this thread was not meant to be BASH BOB time
if you are talking history - Arnold never won an NPC show
1982 is still relatively not that long ago- 8 years before Pumping Iron was made
if we are talking BB History
So if PDI comes up with an amateur division - than a win would not be that hollow
Mike Matarazzo had the world at his feet right around the same time WWB attempted to
muscle in - he went with the IFBB for probably the very same reasons Chick mentions
maybe he should of taken the money and ran - as what does he have now -never won an IFBB show (I know it's not about winning ) he might of been a mainstream media star with movies -wrestling etc -
Got to clear up a few facts...
Arnold never won a an NPC show because there was no NPC, and he was from Europe...the AAU was the only federation to speak of...The NPC "USA" was an extention of the old AAU "Mr. USA"...which goes back to the 1940's or so...same with the Nationals( formerly the AAU"Mr. America", which dates back to 1939 and the Bert Goodrich/ John Grimek era.
Much like the winners of the AAU shows never gained any respect...same would happen with a PDI amateur div. If you don't beat the best, you don't get the respect. All the best bodybuilders were/are in the NPC...
Pumping Iron was filmed in 1975...
If Mike wanted to, he could've pursued a Wrestling or movie career if he chose...had nothing to do with BB. Mike made a lot of money and was one of the most sought out guest posers up until he retired...making money and SAVING it are two different things.
Lots of guys made huge money back min the day, only to blow it on material things and end up broke (Paul Dillet, Flex Wheeler, etc.)