Like all great Mr Olympias ( Scott, Sergio,Arnold, Zane, Haney, Yates) , Ronnie Coleman took the sport of bodybuilding to a different level during his reign. Like him or not the man is worthy of respect in bodybuilding. His 286 ripped lbs in 2004 took bodybuilding to a whole other level. Like all new changes it takes time to determine if it is good or bad overall for the sport. For example, Zane proved that an under 200 lb bodybuilder could look incredible and gave the sport a whole new set of ideals during his time as champ ( 77-79).
This was eventually changed and we now have mass monsters at the top of the Olympia field.
Is Ronnie's new level of incredible mass , good or bad? Hard to say. I do know he did what it took to win the Olympia many times after being a 2nd tier bodybuilder his first few years as a pro.
Ronnie was a strong, powerful athlete BEFORE bodybuilding. He played DIV I college ball (linebacker ) at Grambling State U in La,where he also got his BA in accounting. He lifted huge wts as a powerflifter in his early lifting days. Ronnie was the only and I mean only Heavy wt finalist at the nationals, that was willing to take and then pass the drug test to represent the USA at the amatuer worlds in '91 (he won the worlds and turned pro).Obviously he is NOT drug free now, but he developed an incredible level body with little or no drugs from the start.He established a stable career as police officer in Texas and held that full time positin for his first years as Mr Olympia and only went part time a couple years ago. Ronnie trains like nobody has ever seen and has made incredible lifts we have seen in his training videos. He is hardcore to the nth degree and doesn't waste much time on bodybuilding gossip or negative talk.
He walks into any venue and it is easy to see why he is Mr Olympia. Tha man looks the part in terms on super human muscle size, no matter what outfit he has on.
Having said that, I think Jay should have beaten him last year and in 2000. OVERALL he is the best bodybuilder of the last 9-10 years.
First, a couple of corrections - Ronnie weighed 296 in the 2004 MR O, not 286. Also, 2001 was the year where it was really close between Jay and Ronnie, not 2000 (and it was just that - close. Ronnie still won it convincingly enough). And I disagree with you where you say you think Jay should have beaten Ronnie last year (2005) - anyone who has seen the video of the night show would agree with me.
IMO, Ronnie is a phenom who is simply superior to everyone else physically. He is easily the freakiest Mr O, if not the freakiest bodybuilder ever, overall. He has so many standout bodyparts and more than anything else, has incredible muscle separation. Not trying to turn this into a Dorian Vs Ronnie thread or anything, but if Dorian set the standard for density and condition, Ronnie set the standard for muscle volume, size and muscle separation. All the top guys (and others) have both flaws and strengths, and Ronnie has his flaws - Calves (shape, not size) and abs (distention). Guys like ND bring these up again and again, but the simple truth is that 'The whole is greater than the sum of the parts'. For example, by breaking it down part by part, one could argue that Shawn should have beaten Dorian in 1994 but take one look at the video or even the pics and it's obvious that it was night and day between them.
What I really like about Ronnie is that he seems like a nice guy when it comes to dealing with others (like his fans), but lifts like an animal in the gym. I am not talking about doing high reps on cables or dropsets on machines (although he does do those), but the way he does basic free-weight, compound, old-school movements. Its one thing to have the genetic potential / gift to lift heavy and hard, but another thing altogether to ACTUALLY do it. Even precontest, he doesnt 'stick to light weights and pumping movements' (referred to as Training smart by some pros
) This is what I respect in a bodybuilder above everything else - training with a passion, as opposed to Training smart and treating it as a mere business.
People may pick on all of what they consider as flaws, with Ronnie such as his articulation etc, but the thing is inspite of all his shortcomings, he has achieved the Number 1 status in his field and even more, stayed there for 8 years. This in itself is phenomenal, but when you consider that he started his journey to the Olympia from the bottom of the heap (literally), it is nothing short of miraculous (not to mention laudable). Of course, its in the nature of mediocrities to resent another person's achievements and hence all the bullsh*t about Ronnie not being articulate etc. Personally, of all the bodybuilders, I admire Dorian Yates the most for his attitude and work ethic. But I admire Ronnie just as much for what he has achieved with his physique.
