The whole "parallel" arguement is getting ridiculous. Guys are claiming they "can't" get to parallel because of flexiblity and having a suit on. Well, i think the biggest problem is they are using suits that are so tight they cannot get to parallel. When your suit is so tight that it takes 3 men with vice grips 10 mins to tug your suit off, you might want to quit using the old "human flexibility" excuse. I've squated in double ply suits and it's fucking retarded how tight they get when approaching parallel, the amount of pressure on your body at depth is truly insane and i can completely understand why these guys aren't hitting depth, but still these lifts above are a joke IMO.
Every fucking human on earth can squat to parallel, i've seen 6'6" guys do it.
I've watched judging and lifting in general take a total 180 degree turn from what it was in the 70's and 80's. Some people like the new style, but i am slipping away from powerlifting these days. I judged for years and never once saw anyone squat like this get white lights, it's just retarded at this point, but it's a sign of the times i guess.
As far as Hoff's press, you can't fool me, whatever was under that shirt was NOT natural, but who fucking knows. It just seems funny how this little bump shows up right where he had been getting stuck on his decent in the past few lifts...but whatever.
No smoke and mirrors should be allowed in this sport. This is not supposed to be a circus act, this is supposed to be a contest of "strength", but it's more of a leverage battle these days, which i guess is fine.
If i had my way, powerlifting would be like Olympic lifting, nothing but chalk, some wraps and a belt.