MD vs. Flex - Really Setting the Record Straight

[lastrep]

Damn.. how lame is the Pecker Org??? Then they make that post online on Flexonline to try to get in the first word.. how immature.

[Adam Empire]

AMI have really bitten of more than they can chew with their Weider Purchase , AMI have no business in the Body Building World , it is as all know in the sport, a sport of judgement and personal opinions , if they can not handle this then they should get out , they (AMI) also believe they are bigger than big , but the truth is they are losing market share since gaining the Weider publication base to the likes of MD and their Olympia last year came under so much attack for such poor handling and management that they packed a little hissy fit and threw their toys out of the cot !!!

Bodybuilders should run Bodybuilding as it is a cult all on to itself and can not be understood by number counting pencil pushing company executives !!

Right on.

[gettinhuge]

To Take away a press pss is so childish ni cnt beleive Pecker...I really feel that the weider pub should tke back control of FLEX or at least the Olympia. ...now wht re you goping to do MR pecker wy my Olympie Ticket.

[gmflex]

Flex is a crap of a magazine
Haven't bought flex in years..
Renewing my MD subscription...

[YoMamaBeenLurking]

Something tells me this landslide of support for MD and complete shellacking of Flex, was the last thing that McGough thought would happen when he and Pecker concocted the egg on their faces plan to ban MD from the O, and then pen the Flex Online piece. 

Smooth move fellas.     Nice meltdown

[Fletch]

Hahahahahahaa "David Pecker"  Hahahahahahahahahaa

word

[HRDCOR]

Is david pecker the guy they gave the key to LV to at the O last year and announced it "Pecker Day"' now I honestly thought that that was a joke or arranged gag at the O , I was sitting there going WTF, as most of the audiance was as no one new who or what the hell D Pecker was or did ?? Seriuosly it came of as a ill timed add libbed farce that came out of no where leaving people asking WTF was that that just happened , was that serious ??


Pecker Day ---- Shit i hope the have a "Titty Day" this year 

[InsightD]

has flex been pulled off wal mart shelves? i see md and ironman only at wally world now.  md has the only worth-reading articles out of all the bb mags by far.  but ya flex isnt in any wal mart i've been into recently.

[Vince B]

This blue reminds of the old feud between Hoffman and Weider that persisted for decades. Seems to be inevitable in the publishing world. They love each other about as much as gym owners or gym equipment manufacturers do!

I would be interested in subscribing to online versions of the magazines like I do with Ironman. The cost for magazines in Australia is about $17 for American magazines. I stopped buying them years ago. I used to buy all the magazines going back to 1960.

[DragonsBreath]

MD vs. Flex
Really Setting the Record Straight
By Steve Blechman, Publisher, Editor-in-Chief

I have been reticent regarding the recent news that AMI/Weider is not allowing MD its press credentials for the 2006 Olympia Weekend. After reading Peter McGough’s article on Flex online, I think I should enter my views into the record.

Apparently, AMI CEO David Pecker was displeased with an entry in “Romano Factor” (MD Sept. 2006) describing a lunch meeting I attended along with my wife, Elyse, David Pecker and his chief marketing officer, Kevin Hyson. I was subsequently contacted by AMI events director Robin Chang via Flex Wheeler during the week of August 27th, detailing the content of an apology I was requested to write and publish as part of my editorial in the forthcoming issue of MD, in order to obtain press passes to the 2006 Mr. Olympia.

In considering those conditions, I revisited that lunch meeting and didn’t feel that John Romano misstated the facts. He may have gone a little overboard with creative license, but that’s John’s style. David Pecker is a public figure, and he makes a living jabbing at celebrities, the President and the Ayatollah; he should have thicker skin. I also didn’t think any of our comments regarding the Olympia were off base, either. Last year’s show was a disaster and that’s what we said. No different from anyone else. So, I agreed to print a retraction, but it wasn’t going to be on their terms, and I told Robin to tell David Pecker that. Here’s what I printed as my apology in my forthcoming editorial in the November issue of MD, which went to press Friday, Sept. 1:

Editor’s Page
By Steve Blechman

Talking about the Olympia, it seems as though we’ve insulted its promoter by being so critical of the Olympia and the events that surround it. They are, of course, referring to something Romano wrote. Specifically, it was his account of a lunch meeting I told him about with AMI CEO David Pecker (see “Romano Factor,” Sept. 2006).
Accordingly, it was suggested that I apologize wholeheartedly to David Pecker, stipulating that the article Romano wrote was ill founded, factually incorrect, written in an unwarranted personal tone and from a biased perspective. If any of our readers ever perceived incorrectly that MD had an agenda, which included persistent and misguided criticism of the Olympia contest, IFBB President Ben Weider and Weider Publications, I apologize. I can state unequivocally that MD never had such an agenda. Again, from things extrapolated mostly from Romano’s writings.
John Romano writes for MD under a no-censorship guarantee that he made sure was ironclad. Even though I’m the publisher, I can’t apologize for him. The only recourse I have for what has been said is to fire him. I’ll be the first to say I wish he hadn’t said some of the things he did. Perhaps his tone and poetic license were unfounded, and I can certainly understand how he could piss someone off. But I’m not going to fire him.

