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Getbig Main Boards => Gossip & Opinions => Topic started by: Howard on February 04, 2015, 06:23:47 AM

Title: Being a fan of pro bodybuilding vs other sports?
Post by: Howard on February 04, 2015, 06:23:47 AM
Part of me would love to be just a fan of bodybuilding.
The reality is , there just isn't enough there to keep most fans interested for long, extended periods of time.

For example, I'm a big MLB baseball fan. The 162 game season plus playoffs, provides any fan with a lot of activity to interest them.
The NBA  and NHL  have 82 game seasons and a long playoff series. The NFL is only a 16 game season, but the analysis and coverage maintains a lot of hype and fan excitement. Any slob (like me) can buy the various satellite TV viewing packages and see any game they desire in real time or DVR it.

Fair or not, pro bodybuilding isn't set up to be a major fan friendly sport.
Don't get me wrong, I love watching and attending pro events. BUT, c'mon, how many contests a year will fans care to see?
The reality is that the current IFBB contest format could be as good as it gets for pro bodybuilding, as a sport.
The Olympia is the one big show, every fan wants to see. The other pro events are great, and allow fans to see the lesser known pros who have physiques worth seeing.

The one thing that  needs change is   contest coverage. There is no logical reason, why BB fans can't see a pay per view ,quality web cast of every pro contest . Perhaps other fans will demand this and support it.
Title: Re: Being a fan of pro bodybuilding vs other sports?
Post by: SuperTed on February 04, 2015, 06:32:23 AM
How can bodybuilding compete with real sports when it barely can classify as a sport?
It's a beauty pageant where the competitors are judged on their appearance. The Mr Olympia is more comparable to Ms World than it is to the Superbowl.
Title: Re: Being a fan of pro bodybuilding vs other sports?
Post by: _aj_ on February 04, 2015, 07:59:29 AM
Bodybuilding isn't a sport. It's a semi-athletic, aesthetic hobby. It has more in common with throwing pottery than it does with a team sport like soccer or (American) football.
Title: Re: Being a fan of pro bodybuilding vs other sports?
Post by: falco on February 04, 2015, 08:07:11 AM
Is bodybuilding a sport?
Title: Re: Being a fan of pro bodybuilding vs other sports?
Post by: oldtimer1 on February 04, 2015, 08:14:33 AM
The sport of bodybuilding takes place in the gym. The contest is just a subjective beauty contest of oiled up men posing to music in their underwear.

My wife has 4 brothers. They are normal guys who like baseball, basketball and football.When she was going out with me and saw my bodybuilding magazine collection she told me she nearly left me finding it shockingly odd. Wondered if I liked guys. I live by the beach and board walk. When a roided to the gills guy walks the boardwalk people laugh and point instead of being in awe.  The cats out of the bag how he got there concerning the drugs.
Title: Re: Being a fan of pro bodybuilding vs other sports?
Post by: ritch on February 04, 2015, 08:20:36 AM
what bugs me is the asking price for local shows. Insanely expensive to benefit the promoter more than anything else.

Add the fact they got men's and women's bikini now to make the shows longer... I've never been to one and now will likely never go because of those divisions.
Title: Re: Being a fan of pro bodybuilding vs other sports?
Post by: Donny on February 04, 2015, 08:23:41 AM
Weightlifting is considered a competitive "sport" why not Bodybuilding? Maybe they should include some form of lifting but is posing not competing against other individuals?
http://johnhansenfitness.com/2014/02/11/bodybuilding-in-the-olympics/
Title: Re: Being a fan of pro bodybuilding vs other sports?
Post by: _aj_ on February 04, 2015, 08:33:11 AM
Weightlifting is considered a competitive "sport" why not Bodybuilding? Maybe they should include some form of lifting but is posing not competing against other individuals?
http://johnhansenfitness.com/2014/02/11/bodybuilding-in-the-olympics/

Bodybuilding in the Olympics is -- far and away -- the gold medal for retardation idea in the entire universe. It's stupidity is so god-damned luminescent that it could light up the night. Every time I think about it, I get overcome by the giggles, it's so blindingly idiotic.
Title: Re: Being a fan of pro bodybuilding vs other sports?
Post by: Donny on February 04, 2015, 08:34:51 AM
Bodybuilding in the Olympics is -- far and away -- the gold medal for retardation idea in the entire universe. It's stupidity is so god-damned luminescent that it could light up the night. Every time I think about it, I get overcome by the giggles, it's so blindingly idiotic.
say what you think aj  ;D
Title: Re: Being a fan of pro bodybuilding vs other sports?
Post by: SF1900 on February 04, 2015, 08:47:38 AM
I find most sports to be equally boring. I don't follow any sports throughout the year, nor do i watch ESPN. The only thing I watch is the superbowl and the stanley cup.

