Do we really need pro bodybuilding?

[Chick]

So by your reasoning I should be looking forward to a new nfl, nba, and mlb leagues in the near future. Because business is so good, it can only get better.

If things are going good you dont change it, come on Bob you know that. If it aint broke, dont fix it!

And if the contracts were so great and more people are able to support their incomes then why is a guy like troy alves who has just won a pro show in the past year and placed top five in multiple other shows just recently not even able to afford to be able to do the mr.olympia this year until he got a last minute contract with some european supplement company.

But I probably just got my facts wrong. Right Bob.

Yeah...actually you do.  It would be business suicide to ever believe that you never need to chnge anything, or move with the times.

You use the NFL , etc as a example...but they make change more often than anyone...despite the millions that come in.  No, they dont need to add "divisions", but they are  different animal all togetehr than BB....rule changes, uniform changes, playing in London, expanding the season, etc, etc....why make ANY change, right?  They were doing just fine as it was....

You use ONE guy to illustrate your point, while I can name 10 that have signed contracts as AMATEURS, or signed publication contracts as rookies....it's not even debatable that the money in pro BB is better now than ever in the history of the sport...

[Flexb]

LOL...Interesting take.

Where do you get your facts from?

1. WPD will INCREASE the interest in women who like to lift weights without going to the extreme of FBB, and put many more athletes on stage, and butts in the seats

2. HUH?  Obviously, you werent at the Olympia this year....and supp companies come and go all the time, it's the nature of the business.

3. MPD....added to expand the brand to even more that like to compete and lift weights...opening up more opportunities to a wider audience...which only increases the exposure yo OUR world of BB

4. AMI and WEIDER are two different companies....Weider will be around a loooong time to come with Eric Weider at the helm, it's in good hands

Face it Bob, bodybuilding is on the outs. There isn't nearly as many people interested in building a physique that's over 200lbs, let alone want to compete or become a pro bodybuilder. I remember when little kids and teens would see a big guy and have respect for him. Now days kids think it's stupid and people are realizing big muscle usually equals steroids. Look at the quality on stage at the nationals and even Olympia for that matter. Across the board the quality is down and interest is down. Yes, the fitness aspect is on the rise but next generations Ronnie Colemans or Flex Wheelers aren't out there.

Being a freak is no longer cool. Bodybuilding is no longer cool and being a competitive bodybuilder is frowned upon more than ever.

[Chick]

I don't need numbers polerider, I have your posts.........

Of course you dont, you're retarded.....get lost fool

[chaos]

Of course you dont, you're retarded.....get lost fool

LOL, bitter little never was.

[flexingtonsteele]

Face it Bob, bodybuilding is on the outs. There isn't nearly as many people interested in building a physique that's over 200lbs, let alone want to compete or become a pro bodybuilder. I remember when little kids and teens would see a big guy and have respect for him. Now days kids think it's stupid and people are realizing big muscle usually equals steroids. Look at the quality on stage at the nationals and even Olympia for that matter. Across the board the quality is down and interest is down. Yes, the fitness aspect is on the rise but next generations Ronnie Colemans or Flex Wheelers aren't out there.

Being a freak is no longer cool. Bodybuilding is no longer cool and being a competitive bodybuilder is frowned upon more than ever.

very very true!

[Chick]

Face it Bob, bodybuilding is on the outs. There isn't nearly as many people interested in building a physique that's over 200lbs, let alone want to compete or become a pro bodybuilder. I remember when little kids and teens would see a big guy and have respect for him. Now days kids think it's stupid and people are realizing big muscle usually equals steroids. Look at the quality on stage at the nationals and even Olympia for that matter. Across the board the quality is down and interest is down. Yes, the fitness aspect is on the rise but next generations Ronnie Colemans or Flex Wheelers aren't out there.

Being a freak is no longer cool. Bodybuilding is no longer cool and being a competitive bodybuilder is frowned upon more than ever.

LOL....when It was just as frowned upon when I started back in 79-80.

It's on the outs, yet the Olympia prize money is nearing 1 Million, was a near sellout, (as was the Pres conference/ Seminar) and had more attending the Meet the Olympians than ever with almost 2,000 attending...

Let me know when it's "on the outs"

[Chick]

LOL, bitter little never was.

Bitter about what, exactly?  I make a living lifting weights....you talk about BB on the internet.

 I won the USA...WTF did you ever win?