For the record, I went to that lunch meeting in good faith to explore AMI’s commitment to bodybuilding. Because if they weren’t committed, I had an interest in buying Flex, and maybe even Muscle & Fitness, too. I just didn’t think AMI was committed to bodybuilding. I was very disappointed with the way the meeting unfolded. I can’t apologize for Romano’s account. All I can tell you is that my wife and I were very offended.

And I don’t think that our comments about the Olympia were unfounded. Last year’s Olympia had issues and that’s what we said. No different from anyone else. I have to give props to Robin Chang, though. I have a lot of respect for him. Robin is a very hardworking and honest guy and I think if his hands aren’t tied this year, Robin will pull off a much better show. And if he does we’ll report it as such.

I’ve spoken to Romano and we’ve agreed that moving forward, we will be more careful about what we say regarding dealings that have nothing to do with the sport. I’m confident we can move ahead and leave issues such as magazine revenues, corporate sales and other machinations within the Weider organization on the sidelines, and in reporting future events he’s more than willing to swing back to center. We would like to let bygones be bygones and all move forward for the betterment of the industry.

As far as apologizing to Ben Weider, let me call your attention to page 268 and the feature John wrote about the forthcoming book by Ben and Joe Weider. John, as well as myself, have tremendous respect for Joe and Ben. Compare his review to what was said in Flex.

Not only that, but we also had more Olympia and pre-Olympia coverage than all the other bodybuilding publications put together, including Flex and M&F. I want the Olympia to be successful! It should be the bodybuilding equivalent of the Super Bowl! If the Olympia is a success it’s good for the industry. I only want what’s best for the Olympia and the industry, especially the bodybuilders.

This industry is too small to be pitted against each other. In fact, I’d like to see the top members of our industry having annual brainstorming sessions on how to grow our industry instead of working alone to keep it chopped up. Other industries hold summits to see how to grow and become better. How come we don’t do that? I speak to all the other magazine editors and publishers. But not the Weider guys, only because they won’t speak to us. I’m for everyone burying the hatchet, shaking hands and moving forward. I hope AMI/Weider agrees.

On Thursday Aug. 31, prior to the closing of the November issue, I sent a copy of my editorial to Robin Chang who forwarded it to David Pecker. On Friday, I received the “Denial” response for all MD Olympia press passes from Robin. They then followed up with an editorial Sept. 3 on Flex online written by Peter McGough.

In response to the recent post by Peter McGough, I believe much of it is factually incorrect. I would just like to say John reported things in his column as accurately as I remembered. Enough said. I would like to move on and concentrate on what’s really important and what we at MD do best— report on bodybuilding and continue to make MD the most informative, no-bull publication out there.

Translation: Weider doesn't know anything about bodybuilding and fuck this whole sport up. Fuck Weider, his press passes and all the staff! MD will live on.

Nuff said.

In all seriousness, AMI/WEider doesn't care about the athletes like MD does.

[Tre]

has flex been pulled off wal mart shelves? i see md and ironman only at wally world now.  md has the only worth-reading articles out of all the bb mags by far.  but ya flex isnt in any wal mart i've been into recently.

Maybe I missed the last issue, but I haven't seen FLEX at the grocery store either.  But I have noticed an apparent increase in the number of copies of Muscle & Fitness they carry. 

I could be totally wrong, but this is just what I've observed.

[Tre]

With all due respect to the poster who questioned why MD was not hosting any bodybuilding events of their own, the answer is simple - that's not the business they're in. 

They have to leave the business of running shows to the people who know how to do it.  Whether they hit a home run or whether it's an absolute disaster, the AMI group has a much better team of event organizers in place than does MD. 

That doesn't mean MD could 'never' do it, it just means that they do not have the ability to do so at this time.  Running a major bodybuilding contest and expo is a LOT different than putting on a health & beauty show at Javits Center. 

