Gladiator tackles grad education

Gladiator tackles grad education

Reherman gives ‘hawk’-eye view of economics in series

By Allyssa Lee

Imagine a teaching assistant from the graduate school of
economics working on his doctorate, yet smashing heads with
unsuspecting contestants in front of a screaming crowd on national
television during afternoons and the summer months.

And after he’s done, he returns back to the Los Angeles
community to promote positive messages to underprivileged
children.

Now imagine Lee Reherman.

Call it a split personality? Reherman just calls it another
day.

Reherman plays Hawk, one of five male American Gladiators on the
syndicated TV show which pits ordinary people against the show’s
gladiators in an athletic competition.

But contrary to the popular characterization of a stereotypical
jock, Reherman is also an academic. Not only is he a UCLA student,
he is also a role model to young children and involved in various
community service projects.

At 6 feet, 4 inches and 245 pounds, Reherman doesn’t look like
the average Ph.D. candidate.

The crew-cut blond hair, blue eyes and a relaxed, easygoing
attitude embodied in a muscular physique are more typical of a
muscle and fitness magazine than the Business Forecasting Project
in the basement of Dodd Hall where Reherman does his Ph.D.
research.

Similarly, with a bachelor’s degree in communications from
Cornell University, an M.B.A. from the Anderson School of
Management at UCLA, and a doctorate in business economics in
progress, Reherman is not the stereotypical American Gladiator,
either.

Reherman credits the disparity to his being chosen as
"Hawk."

"I think I’m not the stereotype of the big meathead, so I think
that’s a contrast," Reherman said.

"I’m not the best-looking guy in the world, or the best athlete,
but I’ve got a big mouth. I’ll tell you that. I’m the goofball of
the group. But I’m backed up with my education. A lot of times I
come up with stuff that isn’t the typical statement of the American
Gladiator."

In the fall of his second year in the master’s program, a man
approached him and asked him to try out for the show.

After a series of physical tests, Reherman was chosen as the
fifth male gladiator for the fifth season. "Out of a hundred guys,
I guess I was the last one standing," he said.

Bryan Taylor, president of Taylorvision Entertainment, commented
on what Reherman has added to the show since he arrived two years
ago.

"He brings much to the show, not just in athleticism but in
entertainment. It’s easy to work with ‘the Hawk.’ A gladiator with
an M.B.A. puts a good spin on (the show) ­ to show that
there’s something upstairs."

On his students’ reaction to Reherman’s "Hawk" alter-ego: "At
first I think a lot of people didn’t know me ­ I mean, how
many graduate business students stay up on a Saturday night and
watch the "(American) Gladiators?"

"Then gradually they kind of find out ­ and they look at me
kind of funny for a while. But then after a certain time they don’t
worry about it. I’m the one who’ll probably read the paper for
their quarter-end project or grade their presentations."

Reherman describes his balance between the two worlds as an
"interesting dichotomy."

"The athletics, gladiators, employment, and the Ph.D., the
M.B.A., the business finance ­ they’re both outlets for the
other. When we’re getting ready for a conference I might have to do
a paper, an overhead and do a presentation on business and finance
and I’m just sitting there with information coming out of my nose
­ it’s really a release for me to be able to go into the
studio and just be a meathead. To hit people in the head with a big
Q-tip.

"And on the other side of the coin, when we’re taping shows, I
put in two hard months of summer with a lot of effort and physical
pain, and it’s great to come back (to UCLA) and let my body relax
and use my head. So all year round it’s a constant balance of
checks and balances, each able to pit off the other. I guess
there’s kind of synergy there."

In addition to his entertainment and academic world, Reherman
also involves himself in a community housing project in inner city
neighborhoods where he delivers positive messages to the city’s
youth about staying in school and staying off the streets.

Susan Nakoaka, director of youth services for the Los Angeles
Community Service Center said, "They kids really love him; he’s
really good and funny with them. Some of them will be mean to him
(but) he knows how to deal with that really well."

To not accept his responsibility as a role model is "not only
asinine, but foolish," Reherman said. He feels fortunate that he’s
been given a lot of gifts, Reherman said.

But despite his hectic schedule, Reherman feels that his life is
pretty grounded.

"That’s another great thing about working (at UCLA)," he said.
"There’s so many smart people here, so much smarter than I am. It’s
a humbling experience because in the studio I have a hundred people
that just go around and kiss my ass. Which is fine," he adds,
laughing.

"But when I’m here, it’s good just to be a regular guy. You
know, to flunk a test, and not to be able to have your printer
work, and to realize I’m an idiot just like everybody else."