Long before he became the most famous cinematic fighter of all time, Sylvester Stallone had to fight his own battle to survive in New York.
asserted
Stallone → become → York
For example, he was living in places where he literally had pizza boxes for his mattress.
asserted
he → live → mattress
"I did, yeah.
asserted
I → do → ?
It was very comfortable," he said.
asserted
he → say → ?
His jobs also included cleaning the lion cages in the Central Park Zoo.
asserted
jobs → include → Zoo
"That's a rough one, because I felt so bad for these magnificent animals," he said, "and then I felt bad because I smelled like them, you know, going home."
asserted
you → feel → them
As a starving actor in the big city, life was tough, but his upbringing wasn't much easier.
asserted
upbringing → starve → city
Born in New York's Hell's Kitchen 80 years ago, Stallone says his parents sent him away to a boarding house at a very young age.
asserted
parents → bear → age
He says he understood.
asserted
he → say → ?
"I almost didn't blame them," he said.
asserted
he → blame → them
His parents were not the kind to show affection.
asserted
parents → show → affection
I don't think they knew how.
asserted
they → think → ?
There was zero touching," he said.
asserted
he → be → ?
But Stallone says his hard-knocks childhood was great training for the uphill battle he'd face trying to make the passion project of his life.
asserted
he → say → life
His struggle was so epic, they've made a film about it: "I Play Rocky," coming out this November, about how Stallone kept the faith when the only thing he kept hearing was "No."
asserted
he → make → faith
Stallone wasn't involved in making the movie, but he says they really nailed it.
asserted
they → involve → it
Asked how he was able to keep going as doors kept getting slammed in his face, he replied, "Because I consider there's a process of elimination.
asserted
I → ask → elimination
Eventually they're going to open the door."
asserted
they → go → door
He wound up making his own door.
asserted
He → wind → door
In a story that's now become legend, Stallone wrote the script for "Rocky," with himself in mind for the title role.
asserted
Stallone → become → role
He wrote it in about 3½ days, and credits divine intervention: "I said, 'Is this Your plan to, like, torture me?
asserted
this → write → me
All right, I've come this far, I refuse to break.'
asserted
I → come → ?
And I went back in and I finished the last few pages of 'Rocky.'
asserted
I → go → Rocky
I really felt as though something guided my hand, because I've never been able to do it since.
asserted
I → feel → it
So, that's why I have to give credence to some sort of divine guidance."
asserted
I → have → guidance
Stallone finished the "Rocky" script in March 1975, but the starving actor was now just a starving screenwriter; he was still flat broke.
asserted
he → finish → March
He ended up selling his dog because he couldn't afford to feed him.
asserted
he → end → him
"It's the only thing I could sell.
uncertain
I → sell → ?
It was like, that was it," he said.
asserted
he → say → ?
In his new memoir, "The Steps" (to be published Sept. 29 by William Morrow), Stallone recounts how producers offered him thousands for his script, but only if they could cast someone else as Rocky Balboa.
uncertain
they → publish → Balboa
The bidding went as high as $360,000.
asserted
bidding → go → 360,000
"I said, pass.
asserted
I → say → ?
I can't do it," he said.
asserted
he → do → it
"I've literally crawled through every gutter in New York.
asserted
I → crawl → York
I've slept in every alleyway.
asserted
I → sleep → alleyway
I have paid my dues, and I know this is it.
asserted
this → pay → dues
I will never have this opportunity again.
asserted
I → have → opportunity
I don't know if you believe in destiny, but I think in some cases, it happens."
asserted
it → know → cases
The film went on to become a cultural phenomenon, with three Oscars (including best picture) and monster box office.
asserted
film → go → picture
He'd even bought back his dog, named Butkus, and put him in the movie.
asserted
He → buy → movie
…and 28 more, not listed.
The Aporia
