Cedric McMillan winning the Arnold Classic - Arnold believes popularity matters.

The video is from the channel MAKAVELI*MOTIVATION.It celebrates Cedric McMillan's victory,and hard work.

Last month Cedric McMillan won the Arnold Classic Open Bodybuilding division.Most bodybuilding media was predicting he would.They called it.He won,and looked great doing it.It's a well received victory from a competitor who's paid his dues.
It's a popular victory with most fans,and certainly with Arnold Schwarzenegger.He's been pushing the point that awkward looking, bloat gutted bulk freaks are hurting the sport.Almost nobody enjoys looking at them.The general public flips out over the extremity.That's one thing.They dump on bodybuilders anyway.But most people who actually love muscle are weary of the meatball parade.
If you love bodybuilding you want to see the muscle displayed with graceful lines.Presence,and compelling posing.The look of a classic Herculean hero.
We can all get a kick out of the super freaks.But it's a cheap thrill.
The dream physique produces awe.

Arnold owes his famous life to bodybuilding.He may have become the mayor of Graz,but he wouldn't have become a star without his unique physique.It seems he's putting most of his energy back into bodybuilding now.He's still acting.But it looks like he's returned to his first love with enthusiasm,and concern.He's promoting his tour of shows now.It's becoming a kind of rival to the singular importance of the Olympia.
The business,and politics of the sport are complicated.But I think the big issue is the lasting legacy of the Weiders,and the fact that AMI bought a major interest in the sport.It feels like it can't grow independently.It's constrained by the business,and marketability concerns of the IFBB.You would think they'd want nothing more than to have bodybuilding,and fitness being more popular.And I can see that's a part of their approach.Particularly with the division expansions introduced in the last decade,or so.But what about the real fans? Are we being listened to?
Not much.They torpedoed the women's open class because they couldn't ( wouldn't ) address the judging issues,and gave up.How many new male potential champions are coming up too?
The bikini,and men's physique is earning entrant money.It's unthreatening to the mass market.But it clogs up a bodybuilding stage with fitness classes.
Not good for the heart of the pursuit.Real bodybuilding.

I wonder if Arnold is having an influence on the judging at his shows? I think he is.He was making noise about the bulging bellies in the past few years.
Cedric winning.The smiling Ahmad Ashkanani winning the 212's ( yes.his belly is too thick )
Oksana Grishina winning the fitness.
There could be a shift going on with the judging to reward the people who make a more positive impression on viewers.Outgoing,energetic people are what Arnold wants representing the sport.
The fact is it's getting stale at the top.
Why even bother to watch the Olympia anymore if Phil Heath just shows up to collect his yearly trophy?
I hope Arnold can pump in some enthusiasm,and excitement into the scene.I can't help but wonder what would happen if he could get even more power in the sport?
He brings far more to the whole picture than Eric Weider ever could.

Notes;
Just damn,Cedric! Dragging a chain,and weights down the road in the rain.That has to be some of the more bad ass cardio I've seen.A human dray horse.That's what I love about bodybuilders.

I'll admit I didn't sit down,and watch the whole Arnold show.Sigh.My attention span isn't what it was when I was a young fan.I don't ever watch the bikini,figure,fitness events.I can't even pretend to care.

It's very hard to get an actual sport out of bodybuilding isn't it?
It's just an excuse to show off hard work.
That's another article.