Lee should think about his financial future before dismissing the deal. Bottom line is, what supplement company will sponsor him if he's competing in an organization that gets no coverage? Supplement companies want their athletes to be seen and heard; that's what promotes the products.........
Dave, I beg to differ.
With regard to being seen: Rich Gaspari, Lee Labrada, and Dorian Yates all use their own likenesses to promote successful products that bear little correlation to how frequently these former champs appear in the pages of the mags. Furthermore, Vyo-Echh uses Shawn Ray, and his career doesn't merit much coverage these days either. Lee is an icon. Everyone knows what he looks like. A bi-annual 3x3 photo of him in the 'Competition' section of a magazine doesn't do much for a supplement company. Besides, companies like MuscleTech run their own 'Advertorials' that make up for any lack of coverage.
With regard to being heard: After hearing a few of the bodybuilding 'radio' shows, I think we can all agree that the less Pro bodybuilders are heard, the better. I've heard more interesting insight from the ESPN Fishing commentator. Shawn and Chick are the official mouthpieces by default, not by merit. What the bodybuilding world needs is a radio show with humor, insight and personality - a Howard Stern-meets-Bodybuilding type of show.
Personally Dave, I think you would be a great co-host for such a show.
Special "Bright Smile" Ed