My Interview with Phil Heath 7 weeks out

[Grape Ape]

that's not 'gamesmanship'.  that's cheating.

If standing in front of a line by a foot is enough to change a judges opinion and win a contest, the pro bodybuilding is even more of a joke than I thought.

I'm sure it didn't matter, though.

[Yamcha]

If standing in front of a line by a foot is enough to change a judges opinion and win a contest, the pro bodybuilding is even more of a joke than I thought.

I'm sure it didn't matter, though.

Nope. The dicks were sucked wayyy in advance.

[SF1900]

I'm sure he did have detractors but you're right he didn't focus on it

Honestly he should look to Haney as a mentor and model for how to conduct yourself as a true professional. He should probably spend time with him and look to him as an influence if he wants to take it to the next level.

Phil can look toward ANY Mr. O for advice. Ronnie, Jay, Dorian, never acted like he does. One can say that Haney wasn't really in the era of social media. But Ronnie and Jay definitely were. They hardly ever acted like sensitive Philly. Then again, they didn't have haters for a reason.

[SF1900]

If standing in front of a line by a foot is enough to change a judges opinion and win a contest, the pro bodybuilding is even more of a joke than I thought.

I'm sure it didn't matter, though.

Not the point. It most likely didn't matter. However, cheating is not acceptable because he would have won anyway. Everyone else is on the line, so Phil needs to be on the line too. Can you find a picture of any other Mr. O who was standing that much in front of the line?   

Phil talks about honor, respect, being an inspiration to kids, etc. Not much of any of that when youre not playing by the rules.

[Grape Ape]

Not the point. It most likely didn't matter. However, cheating is not acceptable because he would have won anyway. Everyone else is on the line, so Phil needs to be on the line too. Can you find a picture of any other Mr. O who was standing that much in front of the line?   

Phil talks about honor, respect, being an inspiration to kids, etc. Not much of any of that when youre not playing by the rules.

Was he there the whole judging?  If so, why didn't the dumbasses make him move?

[SF1900]

Was he there the whole judging?  If so, why didn't the dumbasses make him move?

I don't know if he was there the whole judging, but there are plenty of him in different poses where he is standing in front of the line. Hell, even when it was only him and Kai posing, he was standing in front of the line and Kai was behind it.

The last picture especially shows it

[Grape Ape]

I don't know if he was there the whole judging, but there are plenty of him in different poses where he is standing in front of the line. Hell, even when it was only him and Kai posing, he was standing in front of the line and Kai was behind it.

Nobody likely said anything then because it's not a big deal.

[SF1900]

Nobody likely said anything then because it's not a big deal.

lol at thinking that it wasn't a big deal because no one said anything. Again, just because no one says its wrong, it doesn't mean its right.

Or nobody most likely said anything because its Phil.  

[Azure]

Phil can look toward ANY Mr. O for advice. Ronnie, Jay, Dorian, never acted like he does. One can say that Haney wasn't really in the era of social media. But Ronnie and Jay definitely were. They hardly ever acted like sensitive Philly. Then again, they didn't have haters for a reason.

Every champion has haters.  That's just a fact of life but the great ones don't spend their energy responding to it.

I say Haney because Haney did other things outside of bodybuilding.  Jay and Ronnie seem to stay pretty close to home with their ventures.  Listen, I believe Phil has the goods to do more than the both of the, outside of bodybuilding.  He's handsome, charismatic, and can be charming at times but at the rate he is going he will self destruct because of insecurity.

Haney is a pretty grounded guy and most importantly is winning at life as well.  That is someone you want to talk to and follow their example.

[SF1900]

Every champion has haters.  That's just a fact of life but the great ones don't spend their energy responding to it.

I say Haney because Haney did other things outside of bodybuilding.  Jay and Ronnie seem to stay pretty close to home with their ventures.  Listen, I believe Phil has the goods to do more than the both of the, outside of bodybuilding.  He's handsome, charismatic, and can be charming at times but at the rate he is going he will self destruct because of insecurity.

Haney is a pretty grounded guy and most importantly is winning at life as well.  That is someone you want to talk to and follow their example.

Jay is probably more successful than all of them, given his investment in real estate. If you want to equate money with success.

But Haney seems to be more of a "family" man.

[Grape Ape]

lol at thinking that it wasn't a big deal because no one said anything. Again, just because no one says its wrong, it doesn't mean its right.

Or nobody most likely said anything because its Phil.  

If any of the competitors thought it was hurting there chances, they would have spoken up.

I don't this is as big of deal as this forum makes it out to be.

[Yamcha]

Listen, I believe Phil has the goods to do more than the both of the, outside of bodybuilding.  He's handsome, charismatic, and can be charming at times

He looks diabetic; maybe he can star in diabetes commercials

[SF1900]

If any of the competitors thought it was hurting there chances, they would have spoken up.

I don't this is as big of deal as this forum makes it out to be.

It depends how you define your moral compass. Some people absolutely despise any form of cheating.

Also, I dont think competitors would have complained in fear of calling out the judges and possibly being negatively evaluated by them. We all know how bodybuilding works.

[Grape Ape]

We all know how bodybuilding works.

Exactly why it's no big deal.

[SF1900]

Exactly why it's no big deal.

As I stated for the 100th time, even if Phil was slated to win because thats how bodybuilding works, it still doesn't make it right.

Again, its how strictly you define your moral compass. Although it didn't make a difference, I, for one still think its wrong and shows how Phil is. No other competitors have done that. It speaks volumes of him.

We will just have to agree to disagree.

[Azure]

Jay is probably more successful than all of them, given his investment in real estate. If you want to equate money with success.

But Haney seems to be more of a "family" man.

