Author Topic: What makes a Pro, a Pro? (Read 13194 times)

OneMoreRep · « **on:** June 07, 2007, 08:03:53 AM »

What is it that makes these so-called Professional bodybuilders, professional? Besides the fact that they get paid to pose on stage and might, if lucky, get some sponsorship, what truly sets them out as a professional in their field?

You don't have to belong to the IFBB to get paid like a Pro bodybuilder, you can work privately and get sponsorship and income by way of the GAY-4-PAY network. So that dismisses the idea that if a person gets paid to do what they do, they, by way of default, are considered professional.

A doctor knows his craft well enough that he can work on his own, a teacher knows his subject matter in a way that he is self-sufficient and capable of providing his students with what they need based on his knowledge base...etc.. What does a Professional bodybuilder truly know?

Pros hire both a trainer and a nutritionist most of the time they compete or even train year round. If they need a professional trainer like Charles Glass to train them, what makes "them" a Professional at bodybuilding? If they need to hire a nutritionist like Chad Nicholls, Tom Prince or even Chris Aceto, what makes "them" a professional at proper bodybuilding diets?

In other words, once you take the training and the eating out of the equation, what the hell else is left?

Genetics you can't change and/or even influence unless you are into breeding humans.

The only thing these guys might be actually pros at is injecting themselves in the ass with hormones and site injections of esiclene...

Again, this goes out to all the so-called pros here, what makes you a Pro?

Shawn Ray · « **Reply #1 on:** June 07, 2007, 08:05:15 AM »

Appearently a phone call to the PDI

OneMoreRep · « **Reply #2 on:** June 07, 2007, 08:08:00 AM »

Quote from: Shawn Ray on June 07, 2007, 08:05:15 AM

Appearently a phone call to the PDI

No, but really Shawn, answer the question, I'd appreciate it. Who cares about the PDI, in a few months they won't exist, this matter is regarding what sets apart a typical bodybuilder from a professional bodybuilder.

Obviously, accreditation can be bought or dealt with by way of a new federation coming into play, so saying that you need a governing body (like that of a university per say) to grant you that title is out of the question, since the PDI dismisses that notion.

Help us out Shawn..

toolarge4u · « **Reply #3 on:** June 07, 2007, 08:11:12 AM »

genetics, REAL LEGIT drugs,amounts,availablity work ethic, timing and a little luck

Shawn Ray · « **Reply #4 on:** June 07, 2007, 08:13:34 AM »

What makes a Pro a Pro is quite simple and has been spelled out for many years:
WIN the Pro Qualification Show:

Overall and 1st Runner up at the Mr. USA
All Class Winners at the NPC Nationals
Overall Champion at the North American
Universe Class Winners
Team Uniiverse Winner

Petition the IFBB ala:
* Milos Sarcev, Lee Priest, JJ Marsh and few others from around the way via Wayne Demilia Glory Days of yore!

Stark · « **Reply #5 on:** June 07, 2007, 08:14:46 AM »

Quote from: toolarge4u on June 07, 2007, 08:11:12 AM

genetics, REAL LEGIT drugs,amounts,availablity work ethic, timing and a little luck

Hi Shawn

toolarge4u · « **Reply #6 on:** June 07, 2007, 08:15:43 AM »

Quote from: Stark on June 07, 2007, 08:14:46 AM

Hi Shawn

LOL that is the worst insult you could ever give me...wtf did i ever do to you

OneMoreRep · « **Reply #7 on:** June 07, 2007, 08:15:59 AM »

Quote from: Shawn Ray on June 07, 2007, 08:13:34 AM

What makes a Pro a Pro is quite simple and has been spelled out for many years:
WIN the Pro Qualification Show:

Overall and 1st Runner up at the Mr. USA
All Class Winners at the NPC Nationals
Overall Champion at the North American
Universe Class Winners
Team Uniiverse Winner

Petition the IFBB ala:
* Milos Sarcev, Lee Priest, JJ Marsh and few others from around the way via Wayne Demilia Glory Days of yore!

