The Evolution Of Bodybuilding; An Interview With Author Gordon LaVelle

Frederick Foresight said:
Zane won the Olympia in both 1978 and 1979. Schwarzenegger was nowhere near his peak in 1980. He looked comparatively flabby in 1980, and was already pursuing an acting career at the time. He did not even comply with the contest entry rules but was allowed to enter. Reportedly, a lot of people believed that the fix was in. Perhaps it was to further the mass appeal of bodybuilding because of Arnold’s name recognition outside of bodybuilding circles. Look, I like the guy but in no way did he deserve to win the Olympia in 1980.
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78/79? There was nobody to beat in those shows. Robby? Always out of proportion. Roger Walker? Please. Callender, Padilla, Old Boyer Coe (whose physique got worse every year after 69/70 IMO)? Nah none of these guys had "it".

1980 Sergio would have still stomped the all at the O.
He had just made Bertil Fox looks small that year.
46cf3b98fbe3b877f1c637895e702f7c3316e90d5622c201353ba4fa21a1ea0b.png
 
DTB2 said:
78/79? There was nobody to beat in those shows. Robby? Always out of proportion. Roger Walker? Please. Callender, Padilla, Old Boyer Coe (whose physique got worse every year after 69/70 IMO)? Nah none of these guys had "it".

1980 Sergio would have still stomped the all at the O.
He had just made Bertil Fox looks small that year.
46cf3b98fbe3b877f1c637895e702f7c3316e90d5622c201353ba4fa21a1ea0b.png
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I don’t think physique competition should be predominantly about size. Look where that thinking brought pro bodybuilding today.

As for your reference to Robbie Robinson, that guy was no slouch. In fact, Joe Weider’s imaginary physique, posing with his arms folded in his old product ads, was actually Robinson’s with Weider’s head on top.

https://engravediniron.com/2018/10/08/would-the-real-joe-weider-please-stand-up/
 
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Frederick Foresight said:
I don’t think physique competition should be predominantly about size. Look where that thinking brought pro bodybuilding today.

as for your reference to Robbie Robinson, that guy was no slouch. In fact Joe Weider’s imaginary physique in his old product ads was really Robinson’s upper body photoshopped.
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Robbie's upper body especially the peaked biceps were phenomenal. Just don't look at his legs.

I'm no size monster at all but when comparable physiques are compared, the bigger should always win IMO.

Somehwere along the line, Mentzer lost his "vacuum" pose and overdeveloped his obliques resulting in a more blocky look, not good.
 
DTB2 said:
Robbie's upper body especially the peaked biceps were phenomenal. Just don't look at his legs.

I'm no size monster at all but when comparable physiques are compared, the bigger should always win IMO.

Somehwere along the line, Mentzer lost his "vacuum" pose and overdeveloped his obliques resulting in a more blocky look, not good.
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So what you're saying is that there's not enough muscle on this guy:

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As for Mentzer, I agree that he was stocky-looking; too thick. Even so, by competitive standards, in late 1979, Mentzer won the heavyweight class of the Mr. Olympia, again with a perfect 300 score, but he lost in the overall to Frank Zane who was awarded the title for a third time that year. So much happens in one year, eh? That Arnold beat him coming out of retirement at the last minute? Sure.

Regardless, I think we're getting into the weeds here. In my opinion, bodybuilding should be about aesthetics first, size second. When mass comes first, this is what you get:

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Come on. Seriously?
 
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MrAdrenaline said:
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Although I am no longer interested in supplementing, as I noted above, I am curious. Did you find that the L-Citrulline gave you noticeable benefits? And, if so, can you elaborate with some specifics to which you attribute the substance?
 
DTB2 said:
Remember, to be the champ you have to beat the champ. No way was Mentzer beating Arnold even with Arnold in sub par condition.

Doubly no way was Zane at his size taking down the Oak. No way, no how, not ever.
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Not to belabor the point (sort of), but consider this interview Mentzer gave some years later about the 1980 Olympia contest:


Also, consider the comparative pictures of him and Schwarzenegger in that contest, displayed during the course of the audio interview. Be objective, and tell me what you think.

Again, I really don't give a shit about contests. It's the interpretation of history that annoys me.
 
Maybe I can't be objective but I'll try.

On some of the relaxed poses Mentzer's conditioning stands out in others you gut bloat, narrow clavicle and no pecs compared to Arnold.

During the posing, where Arnold always shined, Arnold just pops as always. His personality comes out, beaming smile and his muscles come alive. Unfortunately for Mentzer, his personality also comes out as I've always found him to be sour grapes. As soon as he has to raise his arms for a pose-POOF- his pecs disappear. Picture at 4:02 shows what I mean.

As to those who finished above or tied with Mike, Arnold's condition was not that far off to have these "small" men win.

Just how I see it. Was Arnold in 1974 shape? No, but he didn't need that to win in Sydney.
 
 
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