Spotlight On Slander

by Bob Hoffman

In a recent issue of his magazine, Weider complains about the physical excellence contest held in conjunction with the 1950 World Weightlifting Championships at Paris last October. His article, "Who Should be Mr. World for 1950?" is polluted with distortions, prevarications and untruths. For example, Weider states that I, Bob Hoffman, said "I think that Reg has the best build in the world today." This is wrong. Of course Reg Park has an extraordinary development which is much admired. Yet only six months have elapsed since Steve Reeves outscored Parks in his own country to win the "Mr. Universe" contest. This magnificent American athlete placed second to John Grimek in the 1948 "Mr. Universe" event and finished third to Grimek and Ross in the 1949 "Mr. U.S.A." competition. I did state at Paris that I think Reg Park might become the best man in the world in physique. But at present I, for one, would not rate Park ahead of some of our recent "Mr. America " winners, including Reeves, Delinger, Eiferman and Farbotnik, and the greatest of them all, John Grimek.

Weider says that Park was "cheated" out of the title "Mr. World." If he was cheated, then Joe Weider is the man who cheated him, for he is the man responsible for Park being professionalized. It was at Weider's own professional physique show at New York last September that Reg Park needlessly forfeited his amateur status. He disregarded the warning of Dietrich Wortmann, the National Chairman of the A. A. U. Weightlifting Committee and First Vice-President of the International Weightlifting Federation, about the consequences of competing in this professional event. In this connection it is appropriate to call attention to the fact that Reg Park did not donate, as claimed or reported in Weider's slanderous article, the $500 to the American Weightlifting Fund. Weider's supposed main objective for staging the show at New York last September was to raise money for sending the American weightlifting team to Paris. The truth of the matter is that the only money obtained by the A. A. U. from Weider's show, aside from the sanction fee, was the required 10% of the gross receipts. This sum of less hall $200 was turned over after a long delay when official pressure was exerted. The writer of this article paid practically every cent of the entire cost of sponsoring the American lifting team and John Farbotnik for the World Championship competitions at Paris last October. It was here that our champions scored their greatest victory.

Another of the false claims in Weider's UnAmerican article is, that we threatened to withdraw American team members from the weightlifting championships unless Park's entry from the physique competition was eliminated. No such ultimatum was issued. In fact, the weightlifting and physique contests were entirely separate events. We did, however, threaten to withdraw our intended American entries, including John Farbotnik, from the physique competition if Reg Park were permitted to participate in it. Our action or demand in this connection was fully justified on the basis of Park's professional status. D. G. Johnson, editor of Health & Strength and President of National Amateur Body Builders' Association, readily admitted that Park belonged in the professional category. It was the association he is the leader of, NABBA, that had submitted Park's entry prior to the Weider show which professionalized him. Mr. Johnson had informed. Reg in advance of the Paris event that his entry would be refused and advised him not to make the trip to compete. His information was disregarded by Reg.

The crux of the matter is that Reg Park vas justly barred from this amateur physique competition because of his proved professional status. John Farbotnik, on the other hand, was certified as an amateur by the Southern Pacific Association of the A. A. U. which governs the district in which he resides. Contrary to Weider's fabrications there was no "underhanded work," no "favoritism," nothing that should "stun body builders in America," "no cheating," "no violation of the spirit of fair play," no question of what printer prints what magazine, no "plot cleverly conceived," no "reason for Americans to be ashamed," etc., etc., etc.

It is very poor sportsmanship for Weider to constantly complain about the decisions if his man does not win. Such criticism is insulting to the honesty and ability of the officials. Weider appears to be never satisfied unless one of his "boosters" wins. When Grimek beat Ross in the 1949 "Mr. U. S. A." contest by 6 votes to 1 Weider had the gall to refer to this as a "much disputed" decision. In other major physique events Weider has been responsible for issuing false statements. Better sportsmanship in Weider's magazines is needed to uphold the standards of fair play and I Americanism.

PHOTO CAPTION: Melvin Wells was a victim of the foul tactics involved in Weider's slanderous article, "Who Should Be Mr. World For 1950 ?" Contrary to the false impressions conveyed in Weider's propaganda, Melvin Wells did not resent or criticize any of the decisions at the 1950 "Mr. America" competition. It so happens that this admirable athlete wrote Ray Van Cleef a letter containing the following remarks. "I truly appreciate everything that has been done for me . Your magazine has always been a source of inspiration to me. Never did I dream that I would be elevated so high in the physique world. It came about due to the fact that we still have people who have the backbone to stand up and face an issue irregardless of race, creed or color." This letter was written only a few days after last year's "Mr. America" contest at Philadelphia. Since this recent vilifying article of Weider's has been released a letter of protest from Melvin Wells has been received. This superman issued these statements. "I want to go on record as saying that I have never issued any remarks concerning the "Mr America" contest, except to praise the judges and the participants. I can readily see where certain people are always ready to blacken anyone's name to further their advantage. I have watched this certain magazine slander and make untrue remarks about others, but I never thought that I would be the victim of their underhanded way of doing things."