What's wrong w/ bb'ing IMO

[DHEA-100]

I think bb'ing for numerous reasons peaked around 1986.  Nowadays the whole "if you don't have it - fake it" mentality has taken the sport & fun out of it IMO.  Synthol, implants & Piana derivatives have all but destroyed bb'ing.

[The_Iron_Disciple]

I think bb'ing for numerous reasons peaked around 1986.  Nowadays the whole "if you don't have it - fake it" mentality has taken the sport & fun out of it IMO.  Synthol, implants & Piana derivatives have all but destroyed bb'ing.

1986, huh ? Yeah, I don't think so.

[DHEA-100]

Def around Yates rheign b4 Coleman.  Now no one really gives a shit.  The IFBB is realky hurtin' for $$ due to decreased public interest.

[The_Iron_Disciple]

Def around Yates rheign b4 Coleman.  Now no one really gives a shit.  The IFBB is realky hurtin' for $$ due to decreased public interest.

Do you even remember what the O's lineup had for competitors in the late 90's - early 2000's ? C'mon, man. Your trollin. Those lineups had REAL talent. Not like today.

[Coffeed]

Dropping womens Olympia is not something they did because of the fans, it's probably just because the money isn't there and their only savior is the boatload of bb.com folk who wanna compete in "fitness" and "figure" stuff.

[SaintAnger]

Piano didn't kill bodybuilding.  Bodybuilding killed bodybuilding.

Bodybuilding is the disease.  And he's the cure.

[mr.turbo]

circa 1989 paris no homo

[m8]

It ended near that day.

[Never1AShow]

The Internet actually killed bodybuilding.  For a couple of reasons.  1.  It diffused the information about drugs and spread the word to anyone who spent a week in a gym that all the pros were just walking pharmacies.  2.  It took all of the drama out of it.  No more waiting to see who won contests or waiting to see new pics.  3.  What was once a very rare commodity, pictures of huge muscular physiques, became unbelievably cheap and common place, saturating the market and killing demand through oversupply.  I'm sure there are many many more effects I'm too lazy to think of.

While this coincided with physique deterioration post Ronnie, it was more the cause than the physiques themselves.

[Wiggs]

The Internet actually killed bodybuilding.  For a couple of reasons.  1.  It diffused the information about drugs and spread the word to anyone who spent a week in a gym that all the pros were just walking pharmacies.  2.  It took all of the drama out of it.  No more waiting to see who won contests or waiting to see new pics.  3.  What was once a very rare commodity, pictures of huge muscular physiques, became unbelievably cheap and common place, saturating the market and killing demand through oversupply.  I'm sure there are many many more effects I'm too lazy to think of.

While this coincided with physique deterioration post Ronnie, it was more the cause than the physiques themselves.

Very good post.

[Mr Anabolic]

The Internet actually killed bodybuilding.  For a couple of reasons.  1.  It diffused the information about drugs and spread the word to anyone who spent a week in a gym that all the pros were just walking pharmacies.  2.  It took all of the drama out of it.  No more waiting to see who won contests or waiting to see new pics.  3.  What was once a very rare commodity, pictures of huge muscular physiques, became unbelievably cheap and common place, saturating the market and killing demand through oversupply.  I'm sure there are many many more effects I'm too lazy to think of.

While this coincided with physique deterioration post Ronnie, it was more the cause than the physiques themselves.

Probably has something to do with it, but I think it has a lot to do with public apathy.  Fatties on scooters have become more accepted nowadays.  I see more and more of these pathetic POS's everyday.  Why stress yourself toiling away 5-6 days/wk in a hot gym trying to get/stay in shape when you can eat all you want and ride around in a fattie scooter?  You can also claim disability and get the government to foot 100% of the bill.

[Grape Ape]

The Internet actually killed bodybuilding.  For a couple of reasons.  1.  It diffused the information about drugs and spread the word to anyone who spent a week in a gym that all the pros were just walking pharmacies.  2.  It took all of the drama out of it.  No more waiting to see who won contests or waiting to see new pics.  3.  What was once a very rare commodity, pictures of huge muscular physiques, became unbelievably cheap and common place, saturating the market and killing demand through oversupply.  I'm sure there are many many more effects I'm too lazy to think of.