[chaos]

LOL....when It was just as frowned upon when I started back in 79-80.

It's on the outs, yet the Olympia prize money is nearing 1 Million, was a near sellout, (as was the Pres conference/ Seminar) and had more attending the Meet the Olympians than ever with almost 2,000 attending...Let me know when it's "on the outs"

LMFAO!!!!!!!!! There were more than that at my nephews little league games!!

 I was gifted the USA...WTF did you ever win?

I won your attention, sizzlechest.

[flexingtonsteele]

Yeah...actually you do.  It would be business suicide to ever believe that you never need to chnge anything, or move with the times.

You use the NFL , etc as a example...but they make change more often than anyone...despite the millions that come in.  No, they dont need to add "divisions", but they are  different animal all togetehr than BB....rule changes, uniform changes, playing in London, expanding the season, etc, etc....why make ANY change, right?  They were doing just fine as it was....

You use ONE guy to illustrate your point, while I can name 10 that have signed contracts as AMATEURS, or signed publication contracts as rookies....it's not even debatable that the money in pro BB is better now than ever in the history of the sport...

Adding a game in london or being a little easier on the qb is far different than adding a whole new division like what bodybuilding is doing.

Just in the past couple of years, bikini, womens physique, and mens physique has been added. This isnt a minor change, these are whole new divisions being added to the mix.

Which to me says, what we are doing now isnt working, lets jump off this sinking ship while we can boys and get this thing going in the right direction.

And those rookies who have signed publication contracts are doing quite well, I know Zach Khan is doing great after being dropped by weider after only a year, so is Dennis Wolf who's contract with weider lasted only one year, or how about former mr.olympia from just a few years ago dexter jackson who doesnt even have a magazine contract and who iovate dropped to their six star supplement ads. Or how about a melvin anthony who is a mulitple top six olympia competitor and just won a pro show this year not being able to afford to compete for the rest of the year and signing up for emt school or whatever he did.

Thats just off the top of my head and what ive heard from others. There are many many more examples.

Bob you and I know outside of Jay, Phil, Branch and a few others nobody is making any respectable amount of money from bodybuilding. And buy respectable I mean six figures ( which isnt that much) . Which is very very sad.

[cyp200la]

pros sell gear. i had friends in orlando fl buying gear from a pro who lives in florida dexter something or other...

[Disgusted]

Men's bbing is (or was) the foundation for it all. Adding bikini and fagure isn't the way to go about it. That's like the NFL revamping the cheerleading squad in order to make football more popular.

[Chick]

Adding a game in london or being a little easier on the qb is far different than adding a whole new division like what bodybuilding is doing.

Just in the past couple of years, bikini, womens physique, and mens physique has been added. This isnt a minor change, these are whole new divisions being added to the mix.

Which to me says, what we are doing now isnt working, lets jump off this sinking ship while we can boys and get this thing going in the right direction.

And those rookies who have signed publication contracts are doing quite well, I know Zach Khan is doing great after being dropped by weider after only a year, so is Dennis Wolf who's contract with weider lasted only one year, or how about former mr.olympia from just a few years ago dexter jackson who doesnt even have a magazine contract and who iovate dropped to their six star supplement ads. Or how about a melvin anthony who is a mulitple top six olympia competitor and just won a pro show this year not being able to afford to compete for the rest of the year and signing up for emt school or whatever he did.

Thats just off the top of my head and what ive heard from others. There are many many more examples.

Bob you and I know outside of Jay, Phil, Branch and a few others nobody is making any respectable amount of money from bodybuilding. And buy respectable I mean six figures ( which isnt that much) . Which is very very sad.

Change is change...which was used to illustrate a point.  If it's working, why change it, Is what you said....

Again...using individuals to make a point of contracts...lets talk about them:

Zack Kahn-  has yet to even compete...

Wolf- Was with MD, signed with Weider, Just signed back with MD...seems to be doing ok with a 5th at the O, and MORE money in his pocket

Dexter-  Iovate owns  many different brands, MT, Six Star, Muscle Asylum, etc....they routinely rotate their guys...is he making less money?

Melvin-  Has been with NUMEROUS companies over the years...placing well isnt an automatic pass to a contract

How do you know the particulars of ANY of these guys, or anyone else for thatr matter.  How about if someone was a shitty spokesman?  You think that doesnt matter to companies?  How about if the athlete was a pain in the ass? 

