MD is considered the second biggest magazine for pro bodybuilding today, despite whether or not the numbers are auditing. Page by page, they give more exposure than all other magazines, with the exception of Flex. But this is an arguement with AMI, who is the promoter of the Olympia, and MD. It is not with the IFBB and MD. And the promoters can choose who they give press passes too, although I wonder if the IFBB can interject in this type of disagreement.
However, the problem does not occur with the attack on the Olympia or by even commenting on a bodybuilder's physique. The problem lies with the constant and malicious attacks on the people who are running it. There is a difference between calling someone's articles and picture taking not good, and calling someone a fat ass. Come on already, even I get irritated with people who do that, aka malicious bashing, even on the boards, and you get warned. Romano went too far here with the malicious stuff...
For all who said that Peter McGough never worked out, there are a few pictures of him when he was younger in great shape, and pounding the muscle. So let it be. And you don't have to be a great writer or good photographer in bodybuilding to actually be a bodybuilder (we have been through that arguement).
But perhaps the last straw was the MD September 2006 editorial that John Romano wrote. Comments like "Pecker's ego is so overly inflated that he can only get his head through French doors, and thats if he turns sideways", "flat voice that wheezed like the voice of a man who had just won a hot dog eating contest", and more like that probably got their attention. Why give press passes to people who attack the people who run the show will such malicious bashing?
So AMI denies MD the press passes. Will it affect them? It depens on where and how MD chooses to react. There are two ways to do this.
1) The best way is for Peter McGough and Steve Blechman to finally talk out some issues, and work in ways to better the industry. An idea was presented a while back where Flex, MD, MuscleMag, Ironman, etc and various internet sites, Getbig, Musclemayhem, Muscletime, etc can work together, meet and find a way to get the bodybuilding industry in a good direction. It won't stifle free speech, criticism but the malicious bashing would be less there. Even on the boards, which we are trying to do, without hampering free speech.
2) The second way is to not work with MD, and they really start going off, no holds barred. Forget the press passes, we don't need them. We will pay for great seats for the main events, take our pictures needed, get the rest from others, and give AMI a hard time at the Olympia, for they can't stop us from being there, and talking to everyone. There are so many people taking pictures at the events that we get offered pictures from 30 different people (it is the same way with websites).
So lets see if this can be worked out - for the good of the sport. Just my opinion.
