I don't think it works in my favor though because it puts a lot of the community off vs. if I just spoke freestyle about topics. It's my style and I can't change it, so I'm glad a small niche like yourself enjoy it. The comments section is always very pleasing to interact with because I think my vids scare away most of the di-kheads - the discussion here is very positive and intelligent compared to most channels. Thanks for always supporting me with your comments mate.
You have an authentic and articulate style which is appreciated. Others produce videos but you produce art. Always so much to unpack after watching each one and there is a timeless and literate quality about each work. Always worth a rewatch which is a mark of quality.
@@carvedouttastone your channel is definitely an uplift to the fitness community.. I've seen a couple of the knucklehead comments, and it's obvious they don't watch the vid completely, or comprehend it.. you gave a fair assessment of Flex Wheeler as just an example.. you're also showing the side the magazines throughout the decades wouldn't show of these bodybuilders.. just keep doing what you're doing, and you'll attract a genuine audience that will appreciate and grow your channel..
@@HellBoy-id6ss cheers mate. I love my current audience of regulars. I wouldn't be too distressed if the channel stayed tight with this current crew of guys who regularly watch and discuss the topics like yourself. Sure, it would be nice to cover costs, but I finally got a job after a long period of searching and hard times, but at least the financial pressure is off. Now if I could only find an extra 24 hours in the day lol 😂
THIS is one of your best vids thus far!!!🤩 A sensational trip down the memory lane of Bodybuilding from the 1990’s, with a dark, yet fascinating twist! Keep ‘em coming, Shawn, you have a gift for these marvellous montages! 👍👌💪👊😊🔥
Thanks mate. They take a while to do, but I wish I could make more of them because I have a whole page of ideas that just require the time to curate and create :-)
Yes I think he could've been both. But even flex Wheeler potentially crosses a few of those boundaries and could've earned a few nominations in those categories. I asked Gregg Valentino and his list was different from mine
Another great vid mate! The 90's were the most interesting decade of bodybuilding and man i always wonder, what could have Levrone acheived had he had half of Dorians work ethic!
I worked for the Ferrigno’s in the 80s. I ran their Gym and sold their line of fitness equipment in Brooklyn NY. They also had a store in stewartsville NJ. That’s the store his Brother ran with the Hulk green paint Lou sued for. I worked with Andrew his brother and Matty his father.He also has a sister Lisa and Mother Victoria. All really great people. The whole beef was about the name. It’s because of Lou the name became synonymous with bodybuilding. But Matty said I’m the one who gave birth to you and gave you that name. Matty was the one who had the idea of opening the gym and selling the equipment.
Yeah but it wasn't just that: "The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Trenton, claims the store has a green awning, portions of the interior are green, and one green wall is covered with photos of Ferrigno in bodybuilding poses, as well as in his trademark green makeup for his role as the Hulk."
I met Tom Platz at a seminar in South Bend Indiana when I was 16 years old. He was my idol but sorry to say turned out to be a total azzhole. Everything I heard was to the contrary I dont know maybe I caught him on a bad day. The seminar was informative and motivating but afterwards u could see he didn’t really want to be there. He said at one point to a guy assigned to assisting him, let’s hurry up and get this over. Then said I have a headache etc. When pictures were suggested afterwards he looked truly put out and pissed. When he said ok this is the last one the guy who worked at the gym said hey can this kid get in that shot? He rolled his eyes and grabbed the corner of my tshirt and hurdly pushed me in the corner. After that seminar I was completely devastated and perplexed but even at that early age thought, in a tiny cult sport like bodybuilding how could he act like that and get away with it? Seems if you had that kind of popularity you wouldn’t leave until you shook everyone’s hand etc. I mean there was probably a total of 50 people there at best. I never idolized anyone from that point on….
I had the same type of experience with Ronnie Coleman. I approached him at the 99 Arnold and he was such a dick to me for no good reason at all, that I have pretty much despised him ever since and I can't stand the sight of him. Best ever? Not to me. Dorian was a dick too, but not like Ronnie was. Geez, you guys are at the Arnold, you have a booth. How hard is it to just be cool to all your fans. And no, I was not a pest. I just asked for an autograph from each of them, after seeing other people get them. People say Lou is a jerk, but I met him at the same Arnold, asked him a question and he answered it and was cool about it.
@@porcupinecraig What did he do? I was at a national show and had my friend along he idolized Kevin Levrone and Kevin treated him like an idiot. I told Kevin he was an asshole he just looked at me and walked away…
Ed Connors was saying Lee lost a lot of money being out of shape in the era of lucrative guest posings. Lee could've parachuted out of Bodybuilding a very rich man, but now he walks the streets giving out parking tickets working as a Professional C×nt (parking inspector) the last I heard 😫😆😂
@retrobilly1719 he's still incredibly huge. He's definitely not like those guys eg. Guy Cisternino who shrink down to a shadow of their former selves and are basically unrecognisable as ever having lifted weights . It's literally in Lee's DNA I think
I like your sense of humour showing Big Lou sprinting when you said he was responsible for sending teams to hunt down media (papparazzi) who took unauthorised pictures. You commented on Lou throwing a tantrum because he failed to win the Olympia Masters one time. Well Hadi was pretty upset at not winning the Olympia in 2023. What are we to make of that? Lots of snippets of insights here. Flex Wheeler - is now a very different person in terms of attitude. He's now a very humble person on social media I knew that Shawn Ray was shrewd and calculating though I never knew he used it as a tactic to undermine his opponents. I never knew that Chris Cormier found controlling his sexual appetite challenging. I read he is happily married and is doing very well at being a coach. Lee Priest was able to curb his desire for fast food, and still turns heads and gets tongues wagging on account of how good he still looks. The others which I didn't comment on I already knew about. Excellent show. I had to look up some words like "avarice" (greed), and "hubris" (thinking one is more important than others) to appreciate the point you were making. Thank you.
Thanks man I'm really glad you enjoyed it and I always appreciate your thoughtful, thorough comments. I think Hadi definitely suffers the sin of pride - he's treated like a rockstar god in Iran and to be given second must have been a slap in the face he's not used to experiencing very often. I heard the guy trains like a maniac though, so it must hard to put everything into it and not received the result you're expecting - it's not everyday the reigning Mr Olympia loses their title after all
@@carvedouttastone I think Hadi should learn to control his emotions better. He's an adult. It's not like he lost a family member. It's a 🏆 and title. In life we all learn that "we win some and we lose some..." We should accept what comes our way gracefully and move on. Thanks for your time Shawn.
I wish that Pumping Iron had a "parental bonus future feature". I always wondered what Ferrigno's Dad was thinking. He was a cop, I think, in New York. Lou was born at a time when being deaf was often still equated with being "educationally sub normal", so it's natural he wanted his son to become tough. In Pumping Iron he seemed to be Lou's biggest fan, but - according to various sources - that was all just for the movie, they later had a falling out, the lawsuits, and never really recovered their relationship. Greg Valentino claims that he speaks to the Ferrigno family more than Lou does. Behind closed door and all that. Great video, btw.
