The Eye of the Beholder
MuscularDevelopment.com has up to the minute contest coverage including extensive prejudging photos, so as the NPC USA’s were happening it was interesting to follow along this weekend. First I am a fan of bodybuilding, and secondly I’m considering doing this show next year, really just to be able to say I did it as I have no expectations of even placing near the top ten.
The interesting thing about bodybuilding is that when you watch a contest or look at pictures, your opinion is really the only one that counts, not the judges. How many of us have a favorite IFBB pro? We may like Ronnie Coleman for his muscle sweep and insane body parts, Jay Cutler for his mass, conditioning, and symmetry, or Victor Martinez for his God given shape. The same holds true for watching and competing in amateur shows. I was proud of Jose Raymond for winning the middles, even though I think it was a very close class. The lightheavies was disappointing, as Peter Putnam looks to be given a gift in that class. In the heavies, I thought Brandon Curry clearly won the class with perfect symmetry, but was only awarded second place.
Watching questionable calls like these helps give me objectivity regarding my own competing. I’ll be the first to admit that I have been given generous placings in a few contests, and have many shows where I absolutely thought I was robbed! I guess the trick is to be able to look at the pictures, assess the competition and accurately criticize the athletes, and be comfortable in your own mind as to where YOU thought the placements should have been. You may not get that first place trophy that you pictured during you hour long cardio sessions, but if you can say that you brought your best ever to the stage that day, that says a lot!
