I felt you had some great ideas to help make our sport better and I wanted to throw in my 2 cents.
1. Get the emphasis off of just freaky size as the winning ticket at all shows , especially the OLYMPIA. This does not mean we need to pick an under 200 lb Zane in 2007 ( much as I like that), but I think the Manion "no belly" edict should be enforced 100%.
2. * Bob's idea - Don't make the posing routine part of the placement score. Do the routines, and give some kind of recognition /prize for the best one.
3. Do a real, full comparison judging of the top 6 at the night show finals, going thru all basic poses side by side at least once, score that as the posedown and then let them go wild for the fans while they total the final places.
4. Have a well organized meet and greet with fans at all events, at a time the pros wouldn't mind. More fan access is a big deal in marketing the event in my opinion. Maybe , 2 hrs before the evening finals would be ideal ?
5. Encourage the pros to dress , and behave like pros. No fan wants pro bodybuilders to act like the old ladies at a Garden party, but acting and posting on line like spoiled kids is bad for the sport.Plus, I would hope they could take some pride in doing a real, well coordinated routine at the night show. Sadly , only a handful of the pros do actual routines. In this light, encourage the fans to act decent and support the pros they admire. In this way we all win.
6. Start some real, good natured spirited rivalry. With the connection the internet brings us, I see no reason why various pros could not have a group of fans in matching t-shirts, (or whatever) cheering for their favorite at a show. Look at how so many other pro sports do this kind of thing, from football to soccer, etc.
7. Before the top 6 posedown , have a 30-60 sec hype interview of each of the guys in the actual finals up on the big screen. These could be done before the show and then edited down for the top 6 preview.
8. Production, production, production!!!!! Sound , lights, jumbo screens, etc. I have seen them do this at the events like the Arnold and the GNC (when it was here in ATL). Have a professonal MC in a tux, and do it up right. Plus, keep the show moving. Nothing worse than needless delays and a disorganized format.
9. Downplay the desire for extreme drug use ( and the horrible looking side effects) by picking complete/ total packages for the winners and top spots. Most of he fans know what extra vitamins the pros use and don't really care. What we (fans) don't like is seeing absurd synthol and pregnant guts. If a guy looks like a science experiment gone wrong he should always place out of the money.
My 2 cents, Howard in Ga