From what I have read from Lou and others, Matty had zero interest in Lou's bodybuilding career and never trained with him. He only got involved in Pumping Iron for his own shot at stardom. Purely selfish and all of the father/son relationship in the movie was completely made up. I've never heard Matty's side, but I could understand why Lou wants nothing to do with his family.
Love your comments mate. Always thought provoking and give me a chuckle. As porcupinecraig says, there was the take that Matty was purely a stage father in Pumping Iron, but I've heard from Gregg that it was Matty that pushed Lou into training and drove him harder than the other son because he saw the potential in Lou. Not an evil trait, as guys I all think we wished we had that fatherly drill sergeant figure pushing us when we were young and clueless. Was he abusive? Probably in today's sense of the world because they were tough bastards and harder times, but Lou should also try practicing gratitude as I heard that he didn't even reconcile with his dad on his death bed - he pulled an Arnold so to speak 🙊
Came back to this comment because it is pretty profound. The hard driving bastards who want the best from their charges. Our culture still has a fascination with such characters, particularly among men. Consider Fletcher in Whiplash and Gunnery Sergeant Hartman from Full Metal Jacket. Tyrants -yes, Did they have the interests of their charges in mind? A resounding yes.
@@stind1299 I used to be the same way as a teacher - a hard ass - not quite Fletcher or Gunnery Sergeant calibre, but I wouldn't brook any shit or let anyone fuck up the learning environment for anyone else. I also wouldn't allow kids to fall below the high expectations I set for each individual reflectivr of their ability and talents I promised every kid that if they gave their best I would give even more. The results I got from kids who were educational "write offs" are some of the proudest moments of my life - but I was also eventually crucified by a system which preferred I mollycoddled my charges to a level of mediocrity I could no longer tolerate. A sad reflection of a society and its ever steep decline. We all need that push - especially us men - to be, and do better.
When Lou Ferrigno make his comeback and appearance at the 92 and 93 Mr. Olympias, his wife said she was completely shut out. The selfishness or excuse me.. the self-centeredness she experienced was difficult to exist with. Maybe we can be so bold to amend the 7 by adding the following two, increasing the 7 to 9 and, while we are add it, rename to "The 9 Deadly Sins"? Selfishness Narcissism Lee Haney "appears" to be the most sinless of them all despite the denial of his favourite stack and all PED use; 1 Sustanon per day 1000mg Deca-Durabolin per week 150 mgs Anadrol per day Excellent video Shawn and once again, more superb narration and creation of this narrative, very well written. Well executed tying it all together. Keep up the great work, You have support. Cheers!
Thanks so much mate. Means a lot to get that praise and encouragement from you. Yes I heard those exact comments from Carla about Lou's comeback! I also agree Haney seems the most squeaky clean of all the Olympia competitors - which is also probably why he receives so little press - he's a great guy, - awesome physique, but kinda bland when it comes to personality. And yes, his drug denial is ridiculous. Cheers again. We need to resume our conversation sometime - I've just had a break recently because the new job is killing me. I wasn't even that happy with this vid as I felt it was missing something - but I'm trying to fight the perfectionism tendency and still put out decent content - even if they all can't be bangers. It was a fun video - a light hearted look and not at all intended to cast aspersions like that dingbat in the other thread was banging on about. I wouldn't make content if I wasn't passionate about the iron game. Like yourself, it's in our DNA to be forever bound to the sport in some way - warts and all!
This is an interesting illustration of the seven deadly sins. I imagine it will get some... interesting responses. All I can say is from my experience being in SoCal from late 90s to 2015 this is all stuff I heard about or witnessed. I was never the target of the negativity so I can't speak to in depth. I would add this is a natural expression of the needed mindset for a high level of physical competition. Regardless of sport to get to the highest level you have to have an edge to you. Some can balance it, a lot can't.
Another banger COS. I'm actually amazed at how Levrone could go through such a radical physique transformation from off-season to looking like a pro in just a few months. That's insane. The same could be said about Lee Priest. Really goes to show how these guys won the genetic lottery, both in their proclivity to build muscle and in their response to PED's....
Agreed, it was practically karmic in the way it played out. I don't even believe he killed Melissa James, but he took the hit for it and now the real killer walks among us with a nicely played pu$$y pass
Shawn Ray certainly suffers still with his bitterness over what happened back then. But I have to agree with him some. I always thought that he beat Dorian up and down in 94 and certainly 97 with Dorian winning despite looking like a complete mess was awful. I was so happy when Dorian finally retired as we would finally have a MrO who looked good.
Sums up my thoughts perfectly. Shawn was an asset to the sport - his career record and longevity speaks for itself. The balls on the guy to do consistently show up without compromising his package in the era of mass monster bloated guts and distended proportions. If Shawn had won 94, no one would have complained too loudly.
I still remember the M&F article about the 94 Olympia. Stated very clearly by the writer that in his opinion, Shawn should have gone home with the Sandow. Also, right after the contest, on the ESPN broadcast, Frank Zane asked Dorian if the contest was a close call. Dorian disdainfully said 'No, I don't think it was close at all" Years later, Dorian is saying he won 5 poses to Shawn's 4 as if that was how the MrO was judged.
@@porcupinecraig yes I really disagree with Dorian's summation of his wins in that way. Ok, maybe he numerically wins the poses - but there's a symmetry round,.a posing round and a pose down which was scored. For some insane reason he was getting straight firsts and perfect scores across posing and symmetry?? Dorian was otherworldly when he was "on" and downright aesthetic in his earlier Olympia wins, but when he was broken from 94, 97 etc, he shouldn't have been winning anything with that look
The cause of suffering is desire....I wonder how many of us who have pursued this long term really got a good deal. the hours of training if you go down the volume route, and the chemistry experiment if you go down the enhanced route. Is it worth it? When the seed is first planted, you have no idea what is coming. Decades later you have likely been hospitalised at least once directly due to this endeavour, maybe you have ruined personal relationships as you do this unpaid "job" and you have had to give up allsorts to stay on top of the game. You could have bought a chin/dip station, done a bit of jogging and everything would have been a different story, but no, you had to be a beast... blood, sweat and lots of tears...and still we come back to it, it's like Moby Dick, an obsession...we all put on the happy face, the super motivated attitude, living the dream....but...every deal has a price. sometimes you get a bargain, sometimes you get conned. I guess most get conned? You might get something, but the payment is sky high.
That's really well said and great sentiment that I think reflects so many of us older guy's experiences. I think Sam Fussell also encapsulates a lot of the same thoughts I had about my Bodybuilding journey in retrospect. I was so hooked and consumed by my passion for it - to the extent that I spent a lot of money and time chasing something that isn't exactly money in the bank in terms of skill development. There's an opportunity cost to this sport if not balanced with mindful intentionality for sure. Luckily I pulled away enough to expand my horizons, lived in other countries, explored other hobbies, and developed a career outside of the fitness industry. I don't regret Bodybuilding and will do it until I die, but I like how you equated that we all pay a price to pursue something so all-consuming. I can only imagine the guys who go all in regarding the pro-career - what they must sacrifice to chase that life path; what compromises must be made for something so fleeting and ultimately inconsequential in the scheme of things. It's an interesting philosophical paradox to ponder I guess.
