does bodybuilding need an ambassador?

[alfresco]

Why does bodybuilding need an "ambassador"?

Do you really think it's going to ever be mainstream?

If it ever did become mainstream, do you really think the reigning Mr. O would have anything to do with it? . . .

Shelby's post (thank you) as always, is good food for thought.

So lets explore, attempt to answer his questions above . . .

I'll start of by saying I have zero opinions as to
whether or not bodybuilding needs an ambassador.

But I do believe that the closest it ever came to
becoming "mainstream" is when Arnold was doing
all his winning and the film Pumping Iron was
playing in real movie theaters. If memory serves
me here . . . bodybuilding was covered by network
TV, there were articles in popular magazines
(Sports Illustrated for instance), in newspapers,
etc. At the time, and I was awake to it then, it
seemed hardly a day went by without something,
somewhere having to do with bodybuilding was
in your face via the media.

A charismatic, likable, intelligent person like Arnold
did wonders for the sport, though I have no way of
knowing if that was cause or effect but when he was
in the scene, there certainly was more mainstream
coverage of the sport and not so much talk of steroids
like there is today which in my opinion, right or wrong,
has a lot to do with how the sport, if you want to call
it that, is perceived by the general public.

 

[CanadianMuscle]

Ambassador? I think for this to become mainstream in any sort of way (later question) I think it comes down to just giving Bodybuilding a good name. I think rather than an ambassador, we should get rid of the people who sully the name.

Greg Valentino is a fantastic example of this! Taylor Houton (yeah, i said it), I'm sure was a nice kid, blah blah blah, but somehow steroids got pinned with his situation. I would rather see some more mainstream information sharing than an ambassador (although, i would think the goal of such a person would be to spread the word as best as possible).

I do not believe it will become mainstream. I think people having a protein shake in the work place, or protein bars on all the corner store shelves will happen. But it takes a certain type of person to commit to bodybuilding. I don't think it will even become as main stream as other sports, basketball, hockey, whatever. But I think it'll grow farther than it is now.

I think the current Mr.O will have NOTHING to do with this. it'll do more with all the people in the gyms bringing their friends in. Bodybuilding needs lots of small ambassadors and not one BIG one

my $0.02, but i guess in USD that's $0.0185 LOL

 

[vintagemuscle]

I also believe Arnold was the closest thing to an ambassador for bodybuilding to date. I think what helped him most was his charisma and the fact that at that time hardly anyone outside of the bodybuilding and sports disciplines knew anything about steroids. I have never really felt that bodybuilding would become mainstream and to be honest I never really wanted it to be.
I imagine that the steroid issue will always determine the prevailing attitudes concerning bodybuilding.

Vintagemuscle

 

[jrs]

modern society wants NOTHING to do with bodybuilding as it is today

 

[MAINEVENT]

I dont know what the hoopla is all about....I could care less if bodybuilding went mainstream. I like it just how it is....as far as being an 'underground hobby'.

 

[ddude]

I dont know what the hoopla is all about....I could care less if bodybuilding went mainstream. I like it just how it is....as far as being an 'underground hobby'.

That's a good point! Do we really want it to become mainstream. How much do bodybuilders get out of standing out in a crowd? Would that really happen if it went mainstream?

 

[big nasty]

Ambassador? I think for this to become mainstream in any sort of way (later question) I think it comes down to just giving Bodybuilding a good name. I think rather than an ambassador, we should get rid of the people who sully the name.

Greg Valentino is a fantastic example of this! Taylor Houton (yeah, i said it), I'm sure was a nice kid, blah blah blah, but somehow steroids got pinned with his situation. I would rather see some more mainstream information sharing than an ambassador (although, i would think the goal of such a person would be to spread the word as best as possible).

I do not believe it will become mainstream. I think people having a protein shake in the work place, or protein bars on all the corner store shelves will happen. But it takes a certain type of person to commit to bodybuilding. I don't think it will even become as main stream as other sports, basketball, hockey, whatever. But I think it'll grow farther than it is now.

