AMI is REALLY selling Flex and Muscle & Fitness! No Joke!

[scribbler]

5 years in the IFBB is not an up and comer, so cross off Jackson.  Henry with 3 years is border line.   Heath and Wolf are certainly up and comers.   

While Flex is the magazine of the pro IFBB (although that might change when they are sold), it's understandable that all the bodybuilders on their covers are IFBB pros.    But if I were editing another mag, in a year I'd aim for 3 covers of US amateurs, 3 of non-US amateurs, and no more than 6 covers of pros.  Of course, any could be women bodybuilders or figure competitors. 

Then I guess Valerie Waugaman could be considered an up and comer also from our May issue...and Phil Heath was an amateur when he ran on our cover (or at least when the issue was produced, I think by the time it hit stands he may have won the USA's, the shoot was done the day after he won the Jr Nationals)

We have no problem with featuring amateurs if they have the right physique to carry a cover. We want to show the future of the sport as well as the present.

C

[240 is Back]

We have no problem with featuring amateurs if they have the right physique to carry a cover.
C

Ini that case, I'm looking fwd to seeing the Rhino on your cover!   i was hoping you guys weren't going to let musclemag or planet physique scoop you on it

[scribbler]

and so ends some legitimate conversation on GetBig...
and it only took 240 2 posts before he took a shot at FLEX, that's some serious self control you got there.

I'll try and find out about Orville BurKe for you Matt C

C

[240 is Back]

and so ends some legitimate conversation on GetBig...
and it only took 240 2 posts before he took a shot at FLEX, that's some serious self control you got there.

argh... i'm sorry.  deleted.  I just have such a bad habit of quick shots like that.  In all fairness, one could argue that given the advent of message boards and even Flexonline.com, the actual Mag is really not a good resource for updated or recent information.. but I digress

[bic_staedtler]

....I don't know who the scribbler is but trust me, I'm no co-worker...my adjectives aren't, how shall I say, RIGHTEOUS enough.

That being said, I still think the latest format of FLEX since the cover with Phil Heath is pretty good.  And I also think that having he and Dennis Wolf is about as 'new comer' as it gets even if Wolf has been around a while in Europe.  It beats Ronnie 3 times a year interspersed with Nasser, Flex, Ray and the like.  Even Gunter, other than that one cover with the Big 3, I can only recall him on the cover 3 or so years previous after he upset Big Brubba No Trubba.

Compare that to MD where you've got, what, Lee Priest, Martinez and 'new' guys to the MD team....although to give Lee credit at least they slapped him up there when he won shows, props deserved.

If FLEX is listening, I'd like to see more historical articles like the Dave Draper ones of late.  I'm talking Golden Age of the 70's but also the Reg Park, Bill Pearl (even though I don't think he was an IFBB guy) and even Steve Reeves.  Hell I still like reading about Arnold, no problems there.  I'm sure there's tons of material that can be dug up even from the early days of FLEX that would make interesting reading.

[timfogarty]

Then I guess Valerie Waugaman could be considered an up and comer also from our May issue.

I'd like to see Phil Heath and Evan Centopani similarly posed, please.

oh, wait.  I keep forgetting:  implied lesbianism ok; male-male gayness not.

[scribbler]

....I don't know who the scribbler is but trust me, I'm no co-worker...my adjectives aren't, how shall I say, RIGHTEOUS enough.

That being said, I still think the latest format of FLEX since the cover with Phil Heath is pretty good.  And I also think that having he and Dennis Wolf is about as 'new comer' as it gets even if Wolf has been around a while in Europe.  It beats Ronnie 3 times a year interspersed with Nasser, Flex, Ray and the like.  Even Gunter, other than that one cover with the Big 3, I can only recall him on the cover 3 or so years previous after he upset Big Brubba No Trubba.

Compare that to MD where you've got, what, Lee Priest, Martinez and 'new' guys to the MD team....although to give Lee credit at least they slapped him up there when he won shows, props deserved.

If FLEX is listening, I'd like to see more historical articles like the Dave Draper ones of late.  I'm talking Golden Age of the 70's but also the Reg Park, Bill Pearl (even though I don't think he was an IFBB guy) and even Steve Reeves.  Hell I still like reading about Arnold, no problems there.  I'm sure there's tons of material that can be dug up even from the early days of FLEX that would make interesting reading.

I'm the Creative Director at FLEX and M&F. (most people here already knew that)
We work in the classic guys where we can for all the old school fans out there.
The Dorian cover was a throwback to the old school guys (though not as far as you are looking for), but the staff at FLEX definitely have serious respect for the history of the sport as well as where it is now. Shawn Perine is an authority on that classic age of BB, and Peter McGough knows pretty much all ther is to know about BB since the beginning.

We like to mix up the covers with new guys and established bigger name guys, as well as major contest winners etc...
Trying to get something for everyone is tough, but hopefully we are close each month.