Yes. It is a mutifaceted venture. It takes a long time to get a good perspective on all this, the swings and roundabouts.. I imagine few stick it out to the extent that they learn how it all functions. I think that much of the beauty and value of this game is reserved for older people, and it seems to go more under the radar. The benfits are immense. Personally I have trained in some way for decades but it has only sporadically been proper bodybuilding or powerlifting. There were multi year ventures off on a tangent with karate, running, crossfit where the weights remained in the mix but progress was minimal or negative as I burnt through the energy for the other activiites. It was not that I had a quitter mentality, it was generally injury that brought these ventures to a screaming halt. At 58 i am in pretty good shape as regards injury. I have a bugging Achillees tendon, my right elbow is not quite right, but as regards lifting, there is no impediment. Like you, I think Iwill be doing this to the very end. I do not know exactly how it all pans out but however it expresses, the addiction will not let me choose otherwise.@@carvedouttastone
Very well said. I was at WAR for 12 years from age 12 to 24, non-stop pain and suffering. One of the happiest days and one I felt the most relief was when I dialed it all back - shut it all down - and did a self-assessment.
@@carvedouttastone So all-consuming; nailed it. We were mentally, emotionally, physically, financially, and spiritually ABSENT. I left one out and for a good reason... we were NOT sexually absent. Always there, always ready to be there, always was just there. T'was our REWARD.
Sounds like you got a bad dose of big dreaming! Personally I have never done the anabolics, I came up in the early 80s and was mostly just trying to look like a normal person rather than a chubby kid. Only over time did I seem to get deeper in and lifting heavy, it was a gradual thing so maybe not so overwhelming as your experience. But yeah, I can imagine it. It is a pretty vulnerable age, we have the youth and the body responds but the brain is stll pretty infantile. I think i got away with it, no terrible consequences, at 58 I am having another crack at it, benching 100kg and squatting not much more so far. @@knightonwarbeck1969n
Levrone May not have been Full to the Wall bodybuilding,But He Certainly wasn’t Lazy,Very Talented Musician,Guitarist,Pianist ,Bandleader Amazing ,Just used his talents differently,BTW,He posed next Golden Era Bookworm Carlo’s At Arnold and surprised at how short and slender He was ,Hyper Responder I suppose
Never said he was lazy, is said he was culpable to the sin of sloth - they're a slight difference. Kevin would be the first to admit that he never worked as hard as needed and that his time off dedicated to the one thing he was truly gifted in, cost him his place in history. He admits that had he worked as hard as say Dorian, things could've been different - which was also a lot of the impetus behind his disastrous comeback - his whole campaign of "Unfinished Businesses". I agree he was insanely devoted when he flicked the switch, but Bodybuilding in the 90s was so deep in terms of talent, that switch needed to be flicked 24/7/365. I chatted about this to Gregg Valentino and he thought the same.as you. You'll see if you watch the upcoming episode I'll post soon. Thanks always for watching mate - I always love reading your comments
@@carvedouttastone Yes I understand what You’re saying ,Just I’m a Musician and the time it takes to become a Fraction as Good as He is as a Guitar player & playing Piano is inspiring,You Can’t do Bodybuilding that hard and be Great at Music too ,think distracted trying to to do both,Look at Dorian though ,Ripped torn muscles from that Heavy Duty Garbage( Never bought that Mentzer training ideas) But to be the best ,Suppose you have to take lots of Risks,all or nothing. Thanks for such a Great Channel
Often really talented or genius people will do what other mortals do in a compressed time frame for the challenge. Otherwise they get bored. I have no doubt that Levrone could have been Mr Olympia. With his array of talents he could have overturned the meathead stereotype with the general public. His return was an almighty anti-climax, but it did revive my interest in current Bodybuilding. His upper body reveal and playful antics with Cedric McMillan were the highlight of the show. Shame about Cedric, he was a charismatic bodybuilder with good lines. I guess you can't beat Father time.
For me it’s a competition of myself. Trying to achieve the best results I can as a drug free lifter and prove it can be done without having to resort to drugs. Granted, being natural won’t get you drug like results. However, as time goes on, naturals are achievable remarkable results as the knowledge of nutrition and effective training unfolds through science. Plus, you get all the health benefits of training without the negative health benefits of drugs. I like the challenging natural training.
People may say "he can charge what he wants", but the fans put him in that place of fame and he can't do them the favor of a simple free snapshot together? Lame
@@carvedouttastone Some people naturally gifted or not build their body naturally and don't care about the limelight..so in all sports and society people will tend to shortcut to get that reward, trophy, payday..meaning cheat or do whatever it takes to get there, especially in bodybuilding where the level they need to be to be pro is pretty insane✌
I actually think the Weiders should have given Louie the "political victory" at the '94 Masters Olympia. They did the same for Arnold and Franco. That's probably why he threw a tantrum after losing
I wonder if it was a bait and switch for Lui having deserted the competitive stage in his prime, and THEN signing on with the WBF (and subsequently reneging on the contract). Weider didn't like having his loyalties tested, and it was a nice little knife thrust into the side of Ferrigno's Olympia aspirations and a sweet parting gift from the IFBB all at the same time
@carvedouttastone yes the evil, greedy Weiders had a track record of phucking over those who compete in rival organizations and your theory holds water that not giving Louie the victory was revenge for the IBF signing. Samir Bannout placing 6th in 1984 as a defending champion was one of the most egregious. His shape wasn't drastically far off from his '83 victory but Samir had done a NABBA event after his 83 victory
I remember greg valentino mocking Lou in his column in MD every month. He was prerty merculess tonthe point where Lou complained to Romano. I was a bit disturbed reading the hate wvery month thinking we're all a bit flawed but i think Lou went overboard with his lust for wealth. Lets fac3 it the sport wouldnt be the same without Shawn Rays mouth. I remember lee priest saying for the ifbb to let him win rhe Olimpia as long as he shuts up. Still the guy was had a personality that made body-building.a bit more interesting with the his ridiculous comments. After the 94 Olympia Dorian is only decent for guest posing. Its like you want Dorian to make him eat his words. He was a funny guy without tryibg to be funny cos he would be so disrespectful. Also i think what youbsaid about Flex was true,i Guy Grundy worshipped Flex and when he finally met him hecsaid hecwas the rudest bastard ever.
I feel exactly the same way about Ray which is why I left a question mark over as to whether he was truly motivated by envy (which no doubt drives the competitive spirit) or for the other reasons stated. Shawn was indeed highly entertaining and a great representative of the sport. I really saw him and Lee Priest as the only two brave enough to stand up to the ifbb - ironic since they both hated each other. But I also think Shawn had the best interests of the sport at heart as he was the one to personally put up prize money, organize events and contribute as a commentator. Yet,.you had cry babies like Fouad Abiad who couldn't handle it when Ray gave his opinions or spoke unpleasant truths. There was also Chris "the cuck" Aceto who lead the charge for Ray's cancellation when Ray spoke the truth regarding Rhoden's death and Aceto's unfortunate complicity. I like the guy and would love to do a feature length video and interview with him sometime.
