know how to pursue an acting career and I thought this might be a way in." Sure enough, he landed a spot on his mom’s favorite game show, "Wheel of Fortune."
   "I didn’t win any money," he recalled, "but I felt so good on-stage, I knew I wanted to be in the camera all the time." After the show aired, he was approached by an agent to be in television commercials. An Arista Records and Leather and Fur Ranch commercials are his claim to fame, he continued.
   He continued searching for more television appearances, sending headshots to 100 agents. He received 98 rejections. One acceptance landed him a spot on ABC’s "All My Children." He appeared several times on the soap, acting as personal trainer to actress Susan Lucci. "Susan was so great to work with. I was so excited and tried hard not to feel overwhelmed. She was very kind to me," Mr. Greenblatt said.
   Mr. Greenblatt began training for the Mr. New Jersey pageant. Contestants were judged on criteria including physique, tuxedo runway modeling and interview questions. He won the crown in 1992. The honor meant that he had to make 165 appearances at charity events. Many of them included school events like DARE programs.
   Currently, Mr. Greenblatt serves as staff judge at the Miss America Pageant, Miss New Jersey USA Pageant and Mr. New Jersey Pageant. "The real reason I continue to do the pageants," he said, "is to continue landing more television spots."
   The time Mr. Greenblatt allots to modeling, acting and fitness training varies daily. His 12 to 14-hour work day begins about 3 a.m. His workout includes 500 sit-ups, a five-mile run and weight lifting. Afterward, he heads to the university from his home in Ocean Township.
   He spends most of the work day, however, in corporate training rooms, providing assistance to employees who make use of their company benefits, he said. He also offers healthful eating suggestions to his clients. He suggests a diet that includes lots of fruits and vegetables, chicken – "if you have to have meat" – no fats whatsoever, and no dairy.
   In the evening, he checks in with his modeling agent, Barbizon, for any opportunities he might have on the weekend.
   "People think that age affects an acting and modeling career, but whatever age you are, there is still work for you in the industry." Mr. Greenblatt said his current magazine modeling roles range from posing as a college student to a father in back-to-school clothing ads.
   "You only live once – you should work as many jobs as you enjoy. If I ever land a full-time television role, I still plan to fit in my training at the university."