MD vs. Flex - Really Setting the Record Straight

[MCWAY]

The same number of times they blantantly lie about what is acheivable in terms of muscular development.

you see Mcway, most intelligent readers do not particularly care for being fed sugar coated BS that is passed off as
the "voice of champions". (in other words, tell fat mac to stop lying)

Which leads me back to a previous question: Unless you plan on emulating such drug use, what good does harping on such do for you (or any other reader)?

[Cara from MD]

MD is the media and reports on the industry - the good, the bad and the ugly! 
It's just the way it is...no bull!

[Blockhead]

MD is the media and reports on the industry - the good, the bad and the ugly! 
It's just the way it is...no bull!

That is EXACTLY why MD is trying to collaborate with us here at Getbig.com

 I've been illustrating my hypothesis on this for 2 weeks now. We do the same thing here. We're a perfect match.

 On Getbig...we cover every aspect and every nook and cranny in this industry. We let no scandal or lie go unexposed and we will not ever allow injustices go unchallanged and we absolutley will not stop...ever. We are the ones who will make or break this industry. The fans. The consumers. The more popular Getbig gets the more people look to what we are saying here and that will cause a direct effect in everything in this industry from sales of magazines, supplements, outcome of shows and careers rising or flopping of individual athletes.

 Someone wants to try to piss on our legs and tell us it's raining in this industry? You can bet your ass that it will get exposed and debated and brought to the eyes of the entire industry and fans who read and we will chew it up and shit it out. We here at Getbig keep this industry on its toes...we hold the power and we got all the stroke.

 Give me a call tonite Cara from MD...you still want me to pick you up tonite at 7:30?

[Jr. Yates]

That is EXACTLY why MD is trying to collaborate with us here at Getbig.com

 we will not ever allow injustices go unchallanged and we absolutley will not stop...ever.

Just like the Terminator??

[Blockhead]

 Yes, sir...that's another reason I know my posts/work is so gripping to read. I know how to bring pop culture wether its music lyrics or movie quotes...Iknow how to mesh it in with what I have to say and it works.

[mish]

Someone wants to try to piss on our legs and tell us it's raining in this industry? You can bet your ass that it will get exposed and debated and brought to the eyes of the entire industry and fans who read and we will chew it up and shit it out. We here at Getbig keep this industry on its toes...we hold the power and we got all the stroke.
 

Not that I'm disagreeing with the fact that you know how to mesh pop culture into your quotes but, if that's the case shouldn't you have said piss down our backs and tell us it's raining... uknowwhatImsayin'?

[Blockhead]

Not that I'm disagreeing with the fact that you know how to mesh pop culture into your quotes but, if that's the case shouldn't you have said piss down our backs and tell us it's raining... uknowwhatImsayin'?

You speakin to me?

[mish]

Ummm... I quoted you didn't I? 

Apparently you don't like to be corrected, I'll keep that in mind for future reference.

[bic_staedtler]

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.

....hahahahaa, Blechman, you joke....sure gonna be tough to be the 'most informative' without a press pass!!!...have a great time with the rest of the yokels!!

Can't you understand that you guys brough this upon yourself?...what, Romano shooting off at the lips, G Valentino  an everybody else "wiping their ass" with FLEX...

...I for one am GLAD that they gave MD the big f**k YOU and REFUSED your requests for press passes....think of that the next time you go into someone's else's house, and shit on the living room couch!

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHH

[John Romano]

....hahahahaa, Blechman, you joke....sure gonna be tough to be the 'most informative' without a press pass!!!...have a great time with the rest of the yokels!!

Can't you understand that you guys brough this upon yourself?...what, Romano shooting off at the lips, G Valentino  an everybody else "wiping their ass" with FLEX...

...I for one am GLAD that they gave MD the big f**k YOU and REFUSED your requests for press passes....think of that the next time you go into someone's else's house, and shit on the living room couch!

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHH

You're suffering from a serious delusion if you think we need press passes to cover the Olympia.  And it better be a killer show or I'm going to shit on the walls too.

Hope this helps...

[Manninen dude]

....hahahahaa, Blechman, you joke....sure gonna be tough to be the 'most informative' without a press pass!!!...have a great time with the rest of the yokels!!

Can't you understand that you guys brough this upon yourself?...what, Romano shooting off at the lips, G Valentino  an everybody else "wiping their ass" with FLEX...

...I for one am GLAD that they gave MD the big f**k YOU and REFUSED your requests for press passes....think of that the next time you go into someone's else's house, and shit on the living room couch!

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHH

Who gives a shit about press passes anyway.. 

[Cara from MD]

Who gives a shit about press passes anyway.. 

YEAH!!  Who gives a sh_t about press passes anyway!!!  The boss never lets me go anyway, so I don't care!

[gatrainer]

You're suffering from a serious delusion if you think we need press passes to cover the Olympia.  And it better be a killer show or I'm going to shit on the walls too.

Hope this helps...

nice! hahah

[SWOLETRAIN]

Revoking those passes took some serious balls. This show better be killer. The pressures on now!

[bic_staedtler]

..well, we'll see how many great pics Per will be able to take from the nose-bleed seats in the Orleans.

You guys had no problems in the past with Weider getting decent seats to the big show....and even THEN you guys were shitting all over FLEX, Weider, McGough, pretty much everything!...funny how now you reap what you sowed.

Can't 'wait' to read your last page, Romano, when you bitch about getting poor treatment by 'the powers that be'...I think the MD crew deserves all the shitty treatment it can get. Point out the last FLEX issue that even MENTIONS your boring mag!  Yet your mag rags on FLEX more than Valentino shits his pants....

..have fun at the show!

[John Romano]

..well, we'll see how many great pics Per will be able to take from the nose-bleed seats in the Orleans.

