In his first few years, yes, I would agree with you.
After that, they should have awarded it to someone who wasn't screwing up his physique with each passing year.
The standards that the industry have become used to are pretty low.
If a physique is getting worse, you shouldn't have to be badgered into believing that it is still somehow 'better' than another guy's.
Totally agree. You shouldn't have to totally outclass Mr O to win, now you have all these guys getting screwed because "you have to knock out the champ".
Why isn't it enough to win by score
And a retiring Mr Olympia always gets gifts and pity placings screwing more guys out of placings.
The commentary last night was a prime example of this mentality. They already had phil winning before they saw him basically. Imagine if they ever get to be judges in the future. You think they would let anyone beside Phil win tonight? Even if he is noticably worse? Not a chance.
And these judges, I bet, are pretty much the same people each year and reinforces this notion too. But I don't really know because you never see these judges.