Lift:
Now THAT is laughable. Perhaps you are very close to Val and they don't feel comfortable telling you how they really feel.
JohnT:
No..... I have professional connections with many (not all) of the competitors. Has nothing to do with Val in particular.
Lift:
As I've spoken to more then ten of the Olympia competitors and they all have spoke less then favorably on the "figure posing routine".
JohnT:
Like Tre' said, "name them". I don't believe you, period. I have heard opinions of the exact opposite nature.
Lift:
It is disrespectful, it's not what figure is about
JohnT:
I must have missed that part where they put you in charge of dictating what figure is about.
Lift:
if you want to change, great but do so in a matter other then just doing it and thinking that will work.
JohnT:
You can handle change however you want. Val can handle it her way. Fine with me.
Lift:
Nothing wrong with positive affirmations, I think many competitors and people do it - just not OUTLOUD ON STAGE.
JohnT:
And again, just who did that bother? What life was so terribly negatively impacted by that? If that is what Val needed to do to be comfortable and compete at the highest level, so what? Do you get pissed off at a female tennis player when she grunts to hit the ball? (ala Monica Seles). Do you get pissed off at that drummer at a rock concert who's making weird faces and noises into his mic while he concentrates on his drum solo?
Lift:
If you want to do it, cool but you can't say people won't scratch their head wondering WTF. What's next referring to yourself in the third person and that's "normal" behavior as well?
JohnT:
It's more normal than being so uncomfortable with something that you go running online and bitch about it for a week.
Lift:
It is factual, not ALMOST factual. How about you tell us who you are because everyone here knows who I am and I can tell you I have been told numerous times the direct opposite of what you're saying.
JohnT:
Oh believe me, I'll be more than happy to introduce myself this weekend if I see you here in Florida.
Lift:
To each their own, I could give a shit less
JohnT:
yeah, that's why you've been here crying for the last week over it. You *clearly* don't give a shit.
Lift:
and I do find it interesting and comical but I am reporting facts and you're clearly a fan/friend of family trying to save face.
JohnT:
At best you are presenting heresay. Facts? Now THAT is comical. Most likely you have a personal ax to grind, and are using this forum as your method of attack. No, I'm not family. Could "maybe" be considered a friend of Vals, but more a professional affiliation would be the best way to describe it. In any event, I know she is a sweetheart of a person, and is absolutely innocent of the outright lies (being rude to competitors... c'mon Malibu, get real) being spread here, and as a result I feel compelled to defend her since she does not visit this forum and in this industry, reputation counts for a lot.
Lift:
Stating the obvious of what everyone was talking about is hardly an attack on Valerie.
JohnT:
LOL - there we go with that "everyone" again. yeah, everyone minus about 15 competitors I talked to last weekend after the show. (where we specifically discussed the "routine".). I think in your world "everyone" = a select few catty bitches who are jealous, and/or entirely afraid of any type of change in their precious little world.
Lift:
The Regal One? Oh brother. Try removing your schmoe hat once in awhile and see things for what they really are. She is a far cry from what IFBB figure is all about.
JohnT:
Oh really? Having perfect genetics, beautifully marketable face, and professionalism and sincrerity beyond your comprehension is a "far cry" from what IFBB figure is all about? Hmmmm.....that doesn't sound like much of an organization to me, then.
Lift:
It doesn't mean the act on stage was appropriate and I agree with it, it's about the physique and on that day because she was off her other actions looked like a circus side show.
JohnT:
Who are you to decide what is/is not appropriate for the figure division? If this was so inappropriate, why isn't Val banned now? I agree she missed her conditioning for this show. If she came in like she did in Denver, she wins hands down. But her "circus side show" (all 15 extra seconds of it... oh yes, time is SUCH a commodity at these shows....) was hardly deemed inappropriate by anyone I've talked to (including one judge and two people close to the judges of that show).
Lift:
I must say why I still don't agree with the figure posing routine, I do enjoy having candid conversations in person with Val.
JohnT:
Nobody ever said you had to agree with it. Your lack of professionalism in bashing her, pretty much "behind her back" is what I took issue with. In any event, I'm glad you had dinner with Val and were able to get her side of the story.
Lift:
To anyone who thinks I am maliciously bashing Val is wrong and feel free to contact her and ask her about our conversations. At the end of the night Val and Adela suggested I take up a new career of "Figure Routine Choreography". LOL!
JohnT:
I will indeed ask Val about it, first thing tomorrow morning when I see her. Whatever her response is, it probably won't change my opinion of how you and "malibu" handled yourselves here. And yes, tomorrow, if I see you'll, I'll defend my position with equal conviction in person. Looking forward to meeting you. (no, that's not meant to be a threat or any shit like that... but if you appreciate "candid conversation" like you had with Val, then you'll love me! - LOL. Seriously, enjoy the show, have fun.)
