Is Phil Heath chicken?

[Pete Dimano]

Be sure to ask Phil what he thinks about Melvin calling him out in the October MD for skipping the Olympia again.

Phil took an entire year off from competing to make improvements for this year's Arnold and he ended up weighing the same as last year.  So when he takes another entire year off is he going to make some actual improvements?

He's starting to look like he's scared.

corinth makes a good point.  Phil's been in the IFBB for two years now.  Does he fear the big time stage?

[pumpher]

He's a great bodybuilder with great lines, conditioning, tiny waist,  and full muscle bellies - so he has no hope with current judging criteria.

But when you're so hyped up (ahm...Lift Studios) and place 5th, it's a big Reality Check - he's not up against amateurs anymore, and his "pro wins" were against 2nd & 3rd tier bodybuilders.

[corinth]

This is the second year Phil has been called out by one of his peers. Last year it was Dexter, this year it's Melvin. Last year he said he would be at this year's Olympia. Now this year he's skipping it again. Sooner or later Phil is going to have to prove he's worthy of all the hype.  He can keep picking and choosing his contests but he can't hide from the Olympia forever.

Dennis Wolf is only 28 and this is going to be his second Olympia. It's nice that some of these young guys are actually competitors and not just in it for the money.

[JasonH]

The guy's gonna have to compete sooner or later. What is the point in training that hard, taking all that gear and thn skipping the Olympia. He should either compete or retire, nothing in between.

[Parker]

The guy's gonna have to compete sooner or later. What is the point in training that hard, taking all that gear and than skipping the Olympia. He should either compete or retire, nothing in between.

Dude's with Phil's lines will not win the Olympia. If Flex had won in 1998, it would have set a precedence, the judging criteria would have changed drastically, and guys like Phil, Dex or a lighter Melvin would be able to win.

Now Melvin is pushing 240-250 and ruining his lines and has a mini-gut, just to compete with the freaks.

This will happen to Phil as well, if he starts competing regularly at the Olympia. I'd rather compete at the Arnold and win, it has the same if not more money, and it is more prestigious than the Olympia. Arnold's name carries weight among the the general populace, nobody could care less who the Mr. O is.

Think about, if Phil Heath was multiple Arnold S. Classic winner and went on Jay Leno and Jay said, "This is the 3 time Arnold S. Classic winner" vs. Phil winning three Olympia's. which do you think would impress the public...

[AVBG]

Phil is doing the smart thing.. Why should he get in the way of the Coleman/Cutler "unfinished business"? Let those two sort their shit out then when ready compete. 

[sgt. d]

Melvin likes to run his mouth. He has got into lots of trouble from doing that. At the last Olympia Melvin was soft everywhere. His plan of being 270lbs on stage hurt him.

[gordiano]

Maybe Phil needs to drop Hiney Rimjob, and get a real "guru" to help him improve.

[marcus]

No point in competing in a comptition you know you won't place well in.

[Monster81]

The guy's gonna have to compete sooner or later. What is the point in training that hard, taking all that gear and thn skipping the Olympia. He should either compete or retire, nothing in between.

I agree with u.,makes no sense

[swilkins1984]

He got 5th at the Arnold and the 2 top guys were not even there. I think he was 100% of what he could be for the Arnold so why go to the Olympia where the best you can expect is 7th or 8th? Waste of time and money. Smart move to take a few months to add some quality muscle and come out swinging in 08.

[Pete Dimano]

He got 5th at the Arnold and the 2 top guys were not even there. I think he was 100% of what he could be for the Arnold so why go to the Olympia where the best you can expect is 7th or 8th? Waste of time and money. Smart move to take a few months to add some quality muscle and come out swinging in 08.

KING got 6th at the Arnold once.  Fifth is nothing to brag about 

[JasonH]

He got 5th at the Arnold and the 2 top guys were not even there. I think he was 100% of what he could be for the Arnold so why go to the Olympia where the best you can expect is 7th or 8th? Waste of time and money. Smart move to take a few months to add some quality muscle and come out swinging in 08.

But that's the whole problem - he can't just keep adding infinite amounts of muscle as it will ruin his structure - more muscle isn't always the answer. He's just going to have to face it and until the judges go a whole new direction with the look of bodybuilding then he will never beat the mass monsters out there. Trying to play them at thier own game will damage him even further.

[swilkins1984]

KING got 6th at the Arnold once.  Fifth is nothing to brag about 

Not bragging, I meant that that is a decent placing but not one that means you could do damage at the Olympia.

[swilkins1984]

But that's the whole problem - he can't just keep adding infinite amounts of muscle as it will ruin his structure - more muscle isn't always the answer. He's just going to have to face it and until the judges go a whole new direction with the look of bodybuilding then he will never beat the mass monsters out there. Trying to play them at thier own game will damage him even further.

Phil is 5'10" about 220? He is built alot like flex who at his best was about 235. He can slap on another 10-15 for the 08 Olympia.

