? Coming fom a guy who spends so much time on a bodybuilding site??
The Romano Factor--
Showdown!
I recently conducted a telephone interview with a man I have grown to despise over the last year. This man has insulted the sport we love and has personally been the bane of my existence everytime I turn on my computer. He is none other than internet troll and general pain-in-the-ass, "240 or Bust". You see, "240" emailed me with an insulting website he had made, and I returned his effort with a Romano challenge- Put up or shut up! He agreed to do the interview, and although magazine space didn't allow it to be printed, it made the Muscular Development website. Enjoy the showdown!
John Romano: "240 or Bust", I've finally got you on the phone after many months of online rhetoric on your end and magazine retorts on my end. It's nice to finally face you down.
240 or bust: Call me Rob. All my friends do.
John Romano: Okay, 240. First, I want to ask you why you disgrace the sport of bodybuilding so frequently.
240 or bust: Ignore the noises. I'm on the toilet. Talking to you on the cordless, Rommels.
John Romano: Yes. About bodybuilding-
240 or bust: (interrupts) I like the sport. Interesting. (chewing sounds) Dudes with skulls like football helmets and more needle marks than a smack junkie talking about health. It's so ironic. And the chicks with dicks are just so funny. Like a train full of clowns wrecked into a packed daycare center. Tears... but tears of laughter.
John Romano: You are aware that you are doing more harm than good with your silly web pages and moving slideshow pictures, don't you?
240 or bust: I've done my research, Romper Room. My total thread views on GetBig last month were 142,019. Average paid circulation of Muscular Development Philadelphia Magazine fell by nearly 7 percent in the first six months of last year, from 140,024 copies to 131,224 copies, according to the most recent statistics available from the Audit Bureau of Circulations. People read me more than they read you, bro. (drinking sounds)
John Romano: None of that matters, "240". I am a purist. I love this sport. People like me, genetic freaks like Ron Harris, commentators like Gregg Valentino bring respect and dignity to this sport. You bring nothing but bad energy.
240 or bust: (X-Box sounds) Listen man, Harris has implants, Greggers is an obnoxious ex-con with a fecal fetish, and you're a whiny douchebag. I bring more interest to the sport than you do, and it's your full-time job. And aside from that, I have done my homework. Let me ask you a few questions, Romanowski.
John Romano: This oughta be good!
240 or bust: Let's play hardball. Recently, your good friend Craig Titus stated in an interview:
"Romano is no more than a common thief. He committed telemarketing fraud, where he would call unsuspecting people and make false promises over the phone to steal their hard-earned money. This kind of scum targets the elderly, who have a hard time defending themselves; what a man. Who in the hell does he think he is to judge me? This pathetic human being actually had the balls to smear my name. Every time I am asked anything about Romano, I state exactly what I think of him...this is why he is so anti-Titus." 240 or bust: I'm not making this up, Rommy. (clipping toenails) Did you defraud the elderly?
John Romano: This article isn't about me, 240. I don't have to-
240 or bust: Also, isn't it true your contract with MD expires in January of 2006 and your editor, Steve "no legs" Blechman, has big plans to steal away a well-known FLEX ghostwriter to fill your mighty small jockstrap?
John Romano: I will not discuss my finances with you-
240 or bust: Speaking of finances, Romocop, do you think you're hurting your magazine's sales by continually dissing GetBig, a place where many of your readers visit frequently?
John Romano: Listen here, you little shit. When I get this state-ordered ankle bracelet off, I'm driving my ass to Florida and I'm going to beat you to a pulp. You're ruining this sport! You're taking it from a healthy, positive, life-improving activity and making it sound horrible! Your posts-
240 or bust: Sol says you keep trying to get on that internet radio show and they don't want you. Is it true Bob Chick won't return your calls, Roms-over-Raghdad?
John Romano: I don't care about-
240 or bust: Did you share a hotel room with Brad Hollibaugh at last year's Olympia? Big Mouth said you two were drinking late into the night-
John Romano: There is nothing wrong with-
240 or bust: Do you have a small penis, Johnboy? You talk yourself up so much that many believe you are insecure for a good reason. Do you drive a big truck?
John Romano: Yes, I do. Wait, just a damn minute, you-
240 or bust: Johnny, you on the Nubian? You take that silver cock in the ass, boy?
John Romano: I swear to God-
240 or bust: Rombo. They're laughing at you. The same people who read your magazine, read GetBig. They're all laughing at you. Just like in 8th grade when the 6th grade girls pelted you with chalkboard erasers and you peed your pants. Yes. I know about that too. Romano, you have lost. You just can't admit it yet. You're a dinosaur.
John Romano: You son-of-a-
240 or bust: Romples, I gotta go now. I have a burrito in the oven. But I want to thank you for the interview, the meltdown, and the entertainment. Peace.
