Author Topic: Blechman fires back to Romano - boom! Statement!  (Read 7458 times)

TK

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Blechman fires back to Romano - boom! Statement!
« on: February 25, 2009, 10:52:48 AM »
John Romano has had much to say in the past few weeks; he’s attacked my character and slanted my reasons for firing him. It’s unfortunate that although he and Dave have supposedly based their new ventures on truth and honesty, these attacks have been anything but. It is important to me that you, our loyal fans, understand that his dismissal did not take place in a vacuum and that there were valid reasons. What follows are only a few...

It was true, as John said, that I called him Bro— and vice-versa. We had a very close and strong relationship during the 18 years he worked for MD. I think most of you are aware that I gave John the opportunity to work for MD when no one else would, after he was released from prison. He saw firsthand the blood and guts and time it took for me to grow MD to the magazine it is today.

John requested and was given the position and title of Senior Editor.  I was extremely generous with his compensation; he was the highest paid employee in the company, and probably the highest paid writer in 
the industry. Every year I asked John to contribute a list of topics for his monthly feature. Unfortunately I never did receive any list from him and quite often it was on me to come up with his feature assignment. I took John under my wing in good faith, but he never fulfilled the role of Senior Editor, nor lived up to its obligations.
 
His position basically deteriorated to that of a contributing writer. He frequently submitted articles at or after deadline, and his work required more editing than that of our other writers.

John was supposed to have ‘face’ time in the MD office one week out of every month as well as frequent phone communication. This completely ceased to occur, which made my job that much more laborious and difficult over the years. I was very flexible with his time and schedule, to accommodate the many issues he had in his personal life.
 
But let me be very clear— I was the one who directed and put the magazine together for 18 years, while acting as Editor-in-Chief for two additional magazines.

I always gave John everything he wanted. I even licensed the rights to the Mexican/Spanish edition of MD. He let that fail while I, in fact, turned away more lucrative offers, in order to give him that opportunity.

John and Dave were building a business on the backs of MD magazine and the website, and using both to promote and market their fledgling business. How do you think they launched their website and radio show so quickly, if not for the fact that they were working on them prior to the firing? If it weren’t for MD, their supplement company would probably not even be in existence today. They were asked to not promote or spam about their supplements on the company’s dime, but they continued to do so. They milked it every which way to their benefit.

Why were they not honest enough to divulge their plans to me? Now we know why… they were undermining our company in order to promote their own supplement line and future businesses. John had attacked and criticized MD employees unjustly. Including the Adman, who performed very well and had record sales year to date. He begged me to allow him to take control of the MD website forums himself, and said to me “Don’t worry Bro, I’ll watch your back,” when in fact he was the one with the agenda! He tried to shift the focus of the website toward his own interests and Dave’s supplement line, of which John is a paid employee, alienating potential new sponsors and advertisers.

Regarding No Bull Radio, hosted by Dave and John, over the last two years the show was not profitable and had a very small audience. It started out as one hour and then Dave and John insisted that it be two hours. We accommodated them even without any paid advertising. If the show had been truly in demand, over the past two year period, the advertisers should have been flocking to sponsor the show. That is why  we discontinued No Bull Radio and developed the Team MD show with industry icons, Flex and Shawn, believing it has a much greater likelihood of success in our industry.

I would like to add that we just came off our all-time high for advertising in Muscular Development and the website this past year— solely through the efforts of our great sales team exclusive of John and Dave. Advertisers and sponsorships have increased on the website since John and Dave were fired. Views to our site have gone through the roof since they have been gone— we now have tons more content, breaking news daily, great science-based articles and training videos.

Most importantly, I would just like to say how disappointed I am with John as a person. He has vehemently and unjustly attacked not only me and my staff but also my family in a six-page private e-mail he sent prior to his firing. (This he doesn’t mention.) I do believe he has convinced himself that his reasoning and logic are correct. What I do not agree with is the way he has presented his case in such a public forum. He’s hurt— I get it. It’s cathartic for him— I get it. But he made his bed, so what did he expect?

This is business. Instead of ranting and raving and throwing people under the bus and acting out in such a childish way, why not take all that energy and passion and direct it in a more positive direction?  Enough with the tantrums! There is so much better content out there—  go find it! Talk about things that are important and will help people in the sport. Do what you do best and I will continue to do what I do best.

In the past I have been instrumental in building Twinlab, a $333- million supplement business; a once-public company with a market cap of $1 billion; before moving on in 2001. I will continue on the path of building a successful publishing and multimedia company.

I do wish you much success, John. I’m glad to have helped you get to where you are today— the rest is up to you. I hope you will always remember what you said, John, “If it wasn’t for Blechman, I’d be living under a bridge right now.”

