Robby was my favorite 70s bodybuilder, yeas, more than Arnold. And it was his screwing, along with a few other hose jobs than turned me off from bodybuilding to this day. Robby was lights out, built and ripped and was beaten by Frank Zane, WTF!, twice, maybe three times, I forget now. Mentzer was screwed in 1980 and then good ole sausage thighs won in 1981, when Platz, Callender, and Danny I love my Donuts Padilla all would have been better choices.
Robby mentioned racism as a reason without coming off as bitter or whiny, and I’m sure he was right by what I witnessed in the next few years. He mentioned when he got the cover of M&F, it was a big deal to put a black man on the cover. I was 14 then and I would agree.
I think what I’ve experienced back then has turned me off to some of the racism talk now. Comparing Hank Aaron’s experience then to Michael Vick’s now was a whole different ball game. Please, I’m not saying there isn’t any now, just pointing out that guys like Robby were royally screwed and had much less in opportunity then than there is now for the MR. O.
Back then if you were named Arnold, or maybe Franco, there wasn’t much available. A guy like Robby would win all the body part trophies, yes there was such a thing, and finish fourth in some contests.
Best chest, back, arms, legs, and most muscular and fourth ? guess his symmetry was off a little . Yeah right.
It’s a great article, check it out. He is still in great bodybuilding shape now at 64 and seems like he’s loving life, good for him.