I understand the argument you are making, but I think it lacks validity, only becuase I really think that this is a matter, of the practical vs. the ideal. Mike Christian is correct in his observation, but not because the judging standards actully held up to the asthetic values that the IFBB puts forth, but rather what actully works in a practical manner. If contests were actully judged according to standard, then Bob Paris, Lee Labrada, Shawn Ray, and, (possibly) Kevin Levrone would all have a Sandow in their possession. The posing round would actully mean something, and so would other factors, (skin tone, presentation, the symmetry round would actully be looking at symmetry, as opposed to just being another muscularity round most of the time, etc).
This may just be a matter of semantics, but I think that the ideal that most getbiggers/bodybuilding fans espouse, is the same as the supposed ideal of the IFBB. To me it isnt unreasonable to call bullshit on the IFBB's lack of upholding their own standards.
M!
The thing is ALL rounds are physique rounds , not many people know this. I've always asked this of people ever wonder how Dorian won the symmetry round despite not being the most symmetrical? answer all rounds are physique rounds , meaning ALL of the criteria is assessed at once .
Symmetry is NOT judged as a separate entity unto itself ....muscular bulk , balance development , density & dryness are ALL judge without judging symmetry alone . A very symmetrical guy should NOT win the symmetry round if he's lacking in muscular size and density , same goes with the muscularity round ( that is NOT judged on muscularity alone ) a guy should not win this round he's he's very muscular but lacks in balance & proportion and symmetry , the same holds true for the posing rounds which is exactly why Dorian always won with straight firsts. It's the guy who meets ALL of the criteria the best should be awarded the title
and people have been crying that Paris represented what bodybuilding should be or used to be and Haney shouldn't have been Mr Olympia , replace Paris with Labrada , Ray with Yates , Kevin with Ronnie , so technically the IFBB is adhering to it's own rules it's the physiques who are changing the game .
I would have had no problems with Flex Wheeler beating Dorian in 1993 from a personal preference standpoint but I know according to the criteria Yates was the better man
