The Death of pro bodybuilding...

[Bouncer]

By Shawn Ray

Are we there yet?

We must go back in time to try and bring back a look that has been lost to "Father Time". Bodybuilding as a whole will never be the same again. We are now trying to put the "Jeanie back in the bottle" because the non rotation of new Judges and Opinions choosing our sports leading men, has lead us to a place where we have the industry President, Ben Weider issuing a decree "Demanding Change" and penalties for anomalies like Gut Distention and Synthol Abuse to the Athletes of all people. What happened to instructing the Judges about what it is they are supposed to be judging? Point the finger at the people who actually do the voting for our champions!

While we are moving in a new direction, one cannot help wonder where the hell it is we are going?

If it seems like I have more questions than answers, you'd be assuming correctly!

Who is Judging the Judges?
What is next for the Athletes?
How many more shows will be canceled by 2008?

Is Women's Bodybuilding Dead?

When will the Prize Money for the Mr. Olympia be reflective of Forward Progress?

How long will these $10,000.00 "First Place Prize Money Shows" continue to hold our Athletes back from making a living?

More questions and no answers?
If we have one more Bodybuilder die this year, will we be the next sport on 20/20 or 60 minutes trying to defend what the federation is trying to promote?

How many more arrests will our sport be able to endure before we are "Black Balled" from having contests anymore?

This year Orleans Hotel for the Mr. O, what is next, Circus Circus?

Mr. Olympia loses a car as part of his reward for winning last year; will he lose the Sandow Medal this year due to the rising costs of Steel?

How many more athletes will wind up in the Emergency Room of the local hospitals because there is no comprehensive Drug Testing in our Sport to get rid of Duiretic Abuse? Did we learn nothing from the death of Mohammed Bennaziza?

So far this year bodybuilders I knew that have died are: Paul Demayo, Don Youngblood, Charles Durr and Stronman Anthony Clark, is this something I am supposed to get used to and hear the pundits blame everything on Red Meat and Heart Disease?

Please, if this is where we are headed, I will be forced to find other interests.

How many more close calls will I be witness to regarding the "Grim Reaper" trying to take our athletes home too soon:

(Heart) Mike Matarazzo, (Kidney) Flex Wheeler, (Heart) Milos Sarcev, (Duiretics) Mustafa Muhammed, (Duiretics) Paul Dillett, (Kidney) Don Long, ((Kidney/Liver) Tom Prince.

I say, "Drug Test, Rotate Judges, Increase purse for the $10,000 Rip Off Shows, require Athletes to pay into a Pro Bbing Fund, where as long as they are Competing, Pro's pay Annual dues for Health Care that will be provided during their competitive careers by the federation!"

Change is being Demanded!

Will anybody hear us or are we simply Shouting in the WIND?

If this ship is not turned in the right direction we will all drown!

There will be no second chances at what we can fix today, so why are we waiting for the Ship to sink?
I have a sinking feeling that the end is near and every completive athlete had better take Swimming lesson now to avoid getting SUNK!

I keep looking for the End Game, the Finish Line that will put my heart at ease knowing the sport will go on. However, I feel like we are driving in circles, (Press Release from the IFBB to penalize Bloated Stomach & Synthol Abuse circa 1997 Long Beach, Ca Mr. Olympia).

Haven't we been here before? Didn't I hear this like 10 years ago?

While the end result of the new switch in power represents change, I will pray change comes soon and the sport carries on because watching on the sidelines for something good to happen is kind of like waiting for "Y2K" to come crushing down and then.....................Nothing.

Feeling Lost in a sport of confusion, only adds to the anxiety of what to do next for the competitive Pro.

Imagine being a Female Bodybuilder today with the mixed messages of the "Ideal Physique".

The title of this piece, "Are we there yet" defines what most of us feel like; Lost, Dazed and Confused.

We don’t know where we are as a sport, we have no clue on where we are headed as a sport or what the exact criteria is for our champions Figure, Fitness and Bodybuilding?

If we ever get back to where we were, I'd be surprised but at least I'd be interested.

[BBAddict]

Interesting read. While I disagree with a number of his points, I agree there needs to be a change for the sake of the life of the sport. The sport as a whole simply needs a complete overhaul for the sake of longevity and public appeal.

[bad14u]

Very good read.

