If you were Ronnie Coleman today

[Bevo]

Does it really matter now?

I agree, we should discuss the 1980 Olympia in more depth

[AbrahamG]

Does it really matter now?

Of course it does.

[Pet shop boys]

Does it really matter now?

Ask Mentzer in heaven   

woosshhhhhhhhhhhhh

[beakdoctor]

Ask Mentzer in heaven   

woosshhhhhhhhhhhhh

It's a shame Mike wasn't around to hear Ronnie's "why complain" speech. It would've saved Mike from years of bitterness, improved his quality of life and perhaps extended his life span.

Mike would've done well to apply that advice to the 80 Olympia.

[Methyl m1ke]

I remember the score card and Jay had him by a mile, it was politics as usual how Jay lost in the end. Ronnie was off, just like in 02. Doing the Arnold classic 01 show he missed his peak for the Olympia. If Ronnie brought his 01 Arnold form, he would have won. 2001 Jay was his best showing imo, better than 09 his 2nd best showing

And I hate jay’s physique overall, but the damn fridge in 2001 put it all together and should have won. Hell, Jay should have competed in 02 since Ronnie was worse in 02 than 01.

Don’t get me wrong, Jay got a lot of gifts , he should have lost to Cormier in Arnold classic, forgot which year and jay’s 2006 and 07 Olympia wins he wasn’t great. Def politics, weiders wanted him to win since placing 2nd at the 01 O.

I was at the 2001 olympia and Jay won the show. He looked phenomenal in person. His back wasnt as big as ronnies but his conditioning and stage presence were unbelievable. Heading into the night show Ronnie was behind and if I remember correctly Ronnie pulled an American flag out his posing trunks (technically against the rules as props are not allowed) but the crowd was all sentimental and shit from 9/11 and Ronnie was gifted the win. It was sad.

[Methyl m1ke]

Ronnie was bigger in 2004 than he was in 2003

Supposedly 287-290 in 03 and 296 in 2004

I can tell you seeing him 3-4 wks out in 2003, he was in the 300+ range and was just massive

The irony was that he def should have lost in 2001 and in 2002 he tired to come in smaller and was off , and that year the line up was weak even though Kevin was 2nd and Cormier was 3rd, they were no threat and Jay so happens to have taken that year off

I met Ronnie July 2003 and he was so fucking big, it was, it was just ridiculous. He was wearing a checkered bed sheet for a shirt I think. His arms were the size of a man's entire torso. People were standing around talking about getting autographs and getting intimidated and not having the gall to approach him. So big, I'll never forget it.

[Methyl m1ke]

Bevo, you don't seriously believe he "definitely" should've lost in 01. I mean, you could say it was close, could've gone either way, Ronnie looked like shit at the day show but pulled it together by the night show but Jay was sharp all day and night... however one can frame it. But definitely ? C'mon man. It was close because Ronnie DID improve over the course of the show but I believe he rightfully won.

I know, I know bodybuilding is more of a pageant than a sport but in every other sport the mark of a champion is the ability to comeback from a deficit. To turn the ship around, so to speak.

MethylMike, as far as 2006, are you saying you don't know how the hell the judges gave it to the fridge? Or are you saying you don't know how the hell Ronnie managed to blow it and lose after being so dominant?

At the time of the 06 Olympia,  I remember watching the live updates and , at the time, being somewhat relieved that Jay won. But it didn't make any sense. The biggest criticism of Ronnie was the whole conversation around aesthetics,  and they were talking about deducting points for bloated stomachs, and rewarding more streamlined physiques... so they rewarded the fridge? LOL. I was tired of Ronnie winning and didn't want him to break Haneys record BUT I also thought, if you're just gonna give it to Jay, why? Ronnie was still bigger and more ripped. There were imbalances in Ronnie, but Jay had a Left/Right imbalance too, and it wouldn't be the first time a guy with imbalances (Dickerson and Dorian) won the Olympia. So I really do think Jay winning in 06 should've been more controversial than Ronnie winning in 01. I mean Jay looked very impressive in his very first Olympia where he was 15th, he looked great in 01 and 09. Otherwise Jay LLS IMO.

I thought ronnie deserved the win In 2006. It's controversial because the judges had told Ronnie to come down in weight which he did, compared to 05, yet gave the sandow to Jay for not being as dominant as usual.

[Humble Narcissist]

Ask Mentzer in heaven   

woosshhhhhhhhhhhhh

He's arguing with God over his consolidated routine.

[illuminati]

I thought ronnie deserved the win In 2006. It's controversial because the judges had told Ronnie to come down in weight which he did, compared to 05, yet gave the sandow to Jay for not being as dominant as usual.

WTF - what Olympia were you watching - Half his upper body was Atrophied.

[beakdoctor]

WTF - what Olympia were you watching - Half his upper body was Atrophied.

I agree with Mike. OK, so there was a left right imbalance.  Its not like Jay was the king of symmetry.  Jay looked like a fat fuck with muscles spray painted on. Ronnie's atrophied side was still bigger than Jay's good side. Ronnie was still huge and shredded.  Jay looked like he had a double chin.

[AbrahamG]

The only two Olympia's I thought Jay looked really good at were 01 and 09.  I still would have given 01 to Ronnie and I know I'm in the minority but I liked Dexter better in 09.  My conspiracy theory is that they put Branch in 2nd in 09 to avoid comparing Jay directly with Dex.  Branch beating Dex.  LMFAO. 

[beakdoctor]

The only two Olympia's I thought Jay looked really good at were 01 and 09.  I still would have given 01 to Ronnie and I know I'm in the minority but I liked Dexter better in 09.  My conspiracy theory is that they put Branch in 2nd in 09 to avoid comparing Jay directly with Dex.  Branch beating Dex.  LMFAO.

Somewhat agree. Jay was ripped and just carried so much more muscle than Dexter. Overall,  Dexter has a better physique but I have to appreciate the effort Jay made that year. You could see he was very dedicated in his prep. I always said aside from 01 and 09, Jay looked like a fat guy with muscles painted on. But in 09 he looked like he was cut out of diamond or something. But no fucking way on earth Branch was better than Dexter. Absurd. Branxh was a fucking goblin and Dexter is one of the most successful pros of all time. Then in 10 Jay was back looking like the same old fridge. Just with a different haircut.

[AbrahamG]

Somewhat agree. Jay was ripped and just carried so much more muscle than Dexter. Overall,  Dexter has a better physique but I have to appreciate the effort Jay made that year. You could see he was very dedicated in his prep. I always said aside from 01 and 09, Jay looked like a fat guy with muscles painted on. But in 09 he looked like he was cut out of diamond or something. But no fucking way on earth Branch was better than Dexter. Absurd. Branxh was a fucking goblin and Dexter is one of the most successful pros of all time. Then in 10 Jay was back looking like the same old fridge. Just with a different haircut.

I actually think some of Jays other runner ups to Ronnie were better than most of his victories.  Probably told you this before but I was at the Opera House when Dexter won his pro card.  Even then weighing less than 190 I believe, he was just on a different level.