It's subjective but I see it clearly. Didn't he come in second place in the Olympia twice and won once? Listening to guys like you people would think he was a second rate guy in bodybuilding. Look at all the Grand Prix's he won in the 80's beating a who's who in bodybuilding. The guy competed from 1966 to to 1994. An amazing time to compete near the top. In the late 70's and early 80's he was ripped and had density that made others looked soft standing by him. I stand by what I said that the average bodybuilding fan was biased toward him. Even Mentzer said he wouldn't have had a problem with Dickerson winning the 1980 Olympia.
Wait there was a bias against him yet he placed second and then won the Mr. Olympia?
I've never heard the term "muscle density" used in describing Dickerson. My point is that I didn't like his physique because I didn't like his physique and it had nothing to do with his sexual preference. Just like I got interested in Mentzer after seeing his physique and knowing nothing about his training philosophy. You attribute motives to others that you simply can't possibly know.
The general public routinely disagrees with the judges. They are the final word in a contest but not the final word in public opinion. Few people believe that Franco should have won in 1981. Few people thought that Gunter shouldn't have placed higher in the 2002 Olympia and the audience booed when he was announced for 5th place. Many thought Nasser was better than a fading Dorian.
People question judges all the time and often they are right. Politics play a huge role in picking a winner.
I made a poll asking to rate Mentzer, Zane, and Dickerson just going by that pic. I'd be surprised if Dickerson is considered the best.
