I showed my sister dorian and ronnie in the front lat spread.
She knows nothing about bodybuilding and has never seen them before.
She said that Ronnie clearly looks better...hands down.
Even to the untrained eye, it is obvious Ronnie is better.
BTW, she also said it looks like Ronnie is on steroids 
To an "untrained eye" is the operative terminology and apply describes all those venturing to discredit Yates's stellar career. Being crowned Mr. Olympia encompasses more than simply "looking" better, or having what might be deemed a more pleasing physique with select "showcase" bodyparts. Many untrained eyes might have deemed Flex Wheeler or Shawn Ray to have been worthy of the crown, but a more studious approach identifies that they were lacking in areas. The same can be applied to Ronnie. A Mr. Olympia should present a physique that constitutes the best combination of everything. In this regard, Yates stands alone. From all angles, Yates had complete development and density that his contemporaries lacked. In 1993 Yates had not a single identifiable weak point, which can rarely, if ever be said about a physique.
This is the area of contention that Hulkster and the like fail to have cognition of, the best overall combination. Even in 1998, when Ronnie made great strides from prior years, he continued to lack in the area of calves and did not have the fully developed tie-ins between muscle groups that Yates had. His chest/delt tie-ins for one. Even while in his best conditioned state, at roughly 247 pounds, Ronnie would not have the density and width, or dryness to contend with a 257-260 pound Yates. In latter years, Ronnie's predilection for getting heavier would only increase the disparity conditioning wise, as he continued to lose detail. Yates had conditioning to spare and if mass became an area of contention in such a comparison, he could have afforded to come in fuller and still outcondition Ronnie, who while big and full, would be holding water.
If it is to be believed that Ronnie could have dominated Dorian, then why did he have difficulty edging out a substandard Flex Wheeler in 1998? Or, his close calls in 2000, 2001 and 2002? How about his losing the title in defeat in 2006? I do not recollect Dorian ever having anyone closing in on him on the score cards. Bodybuilders who nearly toppled Ronnie, never came remotely close to Dorian. Which is even more telling when considering that such bodybuilders were arguably better during the era when Dorian was the champ and they still got destroyed.It has often been quoted that Yates could have stepped on stage exactly as shown in the black and white photos (socks and all) and wiped the floor with anyone. Yates's own high standards necessitated that he come in even crisper, but had he stepped on stage in his 269 pound form, I have to wonder if a few more ninja stories would have surfaced in the industry.
