I'm just getting ready for 2009." - RONNIE COLEMAN

[MisterGX]

if Victor, Phil Heath, Dennis Wolf or Dexter Jackson are in the Arnold Ronnie doesn't have a chance.

If Ronnie looks anywhere near what he looked like in 2003, none of the above (especially Phil Heath) would have a snowballs chance in hell of beating him.  But that was 4 years ago...

[JasonH]

Ronnie would be lucky to place top six in next years Arnold if all the right guys competed at their best.

[Remo Williams]

Nope. Just realizing Ronnies potential to do some serious damage at stage if he is on (and that age doesn't matter - he is not that old yet).

I agree with the above, he's really isnt that old. If Vince Taylor can return to the sport aged 50 and place in the top 15 at the Mr O thats saying something.

Ronnie isnt going to turn up in 2009 looking like he did at the 2007 Mr O

[webcake]

Hard to tell how this will work out for him. The year off might be exactly what he (and his body) needs, but at saying that, the problems he is currently having with his physique are most likely there for good. Either way, i hope Ronnie will come back even better.

[suckmymuscle]

But Ronnie really has nothing more to prove!  He should compete in the 2008 Ironman, win that, and retire!  Still sort of retiring on top. 

  Yeah, winning the Ironman after being de-throned at the Olympia is retiring on top. Sorry, sport, but for a Mr.Olympia, retiring after winning a minor show can only be considered retiring on top if he was not de-throned at the Olympia. The only redemption for a de-throned Mr.Olympia so that he can retire on top is re-gaining the title.

SUCKMYMUSCLE

[GoneAway]

uh oh. ronnie is gonna do the olympia again in 09, cause he knows jay will be retired by then. i hope he remembers he placed 4th this year, not second.

[Matt C]

  Yeah, winning the Ironman after being de-throned at the Olympia is retiring on top. Sorry, sport, but for a Mr.Olympia, retiring after winning a minor show can only be considered retiring on top if he was not de-throned at the Olympia. The only redemption for a de-throned Mr.Olympia so that he can retire on top is re-gaining the title.

SUCKMYMUSCLE

It may not be retiring on top, but is it not better than retiring after placing 4th?  I would think a good thing for Ronnie to do would be to win a few smaller shows (3-5 in a streak) and then retire.  As I said, it's still sort of retiring on top.  I would just prefer if he not go the way of Nasser, and even perform poorly in the lesser shows!

TEAM NASSER

[Palpatine Q]

Someone said a while back Ronnie just doesn't want to lose sponsorship money. I think he gives a shit about his bank account a lot more than his track record.

[Livewire]

Someone said a while back Ronnie just doesn't want to lose sponsorship money. I think he gives a shit about his bank account a lot more than his track record.

we all do, groink

[Camel Jockey]

It may not be retiring on top, but is it not better than retiring after placing 4th?  I would think a good thing for Ronnie to do would be to win a few smaller shows (3-5 in a streak) and then retire.  As I said, it's still sort of retiring on top.  I would just prefer if he not go the way of Nasser, and even perform poorly in the lesser shows!

TEAM NASSER

Ronnie still has the most wins of any pro. 

[20inch calves]

off = 2mg test a week? 

i think you mean 2grams a wk. 2 mgs of test isn't much

[ConanTheLibrarian]

Someone said a while back Ronnie just doesn't want to lose sponsorship money. I think he gives a shit about his bank account a lot more than his track record.

Is Ronnie that broke that he needs to do these piss-ass shows for little money?  I could see him doing the Arnold and possibly coming away with some big bucks, but the Ironman?  If he comes back and doesn't take every show he enters, it is just going to look pathetic and taint the memory of his 8 straight Olympia wins.

[NarcissisticDeity]

  Yeah, winning the Ironman after being de-throned at the Olympia is retiring on top. Sorry, sport, but for a Mr.Olympia, retiring after winning a minor show can only be considered retiring on top if he was not de-throned at the Olympia. The only redemption for a de-throned Mr.Olympia so that he can retire on top is re-gaining the title.

SUCKMYMUSCLE

Great post !

[Matt C]

Great post !

Ronnie would beat Dorian if he came back. 

[Krusader]

Ronnie would beat Dorian if he came back. 

You mean if they both came back today?

[Matt C]

You mean if they both came back today?

Yep. 

[MikeThaMachine]

torn muscles never heals. dont think he will improve.

anyway i dont blaim him for continuing competing. its what he loves to do.

Well I guess it's a good thing he doesn't have any torn muscles...

[OTHstrong]

Everybody thats on top have claimed one year off after that year passes they don't come back, like kevin and gunter. 18 months will be enough time to except that its over. He only is thinking about competing because he is haveing a hard time convincing himself that this is it. He won't come back period

[Jeriko]

Normally I'd mimic what was said earlier; retire and enjoy life - but wtf enjoying life for Ronnie is working out and competing. He might dull his win/loss record but the guy's a fn BEAST and his legacy will remain - there are countless photos archived in case someone forgets or says otherwise

[Matt C]

Everybody thats on top have claimed one year off after that year passes they don't come back, like kevin and gunter. 18 months will be enough time to except that its over. He only is thinking about competing because he is haveing a hard time convincing himself that this is it. He won't come back period

That's like me saying I will pursue an M.Sc in psychology or get a teaching degree...if I am not enrolled in either program by September it's safe to say I never will.  But I give myself until September.  My university years were the best of my life and that's why I don't want to let them go.  Call it "Uncle Rico Syndrome."

[delta9mda]

Victor is only one from your list who could beat Ronnie (even if Ron is not in best possible shape). Dexter is so much smaller than Ronnie that he couldn't beat him if Ronnie is even at some kind of shape. Heath is not touching Ronnie for a long time (at least not if Ronnie is in shape that he thinks he can enter ASC with).

And that one cutler-hair-wannabe-albino (couldn't remember his name but it got something to do with fox or some other animal...?) ain't even capable to step to same stage with Ronnie.
All this if Ronnie has motivation to prepare properly to show - if not then it's a whole different story... but I assume he has if he decides to compete again!

i was at the 07 mr o, ronnie lost to dex, should have placed behind wolf. ronnie was in good shape condition wise. the left lat is done. his left arm 30% or more smaller than the right side and the left quad tear is creaping higher and higher. he was great, he aint cutting the mustard anymore.

[delta9mda]

I wouldn't say I'm in love with him but I realize how good Ronnie can be - even at his 40s - if he realy is busting his ass off to get in shape

watch btfo 07, he was going through the motions.