Do we really need pro bodybuilding?

[LurkyLurker]

In what alternate universe are you living? I grew up hearing the same "Ewww!! That's GROSS!!!" comments about guys like Shawn Ray, Flex Wheeler, all those other guys as well.

It's always a generational thing, as I've said time and time again. The guys from the 60s think they were the best of all times and the guys from the 70s are just "horrible and aren't inspirational. It just appeals to a fringe group."

Guess what.

The guys from the 70s thought that about the guys from the 80s.
The guys from the 80s thought that about the guys from the 90s.
The guys from the 90s thought that about the gusy from the 2000s (or the 'aughts')
And, the guys from the 'aughts' think that about the guys from the '10s.

Ten years from now, we'll this talk about bodybuilders in 2020.

Most excellent post.

[erics]

I'd like to see the Olympia with less than 10 contestants, like the early '70s.  It would make the circuit shows much more competitive and bring back some prestige to the Olympia... Joe Weider created the show for former Mr. Universe champions, not a guy who finishes 5th at the NY Pro.

I agree. They should limit the show to ten contestants.

With a smaller number of entrants, you could then introduce posing back into the competitive mix and use it to really differentiate between the top competitiors. Also, with the smaller number of competitors, the audience (and judges) wouldn't have to sit through scores and scores of basically irrelevant posing routines. With only ten competitors, each posing routine, each pose, would assume greater importance for the overall score and placing.

[chaos]

yes we need pro bodybuilding

it's our favorite sport

E

Even Mr Olympia says it's not a sport..........get over it kiddo!

[Firemuscle]

 I like to see what bodybuilders can accomplish with the steroids and training, but I don't give a fuck about competitions.

 If they stopped all bodybuilding competition I wouldn't give a shit. It's all a big charade anyway.

[Azure]

In what alternate universe are you living? I grew up hearing the same "Ewww!! That's GROSS!!!" comments about guys like Shawn Ray, Flex Wheeler, all those other guys as well.

It's always a generational thing, as I've said time and time again. The guys from the 60s think they were the best of all times and the guys from the 70s are just "horrible and aren't inspirational. It just appeals to a fringe group."

Guess what.

The guys from the 70s thought that about the guys from the 80s.
The guys from the 80s thought that about the guys from the 90s.
The guys from the 90s thought that about the gusy from the 2000s (or the 'aughts')
And, the guys from the 'aughts' think that about the guys from the '10s.

Ten years from now, we'll this talk about bodybuilders in 2020.

If you show a female a magazine picture of a guy onstage most likely you will get a thumbsdown, but let them see dude in a club or out at the mall....watch and see what happens.

As far as things going downhill, look at the trend in the television coverage for proof of this.  Bodybuilding competitions used to be on ABC's Wide World of Sports, the Mr. Olympia was on ESPN (not live but it was still televised) I even remember watching the 1993 Nationals on TV...Arnold Classic came on NBC one year- 1993 maybe? Remember American Muscle Magazine on ESPN?

Now it's not on period, because you can't sell advertising because there isn't enough interest.

[MCWAY]

If you show a female a magazine picture of a guy onstage most likely you will get a thumbsdown, but let them see dude in a club or out at the mall....watch and see what happens.

As far as things going downhill, look at the trend in the television coverage for proof of this.  Bodybuilding competitions used to be on ABC's Wide World of Sports, the Mr. Olympia was on ESPN (not live but it was still televised) I even remember watching the 1993 Nationals on TV...Arnold Classic came on NBC one year- 1993 maybe? Remember American Muscle Magazine on ESPN?

Now it's not on period, because you can't sell advertising because there isn't enough interest.

The Arnold came on TV in 1999. And even then, it was chopped up, severely edited (everyone posing to dubbed rock music, even though it was obvious that some, especially Vince Taylor, were using hip-hop/R&B songs), and aired LONG after it happened .

As for ESPN, the bodybuilding contests came on TV, months after they happened; the footage was chopped to the point you could barely hear the music; and the contests aired in the wee hours of the morning.

I think fans would rather see a contest online LIVE, or on YouTube 24-48 hours later than wait for months to see it a 3:00 am.

[Earl1972]

Even Mr Olympia says it's not a sport..........get over it kiddo!

mr. olympia also says he doesn't use steroids

E

[Mr Nobody]

Na Pro Bodybiuiding needs go all a joke.

[Azure]

The Arnold came on TV in 1999. And even then, it was chopped up, severely edited (everyone posing to dubbed rock music, even though it was obvious that some, especially Vince Taylor, were using hip-hop/R&B songs), and aired LONG after it happened .

As for ESPN, the bodybuilding contests came on TV, months after they happened; the footage was chopped to the point you could barely hear the music; and the contests aired in the wee hours of the morning.

I think fans would rather see a contest online LIVE, or on YouTube 24-48 hours later than wait for months to see it a 3:00 am.

It also came on in 1993...I remember and it wasn't chopped up and screwed up.  It was very professional.

OF COURSE the shows came on months after their aired...it was a different time period and they had to edit and so forth and get clearances.  There was a time you didn't know who won a contest until 3 months after the fact.  The point is at least it was televised.

I understand some are going to come in and homer...but face facts the contest aspect is a farce and embarrassment.

[99 Bananas]

Come on Jim....you know as well as I do that no one in the history of BB, has ever gotten into it for the money, or to become rich and famous...

I couldnt care less if the GP ever likes BB...never have, never will....it's the FITNESS industry as a whole that we need to appeal to more, which is why the changes of late have taken place....something they should have been doing a long time ago.

qft

[Captain Equipoise]

Agreed on limiting the O to 10 contestants to make it more exclusive also get rid of half the other shit at the O, it doesn't need to be a 4+ hour show