The Centopani Firing Rationalization Article! My Comments

[huge285]

Take a minute to read Matt Meinrod's rationalization of why Evan Centopani was fired from PrimeNutrition (below) as it appeared on Project Bodybuilding. Let me start by saying that Matt happens to be a terrific writer and he spends a lot of time making sure his articles are logical and well thought out. Having said that, it’s also important to understand that he's drunk so much of the Aaron and PJ Kool-Aid these past few years that his view of the situation is a little skewed. After reading Centopani’s resignation-from-Prime Nutrition "post" on social media, I could tell Evan was merely being a gentleman when he delivered his well-articulated message. No drama, no blame, no animosity... he merely thanked Prime for the experience and moved on. This peaceful resolution on his part does not mean that he didn't feel slighted, deceived, or mislead. It just means he walked away with dignity. But Aaron and PJ are not that passive. Their egos need the public to know that they did nothing wrong; Evan was the one who failed to live up to his end of the contract. Public perception is everything to these guys. They don't wanna be the bad guys; the guys who convinced Evan to leave his sweet deal with Universal and sign the "Blockbuster Deal of the Century" with them.....only to have them "change their mind". So they called on their "publicist" Meinrod to plead their case to the public.

Why did Aaron and PJ really get rid of their Superstar athlete? I’m sure most of you are wondering. Well, the truth is that Evan wouldn’t “sell out” his principles to their business model. What model is that, you may ask? Sell product at any cost! Hey, who am I to criticize them; they’re making a lot of money selling everything that people “want” and nothing that people “need”. Mazel tov! Good for them! But herein lies the moral dilemma Centopani had with Prime. Evan, actually, wanted to come out with a supplement line that would improve people’s health—vitamins, essential fats, etc…. Products that people should take to increase muscle gains, increase recovery time, and increase general well-being; not flashy “pump you up” products. But high potency vitamins, minerals and protein powders are not profitable unless there’s a huge education push to teach the public why these should be used. Aaron and PJ’s model is, “sell what people want, whether they need it or not”.

Centopani also had a huge problem with some of the questionable marketing techniques that Aaron and PJ used. Hiring a porn star, for one was offensive to Evan. Likewise, PJ having “mock” sex (on video) with an inflatable blow-up doll to promote a new product didn’t exactly paint the picture of what Evan was hoping to convey from “his” line of nutritional products.

But what about the claims that Evan refused to post on social media or that he failed to cooperate in helping to promote Prime in the same way as some of Aaron and PJ’s other social media mavericks do? On first glance, it appears that this is classic apathetic Evan-as-usual. But once you look closer the reasons become way clearer. Why would Evan help promote a company that is using embarrassing (in his mind) marketing technique; a company that refuses to make his promised line of high quality products; and a company that is run by two “supposed” friend who are now tyrannically dictating to Evan what he should and should not be doing? Evan is not your typical sponsored athlete. He’s supposed to be your “partner” in this business. Just because he doesn’t own part of the company doesn’t mean he shouldn’t be treated with the respect of an equal. This is classic bullying 101 and once Centapani saw the writing on the wall, he bailed emotionally. Once he was no longer emotional invested, Aaron and PJ realized they needed to cut this huge expense to their pocket books and they dismissed Evan based on his failure to comply with his contractual obligations. In one sense, I’m sure Evan was secretly relieved (despite the huge loss of a monthly paycheck).

Were Aaron and PJ legally wrong in what they did? Absolutely not. They have every right to fire an employee who isn’t complying with the spirit of their contract. So no one can doubt them for what they ultimately did. But, to paint a picture of Evan Centopani as an impossible-to-work-with athlete who never wants to leave his house or post on social media is unfair to him. I know Evan very well. He’s a very spiritual soul who is driven by his intuition. He doesn’t allow “the good opinion of others” to control or rule his world. He’ll always be this way; love him or hate him. And I respect the heck out of him for having such strong moral convictions. I usually don’t get involved in this gossip-mongering drivel online but I felt that Evan’s character was being assassinated and I felt compelled to say what he’s too much of a gentleman to reveal.






Centopani and Prime Nutrition Part-Ways: No Surprise from Projectbodybuilding.com

PROJECT BODYBUILDING MARCH 23, 2015 1

Evan Centopani and Prime Nutrition parted ways following the Arnold Classic weekend in Columbus, Ohio, ending a short 8 month business relationship. Last July, Centopani joined Prime Nutrition when he opted to not re-sign with his long time sponsor Universal Nutrition, but instead join forces with his close friends and owners of Prime, Aaron Singerman and PJ Braun. Due to Centopani and Braun’s friendship, many people online speculated that Evan had likely been offered an ownership stake within the company to secure the blockbuster signing. In the press release last year, neither side made any proclamation that a partnership was included in the structuring of the deal, however, it was made very clear that Evan would be used in a much larger capacity beyond an endorsed athlete. He would be called upon to formulate products and be directly involved with the decision making on the business as a whole.

Ok, so that’s the very open and public side of the story, but you’re reading this for the inside scoop. I’ve kept a close eye on the Centopani/Prime Nutrition signing since it took place last year. On the surface it seemed like such a great idea. Nobody understands social media marketing, the bodybuilding industry as a whole, and captivating fans better than Aaron and PJ. Then again, Centopani has an equally large following (perhaps even bigger), but done so in a manner that is essentially proprietary. To try and duplicate what he’s done is next to impossible. He came into bodybuilding as a wholesome boy from the northeast, still living with his family well into his 20’s, as many Italian young men do (although I find incredibly strange). Turning pro in 2007, Evan took nearly 2 years off until his pro debut (which he won), and followed that up with another 2 year hibernation before he took the stage again, and won, beating Dexter Jackson in the process. However, Centopani has been on cruise control since then falling in the pro ranks and making virtually no physical progress since his 2009 IFBB debut.

