I have followed Flex for a long time and it seems that Gaspari screwed up by working flex to death. He has complained and even took a year off to just train and grow. Rich requires all of their pros to work every show travel way too much etc..
I think Flex was able to get much more money now that he is on top of his game and would be able to restrict the amount of appearances he has to work each year. It is hard to get a company to change their ways once your under contract. Now Flex can call the shots and not burn himself out.
I like the pro, not the sponsor, because in the end, the chemicals do more for the pro than any protein powder!