2020 Olympia - Phil Heath vs. Brandon Curry

[Ron]

So with Phil Heath officially entering the 2020 Olympia, the question will be -

Will Phil Heath take the Sandow back from Brandon Curry?

Does Brandon Curry even have a chance to keep the title?

[Matt]

Phil's only issue was his expanding midsection.  Other than that, he wasn't regressing from the perspective of injury.

Similar to Ronnie when he was the same age in 2004-2005.  It was injuries that later got Ronnie, but as far as I know, Phil has no such injuries, so I think he can do well if he makes it a point to hold his midsection in on stage.

Basically, he has to incorporate midsection control in with his posing routine.  Not to the extent that it dominates his thinking - but just as he would remember to keep his triceps flexed during posing, Phil needs to remember how his stomach looks from the judges' seats.

Lou Ferrigno had a similar problem when he came back to compete in 1993.  In the 1970's, the "Standing Relaxed" pose MEANT TO STAND RELAXED.  By the time Ferrigno returned, that had changed to become to pose standing relaxed, but with your muscles tensed.

In 2004, Ronnie was hopping around with his stomach hanging out, leading me to believe he never realized how it looked.  On the footage from the Olympia, it looked particularly bad to see Ronnie come out, walking across the stage, lifting his hands up and down in the air, with his stomach completely hanging out.  Even though I recall Chad Nicholls stating that he had Ronnie wear a weight belt between sets to get used to holding his stomach in.  Maybe that belt had the opposite effect in practice.

Phil is a nice guy.  I'm a big fan, and he gave me a lot of his time at expos in the past.  I mean no disrespect to him, but as long as he can accept the fact that, well, we all age, and that his stomach has been the only issue [i.e., no injuries], and IF he comes in bang on from a conditioning standpoint [seldom a problem for Phil], he can indeed win again this year.

No issues there.

If he does win...then the question becomes: does he retire in a 3-way tie with Lee Haney and Ronnie Coleman for most Mr. Olympia wins, or does he go for #9?

[Hypertrophy]

It'd be funny if got  4th place. He's kill himself on stage, lol

[titusisback]

So with Phil Heath officially entering the 2020 Olympia, the question will be -

Will Phil Heath take the Sandow back from Brandon Curry?

Does Brandon Curry even have a chance to keep the title?

Don't forget Flex Lewis

[Skeletor]

Ron, any news on Shawn Rhoden? Is he still banned from competing?

[Matt]

Ron, any news on Shawn Rhoden? Is he still banned from competing?

I would guess yes - once again, for not paying his IFBB Pro Card fee. 

But really - that's why he was banned.  It was a good legal maneuver by the IFBB to use the  Pro Card excuse after the fact.  After all, we are at a time where there is pretty significant push-back against the #MeToo movement, and Shawn has extra protection, since he is Black.  Although the N card is losing its clout as an excuse, especially since rioters decided to try to burn the USA to the ground based on a still image of a Minnesota police officer using a legal knee-hold to arrest a man who most likely was already dead from a Fentanyl overdose, where the force being used against this lowlife by the White police officer wasn't even known.

If I had to advise the IFBB on the matter, I would say that there would be a good chance that Rhoden would win a lawsuit against the IFBB if he was acquitted of the rape ex post facto [most likely] but was denied the revenue opportunity due to being banned without just cause.

And that would be costly - Rhoden could argue he is owed the Mr. Olympia winning purse on top of those funds being matched by a sponsor, as several Mr. Olympia winners had that same very deal with sponsors [Phil Heath, Jay Cutler, and Dexter Jackson with MuscleTech, for example].

So what do the super smart lawyers of the IFBB do?  They ban Rhoden on the grounds of not paying his Pro Card fee that year.    LOL!

The IFBB's lawyers remind me of the high IQ Jewish lawyer "Big Gun Joe Adler" played by Richard Simmons in the 2009 movie "Extract":

LOL.

It's pretty easy to ban a bodybuilder from competing at the Mr. Olympia if he hasn't paid his Pro Card dues, and you don't tell him, and imply he is banned because he was being charged with rape.  Rhoden probably thought it would be thousands in legal fees, and still with the possibility of not winning the case.

That was some really good lawyer work from the IFBB. 

Also consider that when Rhoden won the Mr. Olympia in 2017, he beat Chris Dickerson's record for oldest age of a Mr. Olympia competitor.  Both were 43 [Dickerson won in 1982], but Rhoden was a slightly older 43.

