{IN MY HONEST OPINION} these professional Bodybuilders need to Organize, not necessarily a "Union" but definitely some sort of Athletes Association or something, with elected, not proclaimed delegates, there is truly power in numbers and these guys could make allot more money if organized. Lee Priest definitely has balls, "lead, follow, or get the fick outta the way".
Obviously, with out backing in any group of individuals you are going to lose on a disciplinary issue. On the other hand, if organized either through grievance or arbitration or before those steps Lee or any other Bodybuilder with the backing of the membership would be reinstated or at least given a timeline (grey areas are really bad if one sided). Right now as it stands if any other bodybuilder steps out of line they now know the consequences, they truly have no power as individuals.
What would happen if the pros as a group decided not to do photo shoots for Weider, and go to some other magazine, not do a show or two, yes they do have options, and a window of opportunity to make things better for themselves. (a little bit of suffering can win battles)
Lee may have did this to himself, but the IFBB also set the consequences, a message to the rest of the sheep(no offence), and as of right now this is just the way it is. Remember, "if nothing changes it will stay the same".
Maybe I am way off base here but I am sure these "athletes" stand to make much more for themselves if they are given the opportunity (freedom) to promote themselves as they so chose, and remember there could be membership dues as well for legal issues. Bodybuilding maybe not mainstream but there are huge numbers (money & people) involved. It would work through proper leadership.
Paul Dillet, Lee Priest & Shawn Ray all at one time or another had the right idea
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P.s. Yes I signed, Good luck Lee
