BB contests are fixed and it is all politics? Come on!

[wes]

The 1975 Mr Australia was fixed by Paul Graham and Arnold Swartzenegger who were judges. They gave me such low scores that I placed last in my height class.

They probably couldn`t stand the fact that you were so obnoxious!!

[bigdumbbell]

Vince you are sounding bitter like Nasser..why do you even care you obviously have given up on bodybuilding , lifting ,being in shape etc give it up old fulla

that coming from a possible porn addict?   

[WillGrant]

that coming from a possible porn addict?   

Whats that got to do with a fat old wind bag crying over a contest from over 30 years ago? 

[bigdumbbell]

Whats that got to do with a fat old wind bag crying over a contest from over 30 years ago? 

maybe it means things haven't changed in 30 years

[Bones]

  If the Mr."O" were fixed Shawn would of at least won one title and big Lou would have won the Masters. Both were Weider boys and neither ever won. Maybe at the local level there is some fixing going on but I don't think it's happening at the Pro level.

[johnnytosh]

I have been an active NPC judge for many years now and was an AAU national judge before that.  I was never an IFBB pro judge however,so I don't have personal experience at that level.  One myth that remains constant is the idea that BB contests are "fixed" and it is all political, etc.

Think about something for minute. Do you really think that the judges meet in some secret room and come up with some grand conspiracy over who wins/places in a contest?
 
The majority of contests don't involve $$$$, therefor, what would the incentive be for any judge to fix a contest. Plus, at EVERY contests, the highest and lowest placement is thrown out before the middle scores/placements get avg ( lowest placement wins 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc). To really "fix" a contest, would require some guy /girl to "buy off" the majority of judges. Even pro meets don't involve really big $$ or incentives for a judge to fix the show.

Folks it isn't that big a mystery .

The reason why we often question a judging call is simple. It is due to a lack of consistant, objective judging standards that are recognized and 100% adopted by each and every judge, bodybuilder and fan. The real problem isn't politics but a lack of adherence to consistant, objective rules and standards to judge and run a BB contest by.

You are 100% correct. Thank god somebody knows this. All these in-experienced posters crying "Fixed" shows how little they know, and it shows that they have no respect for the sport.

[tom joad]

  If the Mr."O" were fixed Shawn would of at least won one title and big Lou would have won the Masters. Both were Weider boys and neither ever won. Maybe at the local level there is some fixing going on but I don't think it's happening at the Pro level.

maybe louie was being punished for starting his comeback with vince mcmahon's wbf?

[ManBearPig...]

1974! 35 years ago, you bring an example.  Jeez.  And as Chick said, you were the lone judge which did not agree. That is ok. That was your opinion.  Some people like apples and others like oranges.

And some fuck grapefruits!

[Howard]

You are right about the judges not being consistent though too.  At my first show we were told at the athletes meeting that they were NOT looking for muscle.  They said they did NOT want the figure girls out there flexing, they were looking for a softer look (this is before bikini).   With that said, me and all but one girl stood up there trying to look softer, not flexing or tightening our legs and arms.  There was one girl out there who was though, and guess what, not only did she win the class but she won the over all.  The judges picked the hardest and most muscular girl out there.  The following show (with all the same judges) I said screw it and stood on stage as hard/tight as I could and guess what type won that show?  A girl who looked like she hadn't touched a weight in her life.  

Until they come up with a format of exactly what they are looking for in each division instead of "what catches their eye that day" they will always be accused of fixing the shows or being political instead of fair.  <shrugs>

Despite what the actual standards are , the truth is that the figure is mostly about a fit and HOT looking female.
The bikini is 100% sex appeal...period

[Howard]

I find it amazing that your opinion is that bodybuilding contests are fixed.  Come on...

As photographers, we ourselves try to figure out who is the best on stage on that day, and guess what - most of the time, we differ. Yep, sometimes it is very easy to tell, but many times, I have someone in second or third, and someone else has them vice versa, and others have them different.

Bodybuilding is a subjective sport. You don't have a clear cut way. Someone may think that the overall physique is better than just the one who is the most muscular. Someone may like the conditioning on another, while another prefers symmetry.  That is why you have a lot of judges per show.  

Forget about it. They are not fixed. I have been to a ton of show, and no matter what, whoever comes in second or third or worse, complains about how they should of been higher. We hear it all the time.  

Exactly.
Over the years all of us see picks we don't agree with but can understand why they won/placed as they did.

[polychronopolous]

Why does Howard have "competitors" underneath his name?

He just looks like some fat nerdy dude who doesn't lift.

[Howard]

Howard, I also used to judge AAU events and have judged NPC contests since the very beginning. I never have kept count but I'm sure that I have personally judged over 100 male and female NPC contests and can honestly state without an iota of doubt that each and every one of those contests were judged fairly and squarely.

ANd since I often served at Head Judge, I can also attest that those score sheets were tabulated honestly

I can't honestly state that all NPC events have been unquestionable because I was not at each contest to attest to that fact.