That makes Rhoden 46 this year. 

Phil Heath is 40 right now [he will be 41 in December], so I think he has a chance, as long as he is not injured.

[Skeletor]

I would guess yes - once again, for not paying his IFBB Pro Card fee. 

But really - that's why he was banned.  It was a good legal maneuver by the IFBB to use the  Pro Card excuse after the fact.  After all, we are at a time where there is pretty significant push-back against the #MeToo movement, and Shawn has extra protection, since he is Black.  Although the N card is losing its clout as an excuse, especially since rioters decided to try to burn the USA to the ground based on a still image of a Minnesota police officer using a legal knee-hold to arrest a man who most likely was already dead from a Fentanyl overdose, where the force being used against this lowlife by the White police officer wasn't even known.

If I had to advise the IFBB on the matter, I would say that there would be a good chance that Rhoden would win a lawsuit against the IFBB if he was acquitted of the rape ex post facto [most likely] but was denied the revenue opportunity due to being banned without just cause.

And that would be costly - Rhoden could argue he is owed the Mr. Olympia winning purse on top of those funds being matched by a sponsor, as several Mr. Olympia winners had that same very deal with sponsors [Phil Heath, Jay Cutler, and Dexter Jackson with MuscleTech, for example].

So what do the super smart lawyers of the IFBB do?  They ban Rhoden on the grounds of not paying his Pro Card fee that year.    LOL!

The IFBB's lawyers remind me of the high IQ Jewish lawyer "Big Gun Joe Adler" played by Richard Simmons in the 2009 movie "Extract":

LOL.

It's pretty easy to ban a bodybuilder from competing at the Mr. Olympia if he hasn't paid his Pro Card dues, and you don't tell him, and imply he is banned because he was being charged with rape.  Rhoden probably thought it would be thousands in legal fees, and still with the possibility of not winning the case.

That was some really good lawyer work from the IFBB. 

Also consider that when Rhoden won the Mr. Olympia in 2017, he beat Chris Dickerson's record for oldest age of a Mr. Olympia competitor.  Both were 43 [Dickerson won in 1982], but Rhoden was a slightly older 43.

That makes Rhoden 46 this year. 

Phil Heath is 40 right now [he will be 41 in December], so I think he has a chance, as long as he is not injured.

So if he paid the pro card fee this year, he would be allowed to compete?

[affeman]

[Earl1972]

he would've won in 2018 if the show was judged the same as any other show since the early 90's, he beat rhoden in most poses and would've done the same to curry if he brought the same look

for whatever reason they decided then that a gut should be penalized

E

[LurkerNoMore]

I hope he doesn't win.  The "sport" is better off without him.

Then again, the last 3 Mr. O's have been complete lacklusters.   At least Jay, Ronnie and Dorian were engaging and tried to be ambassadors. 

[escrima]

Phil's only issue was his expanding midsection.  Other than that, he wasn't regressing from the perspective of injury.

Similar to Ronnie when he was the same age in 2004-2005.  It was injuries that later got Ronnie, but as far as I know, Phil has no such injuries, so I think he can do well if he makes it a point to hold his midsection in on stage.

Basically, he has to incorporate midsection control in with his posing routine.  Not to the extent that it dominates his thinking - but just as he would remember to keep his triceps flexed during posing, Phil needs to remember how his stomach looks from the judges' seats.

Lou Ferrigno had a similar problem when he came back to compete in 1993.  In the 1970's, the "Standing Relaxed" pose MEANT TO STAND RELAXED.  By the time Ferrigno returned, that had changed to become to pose standing relaxed, but with your muscles tensed.

In 2004, Ronnie was hopping around with his stomach hanging out, leading me to believe he never realized how it looked.  On the footage from the Olympia, it looked particularly bad to see Ronnie come out, walking across the stage, lifting his hands up and down in the air, with his stomach completely hanging out.  Even though I recall Chad Nicholls stating that he had Ronnie wear a weight belt between sets to get used to holding his stomach in.  Maybe that belt had the opposite effect in practice.

Phil is a nice guy.  I'm a big fan, and he gave me a lot of his time at expos in the past.  I mean no disrespect to him, but as long as he can accept the fact that, well, we all age, and that his stomach has been the only issue [i.e., no injuries], and IF he comes in bang on from a conditioning standpoint [seldom a problem for Phil], he can indeed win again this year.

