Very well stated chick, but......
To say that the PDI is going to be comprised of jv athletes is closed minded at best. Everyone knows there are tons of great bodybuilders in Europe who are far better than many current IFBB pros. I will even go as far to say that I could have beaten half the competitors in last years new york pro. Yes, I know, these are the athletes you speak of, that should go to the PDI. Where I don't agree with you is that people won't come to see. People are sick of the same people, Ron, Jay(who by the way is a good freind and my idol). I apreciate your comments and the way you don't disrespect the PDI, but i also think your public opinion is schewed(SP?). Because of your affiliation with ifbb and such.
Let em ask you a question, should'nt athletes be able to compete in both? Why does the IFBB only recognize the NPC as it's only funnel? As you know the Nabba is dominant in Europe, well, anyway, just some thoughts.
Jack London
Thanks for the reply, Jack....
I appreciate you recognizing that I haven't bashed/ disrespected the PDI (nor will I).
My point was that the half of the lineup you think you would have beaten at last years NY Pro, isn't the group the paying public was paying to see...they pay to see the names.
By perception isn't based on my affiliation with the IFBB, NPC, or any of the 25+ year friendships, associations I've built...it's based on simple economics and knowing what people are willing to pay for.
Much like there were some damn good athletes in the USFL, XFL, WCW, etc....the bottom line was the fans didn't embrace them, and didn't support them with their dollars.
There are some good athletes in Europe...that no one knows here, that no one knows anything about...the key would to try and create a fanbase with magazine exposure. Will the mags be receptive to showcasing athletes that don't live here on a reg basis? Will European sponsorship last for long with shows put on in the US?
There are a million questions that have yet to be answered...and the only way they will get answered is when the first PDI show takes place. Until then we can speculate all we want, and it's good fodder for the boards...thats about it.
I wish you the best my friend, hopefully this will work out for yourself and the other athletes involved.