Labrada totally should have beat Haney that one Onlympia where he was actually ahead after the prejudging (how the hell can someone who is behind on points after the actual judging takes place catch up and win with a posing routine?!). Always a favorite physique of mine.
Baker was acually the only IFBB guy who defected to the ill fated WBF in the early 90’s who actually came back and placed ‘ok’ in any show afterward. All other defectors paid fines to come back and then always finished last. If he had never jumped ship, I’d like to think he would have gotten much more actual attention, as his physique was huge and thick compared to many others who routinely placed ahead of him in shows.
Overlooked? Danny Padilla! Guy was a monster for his height and if you look at the sheer density on the man, and the conditioning (for the time), it’s just astounding that more people don’t know who he is.
I remember the BB magazines in the '80s, Baker was mentioned a few times, that was about it. Of course, everyone in those mags looked awesome to me, but your pix of Baker are stunning. I was ads of Hernon hawking some supplement and talking about taking the Olympia, but that was about it.
I can see where you might think Zane was underrated. I met him at one of his seminars in Palm Springs in '84 or '85. He’s a very quiet, soft-spoken guy. He looked maybe a bit bigger than the regular guy, but nothing special. As he was talking, he shifted his legs and when he tensed the muscles, they suddenly jumped out with cuts you couldn’t believe. Seriously, you could drop a credit card in there and lose it. And he was years past competition shape. Incredible.
EDIT: of course, Padilla! He was so short everyone literally overlooked him. Wait, wasn’t there some guy from the Middle East even shorter? Can’t remember.
[quote]The Mighty Stu wrote:
Overlooked? Danny Padilla! Guy was a monster for his height and if you look at the sheer density on the man, and the conditioning (for the time), it’s just astounding that more people don’t know who he is.
S[/quote]
X2
Anyone who thinks Franco deserved the '81 Olympia either had his eyes closed, or was paid off by Wieder.
Overlooked? Danny Padilla! Guy was a monster for his height and if you look at the sheer density on the man, and the conditioning (for the time), it’s just astounding that more people don’t know who he is.
S[/quote]
Dang it, Stu, you beat me to it. I saw this thread was only 22 posts long and was almost at the last post and though certainly no one will have posted The Giant Killer. Look at this guy.
[quote]Cephalic_Carnage wrote:
Definitely agree on Baker. His was one of the physiques that originally inspired me to start training… He made something of a splash, then pretty much was never mentioned again. Weird. Don’t know the story behind it, how’s he doing these days?
Ink, I honestly don’t think that Shawn Ray was ever underrated… He had plenty of fans and was very high profile in general… (and the butt-end of a good few of Yates’ best jokes haha)
He just never stood out enough compared to the others on stage imo…
[/quote]
Actually thats pretty much what I meant. Shawn was definitely a favorite among fans and the media, but I don’t think he ever really got the attention deserved on stage. I really don’t know how he never got at least one Olympia. Priest is another; loved by the fans and media, but never gets the respect he deserves on the stage.
[quote]angry chicken wrote:
I can’t believe no one mentioned Rich Gaspari - that guy was SWOLE back in the day! Didn’t he come in second several times? [/quote]
He was the guy who upped the ante when it came to crazy conditioning. He just couldn’t compete with Lee Haney’s mass and proportions.
[quote]angry chicken wrote:
I can’t believe no one mentioned Rich Gaspari - that guy was SWOLE back in the day! Didn’t he come in second several times? [/quote]
He was the guy who upped the ante when it came to crazy conditioning. He just couldn’t compete with Lee Haney’s mass and proportions.
[quote]angry chicken wrote:
I can’t believe no one mentioned Rich Gaspari - that guy was SWOLE back in the day! Didn’t he come in second several times? [/quote]
He was the guy who upped the ante when it came to crazy conditioning. He just couldn’t compete with Lee Haney’s mass and proportions.
I loved his work ethic and tenacity.[/quote]
Yeah…and that’s why he isn’t UNDERrated. Everyone talks about the guy coming in second.
[quote]The Mighty Stu wrote:
Overlooked? Danny Padilla! Guy was a monster for his height and if you look at the sheer density on the man, and the conditioning (for the time), it’s just astounding that more people don’t know who he is.
S[/quote]
X2
Anyone who thinks Franco deserved the '81 Olympia either had his eyes closed, or was paid off by Wieder.