While this coincided with physique deterioration post Ronnie, it was more the cause than the physiques themselves.

It was not the internet.  Getting more information, photos, exposure, media, etc in every other sport has increased their popularity.

Nothing killed bodybuilding.  It's has, and always will be, a niche.  The general public couldn't give a shit about it.

In addition, a lot of us who were fans in the 90s figured out just how ridiculous and stupid it is at the higher levels.

[Slik]

The Internet actually killed bodybuilding.  For a couple of reasons.  1.  It diffused the information about drugs and spread the word to anyone who spent a week in a gym that all the pros were just walking pharmacies.  2.  It took all of the drama out of it.  No more waiting to see who won contests or waiting to see new pics.  3.  What was once a very rare commodity, pictures of huge muscular physiques, became unbelievably cheap and common place, saturating the market and killing demand through oversupply.  I'm sure there are many many more effects I'm too lazy to think of.

While this coincided with physique deterioration post Ronnie, it was more the cause than the physiques themselves.

makes absolutely no sense. Hurt magazines for sure but then why aren't all other sports dead? Haha. I said "sport".

[SF1900]

The Internet actually killed bodybuilding.  For a couple of reasons.  1.  It diffused the information about drugs and spread the word to anyone who spent a week in a gym that all the pros were just walking pharmacies.  2.  It took all of the drama out of it.  No more waiting to see who won contests or waiting to see new pics.  3.  What was once a very rare commodity, pictures of huge muscular physiques, became unbelievably cheap and common place, saturating the market and killing demand through oversupply.  I'm sure there are many many more effects I'm too lazy to think of.

While this coincided with physique deterioration post Ronnie, it was more the cause than the physiques themselves.

That's not bad for the schmoes.

[DHEA-100]

Very good post.

Agreed.

[mr.turbo]

It was not the internet.  Getting more information, photos, exposure, media, etc in every other sport has increased their popularity.

Nothing killed bodybuilding.  It's has, and always will be, a niche.  The general public couldn't give a shit about it.

In addition, a lot of us who were fans in the 90s figured out just how ridiculous and stupid it is at the higher levels.

^^ what he said

my feeling is that it's been about the same since forever where you have this so called "sport" sitting in some nether region between a beauty pageant, pro wrestling or an actual legitimate competition.

Personally I'm a little confounded when I try to describe what we are witnessing with regard to "pro bodybuilding". I'll have to look into this matter and report back on my findings, assuming anyone cares...

[Never1AShow]

It was not the internet.  Getting more information, photos, exposure, media, etc in every other sport has increased their popularity.

Nothing killed bodybuilding.  It's has, and always will be, a niche.  The general public couldn't give a shit about it.

In addition, a lot of us who were fans in the 90s figured out just how ridiculous and stupid it is at the higher levels.

All those other sports are games and things you actually do.  Bodybuilding and its allure is because it is a visual medium along the lines of porn.  The "product" is the visual depiction of raw huge muscle.  Remember as a kid looking at those pictures and just getting that "holy fuck" reaction.  Then staring at the pics over and over thinking maybe someday you could get something close.  Now we know that cannot happen, for a variety of reasons all of which are common knowledge due to the Internet.  When I first saw those grainy pictures of Dorian in Flex magazine back in the early 90s, christ it was hypnotizing.  Or pics of Bertil Fox back in the early 80s.

Compare this to now.  For example that recent picture someone posted of Kai. I looked at it and said holy shit he's effin huge there.  But such pics are so easily obtainable and common place now that after a couple of minutes I'm like, meh.  Same with Roelly pic from a day or so back.

I still hope there is going to come some kind of technological advance that might spark a little more interest possibly.  Something like the lipstick camera did in poker to let you see the hole cards.  That made it much more interesting to watch because you could follow the action.  I'm probably dreaming though.