Wow, so you're telling me that any idiot, with no true knowledge of training, nutrition, or even the ability to downright speak, with the help of a Trainer, nutritionist and Posing coach can become a pro?

Shawn Ray · « **Reply #8 on:** June 07, 2007, 08:16:50 AM »

Genetics, Luck, being in the right place, timing bla bla bla have nothing to do with actually COMPETING in a PRO QUALIFIER against everyone else on the day of the show and BEATING THEM to EARN your Pro Card!
Is there anything more satisfying than accomplishing that?
Maybe doing it for pay but here is the rub.............There are a few Pro Champions and many more people trying to become Pro but on the day you win your Pro Card, it is reserved and memorialize in our memories as the date of ARRIVAL for those who Dreamed that lttle Dream way back when, the rest of the career as a Pro is but a Blur by comparision to this special day for many.
Peace,
S

Stark · « **Reply #9 on:** June 07, 2007, 08:18:29 AM »

Quote from: toolarge4u on June 07, 2007, 08:15:43 AM

LOL that is the worst insult you could ever give me...wtf did i ever do to you

LOL

Always Sore · « **Reply #10 on:** June 07, 2007, 08:19:39 AM »

Quote from: Shawn Ray on June 07, 2007, 08:16:50 AM

Genetics, Luck, being in the right place, timing bla bla bla have nothing to do with actually COMPETING in a PRO QUALIFIER against everyone else on the day of the show and BEATING THEM to EARN your Pro Card!
Is there anything more satisfying than accomplishing that?
Maybe doing it for pay but here is the rub.............There are a few Pro Champions and many more people trying to become Pro but on the day you win your Pro Card, it is reserved and memorialize in our memories as the date of ARRIVAL for those who Dreamed that lttle Dream way back when, the rest of the career as a Pro is but a Blur by comparision to this special day for many.
Peace,
S

Sounds like the wedding day of a special girl...Kidding I see your point.

OneMoreRep · « **Reply #11 on:** June 07, 2007, 08:20:01 AM »

Quote from: toolarge4u on June 07, 2007, 08:11:12 AM

genetics, REAL LEGIT drugs,amounts,availablity work ethic, timing and a little luck

You can't help genetics....

Drugs are downright illegal and bad for the sport...

Work ethic?? Many of the NPC bodybuilders I've known and read about can't maintain a regular job or even get hired for that matter because their look only appeals to supplement companies and jobs like bar tender, security guard and/or a shipping company. So what work ethic can these guys truly have? Plus, most pros we know of like that of Dillett and Cormier have shit work ethic and only survive on drugs and genetics..

Shawn Ray · « **Reply #12 on:** June 07, 2007, 08:20:09 AM »

There are many examples of the kind of people you just mentioned.
They run the gamit from being Intelligent, Stupid, Ridiculous, Entrepreneurs, Murderer's, Porn Stars, Doctors, Specialists, Etc.
Take a good look at our President of the USA, not the sharpest Tool in the box but he is in the White House nonetheless. $:-\$

BM OUT · « **Reply #13 on:** June 07, 2007, 08:21:29 AM »

Geeze,it must be easy to become a pro.I wonder why so few here will ever realise that goal.Perhaps the guys who do it have something we dont.You know,you could practice basketball from now utill the year 3000 and you will NEVER be Michael Jordan.The same for pro bodybuilding.Tons of guys train hard,eat well and take drugs,but how many Shawn Rays are there.One in a million.

