Author Topic: Peak Shawn Ray in 1996  (Read 496 times)

MAXX

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Peak Shawn Ray in 1996
« on: November 25, 2025, 02:53:09 PM »
damn good here and posing is amazing as well



this is also the year he was pretty close beating Yates


NarcissisticDeity

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Re: Peak Shawn Ray in 1996
« Reply #1 on: November 25, 2025, 03:02:18 PM »
Dorian straight firsts in 1996 He was NEVER close to beating Dorian. No one was.

Royalty

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Re: Peak Shawn Ray in 1996
« Reply #2 on: November 25, 2025, 03:07:44 PM »
Dorian straight firsts in 1996 He was NEVER close to beating Dorian. No one was.

I specifically remember Paul Dillett saying that he was not impressed with Shawn Ray at the 1996 Olympia. Paul also said that he didn’t know why the judges gave Shawn so much attention at that contest.

1996 was one of Paul’s best showings.

joswift

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Re: Peak Shawn Ray in 1996
« Reply #3 on: November 25, 2025, 03:08:30 PM »
Dorian straight firsts in 1996 He was NEVER close to beating Dorian. No one was.

the straight first bullshit always gets me, out of all 7 judges not one on them thought Shawn deserved the nod?

Grape Ape

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Re: Peak Shawn Ray in 1996
« Reply #4 on: November 25, 2025, 03:27:18 PM »
the straight first bullshit always gets me, out of all 7 judges not one on them thought Shawn deserved the nod?

I was at that show.

Sean looked like a peanut next to Yates.
Y

NarcissisticDeity

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Re: Peak Shawn Ray in 1996
« Reply #5 on: November 25, 2025, 03:28:57 PM »
the straight first bullshit always gets me, out of all 7 judges not one on them thought Shawn deserved the nod?

Both high & low scores are tossed so that's what's left

joswift

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Re: Peak Shawn Ray in 1996
« Reply #6 on: November 25, 2025, 03:30:05 PM »
I was at that show.

Sean looked like a peanut next to Yates.

still, for every judge to have identical preference to physiques that are close together is impossible

Not one thought, well Dorians arm looks terrible maybe Shawn has a better overall balance so give him the nod

Really, not once?

joswift

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Re: Peak Shawn Ray in 1996
« Reply #7 on: November 25, 2025, 03:31:07 PM »
Both high & low scores are tossed so that's what's left
one high one low from 7 judges equals 5 left

You think Dorian got a 2nd off a judge?

Royalty

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Re: Peak Shawn Ray in 1996
« Reply #8 on: November 25, 2025, 03:34:34 PM »
still, for every judge to have identical preference to physiques that are close together is impossible

Not one thought, well Dorians arm looks terrible maybe Shawn has a better overall balance so give him the nod

Really, not once?

Chris Cormier said that Shawn had a narrow back and stubby legs.

NarcissisticDeity

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Re: Peak Shawn Ray in 1996
« Reply #9 on: November 25, 2025, 03:43:42 PM »
still, for every judge to have identical preference to physiques that are close together is impossible

Not one thought, well Dorians arm looks terrible maybe Shawn has a better overall balance so give him the nod

Really, not once?

I'm sure Dorian most likely lost the front double biceps and a couple of other poses but seeing the high & low scores are tossed he could still lose a few poses and still wins  with a ' perfect ' score. I remember when Chris Cormier lost the Arnold to Jay Cutler and he was lamenting he could concede losing the " muscularity " round to Jay but couldn't fathom losing the " symmetry " round to Jay with his clearly better symmetry. The thing is Chris didn't know how the actually judge contests. every round was a physique round , meaning every aspect was judged at the same time. Muscularity , Muscular Bulk , Symmetry , Balance , Proportion , Conditioning , etc in every round , in every pose , with all that in mind , No one came close to beating Dorian on paper and off. He simply fulfilled the criteria better than his competition.


One could argue he shouldn't represent what the ideal of what a Mr Olympia should embody and you could make a case but in terms of how judge contests none of his contemporaries were going to beat him.

NarcissisticDeity

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Re: Peak Shawn Ray in 1996
« Reply #10 on: November 25, 2025, 03:47:12 PM »
one high one low from 7 judges equals 5 left

You think Dorian got a 2nd off a judge?