[Royalty]

I think also; that there has been a net reduction in the amount of "talent" (genetics) at the top of the sport.


I think that most getbig members would agree that Haney, Yates, Coleman were better than both and Cutler & Heath.

And the top national contests were more talent-filled in the 80's and 90's

[Nails]

[Royalty]

^^ what he said

my feeling is that it's been about the same since forever where you have this so called "sport" sitting in some nether region between a beauty pageant, pro wrestling or an actual legitimate competition.

Personally I'm a little confounded when I try to describe what we are witnessing with regard to "pro bodybuilding". I'll have to look into this matter and report back on my findings, assuming anyone cares...

Vanity, at the expense of health & wellness

[Uncle Joon]

The Internet actually killed bodybuilding.  For a couple of reasons.  1.  It diffused the information about drugs and spread the word to anyone who spent a week in a gym that all the pros were just walking pharmacies.  2.  It took all of the drama out of it.  No more waiting to see who won contests or waiting to see new pics.  3.  What was once a very rare commodity, pictures of huge muscular physiques, became unbelievably cheap and common place, saturating the market and killing demand through oversupply.  I'm sure there are many many more effects I'm too lazy to think of.

While this coincided with physique deterioration post Ronnie, it was more the cause than the physiques themselves.

spot on
not to mention complete lack of characters these days.
Internet did really kill bodybuilding....BUT here is the irony
The Internet is the ONLY thing that can save bodybuilding
Got ideas but can't be bothered to explain it right now ask me tomorrow

[Nether Animal]

BB peaked in the early '90s when Rory attempted his comeback. First pic is the best BB shot ever IMO.. too bad he couldn't bring it to the stage. Amazing physique for someone his height. Rory is an inspiration!

Fuck Kai's fetish-laden gorilla antics. What's next, is he going to fling feces at the audience? All in the name of art right..

[Grape Ape]

All those other sports are games and things you actually do.  Bodybuilding and its allure is because it is a visual medium along the lines of porn.  The "product" is the visual depiction of raw huge muscle.  Remember as a kid looking at those pictures and just getting that "holy fuck" reaction.  Then staring at the pics over and over thinking maybe someday you could get something close.  Now we know that cannot happen, for a variety of reasons all of which are common knowledge due to the Internet.  When I first saw those grainy pictures of Dorian in Flex magazine back in the early 90s, christ it was hypnotizing.  Or pics of Bertil Fox back in the early 80s.

Compare this to now.  For example that recent picture someone posted of Kai. I looked at it and said holy shit he's effin huge there.  But such pics are so easily obtainable and common place now that after a couple of minutes I'm like, meh.  Same with Roelly pic from a day or so back.

I still hope there is going to come some kind of technological advance that might spark a little more interest possibly.  Something like the lipstick camera did in poker to let you see the hole cards.  That made it much more interesting to watch because you could follow the action.  I'm probably dreaming though.

It's a niche and you just described it as such.

Who cares if there's more interest anyway?  It's a pretty ridiculous event if you think about it - all competitors likely need to break the law, they take copious amounts of unhealthy substances, the judging is likely corrupt, and the "best" at it are the best mostly because they were just born with the genetics to meet the criteria.  Add in the thongs, the oil and everything else and it's even more ridiculous.

[SF1900]

It's a niche and you just described it as such.

Who cares if there's more interest anyway?  It's a pretty ridiculous event if you think about it - all competitors likely need to break the law, they take copious amounts of unhealthy substances, the judging is likely corrupt, and the "best" at it are the best mostly because they were just born with the genetics to meet the criteria.  Add in the thongs, the oil and everything else and it's even more ridiculous.

You speak so eloquently about bodybuilding.

[Van_Bilderass]

Who cares if there's more interest anyway? 

Yeah, who cares if bb is dead, dying or was never alive in the first place. Like you said, it's a niche and was always a niche. The past several decades bodybuilders bodybuilded because hardcore bodybuilding was a relatively rare thing, a way to be abnormal, a freak etc... that's part of the allure.
Bodybuilding isn't about money or throphies even for the pros, it's a largely a fetish.