Baseball is by far the most boring sport out of the major USA sports. I don't get how someone can actually watch a baseball game from start to finish. Absolutely boring.

Basketball sucks. Everyone is tall, so they just slam dunk.

If I was going to pick any sport to follow, Id pick hockey or football. Both are fast paced and exciting to watch.

As for bodybuilding, it will never ever become popular. Most people think bodybuilders look absolutely disgusting. And even the people that are hardcore bodybuilding fans in the beginning, eventually die off. We can all remember a place where we loved bodybuilding and followed every contest. As time goes on, you sort of lose care. It gets boring. I remember buying every flex magazine, etc. I cant even recall the last time I looked at a bodybuilding magazine or website (besides getbig).
Title: Re: Being a fan of pro bodybuilding vs other sports?
Post by: SuperTed on February 04, 2015, 08:48:52 AM
Weightlifting is considered a competitive "sport" why not Bodybuilding? Maybe they should include some form of lifting but is posing not competing against other individuals?
http://johnhansenfitness.com/2014/02/11/bodybuilding-in-the-olympics/

Quote
Drug Test the New Division – In keeping with the guidelines of the Olympic Committee, this new division of Bodybuilding would have to be strictly drug tested. The Olympic Games are tested by the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) so the IFBB should also employ the same Agency to drug test their competitions featuring Classic Bodybuilding.
The drugs that would be tested for would include anabolic steroids, growth hormone, diuretics and any other drugs that fall into the banned substance list for the Olympics. We all know that there is no fool proof test for making competitions completely drug free and there are no doubt many Olympic athletes who are finding methods to use drugs but somehow pass the drug tests. That’s not important. What is crucial is that the bodybuilding competitors in this division are strictly drug tested and they must pass those tests to be eligible to compete.

LOL! What a complete clown this John Hansen truly is. Is he trolling with the above comment? :D ;D
Title: Re: Being a fan of pro bodybuilding vs other sports?
Post by: Donny on February 04, 2015, 08:53:06 AM
LOL! What a complete clown this John Hansen truly is. Is he trolling with the above comment? :D ;D
  donīt think John Hansen is a clown. Does some good interviews and is always very civil and polite.
Title: Re: Being a fan of pro bodybuilding vs other sports?
Post by: FermiDirac on February 04, 2015, 08:55:25 AM
Weightlifting is considered a competitive "sport" why not Bodybuilding? Maybe they should include some form of lifting but is posing not competing against other individuals?
http://johnhansenfitness.com/2014/02/11/bodybuilding-in-the-olympics/

In weightlifting the one with the best result wins, if you clean & jerk 200kg you will win over people in the same weight class who lifts less than you. Very simple.

In bb your placing is determined by a group of judges, which is a biased/subjective form of evaluating placings in a competition. Even if there are standardized key features to give points for it will still boil down to the interpretation of the rules by the judges.
Title: Re: Being a fan of pro bodybuilding vs other sports?
Post by: tleilaxutank on February 04, 2015, 08:56:00 AM
Part of me would love to be just a fan of bodybuilding.
The reality is , there just isn't enough there to keep most fans interested for long, extended periods of time.

For example, I'm a big MLB baseball fan. The 162 game season plus playoffs, provides any fan with a lot of activity to interest them.
The NBA  and NHL  have 82 game seasons and a long playoff series. The NFL is only a 16 game season, but the analysis and coverage maintains a lot of hype and fan excitement. Any slob (like me) can buy the various satellite TV viewing packages and see any game they desire in real time or DVR it.

Fair or not, pro bodybuilding isn't set up to be a major fan friendly sport.
Don't get me wrong, I love watching and attending pro events. BUT, c'mon, how many contests a year will fans care to see?
The reality is that the current IFBB contest format could be as good as it gets for pro bodybuilding, as a sport.
The Olympia is the one big show, every fan wants to see. The other pro events are great, and allow fans to see the lesser known pros who have physiques worth seeing.