OneMoreRep · « **Reply #14 on:** June 07, 2007, 08:22:31 AM »

Quote from: Shawn Ray on June 07, 2007, 08:16:50 AM

Genetics, Luck, being in the right place, timing bla bla bla have nothing to do with actually COMPETING in a PRO QUALIFIER against everyone else on the day of the show and BEATING THEM to EARN your Pro Card!
Is there anything more satisfying than accomplishing that?
Maybe doing it for pay but here is the rub.............There are a few Pro Champions and many more people trying to become Pro but on the day you win your Pro Card, it is reserved and memorialize in our memories as the date of ARRIVAL for those who Dreamed that lttle Dream way back when, the rest of the career as a Pro is but a Blur by comparision to this special day for many.
Peace,
S

Sure Shawn, but what makes them a professional at what they do based on what I have already explained? We know how these guys earn the title, but what makes a pro bodybuilder a professional at bodybuilding?

D.L. 5 · « **Reply #15 on:** June 07, 2007, 08:24:03 AM »

Quote from: Shawn Ray on June 07, 2007, 08:20:09 AM

There are many examples of the kind of people you just mentioned.
They run the gamit from being Intelligent, Stupid, Ridiculous, Entrepreneurs, Murderer's, Porn Stars, Doctors, Specialists, Etc.
Take a good look at our President of the USA, not the sharpest Tool in the box but he is in the White House nonetheless. $:-\$

how's the lambo? u still pumpin pac's 'how do u want it' like a rock star!!!!!!!!! best entrance on a bodybuilding dvd ever lol

OneMoreRep · « **Reply #16 on:** June 07, 2007, 08:25:18 AM »

Quote from: BILLY MIMNAUGH on June 07, 2007, 08:21:29 AM

Geeze,it must be easy to become a pro.I wonder why so few here will ever realise that goal.Perhaps the guys who do it have something we dont.You know,you could practice basketball from now utill the year 3000 and you will NEVER be Michael Jordan.The same for pro bodybuilding.Tons of guys train hard,eat well and take drugs,but how many Shawn Rays are there.One in a million.

Yeah, but that's not because of skill my friend. You are comparing two very different things. In basketball, if you are over a decent height and have the skill of Michael Jordan, you can and probably will make it to the NBA. Yet, in bodybuilding there is no skill involved as long as you have the right GENETICS and react well to the drugs, that's all that counts. After that, there is NO SKILL involved, with the right trainer, nutritionist and drugs, you can go pro as long as the genetics are there..

In other words, what sets Michael Jordan apart from every other tall black guy is that he has the skill needed to excel in that sport. Skill that came after many, MANY years of practice. His genetics in this case had very little to do, because there are thousands of black guys over 6'6 who can't play ball for shit.

-YET-

What skill is there in PRO bodybuilding that isn't bought from a trainer, nutritionist or drug dealer?

In PRO bodybuilding, GENETICS and your body's ability to react to drugs is what determines whether or not you will be a PRO.

Always Sore · « **Reply #17 on:** June 07, 2007, 08:27:31 AM »

Quote from: OneMoreRep on June 07, 2007, 08:22:31 AM

Sure Shawn, but what makes them a professional at what they do based on what I have already explained? We know how these guys earn the title, but what makes a pro bodybuilder a professional at bodybuilding?

Money. If people pay me to do a job then I am a professional. Does not mean good or bad or qualified. The difference between a hooker and a one night stand girl is when the money is presented.

OneMoreRep · « **Reply #18 on:** June 07, 2007, 08:30:06 AM »

Quote from: Always Sore on June 07, 2007, 08:27:31 AM

Money. If people pay me to do a job then I am a professional. Does not mean good or bad or qualified. The difference between a hooker and a one night stand girl is when the money is presented.

Ok, so if all you do is go to the gym and work out year in and out and instead of competing in the NPC or IFBB, you instead go and pose in trunks covered in baby oil for a room full of GAY guys that pay you $80,000 a year to do this every other night for them, does this make you a PROFESSIONAL bodybuilder?

OneMoreRep · « **Reply #19 on:** June 07, 2007, 08:31:48 AM »

Quote from: Always Sore on June 07, 2007, 08:27:31 AM

Money. If people pay me to do a job then I am a professional. Does not mean good or bad or qualified. The difference between a hooker and a one night stand girl is when the money is presented.

