If you want someone to change/stop something, this is generally an unsuccessful approach to take. Just saying…
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There is a reason that there is a massive disadvantage going to the lifters who start the last man standing, they had the least points going into the last event.
Under a normal stones event, it is almost always mathematically impossible for them to qualify, so how has this changed anything?
Under the old rules they had the chance to score good points in the final event, maybe enough to lift them up 1, maybe 2 places, but absolutely no chance of qualifying for the final. None whatsoever.
By the time the last event comes around, in qualifiers, the top 2 are almost always a good distance ahead of the rest, with a rare scenario being that the guy in third has a chance to jump into the top 2. With last man standing, this third place chap has again a chance of doing this, if he is a better stone lifter than the guy in 2nd place.
It happened a number of times that 4th and 5th place guys fatigued at similar point, meaning the guy in third only had a few stone lifts of fatigue before he went head to head with 2nd place, a small disadvantage, but no more than a points deficit would have been a disadvantage in a normal stones final, he would still have to out stone the other guy.
My initial response to the last man standing event was similar to yours, but as I watched the event and played out the logic of the game it actually works just fine.
Its also a very good way of making you look like an idiot.
DUDE. this is too funny. You happen to prefer one thing, and have decided that someone else who prefers a different thing is an idiot AND YOU HAVE TO TELL THE WORLD.
Amazing.
You’ll find plenty of people who agree with you that they would prefer not to have a last man standing stone event deciding anything. You’ll find a whole lot of people who disagree as well. You’re not definitively right, and Giants Live is not definitively right. They’re fucking trying something. For a televised contest that needs a new spark. Some infusion of new excitement.
I, for one, love the idea, and I would love to have a similar event in a comp that I compete in.
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This popped up on YouTube- haven’t watched yet but I guess this is it?
Yeah I think so judging my the thumbnail. It’s also blocked by Channel 5 for copyright in the UK so you’re probably on track.
It’s amazing how big a head can get. For some large people it’s fat but for others it’s the HGH. Just look at the bodybuilding world. Phil Heath’s head is bigger every year…And not just figuratively.
It’s hard to tell in the case of 400 lb men though.
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Licis and Thor are the next decade of Strongman. I expect podium for Licis and a win for Thor in 2018, assuming Eddie is done Thor will be the strongest guy there and he’s more mobile than most. Licis is as strong as men 50-100lbs heavier than himself, faster, more athletic, and has grip strength rivaling anyone. Shaw starting to get old and Z is actually old/constantly injured, Eddie retiring, it’s gonna be the biggest shakeup since Pudzianowski retired in the next couple years.
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Don’t assume Eddie is done. Eddie isn’t assuming Eddie’s done. If I had to be on him competing this year or not, my money’s on him competing. He’s not going to let this sport go anytime soon. Yes, I’m aware of what he’s said about retiring from WSM. I am of the opinion, after watching 4 documentaries with a ton of footage of Eddie, that he has been saying what he needs to say to keep his wife supporting him. I do not believe he’s ready to retire anytime soon.
Shaw is 7 years younger than Z. He’s 35, that’s not old. If you look at Z’s body of work over the last 7 years, you probably wouldn’t be saying ‘Licis and Thor are the next decade of Strongman.’ You also don’t know what young guys will be popping up, younger even than Thor, over the next few years.
This is true, I was making generalizations regarding the next decade, there are lots of promising young guys. Personally I want to see what Iron Biby can do on the world stage because he’s a beast.
I wasn’t personally assuming Eddie was done. I was saying assuming that Eddie is done as more of a question, I may not have been clear in my words, apologies.
I would love to see Eddie compete more at WSM personally, he’s certainly pushing other competitors(Shaw & Thor primarily) to get stronger which is great and he’s very entertaining sometimes. I was thinking more along the lines of the fact he said something to the effect of “going out on top” in regards to WSM, he has a brand to protect now, and while he could easily win again assuming he competed I think he would be hesitant just in case he didn’t get top spot because it would hurt his image.
He will certainly qualify for it and it is likely he will be winning BSM #5 in a couple weeks.
I hope he goes to Europe’s and The Arnold at least even if he skips WSM though.
As far as Z and Shaw, Z is still a beast at his age, but the injuries are piling up BECAUSE he’s been such a beast for so long, 20+ years now at the top(and I know Z’s body of work, I think I have watched everything he’s done since 1998 if I could find it). Shaw is getting injured more and more too, he’s not old yet and certainly still strong, but wear and tear catch up to everyone.(Except for Mark Felix and Nick Best, lol)
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Can you tell me about the injuries that have piled up for Shaw? Maybe I’m less aware of them than you are. I can only think of one serious one in the last 3 years.
Believe Shaw has torn his bicep, some type of nerve damage to his hand (perhaps bicep related), and lately two pretty bad hamstring tears it seems.
Bicep tear was 2012. He’s clearly fully recovered from that. All I was aware of in the last 3 years, which was my question, was a minor hamstring tear deadlifting in 16 that likely was related to the more recent one in 2017. So in 3 years, 2 hamstring injuries. I hardly call that ‘injuries piling up’.
IDK. ‘Shaw’s on his way out’ seems to be a popular narrative without much substance to it. I’ll wait awhile before I bet against him.
I agree. Shaw is far from done.
Shaw is starting to monetize his wins. The YouTube videos are getting really good, and strongman coaching is coming online this year. You can see Mark Bell’s influence there. This will have two possible consequences.
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This will distract him from training for Strongman (he’s planning his career after all this) and he’ll place worse.
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He’ll have more incentive to stack wins to better his brand. With 5 WSM’s he’d tie pudz. He’ll never catch Z with total overall wins unless Z retires.
Given the competitive nature of Brian I’d put money on #2.
100%, no question. I’ve seen similar arguments about distractions regarding Thor. It’s like if these guys are capitalizing on their image in any way, people want to say they’re not dedicated to the sport that brought them their fame. Which is ridiculous. Thor’s bigger and stronger than ever. Shaw is the most methodical, intellectual strongman in history, he’s not going to lose focus ever.
Z’s another great example of a guy who’s been working outside of strongman for his future. He’s been doing it, successfully, his whole career. Eddie’s really the only one who’s gone done the other path of ‘all strongman, all the time’. But he clearly cares about his image, has expressed interest in film, all that.
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I think Eddie actually features briefly in Transformers the Last Knight. Could be wrong but Im pretty sure Its him leading the barbarian horde in the opening battle scene.
Yeah it is I remember seeing him mention it in a documentary somewhere. He actually said he wants to pursue more acting but as a big main bad guy rather than just an extra.
I watched the WSM Finals today and it was kind of surprising. Z looked beat down. He definitely wasn’t peaking. The heat didn’t help.
Shaw battled but the body wasn’t willing.
Thor was a beast but it just wasn’t enough.
I was surprised by the events of the finals. Squat, viking press, and deadlifts as three of the six…perhaps Eddie had an advantage by being close is weight but half a foot shorter?
Licis had a great showing but his competition isn’t going anywhere. His best friend might be his age and the lack of wear and tear but it only takes one moment to change a career with injury.