The one thing that  needs change is   contest coverage. There is no logical reason, why BB fans can't see a pay per view ,quality web cast of every pro contest . Perhaps other fans will demand this and support it.


I agree. There should be a contest every Sunday like football. More action and the death pools will be much more exciting!
Title: Re: Being a fan of pro bodybuilding vs other sports?
Post by: SuperTed on February 04, 2015, 09:03:54 AM
  donīt think John Hansen is a clown. Does some good interviews and is always very civil and polite.

He may be polite but he is also a clown for writing such nonsense.
LOL @ him trying to put forward an argument on how bodybuilding should be an Olympic sport, talking of drug testing a sport built on drug use and telling us how bodybuilding in the Olympics should be done naturally while also posting numerous pics of drug enhanced physiques as what the standard should be. :D
Title: Re: Being a fan of pro bodybuilding vs other sports?
Post by: Donny on February 04, 2015, 09:04:24 AM
In weightlifting the one with the best result wins, if you clean & jerk 200kg you will win over people in the same weight class who lifts less than you. Very simple.

In bb your placing is determined by a group of judges, which is a biased/subjective form of evaluating placings in a competition. Even if there are standardized key features to give points for it will still boil down to the interpretation of the rules by the judges.
Interesting is there was a Mr universe or was it Mr America canīt remember but John Grimek won because he did some Gymnastic moves better than Reeves. The Judges could not decide on physique alone but Reeves did say later it was done on purpose ..as you said Judges have favourites too.
Title: Re: Being a fan of pro bodybuilding vs other sports?
Post by: Donny on February 04, 2015, 09:10:30 AM
He may be polite but he is also a clown for writing such nonsense.
LOL @ him trying to put forward an argument on how bodybuilding should be an Olympic sport, talking of drug testing a sport built on drug use and telling us how bodybuilding in the Olympics should be done naturally while also posting numerous pics of drug enhanced physiques as what the standard should be. :D
well you know Judo started as a synthesis of Jui Jitsu and as such in the early Days was seen as a form Combat. Kano was a Professor and Educator and pushed for it to be a "way" of physical training and moral teaching. I think it will be a sport as such in the Olympics. Not like the Mr O shows but much like the Mr Physique competitions.
Title: Re: Being a fan of pro bodybuilding vs other sports?
Post by: FermiDirac on February 04, 2015, 09:27:02 AM
15 years ago,( as a judge) I suggested to  chairman Luke Tesvich , that the Louisiana region should have a genuine NPC Grand Prix and we did.
It was an overall scoring systems based on participation and level of placement for each show in the region.
In other words, I got that competed and placed 2nd, or 3rd in all 4 shows could beat a guy who won 1st but did only 1 contest.
It actually got quite popular within all the divisions and the contests were all in the summer.
I'm not sure if it still exists?

At this point I'd be thrilled if I could just watch every pro and national contest via streaming video on the web.
The IFBB doesn't have that many pro BB shows, so you'd think this could be done.
I don't think it costs much $$ to set up a web cast does it?

C'mon now, all minor league sports have some form of on line game coverage.
http://echl.neulion.com/echl/home

Why can't pro bodybuilding  ( at least )have this kind of coverage? I just don't understand ?

I think the higher ups in the industry are afraid of losing their control of this niche market. They seem to fiercely guard the bb industry from any outside source. If large companies outside were to join in and sponsor events or 'athletes', the bb companies would no longer have any leverage to force professional bb's into such slave like contracts. Things like having to pay a fee to be considered "professional" or being only paid in supplements, these were all things pushed on by the higher ups to control the market.
Title: Re: Being a fan of pro bodybuilding vs other sports?
Post by: Thong Maniac on February 04, 2015, 10:54:00 AM
LOL! What a complete clown this John Hansen truly is. Is he trolling with the above comment? :D ;D

I saw that hansen guy in some roid palace called a gym in Tampa or orlando. I forget where. Him and his training partner just kept staring at women and making comments. They looked like pretty big dick heads actually, like guys u wouldnt want to be friends with unless u were totally immersed in that sub culture of misfits
Title: Re: Being a fan of pro bodybuilding vs other sports?
Post by: Donny on February 04, 2015, 11:00:19 AM
I saw that hansen guy in some roid palace called a gym in Tampa or orlando. I forget where. Him and his training partner just kept staring at women and making comments. They looked like pretty big dick heads actually, like guys u wouldnt want to be friends with unless u were totally immersed in that sub culture of misfits
name the place. Back up your talk.
Title: Re: Being a fan of pro bodybuilding vs other sports?
Post by: ritch on February 04, 2015, 11:22:10 AM
name the place. Back up your talk.

