The forgotten history of Bruce Jenner: How the 1970s all-American hero ended up here

wapo ^ | February 4 at 6:26 PM | Emily Yahr

[9thLife]

One day in 1977, about a year after Bruce Jenner shattered a world record to win the decathlon gold medal at the Montreal Summer Olympics, he met up with his sportswriter friend Barry McDermott to play tennis in New York City.

McDermott suggested a match at his private club — but that wasn’t Jenner’s style. Privacy was never his priority.

The pair went to Central Park, where word quickly spread that Bruce Jenner (Bruce Jenner!) was playing on the public courts. McDermott remembers the crowd growing, as he had known it would, gawkers pressed against the chain-link fence, watching the handsome star athlete’s every move.

It wasn’t a bid for publicity, McDermott insists: Jenner — as celebrated in that era as Michael Phelps or Lance Armstrong at their peak — already had plenty of that. “It was more of a ‘Let’s hang out with the people instead of the elitists,’ ” his friend recalled.

Four decades later, Jenner is still hanging out with the people: the millions of viewers tuning in to “Keeping Up With the Kardashians,” the popular E! reality franchise starring America’s most shamelessly oversharing celebrity family. Jenner — once the most famous of the clan — is largely a supporting player on the show and its four spinoffs, the weary, eye-rolling dad overshadowed by his preening ex-wife Kris, the self-proclaimed “momager,” and their many camera-friendly kids.

From left, Bruce Jenner, Kris Jenner, Kim Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian and Robert Kardashian arrive at an event in May 2011. (John Sciulli/Getty Images for City of Hope)

But now the buff heartthrob of America’s disco era is poised again to be the center of attention, in a way few fans could have imagined in 1976.

[sten]

if you have one of the new ‘smart’ tvs, it also has a live mic streaming everything recorded to 3rd parties (this is a known fact that came out around november)

as for you watching tv, grats. you’re a willing participant in the propaganda stream.

don’t worry, those tv shows and commercials won’t have any impact on you or your family’s view on the world. it’s all right. everything will be ok. go to sleep and watch the pretty flashing lights

[Eaker]

My TV doesn’t have a microphone. I would explain to you how I know this but looking at your literary skills advanced electronics would be magic to you.

As to the rest of the almost incomprehensible and written on a grammatical level which would have gotten me scolded by my parents when I was in the first grade drivel which you spewed kiss my ass.

I am not a stupid child lacking in self control like you. I understand if TV and cable are beyond your grasp as is forming a coherent post but this is not a reflection on your betters.

As to going to sleep and watching the pretty lights drugs are not a part of my world as they clearly are yours. So kiss my ass again. I would be embarrassed to as you have done admit that TV is beyond my capabilities.

Does it hurt to be retarded or do you just not know any better? If you don’t like TV why are you on a TV thread? I don’t care about hockey therefore I stay off hockey threads. It just makes sense to an adult but I guess I can’t expect you to understand this either.

Boy, you need to get sober, get a grip and get a life. If you follow this advice you and your guardians / keepers will thank me someday.

[ExCTCitizen]

Newtown is a beautiful town. It is part of CT that if it wasn’t for the wastelands of Hartford, New Haven, Bridgeport, etc.... Republicans would run the state.

[Daffynition]

They’ll be looking at the Perrier and Evian & Fiji.

[Daffynition]

Fairfield county runs the state, as you know.

[humblegunner]

You should take into account that some folks are exceedingly
weak-minded and rightly fear the cleverly crafted messages.

These same unfortunate folks are the ones that can be converted
to atheism by a billboard or a Facebook post. The danger to them is very real.

These folks are known as “smacktards”.

[CJ Wolf]

[CJ Wolf]

Wheaties, never once.

[upchuck]

This is what happens when you hang out with the Kardashians. The dirt in my front yard is worth more.

[nascarnation]

It’s all OJ’s fault!

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

I didn’t think anybody force “Can’t Stop the Music” into any article ever. Was a multi million dollar production so most of the crew was straight. They named the movie “Can’t Stop the Homos.” Was so gay it even embarrassed the “Village People.”