God, I hope Malibu never goes after me like this - I'd hate to have to defend myself against a 6-point attack!
In defense of FigureRx, I've met Stephen and some members of their team and in addition to providing competitor sponsorships, they also help to coordinate paid photo gigs for their athletes. Even if you personally are not a fan of pose-for-pay work (former P4S), these gigs are a viable source of income for the physique models. It's inaccurate to say that the producers are the only ones profiting from this type of work.
They promote their athletes in other ways and are welcome to speak on that, if they'd like.
That said, I am somewhat surprised to see you attack the magazine industry, Malibu. When a female physique model does a magazine shoot, she knows the deal - unless she is paid for that appearance by one of her sponsors, then it's up to her to paylay that 'exposure' into cash (assuming that getting paid is the goal).
I don't know what you expect from J.M.'s FMG. He started his management company several years ago and has recruited several of the top competitors. But J.M. also represents several women who are good, though not necessarily at the top.
I've been saying for years now that anyone else who wants to can start a competitor management company. I know that some of the so-called 'gurus' operate in that capacity, but so far, no one - aside from JC Lopez - has had an interest in getting into physique athlete management.
Why?
BECAUSE THERE'S NO MONEY IN IT. If it were worthwhile, believe me, everyone and his brother would be jumping over themselves to get into athlete management.
You raise a valid question about the IFBB's tax-exempt status. I'm not convinced that this 'Canadian registered non-profit' is operating
without earning a profit here in the U.S. All I know for certain is that a lot of the language on the IFBB's own website has changed quite a bit in the last couple of years. Things that make ya go hmm....
Regarding substance use, my position is that I don't believe that certain things should be illegal. I think that the lobbyists should continue pushing to have them legalized, but in the meantime, those who DO continue to use have to know that they're doing so at their own risk (of getting caught). In other words, I have no problem with 'use', in general, but those who break existing laws - no matter how unjust - have to be prepared to accept the consequences.
If Suzie Muscles uses substance-X to achieve her outstanding conditioning for the Olympia, I'm ok with that. I'm interested in the limits of human physique development and not that interested in how they get that way.
Barbie, I wholeheartedly agree with your statement that no single competitor - regardless of her title(s) - has an
obligation to be an ambassador for the sport. If she chooses to do so in her spare time or in conjunction with her normal life, that's fine, but it's not at all reasonable to expect her to set aside real life in order to do that. It would be nice if the Olympia champions all enjoyed a 6-figure income from the industry, but that's just not the reality.
The paysites serve a vital function in the industry, which is why you keep seeing new ones pop up practically every month. Fans want to see their favorites more than once a month, so the electronic media are a more viable option than the print media these days. Moreover, the paysites generally pay the women who model for them (if a model chooses to do a shoot for free, that's on her), money which can represent the difference between 3 shows and 4 shows for a competitor. And if a competitor does 4 shows instead of 3, that's more money for the promoters.
Every deal is different, but a popular model can generally set a very high price for her services and if she's smart, then she makes sure that she, too, has the right to sell the content shot by the photographer. If I were an athlete manager, this is a condition I would insist upon.
Lastly, he can defend himself, but Stephen of FigureRx hardly seems self-serving when compared to me or *gasp* to someone like JC Lopez/Marc Thyssen. I don't know his entire plan, but what I've seen so far has impressed me and even if you do not like what he's said in his contest previews, you've got to admit that a lot of work has gone into writing them.
If you look around the industry, most people don't care enough about the pinnacle event in IFBB Figure to do so. Attack his specific opinions if you want, but be mindful of the context, and don't attack the man for giving a crap about something most of those profiting from this industry do not.
Steven,
There is controversial and then there is rude, disrespectful and dumb and you don't even have the ca hones to own up to having been the latter. Not that I wish to offend anyone in any way. If you truly believed the figure and fitness competitors deserve to be treated like top athletes in the world why rudely spout off stupid stuff about the reining Ms. O and then make dumbsh#t assumptions about last years runner up. What they don't fit into your *all* athletes category .
Since you (Great White Hope Investment Banker) expect that any Olympia winner should put personal interests aside and work for the benefit of the sport, are you personally going to be compensating them accordingly to do so (say to the tune of $100K or higher). Ya, I doubt it. Competitors (including Olympia winners) don't owe Johnie Come Lately web portal operators like you, smoe photographers, potential elusive sponsors or the rip off magazine industry jack sh#t. Maybe if more women on the Olympia stage realized this they might start to demand their worth for a change. Maybe, but I doubt it, competitors might start to realize all the personal and important interests they have set aside and sacrificed to stand on a stage so that others can gain money off of their doing so isn't the way to go. Respecting all aspects of their life might be. Maybe it might occur to them they are selling off some of the most valuable things in life for cheap.
As to this being a silly industry......:
1. Well, of course there is the ever looming dark cloud of JM Management or Fitness Management Group or whatever it's called. At best this is an unbecoming impropriety that casts doubts on fairness in judging. At worst this is a conflict of interest for a non profit and a law suit waiting to happen. (What you think Denny? You are a big shot lawyer. Can you see $ signs before you eyes.)
2. Let's see. Oh, yeah what mainstream publicity have we had this year? The Craig and Kelly saga.
3. Then there is the reality that probably every one of the women on that stage has done or is currently doing something that is or has been extremely unhealthy to their body. Most if not all on that stage are probably taking some type of substance that is not FDA approved. Yes, even your Green Goddess herself is probably juicing more than weatgrass.
4. The fact that Olympia Men make what now $100,000 prize money and Olympia Women make $20,000 or so and few question this....especially the women because if they did they would not have a chance in hell of winning. Oh, ya and now they have a responsibility to put aside their personal lives and play Ambassador for the sport.
5. Knowing that there are women in the industry who pay planefair, hotel fees, hundreds of dollars for costume changes to be photographed by some guy (sometimes creeps) who rarely pay them anything is, well, silly. These guys generally get profits from their smoe websites that rarely benefit the women. If the photographer is lucky he can sell his shots to a magazine and profit further, rarely if ever do the women.
6. Last but not least is the realization that there are multitudes of women who will flock to your site and believe any spiel from any guy would claim to be the "investment banker" looking out for their best interest and offering potential sponsorship. I hope I am wrong, but I have to agree with Denny you seem like another self serving impostor. (a smooth talking slick one I must say.)