Tom Platz should have won the 1981 Mr. O.

[Griffith]

Platz's legs overpowered his upper body.

Was bodybuilding not more about balance and aesthetics in those days?

[dj181]

Platz's legs overpowered his upper body.

Was bodybuilding not more about balance and aesthetics in those days?

when Zane won yes it was

when Arnold won, not exactly

Arnold was all pecs and bis, and pretty good back to, but his shoulders kinda sucked and bis way overpowered his tris, his wheels were ideal imho, I fucking hate these huge Godzilla quads these turds have nowadays

[Nether Animal]

Platz's legs overpowered his upper body.

Was bodybuilding not more about balance and aesthetics in those days?

wish my upper body was that overpower-able

[Tha Grim Lifter]

^^
Rick Wayne, the bodybuilding writer (and title winner) wrote on the 1981 Mr. Olympia saying Joe Weider actually LEFT the arena after hearing the boos when Franco won!!!

I have that book cost a little bit but I bought it recently off abe books.

Rick Wayne sucks Weider's dick all through the book. He also bags out Arnold a lot and contributed a lot to Wendy Leigh's Arnolds unauthorized biography because he was very jealous of Arnold. He said a lot of things to make Joe Weider look good in that book.

It's a good read and the chapter on this contest was great but lets not muck around, Ricky Wayne worked for Weider for many years and was around when Arnold coming up the same time he was.

[pellius]

Arthur Jones said that spanko had a mr. Potatoe Head body

huge ass torso with stick arms and legs

Danny should've won it

Jones said that when he first met Franco in 1970. Franco, like Arnold, made big improvements during the next few years. In fact, Jones takes some credit for Franco improving his arms.

Then we measured his arms again, "pumped." And I could hardly believe the results indicated by the tape; his arms were pumped a full one and five sixteenths, inches (15/16"), by far the greatest degree of pump that I had ever measured.

Several hours later, near midnight, Franco called me from the motel where he was staying, ". . . Arthur, bring the tape, my arms are still over 18.

I didn't go, but it took me half an hour to talk him out of it.

The following day, the "cold" measurement of his arms was three eighths of an inch ( 3/8 ") larger than it had been twenty four hours earlier. Still pumped? Actual growth? Simply swollen? I don't know, but they were certainly larger than they had been.

You simply wouldn't believe it, but Franco doesn't look quite so much like a potato with toothpicks for arms any longer either. And in any case, we are shipping him an arm machine this week. Scratch one arm problem. 

[pellius]

Padilla in 81 was pure perfection. Everything in it's place. Nothing more to be done imo for the perfect physique. Platz had much more of a "wow" factor. Big improvements to his upper body -- especially his back.

It was a coin toss between those two and simply a matter of personal, very subjective, preference.

The gyno and quads should have put Franco in 5th.

[Nether Animal]

Padilla in 81 was pure perfection. Everything in it's place. Nothing more to be done imo for the perfect physique.

Too short to be perfection. But yes he should have won.

[Natural_O]

Padilla in 81 was pure perfection. Everything in it's place. Nothing more to be done imo for the perfect physique. Platz had much more of a "wow" factor. Big improvements to his upper body -- especially his back.

It was a coin toss between those two and simply a matter of personal, very subjective, preference.

The gyno and quads should have put Franco in 5th.

Danny looks like the winner in pictures but in person at the show, he was a little small and I had him in 3rd behind Platz and Callendar. Roy was awesome, very thick and this was the most ripped he ever was. He was also very animated and aggressive onstage while Danny seemed a little laid back, probably because he was so dieted down and depleted. Platz was amazing! Super thick, ripped and very confident and charismatic. He knew he did his homework and he radiated confidence onstage. The audience picked up on it too and he was definitely the crowd favorite to win. I think everyone knew the top three were Platz, Callendar and Padilla. Dickerson was good but he looked much better the year before. Franco was also very aggressive but his posing routine didn't work (he posed to some Italian opera song) and his lack of muscle separation in his quads killed him. There was one mandatory comparison at the prejudging with Franco, Platz and Padilla. Platz was in the middle next to Franco. The last pose they called for was the overhead ab and thigh pose. Franco hit his abs, which looked razor sharp and he was twisting his leg this way and that way, trying to get any separation to come out. The crowd was going crazy waiting for Platz to hit his leg pose. He waited and milked it and he had this smirk on his face. Finally, he put his leg forward and flexed and it exploded into striations and cuts. His one thigh looked bigger than both of Franco's together. The crowd went crazy and that was the contest right there. To think that Franco would beat both Platz and Padilla later that night was inconceivable.