From Wayne Demilia


The judges simply ranked the competitors on a sheet of paper, awarding the best man one point, the second two and so on. It was a simple method in which the lowest score won. DeMilia had devised a system where the computer randomly selected one judge per round as an alternate, thus eliminating their score. It then removed the three highest and the three lowest scoring judges. From the twelve judges, then, just five papers counted in any one round, and the judges were unaware of which they were, " To fix a contest, definitely beyond a shadow of a doubt, Wayne had told me, somewhat gleefully, ' you gotta buy off nine judges. I figured this out mathematically. You gotta buy off nine judges. In our sport, with all the big mouths and gossips and everything else, you think nine judges could keep their mouths shut? And lets face it, you gotta go to nine judges and one says ' I don't wanna do it, ' you gotta go to number ten...You think that one other guy ain't gonna talk? ' Hey he tried to buy me off, but I didn't take it. He didn't offer me enough money..." how much money is it gonna take.?"

Royalty

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Re: Peak Shawn Ray in 1996
« Reply #11 on: November 25, 2025, 03:49:12 PM »
I'm sure Dorian most likely lost the front double biceps and a couple of other poses but seeing the high & low scores are tossed he could still lose a few poses and still wins  with a ' perfect ' score. I remember when Chris Cormier lost the Arnold to Jay Cutler and he was lamenting he could concede losing the " muscularity " round to Jay but couldn't fathom losing the " symmetry " round to Jay with his clearly better symmetry. The thing is Chris didn't know how the actually judge contests. every round was a physique round , meaning every aspect was judged at the same time. Muscularity , Muscular Bulk , Symmetry , Balance , Proportion , Conditioning , etc in every round , in every pose , with all that in mind , No one came close to beating Dorian on paper and off. He simply fulfilled the criteria better than his competition.


One could argue he shouldn't represent what the ideal of what a Mr Olympia should embody and you could make a case but in terms of how judge contests none of his contemporaries were going to beat him.

I agree mostly with what you said. But Lee Haney did beat Yates in 1991. And Lee possibly could’ve beaten him in 1992.

But by 1993, Dorian would’ve definitely defeated Haney.

wes

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Re: Peak Shawn Ray in 1996
« Reply #12 on: November 25, 2025, 03:54:14 PM »
Shawn Ray =one of my favorite bodybuilders.........the guy always looked incredible,trained his guts out,was super strong in the gym and very intense and focused........ and displayed his physique looking like a god..........great poser.

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Re: Peak Shawn Ray in 1996
« Reply #13 on: November 25, 2025, 03:55:53 PM »
Chris Cormier said that Shawn had a narrow back and stubby legs.

Shawn had narrow clavicles , funny people used to rail against Phil for being narrow but gave Shawn a pass. Shawn short legs/highish calves but all-and-all he had a excellent physique but the sport passed him by a decade. Shawn said he wish he was born a decade earlier when a guy 5'7" 205lbs could win the Olympia. He did great for himself but he was NEVER a threat to Haney , Yates or Ronnie.

NarcissisticDeity

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Re: Peak Shawn Ray in 1996
« Reply #14 on: November 25, 2025, 03:58:13 PM »
I agree mostly with what you said. But Lee Haney did beat Yates in 1991. And Lee possibly could’ve beaten him in 1992.

But by 1993, Dorian would’ve definitely defeated Haney.
  I should've qualified I meant after he won his first Olympia.

wes

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Re: Peak Shawn Ray in 1996
« Reply #15 on: November 25, 2025, 03:59:14 PM »
Shawn had narrow clavicles , funny people used to rail against Phil for being narrow but gave Shawn a pass. Shawn short legs/highish calves but all-and-all he had a excellent physique but the sport passed him by a decade. Shawn said he wish he was born a decade earlier when a guy 5'7" 205lbs could win the Olympia. He did great for himself but he was NEVER a threat to Haney , Yates or Ronnie.
He should have focused on more contests than just the Olympia.......I can obviously see his motivation though.

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Re: Peak Shawn Ray in 1996
« Reply #16 on: November 25, 2025, 04:08:46 PM »
He should have focused on more contests than just the Olympia.......I can obviously see his motivation though.

