HAHAHAHA I was talking to a dude a my gym yesterday about that while the contest was one. He is about 10 yrs older then me and doesn't even remember when BBing used to be shown on ESPN back in the mid-early 90's. The spelling bee was shown yet again after the Hot Dog contest and I also saw commercials for the National Rock Paper Scissors Championships this weekend. ESPN is turning into the MTV of the sports world.
ESPN did show bodybuilding back in the early-to-mid 90s, mainly on a TV show, called
American Muscle. However, most of the time, the show aired during the ungodly hours of the morning (2 or 3 a.m.). The highlights came mainly from amateur shows from the NPC. Occasionally, they would show footage from other organizations like NABBA and ANBC. It would also show highlights of pro shows from the IFBB (and, in 1991 and 1992, it covered the two WBF Championships).
American Muscle, an hour-long show, aired once a month, with re-runs airing during the months, called
The Best of American Muscle (truncated to 30 minutes). Sometimes, bodybuilding contests would air after the show. But again, those were mainly NPC shows (the Nationals, USA, etc.), severly edited for time constraints, to be broadcasted for an hour.
ESPN would air the Mr. Olympia (or at least, a chopped-up version of the contest) as well. I recorded the 1991 and 1993 Olympias, when they aired. I lost the 1991 tape but still have the 1993 Olympia.
Unfortunately, all the contests came on TV, several months after they occured. The last broadcast of
American Muscle I taped was in 1995. It featured all of the Fitness America pageant winners, training footage from then-Arnold Classic champion, Mike Francois. The show was hosted by Troy Zuccolotto. That episode also announced the death of Don "the Ripper" Ross.
I lost that one, too. The ones I know I still have are from:
1991 - Covering the North American Championship (won by Ray McNeil), the Southern States (won by Jorge Betancourt), the MuscleMania series (winners: Mike Francois, Nick Silette, the late Sal Princiotta, Ted Lopes, and Dennis Newman), and arm-training footage with Kevin Levrone. Host: Trent Mitchell
1992 - Covering the NPC Kentucky Derby, Fitness America winner Sherry Goggins-Giradina, shoulder training with Mike Matarazzo, overall training tips with Kevin Levrone, More Fitness America information. Host: Trent Mitchell
1994 - Covering San Jose Pro Invitational (won by Kevin Levrone), Jan Tana Classic (won by Denise Rutkowski), Highlights of Fitness America pageant competitors and their successes, "Homemade Muscle" segment, Champion Nutrition Seminar with Mike Francois, shoulder training with Dennis Newman (shot shortly befoe he won the USA). Host - Denise Paglia
The episodes I lost may be at my mother's house back in my hometown.