I bet it's hard to name a place where guys are acting like dicks in a gym c'ause that is pretty much everywhere...
Title: Re: Being a fan of pro bodybuilding vs other sports?
Post by: Donny on February 04, 2015, 11:36:50 AM
I bet it's hard to name a place where guys are acting like dicks in a gym c'ause that is pretty much everywhere...
yes OK mate but if i want to slag a Guy down, he should still remember the Details.
Title: Re: Being a fan of pro bodybuilding vs other sports?
Post by: SuperTed on February 04, 2015, 12:29:18 PM
Hansen claims natural too. :D

(http://www.bodybuilding.com/bodybuilders/hansen6.jpg)

(http://www.ironmanmagazine.com/blog/johnhansen/wp-content/blogs.dir/16/files/2011/11/11.jpg)

Title: Re: Being a fan of pro bodybuilding vs other sports?
Post by: FermiDirac on February 04, 2015, 12:34:47 PM
Hansen claims natural too. :D

(http://www.bodybuilding.com/bodybuilders/hansen6.jpg)

(http://www.ironmanmagazine.com/blog/johnhansen/wp-content/blogs.dir/16/files/2011/11/11.jpg)



As natural as a dude his age using a smartphone  :-\

Impressive physique nonetheless
Title: Re: Being a fan of pro bodybuilding vs other sports?
Post by: Donny on February 04, 2015, 12:36:37 PM
Hansen claims natural too. :D

(http://www.bodybuilding.com/bodybuilders/hansen6.jpg)

(http://www.ironmanmagazine.com/blog/johnhansen/wp-content/blogs.dir/16/files/2011/11/11.jpg)


He posts on here now and again... ask him yourself.
Title: Re: Being a fan of pro bodybuilding vs other sports?
Post by: SuperTed on February 04, 2015, 12:43:54 PM
He posts on here now and again... ask him yourself.

I could but doubt I'll get honest answers. :D
Title: Re: Being a fan of pro bodybuilding vs other sports?
Post by: FermiDirac on February 04, 2015, 01:01:54 PM
Hmmm, interesting observations. One would think the  supplement industry would love a thriving web cast to advertise on?

I thought so as well, but reading about the Weider's pushing their agenda to increase revenues for companies at shows while keeping sponsored athletes at minimum payroll has changed my mind. Just looking at the prize pool, it's horrible in comparison to how much money a major bb event generates. The athletes are probably getting less than a fraction of a fraction of the revenues generated from a big show, the major part goes straight to the financiers.
Too much streaming TV exposure would, in some sense, empower the competitors as they would reach out to a larger audience without the need of company promotions. At the same time, it reduces the relevance muscle magazines holds over news of the bb world. The old muscle mags reminds me of the dinosaur music companies, clinging on to the old ways and always trying to fight against changes.
The problem lies in a stagnant and rigid industry, fighting new major change instead of adapting. Just look at the big names in the industry, some have turned down being promoted by a company in order to make themselves a name through other venues. DLB is a good example, and probably 10x more known to "ordinary" people than the current mr O.
Having people like her roam freely in the industry must be a thorn in the side of the larger companies, as her being signed to a contract would give substantially greater brand exposure.

As a judge, what is your take on the development of livestreams?
Title: Re: Being a fan of pro bodybuilding vs other sports?
Post by: 2Thick on February 04, 2015, 01:38:01 PM
Professional Bodybuilding and Professional Wrestling are the only 2 sports I've ever needed.

It's just a shame they ain't what they used to be.  :'(



Title: Re: Being a fan of pro bodybuilding vs other sports?
Post by: 6 Reps on February 04, 2015, 08:20:36 PM
I thought so as well, but reading about the Weider's pushing their agenda to increase revenues for companies at shows while keeping sponsored athletes at minimum payroll has changed my mind.