[Bouncer]

Interesting read. While I disagree with a number of his points, I agree there needs to be a change for the sake of the life of the sport. The sport as a whole simply needs a complete overhaul for the sake of longevity and public appeal.

What do you disagree with? I agree with every single thing he said.

[BBAddict]

What do you disagree with? I agree with every single thing he said.

What happened to instructing the Judges about what it is they are supposed to be judging?
The guidelines for judging are clearly laid out. Just because they weren't adhering to them and turning a blind eye to GH gut and sterol shoulders doesn't mean they don't have guidelines.

I say, "Drug Test"
How many rants do I have to pull up from many member of the board enumerating the reasons that drug testing for other sports is not in the best interest of the athletes or the fans-how is it different for bodybuilding?

require Athletes to pay into a Pro Bbing Fund
Number one, I don't think there's enough money in BBing to start adding costs to the meager prizes that most athletes see. Secondly, I'm not a fan of anything that starts to look like a union. I suppose this is part of my political view coming through, but I think we should have more freedom to choose our own health care, retirement investments, etc.

[INTIMID8OR]

GOOD READ BOUNCER .... :bravonew:

[Bouncer]

What happened to instructing the Judges about what it is they are supposed to be judging?
The guidelines for judging are clearly laid out. Just because they weren't adhering to them and turning a blind eye to GH gut and sterol shoulders doesn't mean they don't have guidelines.

I say, "Drug Test"
How many rants do I have to pull up from many member of the board enumerating the reasons that drug testing for other sports is not in the best interest of the athletes or the fans-how is it different for bodybuilding?

require Athletes to pay into a Pro Bbing Fund
Number one, I don't think there's enough money in BBing to start adding costs to the meager prizes that most athletes see. Secondly, I'm not a fan of anything that starts to look like a union. I suppose this is part of my political view coming through, but I think we should have more freedom to choose our own health care, retirement investments, etc.

ok, i can agree with you on the last 2 but the first one i cant. what you said dosent really make sence. how can they have guidelines if they dont adhere to them?

[BBAddict]

what you said dosent really make sence. how can they have guidelines if they dont adhere to them?

Just cause people don't listen to the guidelines doesn't mean they haven't been given guidelines. Just like people on the board that ask for sources or post porn--doesn't mean you haven't given them guidelines, they just don't adhere to what they have been instructed to do.

[Bouncer]

Just cause people don't listen to the guidelines doesn't mean they haven't been given guidelines. Just like people on the board that ask for sources or post porn--doesn't mean you haven't given them guidelines, they just don't adhere to what they have been instructed to do.

thats why they need to have new judges like he is saying. guidelines are worthless if the person that is in charge of judging is not following them.

[BBAddict]

guidelines are worthless if the person that is in charge of judging is not following them.

I don't know who the judges are, but it seems that former competitors would make decent judges.

[Bouncer]

I don't know who the judges are, but it seems that former competitors would make decent judges.

HAHAHAH!!! You didnt see the challange round at this years MR.O did you. Holy shit, i almost shot myself.

[BBAddict]

HAHAHAH!!! You didnt see the challange round at this years MR.O did you. Holy shit, i almost shot myself.

Yeah, I saw it, unfortunately! That whole thing was setup to not be taken seriously. I couldn't tell if they were as embarresed to be there as I was for them. I think there are some that could do a good job-not necessarily a who's who panel of judges but at least people who have competed and know what to look for. I think boxing has the same problem--judges who don't know what to look for.

[malibu barbie]

Sterol Shoulders

[QUOTE=BBAddict]What happened to instructing the Judges about what it is they are supposed to be judging?
The guidelines for judging are clearly laid out. Just because they weren't adhering to them and turning a blind eye to GH gut and sterol shoulders doesn't mean they don't have guidelines.

[

What are sterol shoulders?

[BBAddict]

[QUOTE=malibu barbie]

What happened to instructing the Judges about what it is they are supposed to be judging?
The guidelines for judging are clearly laid out. Just because they weren't adhering to them and turning a blind eye to GH gut and sterol shoulders doesn't mean they don't have guidelines.

[

What are sterol shoulders?

LOL. Good question?! I guess they're what you get when you do steroids and synthol, cause I was thinking about my answer to the steroid testing response and typing synthol at the same time!