In all my years of BB, I have only personally witnessed two events in which there was outright cheating (or attempt to cheat) on the part of the judges .... AND NEITHER OF THESE EVENTS WERE NPC SANCTIONED.

And each event occured many years before most of you GetBiggers were even born.

Based on my personal experience, I have to agree with both Bob and Howard.

In opposition to SimplyHuge whom I consider to be an extremely honest and trustworthy individual, I'd have to say that the contest in which his brother lost to an unworthy opponent due to his gym affiliatio  was a distinct possibility but i'd have to say that it was an exception rather than the rule.  

And ..... I have never seen a family member agree with the  contest outcome when a family member places less than first.

And just about every event I have participated in ...... the person or persons who don't take the overall claim that it was all political.

On many occasions I too often wonder why so and so beat so and so, but that only occurs when I am seated a short distance behind the judges' 'table or express my opinions based on contest photos or when a good friend of mine doesn't win the overall.

I never have judged an IFBB event and I wanted to offer these remarks based on my personal experience within the NPC so I can't offer any positive remarks regarding IFBB events...... but if such cheating did occur ..... one of those IFBB judges would have complained over the year and none have as far as I'm aware.

(The biggest complaint of all time was the year that Arnold won the "O" in Australia but I wasn't there to see if any cheating was going on.)

Exactly! You are 100% correct, it is NOT some grand conspiracy.
the fact is most judges don't even know most the people they judge on stage.
I suspect the IFBB is just more insular and some top pro gets popular and gets some momentum or buzz around them, etc

[WillGrant]

He just looks like some fat nerdy dude who doesn't lift.

Why is Ron into Bodybuilding? 

[Howard]

Why does Howard have "competitors" underneath his name?

He just looks like some fat nerdy dude who doesn't lift.

LOL, good one
C'mon , I did over 40 contests in my heyday and am planning to compete in the over 50 next summer at the tender age of 51. It only says I competed and will compete, the stars and label don't say I did well or win do they hehe

[bigdumbbell]

LOL, good one
C'mon , I did over 40 contests in my heyday and am planning to compete in the over 50 next summer at the tender age of 51. It only says I competed and will compete, the stars and label don't say I did well or win do they hehe

how's your hair sweatheart?  rug or toupee?

[WillGrant]

how's your hair sweatheart?  rug or toupee?

[polychronopolous]

LOL, good one
C'mon , I did over 40 contests in my heyday and am planning to compete in the over 50 next summer at the tender age of 51. It only says I competed and will compete, the stars and label don't say I did well or win do they hehe

Haha! Just bustin' your chops a little bit bro.

You seem like a pretty cool dude.

[Howard]

how's your hair sweatheart?  rug or toupee?

I may be a tad chunky as a I try to stay on the diet, but my hair is doing just fine. No rug or anything needed yet.See pic I am blue shirt

[Howard]

Haha! Just bustin' your chops a little bit bro.

You seem like a pretty cool dude.

Ya gotta take things as they come and roll on 

[WillGrant]

Howie you seem to have a thing for black men , are you a schmoe like Ron?

[Howard]

Howie you seem to have a thing for black men , are you a schmoe like Ron?

No, unlike Ron I have no restrictions and I go for dogs as well

[The Master]

No, unlike Ron I have no restrictions and I go for dogs as well

Do you still sniff your GF's farts to see what she had for dinner?

[Howard]

Do you still sniff your GF's farts to see what she had for dinner?

NO I sniff her ass because I like it...,next question

[noworries]

I have been an active NPC judge for many years now and was an AAU national judge before that.  I was never an IFBB pro judge however,so I don't have personal experience at that level.  One myth that remains constant is the idea that BB contests are "fixed" and it is all political, etc.

Think about something for minute. Do you really think that the judges meet in some secret room and come up with some grand conspiracy over who wins/places in a contest?
 
The majority of contests don't involve $$$$, therefor, what would the incentive be for any judge to fix a contest. Plus, at EVERY contests, the highest and lowest placement is thrown out before the middle scores/placements get avg ( lowest placement wins 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc). To really "fix" a contest, would require some guy /girl to "buy off" the majority of judges. Even pro meets don't involve really big $$ or incentives for a judge to fix the show.

Folks it isn't that big a mystery .

The reason why we often question a judging call is simple. It is due to a lack of consistant, objective judging standards that are recognized and 100% adopted by each and every judge, bodybuilder and fan. The real problem isn't politics but a lack of adherence to consistant, objective rules and standards to judge and run a BB contest by.

How do explain Arnold winning.  And you mention money isn't a big thing.  But, the sponsors pay alot of money to the IFBB to sponsor shows.  Do you think they would continue to throw money at them for the big contests if their sponsored BB's don't ever win. 

[Gino30]

Fixed like an Iranian Nuclear rocket on Tel Aviv