You're welcome, John!

Steve

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Re: Blechman fires back to Romano - boom! Statement!
« Reply #1 on: February 25, 2009, 11:31:42 AM »
John Romano has had much to say in the past few weeks; he’s attacked my character and slanted my reasons for firing him. It’s unfortunate that although he and Dave have supposedly based their new ventures on truth and honesty, these attacks have been anything but. It is important to me that you, our loyal fans, understand that his dismissal did not take place in a vacuum and that there were valid 
reasons. What follows are only a few...

It was true, as John said, that I called him Bro— and vice-versa. We had a very close and strong relationship during the 18 years he worked for MD. I think most of you are aware that I gave John the opportunity to work for MD when no one else would, after he was released from prison. He saw firsthand the blood and guts and time it took for me to grow MD to the magazine it is today.

John requested and was given the position and title of Senior Editor.  I was extremely generous with his compensation; he was the highest paid employee in the company, and probably the highest paid writer in 
the industry. Every year I asked John to contribute a list of topics for his monthly feature. Unfortunately I never did receive any list from him and quite often it was on me to come up with his feature assignment. I took John under my wing in good faith, but he never fulfilled the role of Senior Editor, nor lived up to its obligations.
 
His position basically deteriorated to that of a contributing writer. He frequently submitted articles at or after deadline, and his work required more editing than that of our other writers.

John was supposed to have ‘face’ time in the MD office one week out of every month as well as frequent phone communication. This completely ceased to occur, which made my job that much more laborious and difficult over the years. I was very flexible with his time and schedule, to accommodate the many issues he had in his personal life.
 
But let me be very clear— I was the one who directed and put the magazine together for 18 years, while acting as Editor-in-Chief for two additional magazines.

I always gave John everything he wanted. I even licensed the rights to the Mexican/Spanish edition of MD. He let that fail while I, in fact, turned away more lucrative offers, in order to give him that 
opportunity.

John and Dave were building a business on the backs of MD magazine and the website, and using both to promote and market their fledgling business. How do you think they launched their website and radio show so quickly, if not for the fact that they were working on them prior to the firing? If it weren’t for MD, their supplement company would probably not even be in existence today. They were asked to not 
promote or spam about their supplements on the company’s dime, but they continued to do so. They milked it every which way to their benefit.

Why were they not honest enough to divulge their plans to me? Now we know why… they were undermining our company in order to promote their own supplement line and future businesses. John had attacked and criticized MD employees unjustly. Including the Adman, who performed very well and had record sales year to date. He begged me to allow him to take control of the MD website forums himself, and said to me “Don’t worry Bro, I’ll watch your back,” when in fact he was the one with the agenda! He tried to shift the focus of the website toward his own interests and Dave’s supplement line, of which John is a paid employee, alienating potential new sponsors and advertisers.

Regarding No Bull Radio, hosted by Dave and John, over the last two years the show was not profitable and had a very small audience. It started out as one hour and then Dave and John insisted that it be two hours. We accommodated them even without any paid advertising. If the show had been truly in demand, over the past two year period, the advertisers should have been flocking to sponsor the show. That is why  we discontinued No Bull Radio and developed the Team MD show with industry icons, Flex and Shawn, believing it has a much greater likelihood of success in our industry.

I would like to add that we just came off our all-time high for advertising in Muscular Development and the website this past year— solely through the efforts of our great sales team exclusive of John 
and Dave. Advertisers and sponsorships have increased on the website since John and Dave were fired. Views to our site have gone through the roof since they have been gone— we now have tons more content, breaking news daily, great science-based articles and training videos.

Most importantly, I would just like to say how disappointed I am with John as a person. He has vehemently and unjustly attacked not only me and my staff but also my family in a six-page private e-mail he sent prior to his firing. (This he doesn’t mention.) I do believe he has convinced himself that his reasoning and logic are correct. What I do not agree with is the way he has presented his case in such a public forum. He’s hurt— I get it. It’s cathartic for him— I get it. But he made his bed, so what did he expect?

This is business. Instead of ranting and raving and throwing people under the bus and acting out in such a childish way, why not take all that energy and passion and direct it in a more positive direction? 
Enough with the tantrums! There is so much better content out there—  go find it! Talk about things that are important and will help people  in the sport. Do what you do best and I will continue to do what I do 
best.

In the past I have been instrumental in building Twinlab, a $333- million supplement business; a once-public company with a market cap of $1 billion; before moving on in 2001. I will continue on the path 
of building a successful publishing and multimedia company.