[befit124]

MD, doesn't need to put on a show they just need to pump a lot of money into one of the smaller shows so they can have their banner flying instead of Flex. I also have never seen an MD banner at NPC shows.

[Mars]

Hahahahahahaa "David Pecker"  Hahahahahahahahahaa

word

You said pecker.

[Crusher]

I'm betting AMI caves in at the last minute and invites MD back. 

[bbinsider]

I'm betting AMI caves in at the last minute and invites MD back. 

I don't think MD should accept. They should purchase tickets and call it a day. It will comeback and bite AMI in the ass  someday for doing pulling the press passes.

[FreshMintBlue]

I buy Flex for the Photos but I have my subsctiption with MD 

I think MD is like our sport very underground not mainstream and that's what I like about it.
Flex on the other hand is the comercial whore but has the good pictures.

[Wiggs]

I'm waiting the IFBBs puppet to chime in........Bob whenever your ready........

[Tre]

I'm waiting the IFBBs puppet to chime in........Bob whenever your ready........

No.

Now that McGough has spoken, that's the final word from the AMI/IFBB side. 

Any further outbursts from the AMI 'peanut gallery' would be viewed as an act of insubordination.

[chris_mason]

The truth probably lies somewhere in the middle but I will say that Flex has shown more integrity with their magazine over the years than has MD.  What I mean by that is they have not relied nearly as heavily on the "seedier" side of the business (drugs, sex, etc.)

A bodybuilding magazine should be about how to train and eat not the other crap.  If I want Playboy I will go buy one.  When I want to read about how to train and eat to get big and strong I will buy a bodybuilding magazine.

[dknole]

so to coin a phrase used recently by some Romano guy

What is your commitment to Bodybuilding Steve?
When can I expect to buy tickets for an MD Bodybuilding contest?

Since the same fellow said on the radio that MD is the number one magazine I am sure the contest will rival the Olympia for prize money.

I don't know about the rest of you but I can't wait to buy my tickets for this contest.
It is going to awesome, right Steve?

Do you know that Steve, out of his own pocket has added $ to the Olympia winnings by having staff and select individuals vote on select aspects "freakiest", "most muscular" etc and has given the chosen athletes who won $10,000 or more plus a photoshoot and magazine cover! Has MMI done that? Has any other BB mag done that? remember, for years the marriage between IFBB and Weider was incestious so the money and magazine coverage flowed back and forth for the tightly held group of leaders (Weiders, Wayne and so on).

So Mr Sin, shut the fuck up.

Doug kalman

[Lee_a_priest]

Well what more can you say? Steve did a good job of explaining it very well what happended. AMI and Peter are acting like children (but what's new?)  Well look on the bright side Peter - you now will lose a little weight not being able to eat with your foot in your mouth. But all kidding aside just give MD the press pass for gods sake and grow up. See me - i am an idiot anyway and can act like that you and your people are meant to be different.

Lee

[Crusher]

Well what more can you say?Steve did a good job of explaining it very well what happended.AMI and Peter are acting like children(but what's new) Well look on the bright side Peter you now will loose a little weight not being able to eat with your foot in your mouth.But all kidding aside just give MD the press pass for gods sake and grow up.See me i am an idiot anyway and can act like that you and your people are meant to be different.

Lee

I bet McGough is taking a lot of shit from the industry right now for printing that editorial.  He probably regrets it.  I also think he would really like to concede and give MD their press passes, but I think there is a little prick that is keeping him from doing it..... I mean pecker.  A.K.A. tabloid publisher with thin skin and a massive ego.

[240 is Back]

Poison pizza.  Remember that. 

If Domino's decides to tell people that Papa John's pizza contains rat turds, ALL pizza sales suffer.

When one mag prevents another from access to events, or when the other side makes negative statements about its competitor, the whole industry suffers.

So play together guys.  You're all on the same team.

[rocket]

The truth probably lies somewhere in the middle but I will say that Flex has shown more integrity with their magazine over the years than has MD.  What I mean by that is they have not relied nearly as heavily on the "seedier" side of the business (drugs, sex, etc.)

A bodybuilding magazine should be about how to train and eat not the other crap.  If I want Playboy I will go buy one.  When I want to read about how to train and eat to get big and strong I will buy a bodybuilding magazine.

I disagree Chris.  I think the content in Flex is so infantile that I seriously consider them to be ripping off people who buy it. 

If you want stuff on training or atleast real "new ideas" go read tmag for free.

If you want pictures of bodybuilders read the boards.

If you want toilet paper, buy toilet paper!  flex is unsuitable for anal cleansing (I know this from experience).