I know this is a touchy subject. Arnold is the golden child of the golden age of bodybuilding. He had an incredible physique, worked incredibly hard and brought renewed attention and fame to the world of weights.
What gets me is what came out of this guys mouth and how he acted towards his competition. He was very open about playing mind games with guys like Lou Ferrigno, and even seemed to appeal to the judges by pointing at how short guys like Columbu were who wouldn’t let him into their heads, if that was supposed to be an all around, I have no idea how Arnold beat him other than with his celebrity. I guess that is a specific about bodybuilding that isn’t present in Powerlifting or Olympic lifting, as weights don’t lie, give two craps about celebrity, and the mind games are limited to ones you play on yourself.
In a sense, I’m very happy to have guys like Dave Tate and C.T. as Powerlifting and Olympic lifting folks to admire (not necessarily role models). That being said, there is a difference between doing everything you can do to set yourself up to win and desiring everyone else to be at their absolute best to make things that much more competitive. This is true competition, when you want your competition at their best and you are at your best.
I guess, thinking about Arnold and The Pumping Iron film as an adult pulls out the magnifying glass on Arnold and compares him to his predecessors of today (in a sense). He was a competitor, but he didn’t want to face his competition at their best or he wouldn’t have tried to get in their heads. He seemed to be willing to use whatever means possible to win, including mind games vs. Ferrigno as well as celebrity and height in his pose off vs. Columbu… Lets be real, if Columbu were 6’3" we’d be going to Columbu Classics…
This is intended to get us thinking… Also, get us to appreciate the sorts of characters we have around today who not only preach, but embody virtues such as integrity, forbearance, and a passion to be their best/ the best. I of course have to give a shot out to C.T. and Dave Tate. Just my opinion, but Arnold couldn’t carry either of their jocks.
I believe this so strongly it’s to the point I got a little annoyed watching Kimberly Walfords 2nd deadlift at the Arnold Classic, hearing the overly large, overly chatty announcer,calling for her to pull her weight because Arnold was there. I don’t hate the guy, but isn’t it time to honor others?
Or, is this dude, who is sort of a dick going to be the face of iron forever?