Lets say that Ronnie suffers an injury this year which forces him to retire, or he simply opts to quit for whatever reason. You go to the Olympia and win it, finally getting your overdue Sandow. How would you feel?
Not in the sense of winning the competition, but winning it without Ronnie competing? Do you think you would accept the trophy with as much joy as you would if Ronnie was announced 2nd instead of absent.
Would you be able to accept that from the judges point of view, you just couldnt beat him?