Is pro bodybuilding on life support?

[King Shizzo]

Bodybuilding has always been a niche following to begin with, but with Kai seemingly M.I.A., an uncharismatic reigning champion, and a thin talent pool in the pro ranks, have we seen the final nail in the coffin?

Will there even be a Mr. Olympia contest (as we know it now) in 5 years?

Will the Arnold overtake the Olympia as bodybuilding's premier contest?

[Waller]

What's your opinion?

[King Shizzo]

What's your opinion?

I believe it has. Obviously the majority of the people in bodybuilding feel that the physiques have spiraled out of control in the past 15-20 years, but I believe the quality and the likeability of your average pro has gone way down as well.

You will never again see the characters and physiques that the 70's-90's bodybuilders had. Maybe social media is partly to blame for oversaturating bodybuilder's to nauseating levels.

Look at this years Olympia lineup. It has to be the worst in the IFBB's history.

[The Ugly]

Bodybuilding has always been a niche following to begin with, but with Kai seemingly M.I.A., an uncharismatic reigning champion, and a thin talent pool in the pro ranks, have we seen the final nail in the coffin?

Will there even be a Mr. Olympia contest (as we know it now) in 5 years?

Will the Arnold overtake the Olympia as bodybuilding's premier contest?

As opposed to all the charisma we got from previous champs? Not that I disagree with your premise.

[Waller]

If the open ranks do truly die, there will be a new crop of bodybuilders in a few years. If the judges changed their actions it can be built up again.

I can't see the Olympia going anywhere with the popularity of MPD, womens divisions and this new classic class.

I believe the Arnold is already the show to look forward to in some people's eyes. I actually enjoy the amateur Arnold more than the recent O's.

[King Shizzo]

Look at this competitors list for the 2015 Olympia.  Minus a handful of guys (being generous) do you see a lineup of pros that peak your interest?

Now go back 20 years to the 1995 Olympia, and look at the difference.


2015 Mr. Olympia (qualified competitors)

1. Fouad Abiad (Canada)
2. Mohamad Ali Bannout (Lebanon)
3. William Bonac (Netherlands)
4. Maxx Charles (USA)
5. Justin Compton (USA)
6. Brandon Curry (USA)
7. Jonathan Delarosa (USA)
8. Mamdouh Elssbiay (Egypt)
9. Kai Greene (USA)
10. Phil Heath (USA)
11. Dexter Jackson (USA)
12. Johnny Jackson (USA)
13. Abdelaziz Jellali (Morocco)
14. Steve Kuclo (USA)
15. Michael Lockett (USA)
16. Victor Martinez (Domincan Republic)
17. Dallas McCarver (USA)
18. Cedric McMillan (USA)
19. Juan Morel (USA)
20. Essa Obaid (UEA)
21. Robert Piotrkoqicz (Poland)
22. Shawn Rhoden (USA)
23. Ronny Rockel (Germany)
24. Brad Rowe (USA)
25. Fred Smalls (USA)
26. Branch Warren (USA)
27. Roelly Winklaar (Curacao)
28. Dennis Wolf (Germany)

[Henda]

When a bloke who fucks fresh produce and let's men darkies suck his cock under a towel refuses to compete in your competition I think it's time to call it quits.
Garbage

[Waller]

When a bloke who fucks fresh produce and let's men darkies suck his cock under a towel refuses to compete in your competition I think it's time to call it quits.
Garbage

Hahahaha, fair point.

[Yamcha]

It all comes down to the judges. They let it get out of hand by rewarding the likes of Jay Cutler, Branch Warren, etc.

There was no need for a new "Classic" bodybuilding grouping, the judges should have never strayed from the original judging criteria. It's bad when the Teenage Mutant Hebrew Turtle, Dexter, is consider aesthetic on the Olympia stage...

[mr.turbo]

what do you suggest as a remedy to the situation?

[King Shizzo]

As opposed to all the charisma we got from previous champs? Not that I disagree with your premise.

I am not saying that all of our past Olympians were on the level of Arnold in terms of recognition and likeability, but it seems that most people could care less about Phil Heath.

Many non Olympians of yesteryear were far more popular and interesting, then today's crop of pros. But I don't want to make this about Phil Heath, as much as to use him as an example to prove the lack of interest in the current state of bodybuilding.

People actually wanted to see the results of contests that Arnold, Haney, Yates, and Coleman competed in.

The top 10-15 in the Olympia used to always contain great pros with fantastic physiques, that actually battled it out for positioning.

Now it seems like it is a show of attrition, with the winner being labeled "The guy who looks the least like shit."

[El Diablo Blanco]

It died when Cutler won in 07 over Martinez or when Branch gets anything better than last place.

[Uncle Joon]

Bodybuilding has always been a niche following to begin with, but with Kai seemingly M.I.A., an uncharismatic reigning champion, and a thin talent pool in the pro ranks, have we seen the final nail in the coffin?

Will there even be a Mr. Olympia contest (as we know it now) in 5 years?

Will the Arnold overtake the Olympia as bodybuilding's premier contest?

You have to distinguish between bodybuilding competitions at the very top and their business model
And bodybuilding/working out in general for the masses.

Bodybuilding competitions at the top level are going through a massive re-adjustment period due to the decline of print publication in general being swamped and replaced by the internet and social media.
But bodybuilding for the masses, gym memberships and the rise in the obesity epidemic (which unfortunately you suffer from) means more people are actually working out than ever and there are big gaps in the market to be filled with new and innovative products.