@@carvedouttastone a video on Ray is a must. Ray was polarising he could be disrespectful and offensive but was rightfully outspoken knowing he could get in trouble and generous for the reasons you mentioned.
@@stefanosprokopis6974 the channel Large Kofi did a great video about Ray, so I'm going to have to think of a different angle to come at with the topic as I don't want to repeat/rip off his work. Paul, the guy who runs that channel makes some damn good video essays and you should check him out if you haven't seen his work yet
@@carvedouttastone jack lalane was true Bodybuilding and FITNESS legend. He epitomised what true health, strength and discipline. was. Would love to see your take on the man. Flex would also be a great personality to cover. I think it would be great of you could do different individuals regularly. Others do bios on bodybuilders but your take on individuals or topics is always so unique that it would be like finding out about that person for the first time. The late Mike Quinn would also be an interesting individual to cover.
I love your videos but I find it hard to believe you have anything positive to say about bodybuilding. Your videos always give me a reality check. Keep churning them out mate.
Thanks for the kind words. I try to be balanced and call it like i see it. I say a lot that's positive, but I guess the negative sometimes echoes more loudly. I love the sport, adore the history but hate what it's become. I fight to keep the memories of the era that inspired us all alive for hopefully years to come. Thanks again for watching and commenting
An interesting take on things for sure, as always. Your writing continues to impress. I'll grant the use of the word "sin", and the so-called 7 deadly sins, however improbable that Yahweh exists, and ask folks to consider the massive difference between, say, a bodybuilder who checks his progress in the mirror...and one who idolizes it. Pride, like all the other 'sins' mentioned here, is, to me, simply the lowest rung on the ladder of self-actualization. For every rung, there is an apparent doppelgänger that is actually an inverted reflection. My example of pride and progress, for example: the same act might be viewed as equal, despite being rooted in the exact opposite desire. One seeking and verifying improvement - often for the simple sake of improvement "being there" (akin to climbing a mountain - something one might also consider prideful in a misguided fashion.) One seeking validation for the method of progress being used. One looking at form and function. One admiring hard work in the same way a carpenter admires a finished piece - something that can be done with or without hubris. And sure, some like Flex who were clearly internally injured, and seeking validation in unenlightened ways. I always found it odd that people think mirrors to be vain and prideful, while never minding the stopwatch held at the end of the sprinter's dash. P.S. Lou was and still is a colossal dick. Same thing happened to me as a kid in World Gym - he started yelling at my buddy and I for taking pictures of the gym. We didn't even notice him there. "Stop taking my picture!!" We just said, "Fuck off," not caring at all about who he was. We were probably 21 at the time.
Agreed! You have to use the mirror to assess progress and feeling good about seeing your efforts becoming goals made makes one feel good. As long as one doesn’t use this progress to look down on others and think more highly of oneself.
Thanks mate. Yeah old Louie kinda squandered all that goodwill from his early years with his avaricious mindset - the polar opposite to Arnold in many ways
No - he has the potential, but he neither has the work ethic or mental fortitude of Ronnie. Samson will disappear into obscurity and a decade from now, he will feature on one of those lists of "Best Bodybuilders Who Never Made It" for the reasons stated
@@carvedouttastone Zero comparison with Ronnie. Ronnie placed last and last and last until he no longer placed last. Tireless effort and yes, MEGA fortitude in every regard. Not a maniac but a diligent worker. The poster boy for "Never Give Up". Watching Sampson is like watching the Millennial Channel; Welcome to Entitlement-Ville, population Sampson. Has one of the best physiques perhaps of all time but it isn't enough. I suggest 2 things; Take an AI like Aromasin every day to flatten out the wildly and embarrassing emotional estrogenic state and 2; train with Yates ESPECIALLY back training. Sampson is a "bigger" guy and to win the "O" you need a BACK. Sampson is a child; emotionally retarded and needs a guy like Yates to show him "The Way". Sampson's recent former coach Milos is a BIG proponent of Giants Sets. Sampson needs a change? Go the opposite way with Yates and low volume to gain the necessary muscle a bigger guy is required to have to BE a Mr. Olympia. Knighton has spoken. 😀
Nobody is perfect and you are absolutely only focusing on negative aspects of these pioneers of the sport. Why don't you paint a more balanced view of these guys? You just want people to walk away with only a negative memory. Are these people that worthy of condemning? So what if they had low self esteem, so what if they didn't understand their own worth at the time and they felt desperate. I'm betting you're either an extreme left or extreme right. Someone should do a video about you and only portray all the negative aspects of your life. And, if you say there never has been anything negative about your life then you would be the biggest narcissist of all.
What'a your point? Vid been on here 5 hours and number of lengthy commments have already been made about people discussing it with very favourable reviews . Shawn's opinion on many famous bodybuilders from the 90's. Perception at the time versus reality in hind sight. Never knew that Lou was a sook and a turd to many. Don't watch if it is such an offence to yourself
@@THREEFIFTEEN315FPoint? Sticking up for my fellow bodybuilders. And yeah, everyone's saying favorable things about this vid...whats YOUR point? That I should jump on the bandwagon haha. Not gonna happen pal. I see something I don't agree with on a free speech platform, then I'm going to voice my opinion. It doesn't take a genius to read between the lines that you're one of those people that is just so afraid of being in the minority.
Lol Ferrigno thought he had copyright on a shade of green?😂
Even more ironic was his wife's maiden surname - "Green" - you couldn't make this $hit up 😂
Shawn... The Marcus Aurelius of bodybuilding.. your verbal eloquence is unmatched in the world of fitness..💪🙏
I don't think it works in my favor though because it puts a lot of the community off vs. if I just spoke freestyle about topics.
It's my style and I can't change it, so I'm glad a small niche like yourself enjoy it.
The comments section is always very pleasing to interact with because I think my vids scare away most of the di-kheads - the discussion here is very positive and intelligent compared to most channels. Thanks for always supporting me with your comments mate.
You have an authentic and articulate style which is appreciated. Others produce videos but you produce art. Always so much to unpack after watching each one and there is a timeless and literate quality about each work. Always worth a rewatch which is a mark of quality.
@@carvedouttastone your channel is definitely an uplift to the fitness community.. I've seen a couple of the knucklehead comments, and it's obvious they don't watch the vid completely, or comprehend it.. you gave a fair assessment of Flex Wheeler as just an example.. you're also showing the side the magazines throughout the decades wouldn't show of these bodybuilders.. just keep doing what you're doing, and you'll attract a genuine audience that will appreciate and grow your channel..
