2013 Olympia

[Phall]

Tonight is the 2013 Olympia judging. This competition is considered the top bodybuilding contest in the world, having kickstarted the mainstream careers of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lou Ferrigno. It's being broadcasted online for free by its sponsor at this link:

http://streaming.bodybuilding.com/2013-olympia-webcast/

Bodybuilding shows usually follow the formula of Friday night judging and Saturday "finals", meaning that the decisions are largely made before the last round of pageantry and the contestants are free to break their fasts. All nineteen guys will get to prance and preen on stage tomorrow, but the final six are probably already selected at that point. Those last guys will have the opportunity to square off next to each other and compare: I think there is still some room for the judges to flip-flop here, for example I think Jay Cutler's lats drove Ronnie Coleman into retirement in 2006.

There is racial backstory in play, as usual. Jay Cutler will be the biggest guy on stage, but he was robbed of his title in 2011, which was awarded to the inflatable Phil Heath. Jay tore a muscle last year and could not compete, so Heath won a second Olympia and the hype machine grew. I am anticipating a triumphant return, but it's up to the judges.

Last year's top four finishers were all black, which is the first time that's happened since Jay's been competing, or maybe ever. Branch Warren is renowned for having the best legs in the world, but I personally don't think he's balloon-ish enough to ever steal a victory here. Dennis Wolf has the frame to eventually reach Jay's status but has yet to come in both big and dry.

The "real" Jay Cutler

Branch Warren and his wheels of steel

Dennis Wolf, Hollywood villain

This Olympia will boil down to the showdown between Cutler and Heath, the two guys on the promotional banner. I would be very surprised if they do not place 1-2, since this is not entirely an objective exercise. Basically, it's a decision over who is more marketable going forward. The Arnold Classic, the penultimate bodybuilding show, is a little more non-partisan and often has a unique finishing order.

 

[white is right]

Tonight is the 2013 Olympia judging. This competition is considered the top bodybuilding contest in the world, having kickstarted the mainstream careers of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lou Ferrigno. It's being broadcasted online for free by its sponsor at this link:

http://streaming.bodybuilding.com/2013-olympia-webcast/

Bodybuilding shows usually follow the formula of Friday night judging and Saturday "finals", meaning that the decisions are largely made before the last round of pageantry and the contestants are free to break their fasts. All nineteen guys will get to prance and preen on stage tomorrow, but the final six are probably already selected at that point. Those last guys will have the opportunity to square off next to each other and compare: I think there is still some room for the judges to flip-flop here, for example I think Jay Cutler's lats drove Ronnie Coleman into retirement in 2006.

There is racial backstory in play, as usual. Jay Cutler will be the biggest guy on stage, but he was robbed of his title in 2011, which was awarded to the inflatable Phil Heath. Jay tore a muscle last year and could not compete, so Heath won a second Olympia and the hype machine grew. I am anticipating a triumphant return, but it's up to the judges.

Last year's top four finishers were all black, which is the first time that's happened since Jay's been competing, or maybe ever. Branch Warren is renowned for having the best legs in the world, but I personally don't think he's balloon-ish enough to ever steal a victory here. Dennis Wolf has the frame to eventually reach Jay's status but has yet to come in both big and dry.

The "real" Jay Cutler

Branch Warren and his wheels of steel

Dennis Wolf, Hollywood villain

This Olympia will boil down to the showdown between Cutler and Heath, the two guys on the promotional banner. I would be very surprised if they do not place 1-2, since this is not entirely an objective exercise. Basically, it's a decision over who is more marketable going forward. The Arnold Classic, the penultimate bodybuilding show, is a little more non-partisan and often has a unique finishing order.

Yes the winner is usually who is the most marketable. Very few people know this but the IFBB was created and controlled behind the scenes by the Weider brothers(who are both dead now). It was created to create an image of impartiality but in reality what Joe Weider and to a lesser extent what Ben wanted the judges did. This is why champions usually win multiple titles in a row. I recall Sergio Olivia stating that he had a fall out with Joe and they wouldn't let him win again. Bodybuilding started losing me around the end of the run of Lee Haney. The size of the competitors dwarf what competitors were in the early 80's. The day I felt bodybuilding jumped the shark was the day I saw a 5'11" competitor hit the stage at about 280 pounds.....:faint2:

 

[Phall]

I tuned in to this carnival sideshow last night and must admit that Phil Heath looked very good (in cartoon character terms). Jay came in dry but without his trademark size. He used to shake the ground when he walked onto the stage, but he's looking like a regular bodybuilder now, which is not flattering. I have on good authority that he is running some new gear this year, but he needs to rediscover his 330 lb. form or he is not beating Phil ever again.

Kai Greene used to actually train at my old gym, the now-defunct 5th Ave Gym in Park Slope, Brooklyn. I could cheer for him as a local guy, but frankly his "gay4pay" escapades have rendered him unmarketable and it is hard to see him winning this show with all that shameful media out there. Ironic that the gayest sport still self-polices for being "too gay". At least Kai's purported girlfriend is a fellow African; most of these bucks select busted white girls to oil them down :thumbdown:

 

[GiovaniMarcon]

I think bodybuilding (what it's turned into these days) might be interesting in a circus sideshow context, but it doesn't seem to be an objective competition (ie, if some stranger came in out of nowhere and had a "better" body than all the other bodybuilders; he'd still lose because no one knows him or sponsors him, etc.).

As semi-rigged as most professional sports are, you can't really fake a touchdown pass or basketball field goal or things like that.

Anyway what I was getting at is, these men don't look normal at all; in fact they look gross and I'll bet that most sane females will think these guys are not desirable in sexual terms, whether the competitor is White or Black.

Even more important than that, though, I don't really think these guys represent an "Olympian" ideal. I don't believe they would make good warriors at all; in fact I think their absurdly exaggerated musculature would be a liability in a combat situation and they would be among the first to die in any battle.

Probably if some midget 5'8" guy who roided himself up to 290 tried to really throw down with someone, he wouldn't have the stamina or coordination to really win a street fight.

Anyway that's just the impression I get as a non-fan.

 

[frederic38]

i don't understand how phil heath can win against wolf
wolf is better in every way