I believe he is 40. Nonetheless, if he doesn't win the Mr. O this year, the chance of it ever happening are slim to none.
phil was able to step over the line, repeatedly, and given the title. To me, that says it all. Imagine Jordan taking 2 steps over the free throw line in the closing seconds of overtime... just an extra few feet to make sure he sinks the free throws.
In no other sport would this be acceptable. In this case, you have phil crossing over the line IN MORE THAN ONE YEAR. Maybe he does it the first year and nobody notices. But a 2nd year? And standing closer to kai so they bump... Phil was 12 to 18 inches closer to Kai than he should have been.
You don't see Ronny Rockel getting away with things like this. In a legit sport, even the champ is smacked with a "Phil, do you realize you're stepping closer to us" over the mic to snap him back down to fairness. Does the sport need that?
To me - in a sport filled with politics, drama, sponsors, conflicts - all of that is no biggie. It happens in all sport, it comes with competition meeting money, and it's fine.
BUT letting a competitors stand closer to judges - when one of the major criteria is size - is a HUGE problem. You might as well bring out a Nerf ball so the superstar Shaq can make all his free throws. The men are playing a different sport at that point. In a competition of size, letting one person be closer (and thus appear larger) is a massive advantage, and IMHO, really the ONLY noteworthy item that really destroys competition and should not be tolerated.
Stand in the correct spot like everyone else. It's that simple.