I think the current Mr.O will have NOTHING to do with this. it'll do more with all the people in the gyms bringing their friends in. Bodybuilding needs lots of small ambassadors and not one BIG one

my $0.02, but i guess in USD that's $0.0185 LOL

BUMP - excellent point

 

[buselmo]

I don't think it would be good for "us" if bodybuilding went mainstream... I don't know about the states, but i'm seeing the bodybuilding community growing in my country year after year... and it's in a very bad way.
When i went to montreal last year, I saw plenty of bodybuilders... and i'm not talking about going down to the beach on a saturday afternoon. i'm talking downtown on a weekday. It's popular enough as it is and if it becomes more widespread it'll just annoy me even more.

every dumbass jack who read an article about nutrition in bodybuilding.com thinks he knows everything he needs to know about bodybuilding. i have had countless people tell me "bro, seriously, i know what works for my body and what doesn't. i'm just gonna do this and this and that" and this is after 3 months of training. imagine all the annoying pricks that'll just walk up to you and say "we know you use steroids. if i used steroids i'd be bigger" just because you look like you workout and they look like shit because they know "what works for them" and obviously it isn't?

think about it this way... how do you think doctors feel right now after webmd and all the medical crap on the internet (especially those really nice email with colored fonts that tell you how doctor frigibigi from uberschtroodle, germany discovered that mixing bananas and buttermilk and drinking it first think in the morning cures leukemia)? how do you think your doctor feels when you go to him, tell him the problem, explain the solution that you read on webmd, then argue when he tells you it's something else?

not saying doctors are right and you're wrong... but mainstream crap right now is to read what's on the internet, cuz the internet never lies, then discuss with your doctor. a lot of us here are very educated and we've read tons of research on medical issues and what not, so i don't blame you guys if you argue... but 99% of the idiots out there aren't smart and they don't do research. they just google "stomach hurts when i eat eggs" and the first hit is the solution cuz the internet never lies.

imagine 20 retards a day coming up to you in the gym, on the street... etc and start arguing with you on nutrition and training and supps? better yet, they start bugging you about steroids in public every damn day because they actually know what naturals look like now that bodybuilding is mainstream?

no thank you...

I don't think we need an embassador, especially that most of the bodybuilders i know aren't "down to earth" and nice guys, especially the top bodybuilders i've met.




fuck, that was long

 

[GorillaGenetics]

i dont think any of the pros of today could make bb mainstream cause they are all freaks the bodybuilders of arnolds day had beautiful physiques unlike the massive freaky physiques of today

just my 2 cents

 

[CanadianMuscle]

i dont think any of the pros of today could make bb mainstream cause they are all freaks the bodybuilders of arnolds day had beautiful physiques unlike the massive freaky physiques of today

just my 2 cents

Solid point.

Bodybuilding in yesteryear is not the same as it is now. Arnold's physique was much more "beach friendly" than ronnie or mr.ripped to the bone cutler. I think bodybuilding would be easier to "Accept" today if it was more like it was back in arnold's day. Bodybuilding has become "who can get the freakishly largest," and in my opinion not about 'physique.' I'm sure some will disagree with me.

I think it comes to the spotlight, who's in the bodybuilding spotlight?... That's what people think bodybuilding is... I'm not a freakishly large guy, i'm not sub %3 bodyfat, but I sure call myself a bodybuilder! I have plenty of people who like me and respect me (i'd like to think, lol), and I try to show everyone a certain level of respect.

I think the name "Bodybuilding" means something very different to people on this forum versus the people who have been fed 'steroids=bodybuilding=BAD!'

Now let me make a cheesy point and be done with this monster post!!

If everyone on this forum convinces only 2 people that they're a bodybuilder, and of those two people, one gets into the sport with your help, and the other just changes their opinion... And Repeat... You get the point! And then no ambassador needed