[Chidoman]

Danny looks like the winner in pictures but in person at the show, he was a little small and I had him in 3rd behind Platz and Callendar. Roy was awesome, very thick and this was the most ripped he ever was. He was also very animated and aggressive onstage while Danny seemed a little laid back, probably because he was so dieted down and depleted. Platz was amazing! Super thick, ripped and very confident and charismatic. He knew he did his homework and he radiated confidence onstage. The audience picked up on it too and he was definitely the crowd favorite to win. I think everyone knew the top three were Platz, Callendar and Padilla. Dickerson was good but he looked much better the year before. Franco was also very aggressive but his posing routine didn't work (he posed to some Italian opera song) and his lack of muscle separation in his quads killed him. There was one mandatory comparison at the prejudging with Franco, Platz and Padilla. Platz was in the middle next to Franco. The last pose they called for was the overhead ab and thigh pose. Franco hit his abs, which looked razor sharp and he was twisting his leg this way and that way, trying to get any separation to come out. The crowd was going crazy waiting for Platz to hit his leg pose. He waited and milked it and he had this smirk on his face. Finally, he put his leg forward and flexed and it exploded into striations and cuts. His one thigh looked bigger than both of Franco's together. The crowd went crazy and that was the contest right there. To think that Franco would beat both Platz and Padilla later that night was inconceivable.

Wow!!...That's One Report not even conceivable in the Best Mags I Read Back then....Thanks for This Up Close and Personal Point of View of That Awful result of that rigged contest....

[pellius]

Danny looks like the winner in pictures but in person at the show, he was a little small and I had him in 3rd behind Platz and Callendar. Roy was awesome, very thick and this was the most ripped he ever was. He was also very animated and aggressive onstage while Danny seemed a little laid back, probably because he was so dieted down and depleted. Platz was amazing! Super thick, ripped and very confident and charismatic. He knew he did his homework and he radiated confidence onstage. The audience picked up on it too and he was definitely the crowd favorite to win. I think everyone knew the top three were Platz, Callendar and Padilla. Dickerson was good but he looked much better the year before. Franco was also very aggressive but his posing routine didn't work (he posed to some Italian opera song) and his lack of muscle separation in his quads killed him. There was one mandatory comparison at the prejudging with Franco, Platz and Padilla. Platz was in the middle next to Franco. The last pose they called for was the overhead ab and thigh pose. Franco hit his abs, which looked razor sharp and he was twisting his leg this way and that way, trying to get any separation to come out. The crowd was going crazy waiting for Platz to hit his leg pose. He waited and milked it and he had this smirk on his face. Finally, he put his leg forward and flexed and it exploded into striations and cuts. His one thigh looked bigger than both of Franco's together. The crowd went crazy and that was the contest right there. To think that Franco would beat both Platz and Padilla later that night was inconceivable.

I gave the edge to Platz. He was just so overwhelming. Being a Mentzer fan I was disillusioned when Arnold won in 1980. After 1981 I stopped following bbing completely. I got to witness Platz training and what he put himself through to be at his very best was just awe inspiring. To sacrifice so much, and though we make fun of bbers you really have to suffer to get in contest shape and Platz came from an era where training really mattered, and to get your life time dream crushed due to politics just made the whole sport a joke.

I got back into it around 2001 after watching Coleman's "Unbelievable" at a friends house and saw how much has change. Plus there was the internet and everything was more available. Back in those days we just had the muscle mags.

It's still corrupt, even more so, but I still keep up primarily because of this board.

[pellius]

Too short to be perfection. But yes he should have won.

True, but I was talking about proportions. Danny doesn't look short when photograph alone. Guys like Branch does.

BTW, people like to bash on Franco because it seems like most today associate him with '81. Fact is, Franco was a tremendous bber in his prime. He was just as determined, driven and disciplined as Arnold. He just didn't have the genetic gifts Arnold had.

In his day no one matched his muscle density and other than Oliva and Arnold, his upper body muscle mass. I liked his unusual chest development. It really made him stand out. And his arms were not small. His delts were so huge (more developed than Arnold's) along with his chest and back that it made his arms looked small. But I thought he even it out a lot by the time he won in '76. He was always a better bber than Zane during his prime and very much deserved the title in '76. Even being bow legged and having smooth quads.

[Chidoman]

True, but I was talking about proportions. Danny doesn't look short when photograph alone. Guys like Branch does.

BTW, people like to bash on Franco because it seems like most today associate him with '81. Fact is, Franco was a tremendous bber in his prime. He was just as determined, driven and disciplined as Arnold. He just didn't have the genetic gifts Arnold had.