@@HellBoy-id6ss cheers mate. I love my current audience of regulars. I wouldn't be too distressed if the channel stayed tight with this current crew of guys who regularly watch and discuss the topics like yourself. Sure, it would be nice to cover costs, but I finally got a job after a long period of searching and hard times, but at least the financial pressure is off. Now if I could only find an extra 24 hours in the day lol 😂
THIS is one of your best vids thus far!!!🤩
A sensational trip down the memory lane of Bodybuilding from the 1990’s, with a dark, yet fascinating twist!
Keep ‘em coming, Shawn, you have a gift for these marvellous montages!
👍👌💪👊😊🔥
These videos mixed with bodybuilding history are really good
Thanks mate. They take a while to do, but I wish I could make more of them because I have a whole page of ideas that just require the time to curate and create :-)
Shawn Ray saw two people as his main competition...Yates and Flex.
And he bitched incessantly about both to try and take them off their game and get under their skin. With flex it worked. Dorian, not so much
Watching this video really shows how far bodybuilding is astranged from it origins. Nonlonger about health and fitness at all.
I think the 90s was the end of that era and the beginning of the transition to the sports dark ages we endure today. Thanks for commenting
Really well put together video👍🏽
I nominate Shawn Ray as greed and envy...
Yes I think he could've been both. But even flex Wheeler potentially crosses a few of those boundaries and could've earned a few nominations in those categories. I asked Gregg Valentino and his list was different from mine
Another great vid mate! The 90's were the most interesting decade of bodybuilding and man i always wonder, what could have Levrone acheived had he had half of Dorians work ethic!
Great video.
I worked for the Ferrigno’s in the 80s. I ran their Gym and sold their line of fitness equipment in Brooklyn NY. They also had a store in stewartsville NJ. That’s the store his Brother ran with the Hulk green paint Lou sued for. I worked with Andrew his brother and Matty his father.He also has a sister Lisa and Mother Victoria. All really great people. The whole beef was about the name. It’s because of Lou the name became synonymous with bodybuilding. But Matty said I’m the one who gave birth to you and gave you that name. Matty was the one who had the idea of opening the gym and selling the equipment.
Yeah but it wasn't just that:
"The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Trenton, claims the store has a green awning, portions of the interior are green, and one green wall is covered with photos of Ferrigno in bodybuilding poses, as well as in his trademark green makeup for his role as the Hulk."
I met Tom Platz at a seminar in South Bend Indiana when I was 16 years old. He was my idol but sorry to say turned out to be a total azzhole. Everything I heard was to the contrary I dont know maybe I caught him on a bad day. The seminar was informative and motivating but afterwards u could see he didn’t really want to be there. He said at one point to a guy assigned to assisting him, let’s hurry up and get this over. Then said I have a headache etc. When pictures were suggested afterwards he looked truly put out and pissed. When he said ok this is the last one the guy who worked at the gym said hey can this kid get in that shot? He rolled his eyes and grabbed the corner of my tshirt and hurdly pushed me in the corner. After that seminar I was completely devastated and perplexed but even at that early age thought, in a tiny cult sport like bodybuilding how could he act like that and get away with it? Seems if you had that kind of popularity you wouldn’t leave until you shook everyone’s hand etc. I mean there was probably a total of 50 people there at best. I never idolized anyone from that point on….
I had the same type of experience with Ronnie Coleman. I approached him at the 99 Arnold and he was such a dick to me for no good reason at all, that I have pretty much despised him ever since and I can't stand the sight of him. Best ever? Not to me.
Dorian was a dick too, but not like Ronnie was.
Geez, you guys are at the Arnold, you have a booth. How hard is it to just be cool to all your fans. And no, I was not a pest. I just asked for an autograph from each of them, after seeing other people get them.
People say Lou is a jerk, but I met him at the same Arnold, asked him a question and he answered it and was cool about it.
@@porcupinecraig What did he do? I was at a national show and had my friend along he idolized Kevin Levrone and Kevin treated him like an idiot. I told Kevin he was an asshole he just looked at me and walked away…
Priest Definitely the Glutton,Never seen A fatter out of shape off season than him
Ed Connors was saying Lee lost a lot of money being out of shape in the era of lucrative guest posings. Lee could've parachuted out of Bodybuilding a very rich man, but now he walks the streets giving out parking tickets working as a Professional C×nt (parking inspector) the last I heard 😫😆😂
@@carvedouttastone Yes,Poor Guy got Nerve Damage too,Looks to be in good Shape year around now
@retrobilly1719 he's still incredibly huge. He's definitely not like those guys eg. Guy Cisternino who shrink down to a shadow of their former selves and are basically unrecognisable as ever having lifted weights . It's literally in Lee's DNA I think
I like your sense of humour showing Big Lou sprinting when you said he was responsible for sending teams to hunt down media (papparazzi) who took unauthorised pictures.
You commented on Lou throwing a tantrum because he failed to win the Olympia Masters one time. Well Hadi was pretty upset at not winning the Olympia in 2023. What are we to make of that?
Lots of snippets of insights here.
Flex Wheeler - is now a very different person in terms of attitude. He's now a very humble person on social media
I knew that Shawn Ray was shrewd and calculating though I never knew he used it as a tactic to undermine his opponents.
I never knew that Chris Cormier found controlling his sexual appetite challenging. I read he is happily married and is doing very well at being a coach.
Lee Priest was able to curb his desire for fast food, and still turns heads and gets tongues wagging on account of how good he still looks.
The others which I didn't comment on I already knew about.
Excellent show. I had to look up some words like "avarice" (greed), and "hubris" (thinking one is more important than others) to appreciate the point you were making.
Thank you.
Thanks man I'm really glad you enjoyed it and I always appreciate your thoughtful, thorough comments. I think Hadi definitely suffers the sin of pride - he's treated like a rockstar god in Iran and to be given second must have been a slap in the face he's not used to experiencing very often. I heard the guy trains like a maniac though, so it must hard to put everything into it and not received the result you're expecting - it's not everyday the reigning Mr Olympia loses their title after all
@@carvedouttastone I think Hadi should learn to control his emotions better. He's an adult. It's not like he lost a family member. It's a 🏆 and title. In life we all learn that "we win some and we lose some..." We should accept what comes our way gracefully and move on.
Thanks for your time Shawn.
I wish that Pumping Iron had a "parental bonus future feature". I always wondered what Ferrigno's Dad was thinking. He was a cop, I think, in New York. Lou was born at a time when being deaf was often still equated with being "educationally sub normal", so it's natural he wanted his son to become tough. In Pumping Iron he seemed to be Lou's biggest fan, but - according to various sources - that was all just for the movie, they later had a falling out, the lawsuits, and never really recovered their relationship. Greg Valentino claims that he speaks to the Ferrigno family more than Lou does. Behind closed door and all that. Great video, btw.
From what I have read from Lou and others, Matty had zero interest in Lou's bodybuilding career and never trained with him. He only got involved in Pumping Iron for his own shot at stardom. Purely selfish and all of the father/son relationship in the movie was completely made up.
I've never heard Matty's side, but I could understand why Lou wants nothing to do with his family.