C

[scribbler]

argh... i'm sorry.  deleted.  I just have such a bad habit of quick shots like that.  In all fairness, one could argue that given the advent of message boards and even Flexonline.com, the actual Mag is really not a good resource for updated or recent information.. but I digress

wow...didn't expect that-thanks dude.
I do understand-there will always be a delay in the net coverage versus the printed page, but we try to keep the news items in the mag as fresh as it can be (taking into account printing times distribution etc). The training articles and other editorial I feel will always be better in the printed form because of the interaction between the words and the images that you just don't have online. We will also continue posting recent news and contest coverage on Flexonline.

C

[240 is Back]

wow...didn't expect that-thanks dude.
I do understand-there will always be a delay in the net coverage versus the printed page, but we try to keep the news items in the mag as fresh as it can be (taking into account printing times distribution etc). The training articles and other editorial I feel will always be better in the printed form because of the interaction between the words and the images that you just don't have online. We will also continue posting recent news and contest coverage on Flexonline.

C

plus it's unsanitary to take a laptop into the restroom with you, but a magazine works great.

[christinafitness]

The circulation of all bodybuilding mags has suffered quite a bit since the internet gives you more and better material. A lot of the mags keep their circulation up by free subscriptions, but that does not keep the advertisers happy.

[timfogarty]

We will also continue posting recent news and contest coverage on Flexonline.

it would be great if that included amateur events outside the US, even if you are limited to the IFBB

[Bones]

I'd like to see Phil Heath and Evan Centopani similarly posed, please.

oh, wait.  I keep forgetting:  implied lesbianism ok; male-male gayness not.

  I don't know Tim...all the gym shots of men in short cut-off jeans and sunglasses sometimes comes off as pretty gay .

[Karl Kox]

Good

[bic_staedtler]

I'd like to see Phil Heath and Evan Centopani similarly posed, please.

oh, wait.  I keep forgetting:  implied lesbianism ok; male-male gayness not.

...that view is society in general, not just bodybuiding....back when it was considered improper to pose 2 women together in such a format bodybuilding mags weren't doing it either.  It's cash, and since heteros outnumber gays, then it's simple mathematics.  You can't blame nature for that. 

[ribonucleic]

Why does every single thread on this board have to start with gay-this and and gay-that?

Oh, yeah. Right.

[gordiano]

Why does every single thread on this board have to start with gay-this and and gay-that?

Oh, yeah. Right.

[bigdumbbell]

Why does every single thread on this board have to start with gay-this and and gay-that?

Oh, yeah. Right.

  i'm sorry but that's a fruity picture if i ever seen one  LOL

[240 is Back]

  i'm sorry but that's a fruity picture if i ever seen one  LOL

sued

[Bones]

This would make for a good " Caption This" picture

[Tre]

Tim - the images may not necessarily be male-male, but M&F and Flex have done a lot of gay (or gay-friendly) covers over the years.  The current issue is M&F is the latest such example. 

They're giving equal time without necessarily pushing any particular socio-political agenda.   

[timfogarty]

how in the world is the current issue of M&F gay ?  show me any cover of any bodybuilding mag that shows one or more males in a sexually provocative way?   on the other hand, the MD and Flex covers that I showed are quite explicitly showing the women in a provocative way.   MMI have been quite explicit too.

[Bones]

how in the world is the current issue of M&F gay ?  show me any cover of any bodybuilding mag that shows one or more males in a sexually provocative way?   on the other hand, the MD and Flex covers that I showed are quite explicitly showing the women in a provocative way.   MMI have been quite explicit too.

  Not necessarily the cover of many mags but the photo shot lay-outs of many have gay over tones...short cut-off jeans...sunglasses...top button of shorts undone.It's seems that MuscleMAg likes to print a lot of these photos...not too long ago they did a shoot with Chris Cook with the short shorts on and with mud smeared all over him...I know that Chris is not gay but that photo lay-out was.

[timfogarty]

  Not necessarily the cover of many mags but the photo shot lay-outs of many have gay over tones...short cut-off jeans...sunglasses...top button of shorts undone.It's seems that MuscleMAg likes to print a lot of these photos...not too long ago they did a shoot with Chris Cook with the short shorts on and with mud smeared all over him...I know that Chris is not gay but that photo lay-out was.

you're talking about bad fashion sense (but now how is that gay?)

the examples I gave were of women being sexually provocative.  and the Flex cover shows two women being sexually provocative with each other, ie implied lesbianism.  I don't believe they've ever shown a male athlete being sexually provocative, but if they did, how is that by itself gay?   they've certainly never shown two males being provocative together.

now, I believe being sexually provocative has no place in any bodybuilding mag.  stick with showing athletic talent.

[ribonucleic]

implied lesbianism ok

Seconded.