Muscle Power, Vol 19 No 2, Page 13 March 1956

Change Those Methods Of Judging

says Earle Liederman

"It's about time the obsolete methods of judging physical excellence contests were revised." Says MUSCLE POWER'S Editor-in-Chief. "Let's streamline that old fashioned scoring system and bring it up to date. We can make Best Built Men Events more appealing to the public and the Game more popular. Here's How."

ABOUT A YEAR ago, I mentioned in an article that the judges at physique contests ought to adopt new ways and thereby give greater satisfaction to the cash customers in the audience. The way matters have been going, it has often aroused the ire of many, criticism of others, as well as "boos" from groups who obviously were displeased with the selection of the awards. I fully realize, of course, that no man, nor group of men, can please everybody. There will always be protests, condemnations and ridicule over the opinions of the judges. Each spectator, unquestionably has his favorite whom he intently watches throughout the posing routine and undoubtedly has his mind made up then and there as he considers his favorite the absolute winner long before the judges have had time to count up their written points that have been placed beside each name. Anyway, I have striven and perhaps caused enough pressure and influence through my persistent advocations, personal contacts with the AAU members, as well as others who promote physique affairs, to have been slightly instrumental in changing the previous set-up.

I have, firstly, proclaimed that the individual slips or papers of each and every one of the acting judges at physique contests should be handed to the announcer who should read them to the audience, and to also mention the judge's name upon each paper so that everyone will know just how each judge has voted. This is the system they follow at all boxing matches. This system will produce judges who are fearless and not afraid to have their names given to the world and in their connection with the manner by which they proclaimed this one or that one to be the winner of the contest. Of course, I believe that this system should apply to only the first three top contestants, because those who do not make a spot among the first three best contestants, need be but little concerned as to whether the public learns of their particular amount of points or not. But, among the top three, there is usually a very close margin. In one recent contest, the Mr. America squeezed through to win by only one-half of a point; therefore, I deem it necessary that all of the people in the audience be told, then and there, the points or fractions of points so that all will know what's what about who's who. And as I just mentioned, the name of each judge must be signed to his own paper having the scoring. This will furnish every judge with a goodly share of applause or boos.

I have known for a fact that in certain physique contests, there has been too much comparing of notes or points between the judges (not AAU) and this to me seems all wrong. If any judge has to ask his fellow judge and thereby enhance his own opinion, I consider him not fully qualified to act in such capacity. Each judge should have full confidence in his own ability and only those possessing this attribute should be given the job of judging in the first place. I have witnessed physique affairs -- smaller ones --and in my opinion, many of those who acted as judges had absolutely no right to be there nor did they possess enough qualifications to judge a frog-jumping contest, let alone a physique show. I believe that each judge should be one of experience and not be selected because he happens to be prominent in this or that circle. I have also been inwardly pained to see some young fellows acting as judges in beauty contests for the ladies and I have noticed how far their minds wandered from a careful study of feminine form, because such was revealed by their incessant laughter and giggling between themselves. The public does not wish such sort of judges. There should be a certain amount of solemnity and dignity to the job of judging and it ought not to be taken as an amusement.

I honestly feel that this main change that of the audience learning the name of each judge in connection with his individual score will greatly lift the future physique contests out of their obvious lagging situation and thereby supply better box office for the promoters. (Some contests lose money, should you not know of this fact).

I took up this entire matter with Bert Goodrich and he immediately decided to utilize it in his forthcoming Mr. USA show. And I also contacted David Matlin, the president of the Southern California AAU. Mr. Matlin took it up at an immediate meeting of that body of men and the verdict was that it would be put into effect in future AAU contests. And Leo Stern, the gym owner at San Diego, California, has always been in approval of such a scoring system being openly revealed to the audience. Though this is, at present, but a California movement, I am sure that it will spread throughout the State and elsewhere, for its seems the only logical conclusion to place judging on a firm fearless basis and eliminate all those who are unqualified to act in such capacity. Judges should be men with experience in all phases of bodybuilding or lifting. They should know anatomy thoroughly, and have a sense of proper physical proportions. Applause for certain public favorites in a contest should be absolutely ignored; neither should they be influenced by one another.

One of the most important items concerning the judges of physique contests is that no one should be allowed to act as a judge who may have a friend, or an entry in the affair. Neither should any judge be a gymnasium owner for this often may lead to favoritism due to one of the contestants having done his training at the gymnasium in particular.

I am also in favor of an elimination selection prior to the main attraction, for sometimes there are far too many contestants in a show, many of whom have no right to be entered in the first place because of far inferior development or proportions. In other words, a contestant who has never been good enough to win a smaller contest, has no right to be entered in a Mr. America affair, unless during the time between the small contest and the Mr. America show, he has so vastly improved that he merits notice. This should be left for the judges to decide a few hours before curtain time.

Contestants seldom realize that they are judged when standing in groups, or when lined up across the full stage and in relaxed postures. Their actual posing may be considered entertainment for the spectators more than for the influence of the judges, with the exception of the point or points, whatever they might be, which are considered by the judges when it comes to posing ability.

Pride and vanity of contestants should vanish and be replaced by the down-to-earth business of looking their best when relaxed because of their musculature and proportion. Of course, their posing is needed for the selection of the best body-parts, I admit; but often a fellow will look very good under the lights when displaying his various muscles, and yet fail to pass when he stands in repose. And if any of the contestants should assume inflated postures when they are being full stage, they ought to know that the judges judged in the line of men standing across the main allowance for such an exaggerated posture and thereby discount his ordinary appearance as it would appear without self-conscious inflation. This is merely a pointer, so to speak, for the benefit of contestants and indicates but one of the conjectures confronting the judges.

Whatever physical ability tests that may be required of each contestant will have to remain localized until there becomes a standard set of rules that will cover every AAU contest held throughout the United States. This ruling will be up to the AAU, as a whole, to arrange and I have no comment at present to offer, as I deem it a matter of careful planning. It entails such a wide scope that complete suggestions would fill a small book.

Whether the judges utilize the 100 point system or less, remains for added regulations. I should think, however, that the 100 point system would be the better one. I am considering the numerous sections which judges must cover, such as the skin, hair, face, posture, posing ability, physical ability tests, intelligence, character and a few other requisites that should be possessed by all contestants and in a high degree.

It will be rather difficult to weed out anyone of the entrants because of character unless as, in the case of some, they have been jail-birds, or who are well known undesirable characters.

These brief suggestions, if executed, are going to cause more trouble and work for all contestant judges, yet I consider them practical and a means to inject new life into promotions via better box office as well as greater satisfaction to the cash customers.

PHOTO CAPTIONS

- Line up of 1951 Mr. America Contest. Read article, then ask if results would have been same if rules we propose here had been followed.

- Special awards divisions in 1945 Mr. America meet. Cliff Byers, Joe Lauriano, Clancy Ross, Kim Voyages competed. Could Special Awards judging be improved? Article gives answer.

- Here's one Mr. America result that was one of the most popular. no one had any complaints when Steve Reeves took title. Here he's congratulated by previous year's winner, Alan Stephan.