Ron's tough interview with Wayne DeMilia

[brianX]

Ron is a Joe Weider lapdog. Sad but true.

[LifterChick]

~snip~

And you and others who keep harping on not having a website is just hilarious.  First off, he is having one made.  Second, it is going to be a very good website in design and functionality.  Lets pretend he was dumb like you and others who think he should have a website up already.   

I do think that the PDI should have a website up by now. I'm sure theirs will be very nice, but even a temporary website, just to share info and capitalize somewhat on what interest there is, should be there. 

 

[240 is Back]

we're allowed to disagree.  I will sometimes postpone website perfection in pursuit of capitalization of market opportinities.

[knny187]

Ron....


you've done better interviews before.



I was starting to see you acting like a Nazi again in that interview.

[MB]

So, in your opinion, what can make the IFBB 2006 Mr. Olympia a little better?

I am not going to answer that, why should I give them all of the secrets. They want to pay me as a consultant, then I will think about it. But I know the answer. And if you need any proof, just look at the 2003 Mr. Olympia. But you know what, that is their show. They know my phone number. But they want to do it on their own, and that is their prerogative. The Olympia is their event, and I wish them the best. We have our events, I have my promoters, and this is just the beginning. We are already in deep negotiations on a slew of shows worldwide for 2007. If you look at what our schedule is, we are saying that by 2010, we hope to have 25 shows. Well, in simple math, that is adding about 5 shows a year. This year, 2006, we are slated to have 6 shows. Next year, we will have more than 10, possibly close to 15.

Note to IFBB/AMI....swallow your pride and take Wayne up on his offer to work as a consultant for the Olympia.  It should be obvious what the problems are, but since it's not, pick up the phone and call Wayne.  The Olympia has become embarrassing from the well-run, fan friendly show it was a few years ago.   

[HRDCOR]

Ron , I think your interview was to focused on a negative , once it was established that this was a real venture and that time is needed to establish such a venture, then you should have changed your attacking approach and tried to understand what good Wayne was hoping to bring to the sport and what he visions as a better ment for the sport and then perhaps talked about what the athletes will get if they made a move to the PDI, you could have played both , the devils advocate as well as the caring angel , but as it was you came across as looking for a floor in the venture , thus you came across very negative indeed !

[240 is Back]

I'm glad Ron went at him hard.  Better to be accused of being too tough, than of tossing softball questions at him.   I think Wayne used the opportunity to rep the PDI well.

[HRDCOR]

Oh i agree the hard questions needed to be ask , no doubt about that but i think some balance could have been implemented as well , remember if this becomes huge , you may just want wayne back for another interview some day !!

[Tre]

WTF, RON???

Damn, bro...that was WAY too IFBB-centric. 

You know I like and respect you, but I've got to call you out on this one, mate.  There was nothing at all unbiased about that interview, which is fine, but the problem is that you approached it as if your beloved IFBB is god's gift to anything!

*rant over*

Any business - run by greedy individuals - that is able to operate without competition will not give fair value to its customers. 

Any competition for the IFBB is better than none, my friend.  In the end, everyone benefits from the growth of the sport.  I've got to break you out of that IFBB 'control' mentality. 

[240 is Back]

Any competition for the IFBB is better than none, my friend.  In the end, everyone benefits from the growth of the sport. 

YES!!!

Absolutely right.  Sponsors will kick in more money, IFBB/PDI will walk on eggshells not to piss people off, reputation will start to matter again, and many other good things are about to happen.  Photogs will have more work.  Webguys will have more work.  FANS WILL HAVE MORE, and MORE INTERESTING SHOWS to watch.

The PDI will make the IFBB better!

[Disgusted]

I could go on and on about this, but I'll just leave it at this. PDI is causing quite a stir for something that most people (supposedly) think is just an idea. 

[Tre]

I could go on and on about this, but I'll just leave it at this. PDI is causing quite a stir for something that most people (supposedly) think is just an idea. 

Are they talking about PDI on Mayhem at all?

[Ron]

Well - if you guys thought that I would go into the interview and not ask the questions that everybody is asking about, then you were wrong.  I went and asked whatever questions that I had, plus ones of from the boards, from competitors, and what people really wanted to know. If I sounded negative, ok - but hard questions were needed to be asked, and no one was asking them them.

I'll second that. I don't understand the reason for the attack....  the questions do seem a bit hostile.

Hostile? No - but why beat around the bush. People want to know what the PDI is, and what is coming up? These competitors - for some of them means a career, and they need information that I didn’t find anywhere out there so I went right to the source.

Most of these questions were given to you by either Chic, Manion or someone else at the IFBB.

No. I don’t play the game. I ask the questions I want to ask. There was no set of questions, we were having a conversation.

Part was when you ask him how to improve the Arnold or Olympia.. That right there is a giveaway someone else wrote those questions.

Yeah right - I have heard so many people complain about the Olympia, that I wanted to know what he thought should be improved. No one asked me to ask him that.

But, ragging on the PDI is unjustified.   Ron is a Joe Weider lapdog. Sad but true.

Ragging on the PDI? No - asking hard questions. Yes,     As for being Joe Weiders lapdog, very funny. Actually, i have met Joe a number of times in the past, and he has been pretty cool.  But Joe doesn’t have much to do with the IFBB part, it is Ben Weider that has that.