I'm a perfect example of someone outside of the top 6 Olympians that makes a great living from BB, as does Shawn Ray, Dave P, Dan Solomon, writers, promoters, etc

[chaos]

Men's bbing is (or was) the foundation for it all. Adding bikini and fagure isn't the way to go about it. That's like the NFL revamping the cheerleading squad in order to make football more popular.

Here's a couple of ideas to throw at the NFL...........

[Disgusted]

Here's a couple of ideas to throw at the NFL...........

or maybe the IFBB

[Parker]

Slowly, but surely, Mens physique will evolve into a lightweight version of men's bodybuilding, just like Fitness did with women's bodybuilding...and then they will add a Mens Athletic division, and so on...

[Chick]

Slowly, but surely, Mens physique will evolve into a lightweight version of men's bodybuilding, just like Fitness did with women's bodybuilding...and then they will add a Mens Athletic division, and so on...

No it wont....different criteria for starters....we already have the 202

[flexingtonsteele]

Change is change...which was used to illustrate a point.  If it's working, why change it, Is what you said....

Again...using individuals to make a point of contracts...lets talk about them:

Zack Kahn-  has yet to even compete...
Had a contract for one year with weider, im sure he really "filled his pockets" during those 12 months. I wonder what the 401k is like with that weider contract.
Wolf- Was with MD, signed with Weider, Just signed back with MD...seems to be doing ok with a 5th at the O, and MORE money in his pocket. Great for Dennis he was able to sign with MD, but if Weider was doing so great, then why would they let a guy go who is one of the most popular competitors out there and a top five olympia guy.

Dexter-  Iovate owns  many different brands, MT, Six Star, Muscle Asylum, etc....they routinely rotate their guys...is he making less money? Yes he is making less money because he was just a mr.olympia, and now hes without a magazine contract, thats like a super bowl mvp being without a job two seasons after he won the award while still playing great ball ( dexter was 4th at this years O)

Melvin-  Has been with NUMEROUS companies over the years...placing well isnt an automatic pass to a contract Ok, ill take that, but not only is melvin a top placing pro, but he has one of the best personalities on any bodybuilder and is a great speaker, what company wouldnt want to have this guy signed to a contract. 

How do you know the particulars of ANY of these guys, or anyone else for thatr matter.  How about if someone was a shitty spokesman?  You think that doesnt matter to companies?  How about if the athlete was a pain in the ass? 
I dont know its just kinda fishy. Its like being an nba all star but not getting offered a contract the next offseason in free agency. Just doesnt make sense. 
 


I'm a perfect example of someone outside of the top 6 Olympians that makes a great living from BB, as does Shawn Ray, Dave P, Dan Solomon, writers, promoters, etc. 
 And finally none of these guys are pro bodybuilders, which is one of the big things wrong in bodybuilding. The bodybuilders arent the ones making the money. If anyone is, its the people who arent competing who are.
   

[Chick]

Lets just say that there are those that are their own worst enemies...

Concerning Zack....yes, he had a 1 year contract....what did he do in that year?  Opted out to not compete, then got injured....What did you expect the company to do?

[Disgusted]

I long for the days when bbing shows were held in old gymnasiums, the guys had tiny waits and wore posing trunks not thongs. 

[flexingtonsteele]

I long for the days when bbing shows were held in old gymnasiums, the guys had tiny waits and wore posing trunks not thongs. 

Preach on brother!

[flexingtonsteele]

Lets just say that there are those that are their own worst enemies...

Concerning Zack....yes, he had a 1 year contract....what did he do in that year?  Opted out to not compete, then got injured....What did you expect the company to do?

I dont know what Zach did, but im sure his health plan that he recieved with his weider contract more than covererd his hospital bills............

[Disgusted]

Preach on brother!

Okay I will

[flexingtonsteele]

Okay I will

Bodybuilding is the only "sport" that has regressed in the past 20 years.

The physiques from the 80's and 90's are so much better than the piles of shit we see onstage now its not even funny.

[churbro]

With all this so-called 'progress' in bodybuilding (prize money, more contracts, etc), why is it that the actual standard of physique seems to be regressing?
I have yet to hear of any initiatives from the policy makers to rein in obvious synthol use, huge waists, inappropriate posing routines, etc.  

An increase of money is in no way a reflection on the QUALITY of an endeavour.

[Disgusted]