You know, there was Shawn and Chick grilling Lee about competing outside the IFBB and I wondered if they were puppets like Lee claims Bob is? Do they actually believe the rules or do they obey them because if they don't advocate doing so THEY get the boot and lose whatever association they have with the IFBB re reps and promoters. Bob boasts about what he has done for bodybuilders. Who would want his job, anyway? Lee is arguing more for bodybuilders than Bob can while being an official member of the IFBB. The IFBB was once the rebel organization and they promoted free contests that were judged on bodybuilding alone. That was what made them popular and soon Larry Scott and Hugo Labra and Don Howarth and Don Peters and the other lads in California were competing for the IFBB. Chuck Sipes belonged and so did Dave Draper. So did Harold Poole who couldn't win the AAU Mr America because he had a stutter. As long as what the IFBB did benefitted the bodybuilders they were approved of by the bodybuilders. Somehow that power corrupted the IFBB and today look at the mess they have created. Drugs are rife, controversies are endless, and professional bodybuilders cannot survive on what they earn from the sport. We except the few who can. The vast majority holding pro cards make nothing. It costs them to be a professional.
You know, there have been many very good bodybuilders who have been stars in Australia and who went overseas searching for their fortunes. Guys like Terry Mitsos and Adrian Batho came home penniless. John Terelli failed to bring home the bacon. We wonder how Luke is going to fare over there. Only Lee Priest has been a successful professional and from what he tells us his racing is more rewarding than bodybuilding. Lee is popular because he is huge and has unbelievable arms and other bodyparts. I have no doubt supplement companies would love to get his endorsement. However, like I said, Lee is the exception and the rest make nothing out of bodybuilding. Terelli bought a gym in Sydney and Mitsos has a gym. If anyone thinks that the gym business is related to bodybuilding they are mistaken. Batho had two gyms but ended up with none. Paul Graham has a gym but makes more through his other business interests. So there you are. The reality is vastly different from what we read on these forums.
The IFBB had DeMilia running pro contests then had a fall out and gave him the boot. Look at what they are trying to do to him now. That shows how ruthless the IFBB is and I wonder how those who belong to the IFBB can be proud of what they are doing and the state of bodybuilding today. Like Lee said, why don't doctors show up at the Olympia and test all competitors and disqualify everyone?! They are not going to do that so Lee is right that the IFBB is a hypocritical organization that has no integrity at all. Well, not enough to hold their heads high. Those blue blazers do not bestow honour at all. I know judging is a thankless job. However, that whole process has to be rethought.
I listen to Bob say stuff about the bodybuilding scene. Then I see they still count the posedown in contests. Well, they needed the posedown to make sure Bev Francis didn't win a Ms Olympia. She might have won but luckily the errant judges corrected their scores during the posedown. Get rid of that stupid posedown as part of the contest. Have it only for a show. I don't know how bodybuilding has turned into a circus. We have ended up having clowns running everything and no wonder now it is all a big joke.