Love your comments mate. Always thought provoking and give me a chuckle. As porcupinecraig says, there was the take that Matty was purely a stage father in Pumping Iron, but I've heard from Gregg that it was Matty that pushed Lou into training and drove him harder than the other son because he saw the potential in Lou. Not an evil trait, as guys I all think we wished we had that fatherly drill sergeant figure pushing us when we were young and clueless. Was he abusive? Probably in today's sense of the world because they were tough bastards and harder times, but Lou should also try practicing gratitude as I heard that he didn't even reconcile with his dad on his death bed - he pulled an Arnold so to speak 🙊
Came back to this comment because it is pretty profound. The hard driving bastards who want the best from their charges. Our culture still has a fascination with such characters, particularly among men. Consider Fletcher in Whiplash and Gunnery Sergeant Hartman from Full Metal Jacket. Tyrants -yes, Did they have the interests of their charges in mind? A resounding yes.
@@stind1299 I used to be the same way as a teacher - a hard ass - not quite Fletcher or Gunnery Sergeant calibre, but I wouldn't brook any shit or let anyone fuck up the learning environment for anyone else.
I also wouldn't allow kids to fall below the high expectations I set for each individual reflectivr of their ability and talents
I promised every kid that if they gave their best I would give even more. The results I got from kids who were educational "write offs" are some of the proudest moments of my life - but I was also eventually crucified by a system which preferred I mollycoddled my charges to a level of mediocrity I could no longer tolerate. A sad reflection of a society and its ever steep decline. We all need that push - especially us men - to be, and do better.
Amen to that!
When Lou Ferrigno make his comeback and appearance at the 92 and 93 Mr. Olympias, his wife said she was completely shut out. The selfishness or excuse me.. the self-centeredness she experienced was difficult to exist with. Maybe we can be so bold to amend the 7 by adding the following two, increasing the 7 to 9 and, while we are add it, rename to "The 9 Deadly Sins"?
Selfishness
Narcissism
Lee Haney "appears" to be the most sinless of them all despite the denial of his favourite stack and all PED use;
1 Sustanon per day
1000mg Deca-Durabolin per week
150 mgs Anadrol per day
Excellent video Shawn and once again, more superb narration and creation of this narrative, very well written. Well executed tying it all together. Keep up the great work, You have support. Cheers!
Thanks so much mate. Means a lot to get that praise and encouragement from you. Yes I heard those exact comments from Carla about Lou's comeback! I also agree Haney seems the most squeaky clean of all the Olympia competitors - which is also probably why he receives so little press - he's a great guy, - awesome physique, but kinda bland when it comes to personality. And yes, his drug denial is ridiculous. Cheers again. We need to resume our conversation sometime - I've just had a break recently because the new job is killing me.
I wasn't even that happy with this vid as I felt it was missing something - but I'm trying to fight the perfectionism tendency and still put out decent content - even if they all can't be bangers. It was a fun video - a light hearted look and not at all intended to cast aspersions like that dingbat in the other thread was banging on about. I wouldn't make content if I wasn't passionate about the iron game. Like yourself, it's in our DNA to be forever bound to the sport in some way - warts and all!
@@carvedouttastone You introduced him to his heroes and it shattered him. T'was a tough day on The Tube.
This is an interesting illustration of the seven deadly sins. I imagine it will get some... interesting responses. All I can say is from my experience being in SoCal from late 90s to 2015 this is all stuff I heard about or witnessed. I was never the target of the negativity so I can't speak to in depth.
I would add this is a natural expression of the needed mindset for a high level of physical competition. Regardless of sport to get to the highest level you have to have an edge to you. Some can balance it, a lot can't.
Great work 🎯
Excellent!!!
Very cool man. Well done
Awesome video Shawn!
Enjoy Your Videos! Keep 'Em Coming!
Another banger COS. I'm actually amazed at how Levrone could go through such a radical physique transformation from off-season to looking like a pro in just a few months. That's insane. The same could be said about Lee Priest. Really goes to show how these guys won the genetic lottery, both in their proclivity to build muscle and in their response to PED's....
This was an insane effort post
Titus DOWNFALL was Inevitable
Agreed, it was practically karmic in the way it played out. I don't even believe he killed Melissa James, but he took the hit for it and now the real killer walks among us with a nicely played pu$$y pass
One of the deadly sins competing in the 90s was going up against Dorian Yates one of my all time greats along with Kevin levrone and Flex Wheeler
Shawn Ray certainly suffers still with his bitterness over what happened back then. But I have to agree with him some. I always thought that he beat Dorian up and down in 94 and certainly 97 with Dorian winning despite looking like a complete mess was awful.
I was so happy when Dorian finally retired as we would finally have a MrO who looked good.
Sums up my thoughts perfectly. Shawn was an asset to the sport - his career record and longevity speaks for itself. The balls on the guy to do consistently show up without compromising his package in the era of mass monster bloated guts and distended proportions. If Shawn had won 94, no one would have complained too loudly.
I still remember the M&F article about the 94 Olympia. Stated very clearly by the writer that in his opinion, Shawn should have gone home with the Sandow.
Also, right after the contest, on the ESPN broadcast, Frank Zane asked Dorian if the contest was a close call. Dorian disdainfully said 'No, I don't think it was close at all"
Years later, Dorian is saying he won 5 poses to Shawn's 4 as if that was how the MrO was judged.
@@porcupinecraig yes I really disagree with Dorian's summation of his wins in that way. Ok, maybe he numerically wins the poses - but there's a symmetry round,.a posing round and a pose down which was scored. For some insane reason he was getting straight firsts and perfect scores across posing and symmetry?? Dorian was otherworldly when he was "on" and downright aesthetic in his earlier Olympia wins, but when he was broken from 94, 97 etc, he shouldn't have been winning anything with that look
The cause of suffering is desire....I wonder how many of us who have pursued this long term really got a good deal. the hours of training if you go down the volume route, and the chemistry experiment if you go down the enhanced route. Is it worth it? When the seed is first planted, you have no idea what is coming. Decades later you have likely been hospitalised at least once directly due to this endeavour, maybe you have ruined personal relationships as you do this unpaid "job" and you have had to give up allsorts to stay on top of the game. You could have bought a chin/dip station, done a bit of jogging and everything would have been a different story, but no, you had to be a beast... blood, sweat and lots of tears...and still we come back to it, it's like Moby Dick, an obsession...we all put on the happy face, the super motivated attitude, living the dream....but...every deal has a price. sometimes you get a bargain, sometimes you get conned. I guess most get conned? You might get something, but the payment is sky high.
That's really well said and great sentiment that I think reflects so many of us older guy's experiences. I think Sam Fussell also encapsulates a lot of the same thoughts I had about my Bodybuilding journey in retrospect.
I was so hooked and consumed by my passion for it - to the extent that I spent a lot of money and time chasing something that isn't exactly money in the bank in terms of skill development. There's an opportunity cost to this sport if not balanced with mindful intentionality for sure.