I do wish you much success, John. I’m glad to have helped you get to where you are today— the rest is up to you. I hope you will always remember what you said, John, “If it wasn’t for Blechman, I’d be 
living under a bridge right now.”

You're welcome, John!

Steve



PWNED!!!!!!  ;D
A

Boost

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Re: Blechman fires back to Romano - boom! Statement!
« Reply #2 on: February 25, 2009, 11:36:20 AM »
I hope you will always remember what you said, John, “If it wasn’t for Blechman, I’d be 
living under a bridge right now.”


You're welcome, John!


Steve

LOL  ;D

I am actually starting to side with Steve over this issue. Dave and John really did plug the shit outta Dave's supplement line on their radio show and the forums. Of course that is gonna scare away advertisers. Romano is very slippery if you ask me.

Stavios

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Re: Blechman fires back to Romano - boom! Statement!
« Reply #3 on: February 25, 2009, 11:42:33 AM »
I am fucking tired of Romano crying like a little bitch everytime he has the chance to do it.
fuck him.

I am not on Beachman's side, but he is a millionaire and John is a nobody.
so it's easy to see who wins here

wes

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Re: Blechman fires back to Romano - boom! Statement!
« Reply #4 on: February 25, 2009, 11:46:13 AM »
 :'(

240 is Back

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Re: Blechman fires back to Romano - boom! Statement!
« Reply #5 on: February 25, 2009, 12:03:11 PM »
i'm guessing this should end it then.

The Ugly

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Re: Blechman fires back to Romano - boom! Statement!
« Reply #6 on: February 25, 2009, 12:07:45 PM »
i'm guessing this should end it then.

Ha!

Blechman, I'm calling for a truce!

OneMoreRep

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Re: Blechman fires back to Romano - boom! Statement!
« Reply #7 on: February 25, 2009, 12:10:01 PM »
LIVUNDABRIDGOWNED


"1"

bigdumbbell

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Re: Blechman fires back to Romano - boom! Statement!
« Reply #8 on: February 25, 2009, 12:11:13 PM »
i dont take sides but this settles it.   j & d are scum and we already knew it

UpTheDosage

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Re: Blechman fires back to Romano - boom! Statement!
« Reply #9 on: February 25, 2009, 12:13:13 PM »
I am fucking tired of Romano crying like a little bitch everytime he has the chance to do it.
fuck him.

I am not on Beachman's side, but he is a millionaire and John is a nobody.
so it's easy to see who wins here

exactly. . . i hate all of Romano's nuthuggers that don't realize he's just a fucking idiot. Blechman is a gay schmoe but at least he's a millionaire. MD is far better off without those 2 fucktards john and dave in my opinion.

OneMoreRep

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Re: Blechman fires back to Romano - boom! Statement!
« Reply #10 on: February 25, 2009, 12:15:28 PM »
Blechman can just about buy every pro in the circuit if he felt like it and the IFBB wouldn't be able to do shit about it.

Say Blechman were to say that his contracts included medical coverage along with life insurance, Flex magazine would lose all of their "pros" on staff....

"1"


DeadSquatPress

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Re: Blechman fires back to Romano - boom! Statement!
« Reply #11 on: February 25, 2009, 12:19:03 PM »
OUCH  :-X

Option D

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Re: Blechman fires back to Romano - boom! Statement!
« Reply #12 on: February 25, 2009, 12:24:29 PM »
LIVUNDABRIDGOWNED


"1"

when i finally figured out what spelled, i found it very funny

lovemonkey

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Re: Blechman fires back to Romano - boom! Statement!
« Reply #13 on: February 25, 2009, 12:49:45 PM »
Hhaha this is quite the royal pwnage. Blechman is a creepy schmoe but the dude at least has some integrity. The same can't be said for Romano.
from incomplete data

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Re: Blechman fires back to Romano - boom! Statement!
« Reply #14 on: February 25, 2009, 01:16:11 PM »
THE WAY I SEE IT...Romano is just a typical piece of shit that couldn't find his own way so he rode the backs of MD and then/now Dave.

THE WAY I SEE IT...Romano really has no future in the industry anymore as this was his next to last bridge to burn.  The only one left is the one Dave is standing on.  Wonder how long before that goes up in flames.

THE WAY I SEE IT...Romano despite being the highest paid writer doesn't have shit to his name if his property is in foreclosure.  And we all know he couldn't have spent all the money on supplements or AAS.  Dude looks like shit.  Rec drug addition is a bitch huh?

THE WAY I SEE IT...Romano is lucky that Dave that canned along with him or else this "news" wouldn't have garnered 1% of the slight interest it already has.

