I always think he was mad for passing up The Expendables since he was offered a part. Some of Van Damme's older movies are awesome and classic 80's flicks , nowadays you'll forget the film 20 minutes later.
I think he told Stallone something along the lines of " I don't do big movies like that anymore " from what I can remember.
I think when his life got all messed up with drugs and stuff he blamed his career for blowing up to fast , probably scared it could happen again or something.
Van Damme could have been awesome on The Expendables. Damn you Van damme!