Luckily I pulled away enough to expand my horizons, lived in other countries, explored other hobbies, and developed a career outside of the fitness industry. I don't regret Bodybuilding and will do it until I die, but I like how you equated that we all pay a price to pursue something so all-consuming. I can only imagine the guys who go all in regarding the pro-career - what they must sacrifice to chase that life path; what compromises must be made for something so fleeting and ultimately inconsequential in the scheme of things. It's an interesting philosophical paradox to ponder I guess.
Yes. It is a mutifaceted venture. It takes a long time to get a good perspective on all this, the swings and roundabouts.. I imagine few stick it out to the extent that they learn how it all functions. I think that much of the beauty and value of this game is reserved for older people, and it seems to go more under the radar. The benfits are immense. Personally I have trained in some way for decades but it has only sporadically been proper bodybuilding or powerlifting. There were multi year ventures off on a tangent with karate, running, crossfit where the weights remained in the mix but progress was minimal or negative as I burnt through the energy for the other activiites. It was not that I had a quitter mentality, it was generally injury that brought these ventures to a screaming halt. At 58 i am in pretty good shape as regards injury. I have a bugging Achillees tendon, my right elbow is not quite right, but as regards lifting, there is no impediment. Like you, I think Iwill be doing this to the very end. I do not know exactly how it all pans out but however it expresses, the addiction will not let me choose otherwise.@@carvedouttastone
Very well said. I was at WAR for 12 years from age 12 to 24, non-stop pain and suffering. One of the happiest days and one I felt the most relief was when I dialed it all back - shut it all down - and did a self-assessment.
@@carvedouttastone So all-consuming; nailed it. We were mentally, emotionally, physically, financially, and spiritually ABSENT. I left one out and for a good reason... we were NOT sexually absent. Always there, always ready to be there, always was just there. T'was our REWARD.
Sounds like you got a bad dose of big dreaming! Personally I have never done the anabolics, I came up in the early 80s and was mostly just trying to look like a normal person rather than a chubby kid. Only over time did I seem to get deeper in and lifting heavy, it was a gradual thing so maybe not so overwhelming as your experience. But yeah, I can imagine it. It is a pretty vulnerable age, we have the youth and the body responds but the brain is stll pretty infantile. I think i got away with it, no terrible consequences, at 58 I am having another crack at it, benching 100kg and squatting not much more so far. @@knightonwarbeck1969n
Levrone May not have been Full to the Wall bodybuilding,But He Certainly wasn’t Lazy,Very Talented Musician,Guitarist,Pianist ,Bandleader Amazing ,Just used his talents differently,BTW,He posed next Golden Era Bookworm Carlo’s At Arnold and surprised at how short and slender He was ,Hyper Responder I suppose
Never said he was lazy, is said he was culpable to the sin of sloth - they're a slight difference. Kevin would be the first to admit that he never worked as hard as needed and that his time off dedicated to the one thing he was truly gifted in, cost him his place in history. He admits that had he worked as hard as say Dorian, things could've been different - which was also a lot of the impetus behind his disastrous comeback - his whole campaign of "Unfinished Businesses". I agree he was insanely devoted when he flicked the switch, but Bodybuilding in the 90s was so deep in terms of talent, that switch needed to be flicked 24/7/365.
I chatted about this to Gregg Valentino and he thought the same.as you. You'll see if you watch the upcoming episode I'll post soon. Thanks always for watching mate - I always love reading your comments
@@carvedouttastone Yes I understand what You’re saying ,Just I’m a Musician and the time it takes to become a Fraction as Good as He is as a Guitar player & playing Piano is inspiring,You Can’t do Bodybuilding that hard and be Great at Music too ,think distracted trying to to do both,Look at Dorian though ,Ripped torn muscles from that Heavy Duty Garbage( Never bought that Mentzer training ideas) But to be the best ,Suppose you have to take lots of Risks,all or nothing.
Thanks for such a Great Channel
@@carvedouttastone Looking Forward to the Next episode!
Often really talented or genius people will do what other mortals do in a compressed time frame for the challenge. Otherwise they get bored.
I have no doubt that Levrone could have been Mr Olympia. With his array of talents he could have overturned the meathead stereotype with the general public.
His return was an almighty anti-climax, but it did revive my interest in current Bodybuilding. His upper body reveal and playful antics with Cedric McMillan were the highlight of the show. Shame about Cedric, he was a charismatic bodybuilder with good lines.
I guess you can't beat Father time.
For me it’s a competition of myself. Trying to achieve the best results I can as a drug free lifter and prove it can be done without having to resort to drugs. Granted, being natural won’t get you drug like results. However, as time goes on, naturals are achievable remarkable results as the knowledge of nutrition and effective training unfolds through science. Plus, you get all the health benefits of training without the negative health benefits of drugs. I like the challenging natural training.
The Ferrigs charged me $40 for a portrait with him at Comicon 2016😅
What a scumbag
People may say "he can charge what he wants", but the fans put him in that place of fame and he can't do them the favor of a simple free snapshot together? Lame
These people would still have the same mentally even if they worked in an office. Because its difficult, it exposes who people really are.
Is that an old clip of Danny Hester at 2:11?
Some people do it naturally..but this Country is about shortcuts not just bodybuilding
Huh?
@@carvedouttastone Some people naturally gifted or not build their body naturally and don't care about the limelight..so in all sports and society people will tend to shortcut to get that reward, trophy, payday..meaning cheat or do whatever it takes to get there, especially in bodybuilding where the level they need to be to be pro is pretty insane✌
@@toddpage9138 this literally has nothing to do with the video you're commenting on
I actually think the Weiders should have given Louie the "political victory" at the '94 Masters Olympia. They did the same for Arnold and Franco. That's probably why he threw a tantrum after losing
I wonder if it was a bait and switch for Lui having deserted the competitive stage in his prime, and THEN signing on with the WBF (and subsequently reneging on the contract). Weider didn't like having his loyalties tested, and it was a nice little knife thrust into the side of Ferrigno's Olympia aspirations and a sweet parting gift from the IFBB all at the same time
@carvedouttastone yes the evil, greedy Weiders had a track record of phucking over those who compete in rival organizations and your theory holds water that not giving Louie the victory was revenge for the IBF signing. Samir Bannout placing 6th in 1984 as a defending champion was one of the most egregious. His shape wasn't drastically far off from his '83 victory but Samir had done a NABBA event after his 83 victory
I remember greg valentino mocking Lou in his column in MD every month. He was prerty merculess tonthe point where Lou complained to Romano. I was a bit disturbed reading the hate wvery month thinking we're all a bit flawed but i think Lou went overboard with his lust for wealth.
Lets fac3 it the sport wouldnt be the same without Shawn Rays mouth. I remember lee priest saying for the ifbb to let him win rhe Olimpia as long as he shuts up.
Still the guy was had a personality that made body-building.a bit more interesting with the his ridiculous comments. After the 94 Olympia Dorian is only decent for guest posing. Its like you want Dorian to make him eat his words. He was a funny guy without tryibg to be funny cos he would be so disrespectful. Also i think what youbsaid about Flex was true,i Guy Grundy worshipped Flex and when he finally met him hecsaid hecwas the rudest bastard ever.
