14) LEE PRIEST (33 years old; 5'4", 205 pounds): Lee didn't want to tell the editors of the Olympia program how much he weighed, claiming such information unfairly influences the judges ahead of time. When pressed, he said he would come in between ???150???280.??? So let???s say this -- if he comes in at either end of that spectrum, he???ll lose; if he comes in somewhere around the middle with a package a touch stronger than the one that earned him second at this year???s 2005 Ironman title, watch out, he???s definite top six at the very least. Which is now academic ???cos we just heard he???s withdrawn for the event.
"The Mr. Olympia doesn't excite me to compete, and that's one of the reasons why I'm not doing it - I'd rather do the Arnold Classic. It's more professionally run, it's on mainstream TV, it has Arnold's name, and it's more accepted as a show. Half of people don't know about the Mr. Olympia - its never advertised in Vegas, and it's not in the paper the next day. I see people on the street and they ask me "Are you the one in Mr. Universe?" they don't even know about the Mr. Olympia. They say that the Mr. O is the #1 show in bodybuilding, but I think the Arnold classic is right up there.
The way you are treated at the Olympia is ridiculous. They are pushing us here and there, and they come back stage, telling us to go out early without oil, telling us that we don't have time to prepare. I'm not going out there without oil on, looking half-assed - so go ahead and start the show - without us!
I guess the guys just don't want to make waves. Imagine if the Mr. Olympia is sold out, people have come from all over the world to watch it, and the athletes say, "Unless we get what we want, we aren't walking on stage tomorrow" - I bet they would come up with something pretty quickly.
Just trying to get the guys to stand together as a whole is the hard part. Someone will run back to someone and say, "Lee or this person is saying this or that, and here is what they plan on doing", and so they blackball you before you get anywhere!
Some of the things that Shawn is saying now I've been saying for years. It's like, what have you done Shawn, gone back and read some of my interviews?
There was a lot of the things that I did that people complained about, like at the Olympia when I wanted everyone to get money, and people were complaining, "Why is Lee causing trouble?" I think that if you go to the Olympia to compete, you should get money - and they eventually gave everyone who placed out of the top twelve $2000. It's not much, but at least it's something.
Craig Titus was saying, "I can't see why Lee is doing this or that, he's just causing trouble." I said that I was willing to give some of my money away, which I had no problem doing. Now Craig is saying, "We're going to get the athletes money" - it's like, where were you guys before when I wanted to do it and you were bagging me for doing it, and now all of a sudden it's the "in thing" to do?
I wanted to do things for years and no one stood behind me and supported me, they just kept their mouths shut. I've paid over $17,000 in fines and had a twelve month suspension, and I'm willing to put my money where my mouth is and stand up to something if I don't agree to it."
-Lee Priest
Originally Posted by Bob Cicherillo LEE has pulled out of the Olympia!!!
His decision is bassed on his disapproval with the way the show is run and handled, he beleives he has to stick to his word .
The contract for the show is toataly restricting and onesided all the way for the promoters to the point it is dissrespectfull to the athletes in some instances.
The promoters requirements of the Athletes prior to the event is totaly unnessacery and shows no compasion for the compettitors.
The athletes have to participate in promotional products for the promoter which have the potential to earn millions of dollars with not one cent being given back to the athlete.
The athlete has to sighn away his rights to image and likeness for promotianl and product endorsement with no financial compensation what so ever, plus in most cases go against there Sponcers obligations and rights.
All the athlete gets to be at the Super Bowl of Bodybuilding is there flight paid for, a room(with no cooking facilitys, and no microwaves) plus a $50 buck meal allowance, and 1 ticket to the event.
If the athlete chooses to stay at a hotel other than the one given to them (because of cooking reqiurements) no transport will be offered to them to get to and from the event.
The judgeing is not independently monitored.
The challenge round is a joke and takes away the anticipation of the top 5 plus the money offered in this round should be used to pay for athletes lower down the placeings or should have been put to the Womens Olympia , which has been demoted to haveing their show held in the EXPO hall!
These issues are just some of the problems faceing the Olympia, and are issues shared by alot of the compettitors, its just that lee is a man of his word , so hes out, but not done by any amounts, trust me
regards Hrdcor
Originally Posted by Lee Priest
I am in shape been doing photos for MD.Am i spitting on my qualifiying spot i think not just cause i choose not to compete in a show that is not what it use to be is my choice.When the show returns to what it was then i might change my mind.
So many athletes train hard year-round for just a chance to compete at the O.
Yeah whatever.a chance at what to stand on a stage at the O wow.They need a goal in life then don't they.Anyone going in that show who thinks they will win over Ronnie or Get second over cutler is very out of touch with reality.
I guess Chris was right.
Sorry for sticking to what i believe.My true fans will respect that.If i do the show then i have no respect for myself.
I will be at the expo from 10 am till 5pm everyday so my fans will have no problem seeing me or talking to me.
How can it be a competition when we know some of the outcome.I get to stand on stage with those guys at the Arnold and other shows through out the year.If it was the Arnold and the same guys where there and i knew i couldn't win i would still compete nuts i know i sometimes will never make top 3-4 at shows but i still go.You see it is the contract and the way the O i run .That is why i am not doing it.
i did sign the contract going against what i believed in.But the more i thought about it i just couldn't bring myself to do it.Yes i have a room with a kitchen which Twinlab paid for,Yes i have a flight to the O which Twinlab paid for.You see i told the people doing the O to cancell my stuff awhile ago.I have been competing for 20 years if i feel a show dose not treat the athleytes right then i will not compete.Yes the Ironman show prize money has not gone up but it is a good show.the Arnold say no more treats us like gold,the gnc show was better then the O but look what happened to it.
Ron you know nothing you are a company man who will lick ass to keep his press pass and i will tell you that at the EXPO.Yes i could do the O and go against what i believe in and make good money if i finish in top 6 whcih is possible but this isn"t about money it"s about the sport and us as athletes getting treated right.So put on a good show and people will not pull out.nuts i could have lied and said i was sick and got a note from a doctor .No i want people to know why i am not doing it.They need to make changes and sometimes it's like being in a relationship the little things can make a big difference.
i thought i could bring myself to do it but know i will not do it SIMPLE.The contract s says nothing about suspension this year it states i will owe the promoter
IT SAYS
If the athlete does not compete in the competition for any reason other than mediccal ,then the athlete shall reimburrse the Compnay for all costs and exspenses incurred by Company(if any) in reliance on athlete's participatiomn in the competition ,including but limited to costs and exspenses related to the consideration promised to the athlete hereunder.
Tell you what i wil find a scanner and scan the whole thing for you all to read.
Lee
And I've heard somewhere that a couple of more pro's are thinking of pulling out right before.