In his day no one matched his muscle density and other than Oliva and Arnold, his upper body muscle mass. I liked his unusual chest development. It really made him stand out. And his arms were not small. His delts were so huge (more developed than Arnold's) along with his chest and back that it made his arms looked small. But I thought he even it out a lot by the time he won in '76. He was always a better bber than Zane during his prime and very much deserved the title in '76. Even being bow legged and having smooth quads.

Thanks For These Words!!...Amazing Up Close Report Unavailable Back Then!!...

[Danimal77]

Platz's legs overpowered his upper body.

Was bodybuilding not more about balance and aesthetics in those days?

Not in 1981/1982. Did you not look at the pics I posted? He really brought up his upper body in 1981.

[Danimal77]

wish my upper body was that overpower-able

Exactly. I'm sick of people just saying Platz upper body was overpowered by his legs. People don't realize how large his upper body had gotten by 1981. He was pretty massive at that point. 1982 as well (even with his bicep tear).

[Danimal77]

Danny looks like the winner in pictures but in person at the show, he was a little small and I had him in 3rd behind Platz and Callendar. Roy was awesome, very thick and this was the most ripped he ever was. He was also very animated and aggressive onstage while Danny seemed a little laid back, probably because he was so dieted down and depleted. Platz was amazing! Super thick, ripped and very confident and charismatic. He knew he did his homework and he radiated confidence onstage. The audience picked up on it too and he was definitely the crowd favorite to win. I think everyone knew the top three were Platz, Callendar and Padilla. Dickerson was good but he looked much better the year before. Franco was also very aggressive but his posing routine didn't work (he posed to some Italian opera song) and his lack of muscle separation in his quads killed him. There was one mandatory comparison at the prejudging with Franco, Platz and Padilla. Platz was in the middle next to Franco. The last pose they called for was the overhead ab and thigh pose. Franco hit his abs, which looked razor sharp and he was twisting his leg this way and that way, trying to get any separation to come out. The crowd was going crazy waiting for Platz to hit his leg pose. He waited and milked it and he had this smirk on his face. Finally, he put his leg forward and flexed and it exploded into striations and cuts. His one thigh looked bigger than both of Franco's together. The crowd went crazy and that was the contest right there. To think that Franco would beat both Platz and Padilla later that night was inconceivable.

Sadly and unfairly so, Franco's destiny was already pre-selected well before the night of the competition. Arnold wanted him to win and he made sure that the powers that be made it happen. It was a travesty, but Arnold had just to much pull with the Weider brothers. Franco should have been in 5th place at best, with Platz in 1st, Danny in 2nd, Roy in 3rd, and Dickerson in 4th.

[Jayel]

Did Mike Katz train hammy's?

[dj181]

Exactly. I'm sick of people just saying Platz upper body was overpowered by his legs. People don't realize how large his upper body had gotten by 1981. He was pretty massive at that point. 1982 as well (even with his bicep tear).

according to mentzer be gained 11 or 12 dry lean pounds of muscle that year and it all went to his upper body

Danny had beautiful aesthetics, almost on par with the King of Aesthetics Mr. Francis Benefatto

[falco]

Platz quads and jaw muscles were so massive, they overpower his upperbody. Still... He deserved the win.

[Dokey111]

True, but I was talking about proportions. Danny doesn't look short when photograph alone. Guys like Branch does.

BTW, people like to bash on Franco because it seems like most today associate him with '81. Fact is, Franco was a tremendous bber in his prime. He was just as determined, driven and disciplined as Arnold. He just didn't have the genetic gifts Arnold had.

In his day no one matched his muscle density and other than Oliva and Arnold, his upper body muscle mass. I liked his unusual chest development. It really made him stand out. And his arms were not small. His delts were so huge (more developed than Arnold's) along with his chest and back that it made his arms looked small. But I thought he even it out a lot by the time he won in '76. He was always a better bber than Zane during his prime and very much deserved the title in '76. Even being bow legged and having smooth quads.

That's true.  In their prime, pound for pound Franco had as much muscle as Arnold.

[rocco-x]

While Danny Padilla was great (should have been 2nd), Tom Platz was the best he'd ever been and would ever be again in 1981. His upper body became quite massive in its own right. I believe he showed up at 218 pounds at just under 5'7" and imo he should have won it that year, with Danny following behind (Danny shockingly placed 5th that year).

Padilla looked outstanding in this pic. Look at the thickness of those arms, total separation, sliced and solid.

[NarcissisticDeity]

 

[NarcissisticDeity]

 

[NarcissisticDeity]

 

[Nether Animal]

THIS SHOT CRAZY,,,

[illuminati]

THIS SHOT CRAZY,,,

Platz for the Win.
Just how Franco & Dickerson 
Makes Zero Sense Were placed ahead of him.
MrO All Time Biggest Fix / Robbery.