THE WAY I SEE IT...Romano is probably two weeks away from moving back in with his mommy Anthony Roberts style and "working" out of the spare bedroom as a bitter hack writer in an industry that hates him.

THE WAY I SEE IT...Romano is the very definition of "loser".

THE WAY I SEE IT...is the same way everyone else sees it too.

Ron

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Re: Blechman fires back to Romano - boom! Statement!
« Reply #15 on: February 25, 2009, 01:26:40 PM »

Anyone can have stuff on people if you are with them for 18 years, but you are right, this needs to stop.


Romano has moved on, now writing some things for MuscleMag, and Blechman can do what he wants, as he is the owner and boss, and it is his business. 

I hope this is the last statement and stories we hear on this.


BB

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Re: Blechman fires back to Romano - boom! Statement!
« Reply #16 on: February 25, 2009, 01:30:25 PM »
LurkerNoMore Wrote:

Quote
THE WAY I SEE IT...Romano really has no future in the industry anymore as this was his next to last bridge to burn.  The only one left is the one Dave is standing on.  Wonder how long before that goes up in flames.



THE WAY I SEE IT...Romano is probably two weeks away from moving back in with his mommy Anthony Roberts style and "working" out of the spare bedroom as a bitter hack writer in an industry that hates him.


Very true. It amuses and amazes me that these fellas always must play the tough guy and bite the hand that feeds.

This is a small industry and it pays to bow out gracefully.

I wonder how long it will be before Romano has a Mentzer-esqe breakdown?

The Ugly

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Re: Blechman fires back to Romano - boom! Statement!
« Reply #17 on: February 25, 2009, 01:32:12 PM »
Anyone can have stuff on people if you are with them for 18 years, but you are right, this needs to stop.


Romano has moved on, now writing some things for MuscleMag, and Blechman can do what he wants, as he is the owner and boss, and it is his business. 

I hope this is the last statement and stories we hear on this.




C'mon!

I can't be the only one who enjoys this shit.

muscularny

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Re: Blechman fires back to Romano - boom! Statement!
« Reply #18 on: February 25, 2009, 01:36:32 PM »
he is full of shit, everything sounded good until he said "traffic and advertisers" started since they where fired, things are thru the roof

here is a fact and seriously dont know nobody in this story but this is the truth, daves Q&A was the most visited and his Q&A in the mag was most read, people dont buy MD to read how to do push ups.

he made a big fucking mistake and seriously the whole magazine now at least 85% of it is ads, never buying it again as there is no point of going to the MD website

The guy made a stupid mistake, something that seems common with large companies in these days, like the movie office space they fire the good guy and promote the dick head, same shit.


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Re: Blechman fires back to Romano - boom! Statement!
« Reply #19 on: February 25, 2009, 01:40:52 PM »
I'm calling BS at traffic picking up since they got fired.

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Re: Blechman fires back to Romano - boom! Statement!
« Reply #20 on: February 25, 2009, 01:47:41 PM »
john got schome-pwned.
A

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Re: Blechman fires back to Romano - boom! Statement!
« Reply #21 on: February 25, 2009, 02:00:00 PM »
blechman is  beating off to vics glutes 7x a day for his cardio
b

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Re: Blechman fires back to Romano - boom! Statement!
« Reply #22 on: February 25, 2009, 02:05:33 PM »
I think it's mostly bs.

How does Blechman keep Romano around for 18 years if as he puts it "never fulfilled the role of Senior Editor, nor lived up to its obligations."

Blechman wants us to believe that he was just being a good samaritan to Romano. If business is business he should have fired him a long time ago.



spinnis

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Re: Blechman fires back to Romano - boom! Statement!
« Reply #23 on: February 25, 2009, 03:10:55 PM »
JOHN GOT FUCKING OOOWWWWNNNNEEEED HELL YES

JOHN GOT FUCKING OOOWWWWNNNNEEEED HELL YES



JOHN GOT FUCKING OOOWWWWNNNNEEEED HELL YES


JOHN GOT FUCKING OOOWWWWNNNNEEEED HELL YES




JOHN GOT FUCKING OOOWWWWNNNNEEEED HELL YES




JOHN GOT FUCKING OOOWWWWNNNNEEEED HELL YES




JOHN GOT FUCKING OOOWWWWNNNNEEEED HELL YES



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Re: Blechman fires back to Romano - boom! Statement!
« Reply #24 on: February 25, 2009, 03:17:21 PM »
While I don't think MD is getting MORE hits on the site... According to Alexia (Your favorite internet traffic monitor) While it did lose some initially, it appears to have climbed back to where it was before they were dismissed.

Also, while their new site is online, it certainly isn't as busy as MD was or is.