Flex Wheeler, Kevin Levrone, and Michael Francois had the Arnold Classic locked up in 1993, 1994, and 1995.


Shawn decided to enter in 1996 and he placed 5th.

wes

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Re: Peak Shawn Ray in 1996
« Reply #17 on: November 25, 2025, 04:28:16 PM »
Flex Wheeler, Kevin Levrone, and Michael Francois had the Arnold Classic locked up in 1993, 1994, and 1995.


Shawn decided to enter in 1996 and he placed 5th.
OUCH!!!  :(

Yeah contests were tougher back then no doubt.

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Re: Peak Shawn Ray in 1996
« Reply #18 on: November 25, 2025, 10:02:49 PM »
Now these guys are just a bunch of slobs

joswift

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Re: Peak Shawn Ray in 1996
« Reply #19 on: Today at 12:47:25 AM »

From Wayne Demilia


The judges simply ranked the competitors on a sheet of paper, awarding the best man one point, the second two and so on. It was a simple method in which the lowest score won. DeMilia had devised a system where the computer randomly selected one judge per round as an alternate, thus eliminating their score. It then removed the three highest and the three lowest scoring judges. From the twelve judges, then, just five papers counted in any one round, and the judges were unaware of which they were, " To fix a contest, definitely beyond a shadow of a doubt, Wayne had told me, somewhat gleefully, ' you gotta buy off nine judges. I figured this out mathematically. You gotta buy off nine judges. In our sport, with all the big mouths and gossips and everything else, you think nine judges could keep their mouths shut? And lets face it, you gotta go to nine judges and one says ' I don't wanna do it, ' you gotta go to number ten...You think that one other guy ain't gonna talk? ' Hey he tried to buy me off, but I didn't take it. He didn't offer me enough money..." how much money is it gonna take.?"

Judges do what they are told or they are off the gravy train
I know a guy who was a head judge for 2bros and he asked me to go judging.
As a new judge you shadow sit the other judges and make your choices, if your choices dont coincide with the real judges then you dont qualify as a judge.

I didnt bother going as I have a preference of physique that doesnt always win shows, especially today.

I heard judges commenting at shows and all they were concerned about was if the guy had ripped glutes, they didnt care if they had torn bodyparts and a shit structure

MAXX

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Re: Peak Shawn Ray in 1996
« Reply #20 on: Today at 03:47:28 AM »
I specifically remember Paul Dillett saying that he was not impressed with Shawn Ray at the 1996 Olympia. Paul also said that he didn’t know why the judges gave Shawn so much attention at that contest.

1996 was one of Paul’s best showings.
Paul wasn't good in the back lat spread and back double. This alone puts him out from being competetive in the top spots.

+ he could not pose

NarcissisticDeity

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Re: Peak Shawn Ray in 1996
« Reply #21 on: Today at 04:54:15 AM »
Judges do what they are told or they are off the gravy train
I know a guy who was a head judge for 2bros and he asked me to go judging.
As a new judge you shadow sit the other judges and make your choices, if your choices dont coincide with the real judges then you dont qualify as a judge.

I didnt bother going as I have a preference of physique that doesnt always win shows, especially today.

I heard judges commenting at shows and all they were concerned about was if the guy had ripped glutes, they didnt care if they had torn bodyparts and a shit structure

What gravy train? IFBB judges weren't paid. They were reimbursed for their expenses. When you say judges do as their told the implication is the contests are fixed. Shawn bitched about his placings for years , but only about the contests he lost never the ones he won. Somehow the judges managed to get it right when he won but not when he lost. You can't have it both ways.

And you want a new judge to coincide with the real judges it shows he knows how to apply the criteria. Any potential judge who isn't is either biased or ignorant and is a liability to consistency. And I don't doubt your story about some local shows but I was talking about the Olympia and the judges are picked for the consistency and proven track record.

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Re: Peak Shawn Ray in 1996
« Reply #22 on: Today at 05:12:11 AM »
damn good here and posing is amazing as well



this is also the year he was pretty close beating Yates




Bald Shawn Ray will never be peak Shawn Ray (nh)