Online bodybuilding competitions and seminars and subscription sites are the way forward and need to appeal to the general masses like the physique competitors do.

Bodybuilding will never die, it will just get replaced by something better or that people want.
Needs someone like myself with clear business head and vision and direction to sort it out.

But I can't be bothered

[bigmc]

phil heath has a better personality than

coleman or yates or cutler

I love the way he says fuck you to the haterz

[King Shizzo]

what do you suggest as a remedy to the situation?

I'm not sure there is one.

At the very least, there needs to be a dramatic change in the judging criteria. Mass should only be rewarded if the bodybuilder shows great aesthetics, symmetry, and is properly conditioned.

Someone like Branch Warren should not be placing top 5 (probably not even top 10) in any IFBB contest.

Maybe Arnold should start putting the squeeze on the IFBB. Hire his own judges for the Arnold, jack up the prize money (he can afford it) and make the Olympia contest an afterthought in comparison.

[The Ugly]

I am not saying that all of our past Olympians were on the level of Arnold in terms of recognition and likeability, but it seems that most people could care less about Phil Heath.

Many non Olympians of yesteryear were far more popular and interesting, then today's crop of pros. But I don't want to make this about Phil Heath, as much as to use him as an example to prove the lack of interest in the current state of bodybuilding.

People actually wanted to see the results of contests that Arnold, Haney, Yates, and Coleman competed in.

The top 10-15 in the Olympia used to always contain great pros with fantastic physiques, that actually battled it out for positioning.

Now it seems like it is a show of attrition, with the winner being labeled "The guy who looks the least like shit."

Haney was closest; no one since, really. Been a quarter century.

[mr.turbo]

I'm not sure there is one.

At the very least, there needs to be a dramatic change in the judging criteria. Mass should only be rewarded if the bodybuilder shows great aesthetics, symmetry, and is properly conditioned.

Someone like Branch Warren should not be placing top 5 (probably not even top 10) in any IFBB contest.

Maybe Arnold should start putting the squeeze on the IFBB. Hire his own judges for the Arnold, jack up the prize money (he can afford it) and make the Olympia contest an afterthought in comparison.

I agree just decapitate the top of the IFBB and bring in some arnold cronies who are somewhat professional.

it's a bunch of clowns running the show right now

period dot

[King Shizzo]

phil heath has a better personality than

coleman or yates or cutler

I love the way he says fuck you to the haterz

This isn't about Phil Heath. He can't help the era he competes in, but he would just be another pro in the golden era of bodybuilding.

The golden era of bodybuilding (in my opinion) 1970-1999

[Uncle Joon]

phil heath has a better personality than

coleman or yates or cutler

I love the way he says fuck you to the haterz

There is no such thing as "better" or "worse"personalities those attributes are all subjective.
There is such a thing as marketing appeal, ratings and hits.

Phil Heath scores very low on all those things because he is boring in comparison to guys like Arnold and Lou or Hulk Hogan or the Ultimate Warrior.

Its like the Joon account love or hate me I am a ratings sensation and pull in the crowd.
Whenever I post my threads and post get more replies than anyone else by a long shot.

Why?

Cos I understand marketing and how to play the masses.

[Grape Ape]

Its like the Joon account love or hate me I am a ratings sensation and pull in the crowd.
Whenever I post my threads and post get more replies than anyone else by a long shot.

Why?

Cos I understand marketing and how to play the masses.

Having 75% of the responses telling you they hate you does not equal success.

Epic shizzonian logic.

But, hey, it's your free time.

[Uncle Joon]

Having 75% of the responses telling you they hate you does not equal success.

Epic shizzonian logic.

But, hey, it's your free time.

Yes it does, its the same philosophy Ric Flair used to use when wrestling in the WWF.
70,000 people booing him in the WWF every other event didn't mean they didn't pay for the privilege.
You guys just do it with the keyboard.
Principle holds true either way

[King Shizzo]

I obviously consider Yates and Coleman to be great champions, but they also have to take some of the blame for the decline as well. People looked at them as the gold standard, and just kept upping the ante, and blowing up like balloons.

Its a shame that guys with all-time great physiques like Shawn Ray, were not properly awarded at least a few times.

Shawn Ray type physiques are what the judges need to start rewarding. Even mass monsters like Dillett, had wasp waists compared to most of today's pros.

P.S. a second tier pro of the 90's like Gunter Schlierkamp, would wipe the floor with a supposed top tier Branch Warren.

[The Ugly]

I obviously consider Yates and Coleman to be great champions, but they also have to take some of the blame for the decline as well. People looked at them as the gold standard, and just kept upping the ante, and blowing up like balloons.

Its a shame that guys with all-time great physiques like Shawn Ray, were not properly awarded at least a few times.

Shawn Ray type physiques are what the judges need to start rewarding. Even mass monsters like Dillett, had wasp waists compared to most of today's pros.

P.S. a second tier pro of the 90's like Gunter Schlierkamp, would wipe the floor with a supposed top tier Branch Warren.

It kinda parallels MLB's Mac/Sosa era for me. I was over the moon at the time - totally renewed my interest in both. Hindsight paints a different picture, though.

[King Shizzo]

It kinda parallels baseball's McGwire/Sosa era for me. I was over the moon at the time, totally renewed my interest in both. Hindsight paints a different picture, though.

Its a prime example of why pushing the limits, may get you something that looks valuable, but has the true value of fool's gold.

[The Ugly]

Its a prime example of why pushing the limits, may get you something that looks valuable, but has the true value of fool's gold.

Careful what you wish for?