From: poo@athena.mit.edu (Claude Poux)
Subject: The Massachusetts State Bodybuilding Championships, '92
Cc: griffin@u.washington.edu
Organization: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 1992 21:03:00 GMT

our colleague, tom griffin, has asked me to post to the net what i remember
from the shawn ray interview and my overall impressions of the massachusetts
state bodybuilding championships.

shawn ray, who was in superb condition and who did an inspired posing
routine, seemed to be more humble than his magazine interviews
might suggest.  he expressed unconditional admiration for lee haney for
having established what may very well be the longest reign in history as
far as the mr. olympia title is concerned.  shawn indicated that he continues
to make progress as far as his definition and size.  he said that he hopes
to win the olympia some day and feels that mr. ferrigno made a mistake
when he decided to enter the olympia, citing that lou hasn't competed in
many, many years, and just isn't combat ready for such a high level
competition.   his advice to ferrigno would have been to come in as a
guest poser at the olympia -- this way his legendary status would have
been preserved, and he would have had a chance to see what exactly he was
up against.  as a competitor, mr. ray believes that lou is risking his
dignity, especially if he doesn't place well.  he doesn't believe that
lou has a chance in hell of winning the olympia -- closing his interview
with a more typical shawn ray remark: "ferrigno is going to have to get
past me, not to mention vince, dorian and sonny to win
the olympia, and that just isn't going to happen!"

the competition itself had some amazing moments.  the overall winner, i am
proud to say, is a member of my gym (vinny grecco's powerhouse gym in
watertown, mass).  his name is david goldman, and he is a tough 175 lb.
middleweight competitor.  the heavyweights were strangely lacking in chest
development except for the gentleman who placed 4th in the division.
there was very clearly controversial judging in this division, and the
audience let it be known (bodybuilding audiences ALWAYS live up to their
reputation, it seems!), with one spectator booming forth for all to hear,
when the first place winner was announced, "you look like a fucking piece
of shit!"  many in the audience roared in approval.  

the lightweights and light heavies had some very talented posers and very
well developed competitors, and they really made the show worth attending,
although it must be said that the middleweights were quite competitive as
well.

there were two absolutely outstanding women, both lightweight, who were
really, really good posers to boot.

overall, i found the judging to be pretty fair (i was in a group of four
astute connoisseurs, and they agree with my feelings), though the one
glaring gaffe was with the 4th place heavyweight.  my friends and i had a
look at him during the pre-judging, and we couldn't imagine why he didn't
win the division -- though we don't think he would have beaten goldman for
the overall.  we could only conclude that somethin' in the milk wasn't
clean....i.e., there must have been something personal and/or political
going on.  he and his significant other looked quite dejected afterwards,
though.  all i can say is that i hope such a thing doesn't happen to moi
someday.......

poobear
Newsgroups: misc.fitness