[News] One Big Yorkie Owner

[fasteddie]

Well, for someone nicknamed Tiny, a Yorkie is the perfect dog! I've got to see pictures of a 500 pound sumo wrestler carrying a 5 pound Yorkie!
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Manny "Tiny" Yarbrough is used to being stared at.

What sumo wrestler isn't?

In a sport that gives enormous men enormous exposure, Yarbrough was a novelty -- an African- American in the predominately Asian sport. He fought all over the world, winning a number of competitions and championships.

Now Yarbrough is ready for another form of exposure. There are plans to make him the star of a reality TV series called "Get Tiny," which will document his attempt to lose an enormous amount of weight.

Yarbrough, who also once dreamed of competing in the Olympics in judo, needs to drop nearly 250 pounds to get down to a trainable fighting weight of 550 pounds for a shot at the 2008 games.

But for the 40-year-old Rahway native, getting tiny is about more than competition. It's about survival.

"I need to make a change in my life," said Yarbrough, who weighs 788 pounds and has suffered the health problems that go along with such heft -- high blood pressure, joint stress, shortness of breath.

He will be helped along by fitness celebrity Eric Nies, another Jersey native who first gained fame on "The Real World" and "The Grind" and later developed a line of fitness videos.

Nies and Yarbrough hope "Get Tiny" will not only document Yarbrough's struggle but bring attention to national problem of childhood obesity. The program will be an interactive one, with an accompanying Web site. Rick Korn, the executive producer for the show and a partner and manager for Sound Entertainment LLC, said he is in negotiations to find a network or cable slot.

"Along the way, we're going to be challenging the youth of America to a weight-loss competition," Nies said. "We'll be asking kids across America to grab as many kids as you can to add up to what Tiny's weight is. These kids will work together as a team."

The men will take their show in the road, making appearances at high schools and elsewhere.

Childhood obesity, "is an epidemic in our country," said Nies, 33. "Kids are going to be dying before their parents."

A fear of dying is what motivated Yarbrough to take another stab at getting back in shape and progressing toward a goal. Four months ago, he weighed 808 pounds. He is also inspired by the chance to motivate youngsters. As a child, he was heavy, but athletic. He played football, wrestled and did field events in track at Rahway High School.

"As an older individual, if someone my age and my size can lose weight, it's going to be that much easier for someone younger and stronger to do the same thing," Yarbrough said. Yarbrough was introduced to Nies by his manager, Charlie Stettler.

"What better poster man would there be than Tiny?" Stettler said. "He's very eloquent, and well-spoken and friendly."

Stettler hasn't worked with Yarbrough regularly for several years, particularly since the gentle giant fell from grace when he was late for the 1996 Olympic judo team tryouts.

"I was a few seconds late," Yarbrough said. "They literally saw me running across the gym."

Missing his chance at those Olympics spiraled him into depression. He gave up judo and became lackadaisical about sumo wrestling. In 1995, he was the world sumo champion, treated like a king in the Far East. Then he fell out of competition.

Now he lives with his parents and does occasional public appearances.

Yarbrough's mother, Rosie Yarbrough, is pleased with the steps he's taking.

"I'm happy for him, because he really needs it," she said.

He has tried to lose weight on his own, but he lacked the support system. To help Yarbrough make it to the Olympics, Nies has assembled a team.

"We have nutritionists. We have doctors. We have certified trainers. We have Olympic trainers ... We have all licensed and certified professionals," Nies said.

And they will have the products of their sponsor, David Sandoval, owner of Platinum Health Products.

In addition to his health products, Sandoval is footing the bill for a ranch in the Sierra mountains of California, where Nies and Yarbrough will spend at least three months bringing the former athlete back to form. With them will be the Yorkshire Terrier puppy Nies got Yarbrough this week. Her name: Fatso.

Yarbrough has a lot of work to do before he can even think about training for the Olympics, said Yoshisada Yonezuka, owner of the Judo and Karate Center in Cranford and a former U.S. national and Olympic judo coach.

At 550, "he was quick enough, strong enough and agile enough," said Yonezuka, who was Yarbrough's U.S. national coach. "He did well in judo and sumo."

Yonezuka said he was a bit skeptical about Yarbrough's newest venture. He remembers how Yarbrough's work ethic faltered after the Olympic trials.

"The more I talk to him, he seems to be more committed that he's going to do it," Yonezuka said. "If he gets back to 550, I can train him."

Come the 2008 trials, Yarbrough will be 44 years old, but he insists he won't let age, or anything else, be a deterrent.

"I know I can do it," he said. "I call it making up for lost time. I'm going to be in shape. I'm starting to free myself out of jail, and I'm going to enjoy the fruits of a free man."

http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey...4823203020.xml