What's wrong w/ bb'ing IMO

[Grape Ape]

You speak so eloquently about bodybuilding.

No issues with people doing it as a personal endeavor, and none if people want to gain size and strength (although I think most people would be better off it they concentrated on conditioning more, but that's off topic).

But once you reach the "higher" levels of this stuff, it becomes retarded.

[robcguns]

Piano didn't kill bodybuilding.  Bodybuilding killed bodybuilding.

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

Cobra was a great movie

[chadstallion]

their posing straps are too big.

they should be doing this sport in the nude; like the Greeks did wrestling.

[Tennisballz]

Nothing really killed bodybuilding because it was never big to begin with.  Normal people have no interest in it.  Dudes standing on stage nearly naked and comparing themselves will never be popular.

[cephissus]

everything grape ape said...

but still, i'm sure it used to be somewhat more "popular", back when knowledge about steroids was more sparse.  now, as others have said, everyone knows this endeavor is very unhealthy.

people will always be interested in having a better physique.  now, i think most people look to youtube fitness stars and the like -- probably in greater numbers than ever followed real pro bodybuilders.  even the streamers/bloggers generally peddle shady information.  they push some "system" that has "worked for them", which they may or may not really follow, and hide behind drugs just as regular bbers.

the "problem" is and always has been fundamental to the activity: focusing on what you look like eventually becomes unhealthy.  when you start pursuing a look at the cost of strength, agility, stamina, mobility, etc. you wind up with modern "bodybuilding": a joke.

[mr.turbo]

would someone please define and clarify the interrelationships between the "IFBB", "NPC" and "IFBB Pro league"?

Is the npc and Ifbb, the amateur feeder system that produces pros for the "pro league"? hmmm...

[SF1900]

would someone please define and clarify the interrelationships between the "IFBB", "NPC" and "IFBB Pro league"?

Is the npc and Ifbb, the amateur feeder system that produces pros for the "pro league"? hmmm...

In order to become an IFBB pro, you have to quality at an NPC show. The NPC is like the little brother to the IFBB.

The National Physique Committee (NPC) is the largest amateur bodybuilding organization in the United States. Amateur bodybuilders compete in competitions from local to national competitions sanctioned by the NPC. One amateur organization per country is recognized by the International Federation of BodyBuilders (IFBB), which claims to be bodybuilding's international professional organization and the IFBB recognizes the NPC as its amateur extension for the United States.

[mr.turbo]

In order to become an IFBB pro, you have to quality at an NPC show. The NPC is like the little brother to the IFBB.

The National Physique Committee (NPC) is the largest amateur bodybuilding organization in the United States. Amateur bodybuilders compete in competitions from local to national competitions sanctioned by the NPC. One amateur organization per country is recognized by the International Federation of BodyBuilders (IFBB), which claims to be bodybuilding's international professional organization and the IFBB recognizes the NPC as its amateur extension for the United States.

thanks 

ok so what exactly is the "IFBB pro league"?

[Royalty]

You speak so eloquently about bodybuilding.

LOL

Criminals in thongs

[Radical Plato]

Maybe if BB promoted this as the ideal it would enjoy greater support. (Yes, I know Mike is a fake natty)

[Henda]

I liked bodybuilding and thought it was "cool" and would get the girls when I was young and naive before I got the knternet in, the I learned it was fag shit and something to be deeply ashamed of.
Fags ruined bodybuilding

[Grape Ape]

Maybe if BB promoted this as the ideal it would enjoy greater support.

It wouldn't.

[syntaxmachine]

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.

A dickhole cam to follow the action under the towel?

[Grape Ape]

A dickhole cam to follow the action under the towel?

Dickhole cam FTW.

[MCWAY]

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.

As if some people didn't think bodybuilders were pharmacies before the web. People thought that about Arnold and his crew, too.

The web saved bodybuilding because it gave it media sources that it wouldn't have obtained or actually lost (I.e. ESPN, no more American Muscle).

[Omega]

GH abuse right there.
Made the lot grow weird.

[The Ugly]

Pro bodybuilding is what's wrong with bodybuilding.

[Never1AShow]

Dickhole cam FTW.

Even the dock hole cam would have terrible camera operations just like the crappy camera operators for all the pro shows.  For Christ sake a guy is hitting a front double bi and the focus on his calves.  Shit like that's been going on forever.  And the production values are fucking amateurish.  Guys with bellies and oil towels calling the shots backstage.  It's run like a local garage sale.

[Azure]

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.

All of this.  

When people have to attend the shows because of family and friends, they look horrified and like they can't believe what they are watching.  It's all so ludicrous.  I also think that the competitors add to it by looking as they do.  It's not aspirational nor inspirational.  Even though I have nothing against Kai Greene, I would not want my family to attend a show where he was guest posing because I would be embarrassed.

They don't even try to make the productions interesting or professional.  It's beyond boring and lack of charismatic individuals do not help.

[Coffeed]

It's not aspirational nor inspirational.

I remember, long ago, when it occurred to me that if I could snap my fingers and have a "wish" that I actually wouldn't want to look like a professional top level bodybuilder. I enjoyed watching The Unbelievable and Pumping Iron, but when I looked at the actual physiques I realized it's not even what I would want.

Do that scenario yourself. If you could have the physique of Kai or Phil or whoever top 5... would you? Or would you prefer something like Bob Paris? (For the sake of finding out what "fans" actually want, then presume you don't need to abuse drugs 24/7.)

That's what killed bodybuilding IMO -- When the life of the "idols" are not even desirable.

[Never1AShow]

I remember, long ago, when it occurred to me that if I could snap my fingers and have a "wish" that I actually wouldn't want to look like a professional top level bodybuilder. I enjoyed watching The Unbelievable and Pumping Iron, but when I looked at the actual physiques I realized it's not even what I would want.

Do that scenario yourself. If you could have the physique of Kai or Phil or whoever top 5... would you? Or would you prefer something like Bob Paris? (For the sake of finding out what "fans" actually want, then presume you don't need to abuse drugs 24/7.)

That's what killed bodybuilding IMO -- When the life of the "idols" are not even desirable.

Pretty sure I'd choose Matt Mendenhall.  But I'd pick Phil over Paris.  Paris was too small.  Id pick Bertil Fox over Paris.  Or Samir Bannout or Charles Clairmont.  Paris was never hardcore.

[tom joad]

is Chick still the athletes' rep?

[Radical Plato]

is Chick still the athletes' rep?

[Ronnie Rep]

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..

Rory would have made a great Hercules.

[tom joad]

i'm not implying it's all on Bob, but he's been the athletes' rep during possibly the worst 10 years of bodybuilding.