You know I like and respect you, but I've got to call you out on this one, mate. There was nothing at all unbiased about that interview, which is fine, but the problem is that you approached it as if your beloved IFBB is god's gift to anything!

I have no biased for the PDI or against it. What I wanted and so many others wanted is information. Ok - got one for you. Since those questions were the ones that everyone wanted to know, what questions should I have asked that you think should of been in there?

[Disgusted]

Are they talking about PDI on Mayhem at all?

Haven't even looked at Mayhem for about 2 years.

[HRDCOR]

Thats cool ron , thanks for trying to justify your approach, but it didnt sell me for a change of thought on my behalf , still think you needed more balance !!

Any how I hope bubie is all well !!

[timfogarty]

Since those questions were the ones that everyone wanted to know, what questions should I have asked that you think should of been in there?

in some of the questions, the problem was with the tone:

Why are you even starting up the Pro Division?

Are you really serious about this Pro Division, or is this a one year show?

So why should these people believe you?

Why can't you just let things be status quo, Let bygones be bygones.

You work for a company for most of your career.  There is a power struggle and you lose your job.  You go into business for yourself, and you're criticized for just not accepting the status quo ? ?

many weren't even questions, but disparaging remarks followed by a question mark:

But you have nothing! The PDI is nothing?

People on the Getbig boards are calling you delusional

Well - you know what; people just keep saying that the PDI is doomed for failure?

btw, what people on the Getbig forum are calling him delusional?   To me it seems that most people think that whether PDI is a long term success or not,  a little competition to the IFBB will be good for both the fans and the athletes.

[Disgusted]

in some of the questions, the problem was with the tone:

many weren't even questions, but disparaging remarks followed by a question mark:

Agreed. It's one thing to ask hard hitting questions, but another to be so negative. Hey Ron, for the record, did you really ask those exact questions in that exact manner or did you add stuff very drama sake.

[Ron]

I asked them point blant. Wayne said to ask him anything, and I did. No holds barred.

Why are you even starting up the Pro Division?
Are you really serious about this Pro Division, or is this a one year show?
So why should these people believe you?
Why can't you just let things be status quo, Let bygones be bygones.

Yes questions I wanted to know. Remember the many other organizations that said they were coming to frutation but didn't. Remember the many other rumors that came and was hearsay. I wanted to why he was starting it up, if he was serious, and why should competitors beleive it and change everything for him. I am sorry that I sounded negative, but I wanted the answers. Point blank. Wayne could of backed off any moment and ask me to lighten the questions, but he didn't, he wanted more.

But you have nothing! The PDI is nothing?
People on the Getbig boards are calling you delusional
Well - you know what; people just keep saying that the PDI is doomed for failure?

How soon you forget Kevin Horton's and others calling the PDI & Wayne 'Delusional'. Wanted to know what he thought of that. Same with people saying he is doomed for failure.

All in all - if you think it was negative, that is fine. I wanted to ask some questions about the PDI. I wasnt going to be light because of the nature of it, and that is fine.

Again, what question would you want me to ask him that were tough that I didnt ask?

[timfogarty]

This makes me think Ron is scared. Scared of what, I don't exactly know, but IMO somebody connected to the IFBB is putting the screws to him somehow for him to act so out-of-character.

I doubt anyone is putting pressure on Ron.   I think it's more likely that Ron is simply a company man, with loyalty to the IFBB.   He's offended that anyone else would act disloyal to his company.

The problem is that companies come and go.  This is especially true when a company is so dominately controlled by a few people.  People get old and die.   

For a long time, bodybuilding was dominated by Hoffman.  The rise of the IFBB highly correlates with Hoffman's failing health.

Joe Weider is already out of the picture.  Will the IFBB survive after Ben is no longer around?

[knny187]

Ron, I just think the impression I was given about the interview....it seemed you kept drilling him on the same issues over & over.  That in itself makes it seem more like a debate vs an actual interview.  If he didn't give you an answer you thought was clear enough....you asked why & then why over again.

I can see where I an a lot of people interupted the interview as being biased.

[LifterChick]

off Topic; Knny where is the dog? 

[timfogarty]

Again, what question would you want me to ask him that were tough that I didnt ask?

well, what were the criticisms of him when he was running things in the IFBB?  I'd ask him about each one, and how would things be different now.

I'd ask him about how will athletes be guaranteed that they'll receive their prize money in a timely fashion.

I'd ask for clarification on whether athletes are under contract with the PDI.  Can an athlete enter the NOC and then a few months later enter the NABBA Pro Universe, then the NOC the following year.

[Ron]

Read it, it was answered.  But give me more questions, and I will ask him whatever you guys think?




Ok - but the IFBB is a federation for bodybuilders. What is the PDI?

It is a corporation that deals in bodybuilding sports entertainment through competition. Athletes will join us, filling out membership forms, and have to be registered with us in order to compete. When they are in our competitions, they abide by our rules. But we are not going to stop them from competing anywhere else. If they want to compete in the Wabba Pro World or the NABBA Pro Universe, they can. If they want to compete in the Southwest Pro Classic, they can compete. I am not going to stop them.

[knny187]

off Topic; Knny where is the dog? 

some other guy on here is using it.


I like to be an individual!

 

[timfogarty]

Ok - but the IFBB is a federation for bodybuilders.

But, that's the thing.  The IFBB is not a sports federation.  It's a for profit corporation.