Why Bodybuilding Contests Are More Boring Than Ever

[Nelson Montana]

Once bodybuilding shows went mainstream (post Pumping Iron) and muscularity became commonplace, they never held much interest to me. You've seen one you've seen them all. But check out this video from 1990. If nothing else you'll notice that EVERY contestant had a routine -- a little schtick that was composed and constructed and kept your interest. Compare that with the latest Olympia where hardly any of the contestants had anything planned at all. They just walked around gesturing to the audience to get more excited and then they'd hit some mandatory pose. And then they bitch that there's not enough money in the sport. What are they offering? How many spongy, wide waisted blobs with synthol in their delts can you watch?

Also interesting is how much smaller these guys were -- YET -- so much harder!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EI5YR2wZZ-k

 

[bottleneckblooz]

Eddie Robinson was awesome! He was my idol back then.

 

[bottleneckblooz]

Padilla Looked pretty good there too. Albert Beckles biceps look like miniture versions of Colemans.

Thanks for posting that!

 

[Muscle Mafia]

Great video!

 

[holy ghost]

these short guys look so funny

holy shit sonny schmidt looks like junior seau back in the day

 

[Acela]

Albert Beckles looked soooooo good for a 59 year old!

12th place was an insult IMO

 

[702daswoll1]

Hey ghost good luck with ur tests.

 

[ironclaw]

great video Nelson

 

[Pat_McCrotch]

Whatever happenned to eddie? I remember derth was a little bitch in one article I read years ago. he said if lee haney, eddie and several others were on a plane together he would pray for the plane to crash so he could win a comp.

 

[flexed1]

great blast from past... need to have weight classes to bring the sport back into perspective... to much mass with no "class"

 

[slat1]

I judge a ton of shows these days.
I think the problem is the competitors know their routines do not effect the scores so they just do "whatever"
If someone plans something out and it has great music the crowd always goes nuts.
Generally, its only one or two guys per show that do it.

 

[flexed1]

my music was back in black acdc and the crowd seemed to enjoy it... music is great but the body ahs to be there to pull the music off.... i bet you can tell us some stories?

 

[holy ghost]

Thanks 702 my nig

Yeah Slat lets hear some stories

 

[AAP]

I remember Vince Comerford (sp?) basically giving up and saying bodybuilding was too hard for him after he got his pro card.

And Mike Quinn getting his ass kicked in Miami and not able to pull his tough guy act off any longer.

 

[holy ghost]

AAP were you the avenging angel when his toughguy act got smashed?

 

[AAP]

AAP were you the avenging angel when his toughguy act got smashed?

Dude whupped his ass so bad that Quinn stated when he blew his nose, air would come out of his eyes.

 

[holy ghost]

Jesus that is when you know you got your ass handed to you

technique VS brawn
age old debate

 

[702daswoll1]

I will take brawn every time. Those who posses both are dangerous like myself.

 

[bottleneckblooz]

Whatever happenned to eddie? I remember derth was a little bitch in one article I read years ago. he said if lee haney, eddie and several others were on a plane together he would pray for the plane to crash so he could win a comp.

Eddie is retired and I believe he lives with Erika Kern. He is quite religious now from what I read on his website.

 

[Pat_McCrotch]

Dude whupped his ass so bad that Quinn stated when he blew his nose, air would come out of his eyes.

Thats a fucking blow out fracture. Those arent easy to give. You fucked his ass up. lol

 

[Pat_McCrotch]

Eddie is retired and I believe he lives with Erika Kern. He is quite religious now from what I read on his website.

Sp I take it he does not juice anymore huh?

 

[nzrodney]

I judge a ton of shows these days.
I think the problem is the competitors know their routines do not effect the scores so they just do "whatever"
If someone plans something out and it has great music the crowd always goes nuts.
Generally, its only one or two guys per show that do it.

Should all be judged from their posing routine. Get rid of the mandatory poses let it all go free routine.

 

[Slyder190]

Let me start by saying that I bow to Al Beckles. I think it's a shame that all the guys who jumped ship to the short-lived WBF pretty much commited career suicide. I think it's a shame that the politics of the sport was the reason for that.

 

[mlong23]

I don't think they look special at all. A lot of those guys had bodies that a lot of people could have. Thats the reason guys have kept getting bigger, when they all look the same there is nothing fun about that.

 

[holy ghost]

im with rodney!

 

[Tatyana]

I judge a ton of shows these days.
I think the problem is the competitors know their routines do not effect the scores so they just do "whatever"
If someone plans something out and it has great music the crowd always goes nuts.
Generally, its only one or two guys per show that do it.

OMG, when you are competing and have to sit through 50+ boring routines!!!!!

I have found that the girlies are a bit more interesting.

I think about my routines, I have knocked off some very last minute though

I think having dance training helps.

This year (and maybe for a few comps next year), I edited Yeke Yeke by erm Morey someone, ireally funky house mix of a middle eastern song (old school club classic in the UK) and have a routine, bikini and jewellery that plays on the whole middle eastern theme



I am constantly looking for awesome music that gets everyone going, and usually have about three songs ready to go for routines in advance.

 

[fortunatesun]

OMG, when you are competing and have to sit through 50+ boring routines!!!!!

That's the other thing I found to be wrong with this year's Olympia. It's good that more bodybuilders get exposure but how can these people represent the pinnicle of their sport when the stage is so crowded?

Then they say "... and of course he can't win because he's not tall enough". It just puts me to sleep.

They need to be more accurate in their judging criteria and increase the prize money. I think this would help the sport become a contest of realizing your true genetic potential instead of just so much beef on the hoof.

 

[Nelson Montana]

Should all be judged from their posing routine. Get rid of the mandatory poses let it all go free routine.

I agree completely. The process is intermidable and in the end, it's splitting hairs anyway. No other sport has more attention given to the minutest details only to arrive at a decision half the people disagree with. Let it be judged like a gymnastics routine combining all the elements.

Then again, I really don't give a fuck. Just sayin'.

 

[holy ghost]

Tell Em Nelson! !!!! :d