I've known Bob for more years that I care to remember and have to state that he is a great person. He is usually the first person I approach to say "howdy" to in a crowded room/auditorium and enjoy the resulting conversation.
He's such a good guy that it kind of hurts when I see him get attacked on here for things that are actually beyond his control.
I think one of the big problems that makes Bob such a target of adverse comments is that the IFBB uses the wrong word in describing his official position within that organization.
At a time when athletes' loyalty within the NPC is just about non-existant and appears to be likewise within the IFBB, Bob is a breath of fresh air.
Bob is definitely loyal to the IFBB (which I call "commendable") and that is precisely where the problem lies within his position as Athlete's Rep.
I won't go into detail right now, but similar problems have existed within the military structure and those problems were simply solved by changeing the "nomenclature" of various individuals within that organization.
I would suggest that the term "Athlete's Rep" be changed to "Liason Officer" and let those duties stretch a bit to include the offering of suggestions that would benefit the athletes where those benefits were lacking.
In my opinion a real "athletes' rep" would have to be someone outside of the "company" who would fight tooth and nail on behalf of those he represents.
It appears that a good number of us expect Bob to act in that capacity but in doing so, he would be compelled to switch his loyalties.
But by acting as the Liason Officer his loyalties can remain intact and he can work within the system for needed changes and not force it from the outside.
I do praise Bob for his loyalty. It is a rare thing to see within both organizations today and I could recite instances of that from top to bottom but it would take a book to express it all.
