A mandate from president Ben Weider has had a pro committee evaluate the judging in the IFBB. It seems they want to get back to the old ways of judging on shape, symmetry. It would also seem they now want a more classic look like in the late 80s which is the exact opposite of what the have been rewarding for the last 10 years. Now the IFBB is saying “distended abdomens and distorted muscles negativity impact bodybuilding”.

In last months flex it says “athletes and judges are advised that muscle size at the expense of symmetry and natural aesthetics will not be assessed favorably”.

So what the Hell does this mean? The top 10 from last year will now be the bottom 10. And when we talk of guts the current MR. O.; is right up there in the top 3. Tell you what I think this is all the new ownership and they know Ronnie is not marketable. Okay before you start complaining about that statement just think about it. Jay is much more marketable that Ronnie and a Dexter Jackson is more marketable to the lay person because he doesn’t look like an alien from mars.

To top it all off, who the Hell would come up with these new rules 3 months out from the O. I believe it is a direct attempt and crowing a new MR.O.

Its kind of funny Ronnie said in flex “ I know its not directed at me, but it will be bad for guys like Cutler and Gunter.”

What kind of crack is he smoking? I have seen pics of Ron that look like he is going to give birth. No I take that back he looks like he is 7months overdue to give birth.

Big Ron went on to say, “the emphasis seems to be on aesthetics, but if that will be at the expense of mass and muscularity they might as well call it aesthetics instead of bodybuilding.”

Well sorry to inform you Ron, that statement is incorrect. First off, I don’t think Ron could say (emphasis or aesthetics) if you ever heard that miss-speaking fool on his tapes you know what I mean. Anyway, the new rules just bring back the way contests were judged in the first place. Bodybuilding was never meant to be a mass race. I have seen plenty of interviews in all the mags. And it seems like the (little) guys are overjoyed. The Dexter’s, Dugdale’s, and Priest’s of the world might finally have a chance. It would just plain stink if this is how we get a new MR.O ,all because of a new rule from nowhere . They sure should have waited till big Ron is retired To up and change things on him, when he has been rewarded and encouraged to keep going for so many years. well what ever happens big Ron will still be the best MR.O in history.

I know a lot of people; myself included; love the mass monsters but come on Rhul 4th at the O get real. Freak yes, top 5? No fucking way it was a gift on size and conditioning. You can’t tell me there is one shred of symmetry in that body. Besides, never before in history have Pros been as big as they are now. Size has been rewarded so much that it seems to be the main goal. A person can only go so far, even for the genetically gifted. Are we not going to be happy until pros start dropping? Drugs aside, it is not healthy to walk around at 300 pounds.

What is really fucked up is, how can we down size and expect to keep the Fans happy. This is a no win situation for pro-bodybuilding. With the new judging pros won’t be pushed to their breaking point in search for more mass. Lets face facts bodybuilding has went as far as it’s going to go. There was never going to be a 400p shredded MR.O anyway. Don’t get me wrong the mass monsters are where my heart is. That’s what I want to see, but if the sport is to survive it has to be changed from the freak show it is now. The main fan base is hardcore meatheads like myself, but we are few and far between. There needs to be more people drawn to bodybuilding bringing in more money and just maybe the new boss of the IFBB will pay bodybuilders what they are worth. I just heard the other day that the prize money in the MR.O has gone up. The prize money has been raised by $100,000; that’s the best thing to happen in years.

Look these new rules should have happened years ago; when the huge guts started to appear; not years down the road. The Weider boys sat on their hands. Yes Weider is the father of bodybuilding and yes if it wasn’t for him there wouldn’t even be a MR.O, but he could have done a lot more for the bodybuilders; most of all money wise. Weider has made a killing off the backs of bodybuilders selling mags and products. And just look a new boss and bam, the prize money jumps up just like that. To make a long story short bodybuilding should always be judged on shape and proportion. It’s about building the perfect flawless body not body parts so freaky someone can’t walk or walk 20 feet without breathing heavy. Like it or not the new rules are in ,now we will just have to see if they are enforced. I hope they are and bring bodybuilding back to the way it was meant to be.