Phil can take it mainstream not with fitness/bodybuilding but other ventures. He doesn't have to shill supplements and stuff. He can do way more than that if he doesn't self destruct

[Grape Ape]

As I stated for the 100th time, even if Phil was slated to win because thats how bodybuilding works, it still doesn't make it right.

Again, its how strictly you define your moral compass. Although it didn't make a difference, I, for one still think its wrong and shows how Phil is. No other competitors have done that. It speaks volumes of him.

We will just have to agree to disagree.

My view it's professional bodybuilding and completely stupid anyway, so I couldn't care less.

In fact, I've ignored it every single time it's been posted, but now that the picture is in second place to funk51's gold weights, I guess I thought I'd chime in.

In other events, if someone was blatantly cheating and the competitors noticed, they'd call it out if they thought it affected them.  I'm guessing the other competitor didn't because it didn't matter.

I get your angle on how it reflects on heath.  I just think it reflects that way on you, but likely not on his competitors.

[SF1900]

My view it's professional bodybuilding and completely stupid anyway, so I couldn't care less.

Well, I am not losing sleep it over lol. I am just stating an observable fact--he is standing in front of the line. How you define his behavior will depend on the person. Personally, I think its shitty that he's standing over the line. But I am not losing sleep over it, either.

In other events, if someone was blatantly cheating and the competitors noticed, they'd call it out if they thought it affected them.  I'm guessing the other competitor didn't because it didn't matter.

Again, I am not too sure how many competitors would call Phil out to to the judges. Its impossible to know what the competitors were thinking or feeling. Perhaps they did mention something to the judges after prejudging. I doubt they would have done it while on stage.

Again, agree to disagree.

[Grape Ape]

Again, I am not too sure how many competitors would call Phil out to to the judges. Its impossible to know what the competitors were thinking or feeling. Perhaps they did mention something to the judges after prejudging. I doubt they would have done it while on stage.

Yes - agree to disagree.

But to the point above - I could easily imagine a scenario where a bodybuilder points to the line or something....doesn't seem far fetched.  These guys jockey for position and do all kinds of dumb stuff....so I could see it happening.  Don't you think so?

[mr.turbo]

it's not a competition that is self policing like tennis, the competitors are focused on their own presentation not the marks on the floor. If I recall correctly this is the one where kai got into phils face on stage...hmm...My feeling is, it's something the "athletes rep" should take up  (hahahaha ya right)   we all know what happens to the individuals who complain in bodybuilding.

My opinion is the winner/cheater should be disqualified.

[Azure]

it's not a competition that is self policing like tennis, the competitors are focused on their own presentation not the marks on the floor. If I recall correctly this is the one where kai got into phils face on stage...hmm...My feeling is, it's something the "athletes rep" should take up  (hahahaha ya right)   we all know what happens to the individuals who complain in bodybuilding.

My opinion is the winner/cheater should be disqualified.

I thought that part was funny. Kai wouldn't be dumb enough to kick Phil's ass back to Brooklyn but it was still funny to see the threat of it. Certainly livened up what would have been a boring show. I don't think it was a big deal. Arnold used those types of little tricks and such for a competitive edge

[Grape Ape]

My opinion is the winner/cheater should be disqualified.

What do the IFBB rules state on this matter?

But lol - taking copious amounts of illegal drugs = ok
Standing a foot in front of a line on stage = DQ

[SF1900]

Yes - agree to disagree.

But to the point above - I could easily imagine a scenario where a bodybuilder points to the line or something....doesn't seem far fetched.  These guys jockey for position and do all kinds of dumb stuff....so I could see it happening.  Don't you think so?

Actually, it doesn't seem too far fetched at all. Do you actually think NO other competitor saw him and wasn't thinking to himself, "What the hell is Phil doing?" Do you really think not ONE competitor was thinking this? Really? I bet some saw and were rolling their eyes and/or not pleased with it. I am sure quite a few guys saw this. And I do not think any of them would have the balls to point this out on stage, maybe except Kai. I think if anything was said, it was said behind closed doors.

Just my opinion. You obviously think differently.

[Grape Ape]

Actually, it doesn't seem too far fetched at all. Do you actually think NO other competitor saw him and wasn't thinking to himself, "What the hell is Phil doing?" Do you really think not ONE competitor was thinking this? Really? I bet some saw and were rolling their eyes and/or not pleased with it. I am sure quite a few guys saw this. And I do not think any of them would have the balls to point this out on stage, maybe except Kai. I think if anything was said, it was said behind closed doors.

Just my opinion. You obviously think differently.

Yeah - if it truly mattered, I would think someone would speak up.  That's why I think nobody cared.

[mr.turbo]

What do the IFBB rules state on this matter?

But lol - taking copious amounts of illegal drugs = ok
Standing a foot in front of a line on stage = DQ

the "rules" comprise a grand total of ten pages  

here's the relevant section:

Article 10 – Assessing of the Elimination Round, Round 1 and Round 2
10.1 General:
[...]
A detailed assessment of the various muscle groups should be made during the
comparisons, at which time it helps the judge to compare muscle shape, density, and
definition while still bearing in mind the competitor’s overall balanced development. The
comparisons of the Mandatory Poses cannot be overemphasized as these comparisons
will help the judge to decide which competitor has the superior physique from the
standpoint of muscular bulk, balanced development, muscular density and definition.

http://www.ifbb.com/ifbbcomold/wp-content/uploads/Mens_Bodybuilding_Rules_2014.pdf

standing forward would add bulk comparatively which is even more important for a guy who is 25lbs lighter than the other guys. The rules indicate the comparisons "cannot be overemphasized" for scoring. Don't see anything about penalties.