Also, to add to what I just said, not every PRO has a Weider contract or even a sponsorship that pays them, some PROS have to hold a seperate job because they don't get paid anything at all and year in and out go to these IFBB competitions and never place only to go back home broke and depressed, so what about them? They are IFBB pros but do not get paid, what does that make them?

Kwon · « **Reply #20 on:** June 07, 2007, 08:33:00 AM »

You are a professional when it (be it bodybuilding, football, carpenting etc) is your profession.

Always Sore · « **Reply #21 on:** June 07, 2007, 08:37:15 AM »

Quote from: OneMoreRep on June 07, 2007, 08:30:06 AM

Ok, so if all you do is go to the gym and work out year in and out and instead of competing in the NPC or IFBB, you instead go and pose in trunks covered in baby oil for a room full of GAY guys that pay you $80,000 a year to do this every other night for them, does this make you a PROFESSIONAL bodybuilder?

no that would make you a professional dancer or stripper or..well you get my point. I am talking getting paid to work out and eat and show up at events and sign stuff. either by contract or endorsment. You could do that without winning any events and IMO that makes you a pro. Different then what other people may write but it's my 2 cents.I don't think it takes winning the super bowl to be considered a pro football player.

Agent001 · « **Reply #22 on:** June 07, 2007, 08:39:31 AM »

Quote from: Shawn Ray on June 07, 2007, 08:05:15 AM

Appearently a phone call to the PDI

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That was great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OneMoreRep · « **Reply #23 on:** June 07, 2007, 08:39:36 AM »

Quote from: Kwon on June 07, 2007, 08:33:00 AM

You are a professional when it (be it bodybuilding, football, carpenting etc) is your profession.

Quote from: Kwon on June 07, 2007, 08:33:00 AM

You are a professional when it (be it bodybuilding, football, carpenting etc) is your profession.

I beg to differ....

PROFESSIONAL

A professional is a worker required to possess a large body of knowledge derived from extensive academic study (usually tertiary), with the training almost always formalized.

Professions are at least to a degree self-regulating, in that they control the training and evaluation processes that admit new persons to the field, and in judging whether the work done by their members is up to standard. This differs from other kinds of work where regulation (if considered necessary) is imposed by the state, or where official quality standards are often lacking. Professions have some historical links to Guilds in these regards.

Professionals usually have autonomy in the workplace - they are expected to utilize their independent judgement and professional ethics in carrying out their responsibilities. This holds true even if they are employees instead of working on their own. Typically a professional provides a service (in exchange for payment or salary), in accordance with established protocols for licensing, ethics, procedures, standards of service and training / certification.

In narrow usage, not all expertise is considered a profession. Although sometimes referred to as professions, such occupations as skilled construction work are more generally thought of as trades or crafts. The completion of an apprenticeship is generally associated with skilled labor or trades such as carpenter, electrician, plumber, and other similar occupations. A related (though not always valid) distinction would be that a professional does mainly mental or administrative work, as opposed to engaging in physical work.

-----> Many IFBB Pros do not have a sponsorhip or even a Weider contract, so they don't get paid anything and need to take money out of their own pocket to buy the drugs and supplements in order to compete, doesn't that defeat the definition of a pro being someone who: Typically a professional provides a service (in exchange for payment or salary)

Shawn Ray · « **Reply #24 on:** June 07, 2007, 08:41:47 AM »

It is a Business when you get your Pro Card.
There are huge differences on the revenue portion but the same can be said for the Law School Graduate trying to get with a Law Firm and the graduate that opens his own practice.
Both Lawyers by Law but the dollars separate them from being equals.
Some BBers have more opportunities by way of Exposure to the industry or Marketability and others suffer from lack of exposure and no marketability yet both are in the same business of making money and having to earn their pro cards by the same means.
Professionals "COMPETE" for Prize Money, Amateurs Don't, end story.