You guys had no problems in the past with Weider getting decent seats to the big show....and even THEN you guys were shitting all over FLEX, Weider, McGough, pretty much everything!...funny how now you reap what you sowed.

Can't 'wait' to read your last page, Romano, when you bitch about getting poor treatment by 'the powers that be'...I think the MD crew deserves all the shitty treatment it can get. Point out the last FLEX issue that even MENTIONS your boring mag!  Yet your mag rags on FLEX more than Valentino shits his pants....

..have fun at the show!

Hey, I'm a paying customer.  I get treated just like everyone else who is not dangling from puppet strings. Any of you freelance photographers out there interested in selling us some stage shots?  ..... Gee, that was hard.  So, now what's different?  There are plenty of great seats STILL available.  I'll just sit back, relax and watch you bozos hang yourselves. Just like you usually do......

[arce377]

BB has had a (THE SAME) MONOPOLY for FAR TOO LONG! LONG LIVE MD!

[leycus 101]

  As a bb fan and magazine subscriber, i would never buy a flex magazine again ( and im not trying to kiss anyones ass here either).  The entertainment, information, and professional insight in second to none!  I've bought flex magazine for a few years so i know what im talking about and can compare both magazines really good, and md comes out on top with everything i listed above. 




 

[Cara from MD]

Steve hasn't decided if MD will be attending the Olympia - we'll let everyone know early next week.

[leycus 101]

Steve hasn't decided if MD will be attending the Olympia - we'll let everyone know early next week.

wouldnt he have to in order to get pictures and to report on it?

[John Romano]

Maybe we're thinking about not reporting on it.  They obviously don't want us to 

[leycus 101]

Maybe we're thinking about not reporting on it.  They obviously don't want us to 

That sucks cuz I'm not gonna pick up a flex and read about it.... The insight from you guys is what i would look forward too 

But then again i wouldn't want to be around something knowing the organizers were giving me the shaft!

[bic_staedtler]

Maybe we're thinking about not reporting on it.  They obviously don't want us to 

....that'd be like a football magazine not covering the Superbowl, Big John.  Even though MD's contest coverage is...well, let's just say it's not to my liking.

Instead of making excuses for why MD is number two, why not ask US, the guys at Getbig, what WE'D like to see in the magazine?  Yes, yes, I know the chicks aren't coming back.  But there's plenty of things you could do to become better.  Face it, MD has been getting stale and boring over the last year.  It's overpriced and there's tons of potential markets you're missing due to your "We Hate FLEX" stance.

What about training protocols?  What about actual nutrition articles?  How about a "how to" for a first contest?  How about ditching the Q n A format that are so obviously ghostwritten it would make Julian Schmidt cry? 

Nope, y'all just keep doing what you're doing.  At least when FLEX does the same damn thing every year, they have an optimistic outlook and great contest coverage.

Why don't you start making some changes while everybody else is at the Mr O?

MD is on the right track but needs new vision.

[Blockhead]

Maybe we're thinking about not reporting on it.  They obviously don't want us to 

John. After reading this and learning that Team MD may not be in the house as a form of passive protest for AMIs' stance on not making things easy for all who is a part of MD Magazine...after sitting in silence with a nice fat plug of Skoal Wintergreen in my grill(because dipping helps me think better...its true) kicking the idea around about what will happen if you DO vs DO NOT show or report on the show vs NOT reporting on the show...I know I am just a lowly bowl scrubbing BlockHead but this is 'THE WAY I SEE IT'...

 I believe TEAM MD should be the BIGGER party and BIGGER people/company and fucking BE THERE! Show up and do what your team all do best...deliver the BEST coverage and BEST report on the biggest bodybuilding show on planet Earth. No periodical paints the picture of the Mr.Olympia expierence the way MD does. Flex, Ironman, MM, it just isnt the same...if MD doesn't report and cover the show to the best of your abilities it will cause normal MD buyers/readers 'just this once' go out and buy another title just for that month. You don't want that. DO NOT skip a beat...pretend like NOTHING HAPPENED and go intheir with guns a blazin!

 You know..it's almost like breaking up with a girlfriend. Let's say there is some social event you and your 'ex' were planning on going to...say a big party. Okay now...the breakup was bad and there is tension and animosity. You KNOW she will be at that party...now if you don't go...she will notice and she will get empowered. Now if you DO go...and go with your chin UP and shoulders WIDE and head up HIGH with a smile on your face...maybe another woman under your arm...socializing and mingling and networking around like you NEVER SKIPPED A BEAT. Then it will fkn KILL HER and throw her off. It will show her that YOU are strong and your life is still going on. It will make her feel salty especially if you have a warm friendly 'hello' and genuine smile to share with everybody. Think about what TheBlockHead just said here...

 The way MD reports contest...especially the ASC and Olympia makes the reader feel like they were there. From how John reports on Vegas nightlife from Flexs' reports on the competitors and from pg 69's pic of the eyebrow raising sights of the expo...MD gets it done!

 If your team keeps its passive agressive stance in protest you let THEM get the best of you all and you let them WIN. Why don't you all go to fuckin VEGAS and show them how muthafkn BAD MD really is and how muthafkn MD will NOT be denied and is NOT going away no matter WHAT is thrown at them.

 Handle it, Steve! TheBlockHead said his piece. You know what you have to do.

[leycus 101]

Everyone has their opinions but md is 3 times the better magazine in every aspect. The number one thing that made me steer away from flex is the same old information being printed every month. Same old workout tips, and same old faces. Mds price is a little more expensive but your also getting 300 more useful pages.  It takes me a couple weeks or more to finish reading an md... Plus all the little articles in the beginning of the magizane makes for awesome bathroom reading