No issues there.

If he does win...then the question becomes: does he retire in a 3-way tie with Lee Haney and Ronnie Coleman for most Mr. Olympia wins, or does he go for #9?

Yup

[JAGO]

I hope he doesn't win.  The "sport" is better off without him.

Then again, the last 3 Mr. O's have been complete lacklusters.   At least Jay, Ronnie and Dorian were engaging and tried to be ambassadors.

I agree with this, he is bad for the sports image. I watch American Ninja Warrior Jr., the kids are AMAZING. At the end of each run, win or lose the kids enthusiastically hug and shake hands . . . Each are genuinely happy to win or to have been pushed to do better.

And we have Phil Heath.

J

[oldschoolfan]

if phil's  conditioning is on, and his alien gut under control he will easily defeat curry, one of the worst olympias of all time, right up there with cutler,  and 81 columbo. and shawn "rapist" rhoden

[Skeletor]

if phil's  conditioning is on, and his alien gut under control he will easily defeat curry, one of the worst olympias of all time, right up there with cutler,  and 81 columbo. and shawn "rapist" rhoden

And Dickerson.

[Darren Avey]

Whoever wins, it will be an awesome battle

[oldschoolfan]

And Dickerson.

great point i forgot about him, 80 arnold as well, that show was rigged

[Taffin]

Shopped

Here's a legit one

[Skeletor]

Shopped

Here's a legit one

Shopped

Here's a legit one

[Taffin]

Shopped

Here's a legit one

Oops - my bad - this is a legit one...

[Earl1972]

I hope he doesn't win.  The "sport" is better off without him.

Then again, the last 3 Mr. O's have been complete lacklusters.   At least Jay, Ronnie and Dorian were engaging and tried to be ambassadors.

no it isn't better off without him, nobody looks at curry or rhoden as legit champs just guys that had timing on their side

dorian engaging?  i'm guessing you forget arnold bad mouthed him for winning and then disappearing in england until the next years contest

ronnie was always criticized for sounding like a moron, jay criticized for being a robot with no personality

E

[ChristopherA]

I would guess yes - once again, for not paying his IFBB Pro Card fee. 

But really - that's why he was banned.  It was a good legal maneuver by the IFBB to use the  Pro Card excuse after the fact.  After all, we are at a time where there is pretty significant push-back against the #MeToo movement, and Shawn has extra protection, since he is Black.  Although the N card is losing its clout as an excuse, especially since rioters decided to try to burn the USA to the ground based on a still image of a Minnesota police officer using a legal knee-hold to arrest a man who most likely was already dead from a Fentanyl overdose, where the force being used against this lowlife by the White police officer wasn't even known.

If I had to advise the IFBB on the matter, I would say that there would be a good chance that Rhoden would win a lawsuit against the IFBB if he was acquitted of the rape ex post facto [most likely] but was denied the revenue opportunity due to being banned without just cause.

And that would be costly - Rhoden could argue he is owed the Mr. Olympia winning purse on top of those funds being matched by a sponsor, as several Mr. Olympia winners had that same very deal with sponsors [Phil Heath, Jay Cutler, and Dexter Jackson with MuscleTech, for example].

So what do the super smart lawyers of the IFBB do?  They ban Rhoden on the grounds of not paying his Pro Card fee that year.    LOL!

The IFBB's lawyers remind me of the high IQ Jewish lawyer "Big Gun Joe Adler" played by Richard Simmons in the 2009 movie "Extract":

LOL.

It's pretty easy to ban a bodybuilder from competing at the Mr. Olympia if he hasn't paid his Pro Card dues, and you don't tell him, and imply he is banned because he was being charged with rape.  Rhoden probably thought it would be thousands in legal fees, and still with the possibility of not winning the case.

That was some really good lawyer work from the IFBB. 

Also consider that when Rhoden won the Mr. Olympia in 2017, he beat Chris Dickerson's record for oldest age of a Mr. Olympia competitor.  Both were 43 [Dickerson won in 1982], but Rhoden was a slightly older 43.

That makes Rhoden 46 this year. 

Phil Heath is 40 right now [he will be 41 in December], so I think he has a chance, as long as he is not injured.

Fuck. Every post is an essay from you

[SOMEPARTS]

[robcguns]

Phil takes it easily

[johnny1]

Finally a interesting Mr. Olympia coming up....

[johnny1]

The present or the past