Hmmm...that's an odd statement.
Are you saying that Dexter compares favorably to Branch but still took 3rd?
Or are you agreeing with me that Branch would still have been 2nd and Dexter would've leapfrogged him and won?
And of course, it would have absolutely NOTHING to do with Branch being with MD...and "EVERYTHING to do with how [Branch and Dexter] match up against each other..."
Hmmm....one more time so we can all understand. Without Jay in the contest, the placings would somehow shift around?? I know I didn't attend police academy, so can you spell this out for me?
My apologies for missing your explanation on your radio show. You have a great voice but Dan reminds me of my annoying cousin with the deviated septum.
Bodybuilding, as you know, is all about comparison...against other competitors. sometimes, it's about comparison against your prior self (unfairly, but a part of human nature as judges)
It's my opinion that without Jay in the line-up...that Dexter is given the nod as a reigning Mr. Olympia against Branch...(for the record, I though Dexter SHOULD have been 2nd anyway)
That said, the reasoning is simple...Branch matches up very well against Jay, as they have similiar builds in muscularity, density, build, etc...so with Jay in the winning seat (as he was when he walked out)...it's very natural to have Branch contend against him (especially given the fact that Branch was 100%) as were comparing "apples to apples"....
Dex was also in great shape, but obviously has a 180 degree different look than Jay or Branch...which makes for a "apples/ oranges" comparison...if the judges were looking at Jay as the winner, then I see where they picked Branch as the runner -up as he exhibited the same qualities.
Lets pretend Jay isnt in the show....now you have an incumbant Mr. Olympia against a guy who has never beaten him, and two different physiques competing against each other....now the judges have to make a decision , and my belief, is that they would have gone with Dexter...
It's the same senario that led to the demise of Nasser IMO, as he was much better compared when Dorian was standing next to him, with similiar builds...when Dorian retired, all of a sudden, he was the odd man out standing next to Flex, Kevin, Shawn, Chris...