Editorial - A NEW CONTEST IN THE MAKING SEPTEMBER 18TH

BY JOE WEIDER
Trainer of Champions

When Alexander the Great at the age of 33 conquered the then-known world, he cried, "I have no new worlds to conquer!" The same applies to Larry Scott at 24 . . Harold Poole at 20 . . as well as Bill Pearl, Reg Park, Chuck Sipes and other greats. These men have already won the great physique titles . . . the MR. UNIVERSE . . . the MR. AMERICA . . . the MR. WORLD. They have no "new worlds" to conquer . . . they have won the great titles and in doing so have become ineligible to compete for the same titles again.

The rules set by the IFBB, the AAU and NABBA forbid a winner to reenter the same contest and re-win that contest. While this is fair and just in that it "saves face" for such a man by not affording him the opportunity to lose the status and prestige that is already his, and while this encourages new competitors to vie for top honors, thereby "turning out" new champions at a steady pace to keep the Iron Game moving forward, it is unfortunate that it causes many champions to take layoffs and lose and not improve muscularity. The incentive is gone - the titles, the trophies, the glamor - and so the champion too often "retires". It is true that a few stay on top . . . Ross . . . Sipes . . . Eiferman. But these men have the incentive to stay on top because their muscles mean big business -- they are performers and gym owners. And there are only a few of these men . . most fade out.

Can you imagine what would happen to weightlifting records if champions like Schemansky had not been permitted to enter another lifting contest after totaling 1074 in the three lifts back in 1954? Or what might have happened to Vlasov and his records had he been forbidden to enter a weightlifting meet after winning his first world title with a grand total of 1102 in 1959? By permitting these stars to compete year after year, they are given the incentive to train harder and push world records to fantastic heights. Their records tell the story. With bodybuilding this is not the case. Bill Pearl cannot compete for titles he already has . . nor can Park . . Scott . . . Poole . . Eiferman. How long can a champion be expected to remain on top without incentive? And even if he remains on top - what incentive has he to push harder and become even greater? We need these champions . . . we want them to train harder -- for personal benefits and for the knowledge they can give the world. We want to see just how far they can go . . . how big muscles can be built -- and through this knowledge bodybuilding will be advanced and progress rapidly.

It's disturbing to us experts to hear one group say that Bill Pearl is the greatest . . for another to say that Scott is . . . for another to say that Park can make them all look sick -- and so, the battle rages. We must establish a contest for the greats -- and through this contest the greatest of the greats would emerge . . a sort of "put up or shut up contest".

And so it has been decided to add this contest to our big IFBB shows annually. On September 18th -- the date of this year's 1965 IFBB MR. UNIVERSE -- MR. AMERICA -- MISS AMERICANA SHOW you will also see another contest -- a fourth contest -- a contest open only to the greats. This event will be held after the other two men's contests - so that the top winners of these can immediately enter and vie for top honors with the "old-timers". We invite the greats to compete -- Poole, Scott, Park, Eiferman, Delinger, Ross, Grimek -- all top contest winners of today and the past. And once and for all the greatest of the greats would emerge. This contest, like all other IFBB contests, would be judged by a panel of recognized experts -- men who have been in the field for years -- men of high moral caliber who stand by what is fair and just.

The Board of Directors of the IFBB has not as yet determined an appropriate title for this contest -- and we invite you to send in suggestions. We've thought of such titles as MR. OLYMPIC -- but we want your help. The names you send in will be considered by the IFBB Board of Directors -- and by September 18th we will have a new title for a new contest. Send your suggestions directly to: Bud Parker, IFBB American Director, 801 Palisade Avenue, Union City, N. J.

This new contest will mean:

1. Not only will you see different men win the already-established top titles each year -- but these same men will be permitted to compete for the "greatest" title.

2. Even the losers in this new contest will be permitted to re-enter the following year. So will the winners be permitted to re-enter and possibly re-establish their greatness year after year.

3. It will raise the caliber of competition everywhere, for this new contest will inspire men to do their very best in every contest so as to be eligible for this one.

4. To the IFBB fan, it will mean an extra contest to see -- now 4 contests for the price of 1, this year on September 18th at the Brooklyn Academy of Music . . . the 1965 IFBB MR. UNIVERSE -- MR. AMERICA -- MISS AMERICANA -- MR. OLYMPIC (or whatever name is decided on) SHOW.

5. The greats -- the men we all know as greats, such as Grimek and Reeves and Scott -- are men who possess a disposition towards greatness. Why should these men stop training and gaining after winning the MR. UNIVERSE or MR. AMERICA or MR. WORLD? Now this contest will take full advantage of their potential greatness. . . it will inspire them to keep training and achieve ultimate greatness.

Now remember -- this contest is not open to you if you do not hold a major title -- such as MR. UNIVERSE or MR. AMERICA or MR. WORLD or MR. EUROPE. But if you do hold one or more of these major titles you are eligible to compete with the greats -- and we invite you . . . we urge you to compete. So get ready Larry Scott. . . John Grimek . . . Harold Poole. . . George Eiferman . . . Chuck Sipes . . . Clarence Ross . . . Jack Delinger . . . El Guindi . . . Bill Pearl. . . Joe Abbenda and other greats -- get ready to compete and attempt to declare yourself the greatest in the world.

Remember. . . the date is September 18th -- the date that will mark the establishment of a new dimension in bodybuilding. Details and special contest ads will appear regularly in MUSCLE BUILDER starting with the June 1965 issue. Watch for them!

Sincerely,
JOE WEIDER
The Muscle Builder

PHOTO CAPTIONS

- This scene will be repeated on September 18, 1965 -- the date of the big 1965 IFBB MR. UNIVERSE - MR. AMERICA - MISS AMERICANA SHOW ... but twice as many contestants are expected to vie for honors - and the additions will be the world's champions competing in a NEW contest open only to the greats. You can't afford to miss it . . . this revealing editorial tells all.