[adipo8]

This is the second year Phil has been called out by one of his peers. Last year it was Dexter, this year it's Melvin. Last year he said he would be at this year's Olympia. Now this year he's skipping it again. Sooner or later Phil is going to have to prove he's worthy of all the hype.  He can keep picking and choosing his contests but he can't hide from the Olympia forever.

Dennis Wolf is only 28 and this is going to be his second Olympia. It's nice that some of these young guys are actually competitors and not just in it for the money.

Silvio is cashing his checks and even taking pictures with Jay Cutler. IF you are A bodybuilder -COMPETE!

[SteelePegasus]

Silvio is cashing his checks and even taking pictures with Jay Cutler. IF you are A bodybuilder -COMPETE!

why if the endorsement checks are the same?

it seems to me like the "upper management" likes Phil and has paved a path for him..while people like Silvio and the X man are paying their dues.

[dearth]

waiting for limp studios to jump on this thread to defend his boyfriend

[240 is Back]

In the purest sense of competition, yeah, Phil should do the Olympia.  He didn't make HUGE improvements with the 9 months off.  He'll probably be a little bigger by NEXT year's Arnold or whatever, but it'll still be him against a top Vic, Cormier, Dex, and Freeman, and he'll still be struggling to finish top 3.  He's a great bodybuilder, but he doesn't have their size.

In the sense of making money, yes, Phil's doing the right thing, absolutely.  He did everything he could to create value for his name, and signed a good contract.  Taking 2nd at a small show, or 9th at the Olympia, would devalue that.  Right now, there is still mystique.  He should be guest posing nonstop and doing expos and anything else he can get his hands on.  The judging climate (preference to size) means he can't be top 3 at the O as long as Jay's still playing, so why not do the smart thing and just lay low and get paid?

[SteelePegasus]

In the purest sense of competition, yeah, Phil should do the Olympia.  He didn't make HUGE improvements with the 9 months off.  He'll probably be a little bigger by NEXT year's Arnold or whatever, but it'll still be him against a top Vic, Cormier, Dex, and Freeman, and he'll still be struggling to finish top 3.  He's a great bodybuilder, but he doesn't have their size.

In the sense of making money, yes, Phil's doing the right thing, absolutely.  He did everything he could to create value for his name, and signed a good contract.  Taking 2nd at a small show, or 9th at the Olympia, would devalue that.  Right now, there is still mystique.  He should be guest posing nonstop and doing expos and anything else he can get his hands on.  The judging climate (preference to size) means he can't be top 3 at the O as long as Jay's still playing, so why not do the smart thing and just lay low and get paid?

what good contract is this?

[mesmorph78]

good theory..240
but mr olympia will always be a mass monster...
he is always one of the bigest guys on stage...
jay is 33 he will be around for a while yet.. and victor...

[Palpatine Q]

In the purest sense of competition, yeah, Phil should do the Olympia.  He didn't make HUGE improvements with the 9 months off.  He'll probably be a little bigger by NEXT year's Arnold or whatever, but it'll still be him against a top Vic, Cormier, Dex, and Freeman, and he'll still be struggling to finish top 3.  He's a great bodybuilder, but he doesn't have their size.

In the sense of making money, yes, Phil's doing the right thing, absolutely.  He did everything he could to create value for his name, and signed a good contract.  Taking 2nd at a small show, or 9th at the Olympia, would devalue that.  Right now, there is still mystique.  He should be guest posing nonstop and doing expos and anything else he can get his hands on.  The judging climate (preference to size) means he can't be top 3 at the O as long as Jay's still playing, so why not do the smart thing and just lay low and get paid?

He can be like the "Victor Richards of symmetry"

[240 is Back]

what good contract is this?

[240 is Back]

good theory..240
but mr olympia will always be a mass monster...
he is always one of the bigest guys on stage...
jay is 33 he will be around for a while yet.. and victor...

Zane was small compared to others and should have won 5 Olympias.  (Injury in 80 and skipped 81, I believe).

They gave Silvio the win last week.  I think the climate is leaning towards quality over quantity.  However, they can't mess with the  winning franchise, the Olympia, and its current value of Jay/Ronnie showdown by letting a little guy in. 

It's my opinion that Jay will retire after 3 wins at most.  It's just not sustainable.  He's said in the past that he'd be retired by now.  Bodybuilding is a dangerous world and the man is set for life.  I think that another win or two, and he'll re-evaluate his spot and take a lucrative position at a company, go out on top, and keep his health.  He's not a young 34.  Look at Ronnie at 34, and Jay at 34.  Jay's at an incredibly high level, and the human body can't do that for 20+ years at 300 pounds.

[swilkins1984]

The more aestetic bb is the future. Ronnie has got 1 more year I bet, Jay is stopping at 35. Victor is 34 so I think he has another 4-5 yrs. Dexter and Melvin I believe are 39. Toney is 40. Given 3-4 years Phil will be 31 and much improved....who will stop him from winning? The young guys like Trey Brewer and Evan Centopani will be pros than so maybe...