I feel exactly the same way about Ray which is why I left a question mark over as to whether he was truly motivated by envy (which no doubt drives the competitive spirit) or for the other reasons stated. Shawn was indeed highly entertaining and a great representative of the sport. I really saw him and Lee Priest as the only two brave enough to stand up to the ifbb - ironic since they both hated each other. But I also think Shawn had the best interests of the sport at heart as he was the one to personally put up prize money, organize events and contribute as a commentator. Yet,.you had cry babies like Fouad Abiad who couldn't handle it when Ray gave his opinions or spoke unpleasant truths. There was also Chris "the cuck" Aceto who lead the charge for Ray's cancellation when Ray spoke the truth regarding Rhoden's death and Aceto's unfortunate complicity. I like the guy and would love to do a feature length video and interview with him sometime.
@@carvedouttastone a video on Ray is a must. Ray was polarising he could be disrespectful and offensive but was rightfully outspoken knowing he could get in trouble and generous for the reasons you mentioned.
@@stefanosprokopis6974 the channel Large Kofi did a great video about Ray, so I'm going to have to think of a different angle to come at with the topic as I don't want to repeat/rip off his work. Paul, the guy who runs that channel makes some damn good video essays and you should check him out if you haven't seen his work yet
@@stefanosprokopis6974 I'll probably tackle Flex Wheeler next and maybe then, Jack Lalane
@@carvedouttastone jack lalane was true Bodybuilding and FITNESS legend. He epitomised what true health, strength and discipline. was. Would love to see your take on the man. Flex would also be a great personality to cover. I think it would be great of you could do different individuals regularly. Others do bios on bodybuilders but your take on individuals or topics is always so unique that it would be like finding out about that person for the first time. The late Mike Quinn would also be an interesting individual to cover.
I love your videos but I find it hard to believe you have anything positive to say about bodybuilding. Your videos always give me a reality check. Keep churning them out mate.
Thanks for the kind words. I try to be balanced and call it like i see it. I say a lot that's positive, but I guess the negative sometimes echoes more loudly. I love the sport, adore the history but hate what it's become. I fight to keep the memories of the era that inspired us all alive for hopefully years to come. Thanks again for watching and commenting
An interesting take on things for sure, as always. Your writing continues to impress. I'll grant the use of the word "sin", and the so-called 7 deadly sins, however improbable that Yahweh exists, and ask folks to consider the massive difference between, say, a bodybuilder who checks his progress in the mirror...and one who idolizes it. Pride, like all the other 'sins' mentioned here, is, to me, simply the lowest rung on the ladder of self-actualization. For every rung, there is an apparent doppelgänger that is actually an inverted reflection. My example of pride and progress, for example: the same act might be viewed as equal, despite being rooted in the exact opposite desire. One seeking and verifying improvement - often for the simple sake of improvement "being there" (akin to climbing a mountain - something one might also consider prideful in a misguided fashion.) One seeking validation for the method of progress being used. One looking at form and function. One admiring hard work in the same way a carpenter admires a finished piece - something that can be done with or without hubris. And sure, some like Flex who were clearly internally injured, and seeking validation in unenlightened ways.
I always found it odd that people think mirrors to be vain and prideful, while never minding the stopwatch held at the end of the sprinter's dash.
P.S. Lou was and still is a colossal dick. Same thing happened to me as a kid in World Gym - he started yelling at my buddy and I for taking pictures of the gym. We didn't even notice him there. "Stop taking my picture!!" We just said, "Fuck off," not caring at all about who he was. We were probably 21 at the time.
Agreed! You have to use the mirror to assess progress and feeling good about seeing your efforts becoming goals made makes one feel good. As long as one doesn’t use this progress to look down on others and think more highly of oneself.
@@spurzo-thespiralspacewolf8916 again, that's not what the video is saying.
As far a gluttony, I see no shame in having a cheat meal one day per week in order to keep a strict diet through the week. To me that’s not gluttony.
That's not what the video's saying
Great VIDEO...BIG LOU IS NOT A NICE MAN
Thanks mate. Yeah old Louie kinda squandered all that goodwill from his early years with his avaricious mindset - the polar opposite to Arnold in many ways
Lui is simply mo mo.
is samson like the next ronnie?
No - he has the potential, but he neither has the work ethic or mental fortitude of Ronnie. Samson will disappear into obscurity and a decade from now, he will feature on one of those lists of "Best Bodybuilders Who Never Made It" for the reasons stated
sam sulek will be there too @@carvedouttastone
@@carvedouttastone Zero comparison with Ronnie. Ronnie placed last and last and last until he no longer placed last. Tireless effort and yes, MEGA fortitude in every regard. Not a maniac but a diligent worker. The poster boy for "Never Give Up". Watching Sampson is like watching the Millennial Channel; Welcome to Entitlement-Ville, population Sampson. Has one of the best physiques perhaps of all time but it isn't enough. I suggest 2 things; Take an AI like Aromasin every day to flatten out the wildly and embarrassing emotional estrogenic state and 2; train with Yates ESPECIALLY back training. Sampson is a "bigger" guy and to win the "O" you need a BACK. Sampson is a child; emotionally retarded and needs a guy like Yates to show him "The Way". Sampson's recent former coach Milos is a BIG proponent of Giants Sets. Sampson needs a change? Go the opposite way with Yates and low volume to gain the necessary muscle a bigger guy is required to have to BE a Mr. Olympia. Knighton has spoken. 😀
Too much muscle 🏋️ is taboo? 👹
they look like clowns
Nobody is perfect and you are absolutely only focusing on negative aspects of these pioneers of the sport. Why don't you paint a more balanced view of these guys? You just want people to walk away with only a negative memory. Are these people that worthy of condemning? So what if they had low self esteem, so what if they didn't understand their own worth at the time and they felt desperate. I'm betting you're either an extreme left or extreme right. Someone should do a video about you and only portray all the negative aspects of your life. And, if you say there never has been anything negative about your life then you would be the biggest narcissist of all.
What'a your point? Vid been on here 5 hours and number of lengthy commments have already been made about people discussing it with very favourable reviews . Shawn's opinion on many famous bodybuilders from the 90's. Perception at the time versus reality in hind sight. Never knew that Lou was a sook and a turd to many. Don't watch if it is such an offence to yourself
@@THREEFIFTEEN315FPoint? Sticking up for my fellow bodybuilders. And yeah, everyone's saying favorable things about this vid...whats YOUR point? That I should jump on the bandwagon haha. Not gonna happen pal. I see something I don't agree with on a free speech platform, then I'm going to voice my opinion. It doesn't take a genius to read between the lines that you're one of those people that is just so afraid of being in the minority.
@@XARIER39 Your clearly a genius.
@@THREEFIFTEEN315FJust because I got defensive and didn't come across as intelligently as I would've liked thats all you've got is to mock me?
@@XARIER39 Just as well he is asleep and you only got my tame response from your original comment. I await in anticipation.
Well done on another one of your masterpieces ❤️ proud of you! 👏