l2embed
that ghetto smith machine at 6:00 always makes me laugh
Bill Pearl with some home truths @03:07.
1980 Mr. Olympia was preposterous, nothing more than a showcase!!!
platz needs to stop talking and stick to flexing his quads. what a tool
The funny thing is as I watch that, from 1980…it feels like Arnold is the old veteran coming back one more time, yet this was 2 years before Conan the Barbarian came out and that is the barest dawn of his Hollywood career.
Just sort of weird to see this time in his life in two ways like that.
So just why did he come back in 1980? It seems so set up…like Weider probably told him that they just let him take first place anyway or Weider and the sport and Arnold would look bad.
The video also reminded me I want to get some old school sports socks, The ones that go high with colored stripes! Not just for the retro look…I scratch the front of my shins all the time deadlifting.
At the Arnold Sports Festival this year, Arnold did a sort of seminar, a Q&A, where he was asked about this, and discussed in detail why he went back to compete in the Olympia in 80. His reasoning was that he would use the title to support Conan, and then use Conan to support bodybuilding and physical culture.
He went on to say that a big part of it was just to be a dick–he was registered as a judge for the Olympia that year, and was training mostly in secret. A few people knew he was going to enter the O, but most people simply thought we was training for Conan.
So he shows up to the contest, with everyone thinking he was going to be a judge, and then puts himself down as a competitor; all done in secrecy, “just to see the look on their faces.” (they have since changed the rules, and now you need to be registered far in advance–he mentions this with a smirk.)
At the conclusion of his answer to that question, he said that he realizes in retrospect that, "it didn’t do anything that was good for the sport of bodybuilding. I thought that it would promote the sport, if I went from the Mr. Olympia to do then Conan the Barbarian, and then I would promote Conan the Barbarian, and through that promote the sport of bodybuilding–which I did, and it all worked.
And every single movie that I did, and every thing that I did–it if was being at the White House, or on some international stage–I always used the word ‘bodybuilding’ and talked about and compared things to bodybuilding; and so I was always successful in promoting the sport. But THAT particular title–winning it for the 7th time–did NOT add anything, I think, to the bodybuilding sport.
So therefore when I look back at it, I say to myself, ‘I don’t think this is the wisest decision I’ve ever made.’"
He pauses and looks at the audience, and, in classic Arnold style, says, “But then at the same time, I have to say, there’s many decisions I’ve made that weren’t the wisest.”
I have a video of this, will try to get it up on youtube and post here.
^That’s hysterical to hear. Also sort of cool that Arnold at least acknowledges that it didn’t really do anything positive for his legacy.
So much has been written about the infamous '80 Olympia, and everyone of respect (not the “I shoulda won, it wuz politix!” types) all agree that while they themselves may not have deserved the title, Arnold wasn’t even close to placing at the top that year.
Sadly, Platz, who was such a fan-boy when it came to Arnold and Franco, would never say a bad word, even when he himself lost to a way off his best condition Franco in '81 (Platz’s best shot at winning the O in my opinion).
S
Couldn’t agree more about Platz and the 1981 Olympia. This pic gives me chills even today, I’m not sure which contest it was taken from but mindblowing nonetheless.
[quote]The Mighty Stu wrote:
Sadly, Platz, who was such a fan-boy when it came to Arnold and Franco, would never say a bad word, even when he himself lost to a way off his best condition Franco in '81 (Platz’s best shot at winning the O in my opinion).
S[/quote]
I still say Danny Padilla should have won that year. Perfectly balanced and totally ripped to shreds.
[quote]Iron Dwarf wrote:
[quote]The Mighty Stu wrote:
Sadly, Platz, who was such a fan-boy when it came to Arnold and Franco, would never say a bad word, even when he himself lost to a way off his best condition Franco in '81 (Platz’s best shot at winning the O in my opinion).
S[/quote]
I still say Danny Padilla should have won that year. Perfectly balanced and totally ripped to shreds. [/quote]
Yep, I agree.
[quote]The Mighty Stu wrote:
^That’s hysterical to hear. Also sort of cool that Arnold at least acknowledges that it didn’t really do anything positive for his legacy.
So much has been written about the infamous '80 Olympia, and everyone of respect (not the “I shoulda won, it wuz politix!” types) all agree that while they themselves may not have deserved the title, Arnold wasn’t even close to placing at the top that year.
Sadly, Platz, who was such a fan-boy when it came to Arnold and Franco, would never say a bad word, even when he himself lost to a way off his best condition Franco in '81 (Platz’s best shot at winning the O in my opinion).
S[/quote]
We have to understand that Platz was only 25 years old in 1980. Arnold became a superstar when Tom was 15 and put bodybuilding on the map throughout Tom’s adolescence. What else but a fan boy could he be? 
Oh I understand Platz’s hero worship, believe me. I’m sure in hindsight, he can be much more objective in looking at the pics. When you look up to either people, or a certain level of achievement, once you reach that point of equal standing (in theory), it may not always register. Technically, Tom was as strong a competitor as either Franco or Arnold from a strictly physique based view. But mentally, I doubt he ever saw himself as their equal onstage.
S
john fair said bodybuilding is not really a sport but an art form . arnold reputation and charisma . and cmpetitive spirit made him win that day . his lack of thighs back and bad grooming was forgotten and forgiven for the man who is bodybuilding most favorite son .
[quote]winston43 wrote:
john fair said bodybuilding is not really a sport but an art form . arnold reputation and charisma . and cmpetitive spirit made him win that day . his lack of thighs back and bad grooming was forgotten and forgiven for the man who is bodybuilding most favorite son . [/quote]
So, the reputation and charisma of the artist should make up for what is lacking in the body of art itself?
I disagree.
[quote]super saiyan wrote:
[quote]winston43 wrote:
john fair said bodybuilding is not really a sport but an art form . arnold reputation and charisma . and cmpetitive spirit made him win that day . his lack of thighs back and bad grooming was forgotten and forgiven for the man who is bodybuilding most favorite son . [/quote]
So, the reputation and charisma of the artist should make up for what is lacking in the body of art itself?
I disagree.[/quote]
Bro, I’m the greatest artist of all time.
Good thread so far, I’ve enjoyed reading these insights.
[quote]LankyMofo wrote:
[quote]super saiyan wrote:
[quote]winston43 wrote:
john fair said bodybuilding is not really a sport but an art form . arnold reputation and charisma . and cmpetitive spirit made him win that day . his lack of thighs back and bad grooming was forgotten and forgiven for the man who is bodybuilding most favorite son . [/quote]
So, the reputation and charisma of the artist should make up for what is lacking in the body of art itself?
I disagree.[/quote]
Bro, I’m the greatest artist of all time.
Good thread so far, I’ve enjoyed reading these insights. [/quote]
You are The Artist Formerly Known as Danny Tanner.
[quote]John Romaniello wrote:
I have a video of this, will try to get it up on youtube and post here.
[/quote]
Old thread, but did he ever make good on this?
Lol just realizing how old this thread is. Now I’m curious about that video that Mr Romaniello was talking about.
ol thread old oak .
“You’ve been reading some philosophy, too, I see. I’ve been doing that every night now, reading philosophy.”
-Tom Platz, foreshadowing Kai Greene.