I heard Lee Priest say that at one time in the mid-late 90's Reebok wanted to get into sponsoring bodybuilding.  The Weiders quickly shut them out.
Title: Re: Being a fan of pro bodybuilding vs other sports?
Post by: 6 Reps on February 04, 2015, 08:40:12 PM
The live streaming of contests certainly seems a reasonable idea.

The biggest obstacle with bodybuilding becoming a more mainstream sport is that contests are very boring to watch.  Unless you know who the contestants are, and/or know what you're looking at, each contestant looks the same to the average person.  And when you add in all the dozens of physique guys, the dozens of the women in all their different categories, it all just becomes deadening to watch.

One idea I have thought of is to make the scoring live and show it to the audience as it happens.  Think of gymnastics, ice skating, diving, etc.  Those are all subjective sports, rated by judges, and the one with the best score wins. Just like bodybuilding.   Also, you could have experience commentators, like in those other sports, explaining to the audience what's good and bad about each contestant.

Title: Re: Being a fan of pro bodybuilding vs other sports?
Post by: ritch on February 04, 2015, 09:02:58 PM
The live streaming of contests certainly seems a reasonable idea.

The biggest obstacle with bodybuilding becoming a more mainstream sport is that contests are very boring to watch.  Unless you know who the contestants are, and/or know what you're looking at, each contestant looks the same to the average person.  And when you add in all the dozens of physique guys, the dozens of the women in all their different categories, it all just becomes deadening to watch.

One idea I have thought of is to make the scoring live and show it to the audience as it happens.  Think of gymnastics, ice skating, diving, etc.  Those are all subjective sports, rated by judges, and the one with the best score wins. Just like bodybuilding.   Also, you could have experience commentators, like in those other sports, explaining to the audience what's good and bad about each contestant.



This would all really help. If Chick is not busy having some weird schmoey guy assist him in doing odd type stretches, maybe he could answer this. His voice does have matter in the IFBB.

But the fact the Olympia is broadcasted in such shitty ass live stream quality, it's not even worth watching. It's 2015 FFS, and this is all they got to show us? Or what if they charged $5 to watch? The revenue would sky rocket...
Title: Re: Being a fan of pro bodybuilding vs other sports?
Post by: Mayor Of Bodybuilding on February 04, 2015, 09:51:50 PM
At Least Bodybuilding is not Fixed like the Superbowl!  Game was Thrown and I don't Gamble
Title: Re: Being a fan of pro bodybuilding vs other sports?
Post by: jamesjenkinsfitness on February 05, 2015, 07:26:32 AM
Bodybuilding Has 0 marketability... this is a country where planet fitness and obesity rule. Its a cult sport. With only other bbers or schmoes watching. Then sponsors. Who would sponsor this, sponsored by jintropin??
The average person doesn't understand or care.
Title: Re: Being a fan of pro bodybuilding vs other sports?
Post by: MCWAY on February 05, 2015, 07:37:39 AM
Part of me would love to be just a fan of bodybuilding.
The reality is , there just isn't enough there to keep most fans interested for long, extended periods of time.

For example, I'm a big MLB baseball fan. The 162 game season plus playoffs, provides any fan with a lot of activity to interest them.
The NBA  and NHL  have 82 game seasons and a long playoff series. The NFL is only a 16 game season, but the analysis and coverage maintains a lot of hype and fan excitement. Any slob (like me) can buy the various satellite TV viewing packages and see any game they desire in real time or DVR it.

Fair or not, pro bodybuilding isn't set up to be a major fan friendly sport.
Don't get me wrong, I love watching and attending pro events. BUT, c'mon, how many contests a year will fans care to see?
The reality is that the current IFBB contest format could be as good as it gets for pro bodybuilding, as a sport.
The Olympia is the one big show, every fan wants to see. The other pro events are great, and allow fans to see the lesser known pros who have physiques worth seeing.

The one thing that  needs change is   contest coverage. There is no logical reason, why BB fans can't see a pay per view ,quality web cast of every pro contest . Perhaps other fans will demand this and support it.


There has to be profit for pay-per-view to work. I saw the WBF Championship back in 1992 on PPV, which cost me $15. They even had a 900 number for the fans to vote for the winner (proceeds went to the special Olympics). That's probably not going to bring a lot of money to the promoter. It certainly didn't for Vince McMahon. The production was great......would've better if all the guys had been in shape, as they were in 1991 (now THAT is how you would do a pay-per-view for bodybuilding.