How can that be? Well, part of what makes Evan an underground cult-phenomenon are his holistic and often times eccentric views on life that contradict not only the bodybuilding industry, but American culture as a whole. If you know the story by now try not to skip ahead. Evan’s father was diagnosed with cancer a few years ago, taking what might have seemed like a healthy obsession with alternative living and put a jet propulsion rocket on his back. Organic foods and grounding pads turned into glassware and at home vegetable gardens. His approach towards pro bodybuilding started to look less like his mentors Dave Palumbo and Oscar Ardon had intended and more like Suzanne Somers and Tom Cruise (but less glib). Why does this matter with Evan’s sponsorship with Aaron and PJ?

If there’s one thing I know about Aaron Singerman and PJ Braun is that they trust their instincts, but are very well-calculated in what they do. Very rarely do they act on things out of emotion or stumble upon success on blind luck. One business exercise I know they’ve practiced has been to ask themselves, “If money was no object, what bodybuilder would you sign to the brand?” And Evan’s name was always at the top of the list and for many obvious reasons. He’s well liked in the industry. He’s a critical thinker. And it never hurts to work side-by-side with friends. But alas, here’s the crux in the relationship between Aaron/PJ and Evan. What makes Aaron Singerman and PJ Braun very successful businessman is their innate ability multi-task. They juggle multiple companies almost seamlessly and never seem rattled (at least in public). Evan, well, he’s a bodybuilder: Eat, sleep, train, repeat. Sure, he balances his family and travel (at his chagrin) and has plenty on his plate, but certainly not at the level of his two former bosses.

Having once been employed by Aaron and PJ they can be quite demanding at times. But that’s to be expected by their employees, especially those with integral roles within the company. Because there are many moving parts at Prime Nutrition (along with their other business holdings) they do not micromanage their employees, however, with that freedom comes responsibility. And part of that responsibility lays in understanding what it means to be a team player. The brand of the company is more important than the personal brand each employee (famous or not) carries along with them.
Evan was tasked to help formulate many of the new products that would be hitting the shelves at retail stores across the world; but so was John Meadows. And while this responsibility is incredibly important in not only making sure the consumer receives an elite product, but as we’ve seen from the Intra-MD product, it literally has the man’s name stamped on the label. Now, having said that, understanding business is paramount in having a seat at the boardroom. If Aaron or PJ task Centopani with the duty of formulating his own mulit-vitamin/mineral supplement and he returns to them with a list of ingredients that will cost $79.99 at the wholesale level, nobody in their right mind will be willing to shell out $150 at the retail cost for a 30 day supply, no matter how much Evan Centopani believes in it.



Prime Nutrition is not a sponsor of Project Bodybuilding. And while PJ and Aaron are two of my friends, as of writing this article, they’re not contributing to my site via Prime Nutrition, which is why I feel my unbiased opinion counts. One great thing about Prime Nutrition is that they don’t hide behind prop blends. They use top notch ingredients and doses that actually work. This is a brand I could stand behind and promote. And maybe one day they’ll be part of the great lineup of advertisers already reaping the benefits of Projectbodybuilding.com
As an observer of all things bodybuilding, I was the first to point out that Evan was doing virtually no promotion for Prime Nutrition. He made some early videos towards the end of summer last year (very well produced I might add), but that concluded the coverage. And I couldn’t help but notice he wasn’t doing much on the Muscular Development website either. Of course, we all came to learn that Steve Blechman had been dropping athletes left and right, and even the golden boy wasn’t safe from the firing squad. While the MD cronies ducked and dodged the criticism, even now, no deal has been agreed upon. But during all of this drama and turmoil, we did see the launch of Centopani.com. His personal website with nutrition and training tips scattered throughout. Now while I think it’s great for personal branding and self-promotion, it’s only acceptable once all of your commitments are fulfilled with your paying sponsors.

Once Centopani realized his product formulations might not be delivered upon, I could sense the relationship was in shambles. After all, that’s what he prided himself on. He was more than just an athlete who did videos and posed on stage. And now his ideas weren’t being utilized. Unfortunately for Evan and many people in the supplement industry, ideas, formulations, and products are one thing and making them fit inside a business and marketing plan is another.
You would have to be blind to not recognize Evan’s poor promotion of Prime Nutrition. First and foremost, he’s not a social media fan. Back when I first met him I asked him what Facebook account he used and said he didn’t have one. And if I ever saw one with his name on it, it was a fake account. Since then, he’s found his way to Instagram, but beyond the occasional post or visit to a website that no longer thinks he’s worthy of a long term contract (MD) he’s not easy to find online. And let’s not forget, he’s a homebody that doesn’t like to travel from weekend to weekend on the guest posing circuit. All the while, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention another Aaron/PJ employee, IFBB 212 Pro Aaron Clark; who just happens to work as a sales rep and is on the road throughout the state of Florida every single week talking to store managers and owners trying to get product on the shelves for the company. And for all intents and purposes, Clark is ranked higher than Centopani in their respective divisions.
So there you have it. A bodybuilder with a massive fan base, who doesn’t like to promote. And although he may have great ideas for potential new supplements, in reality most people in bodybuilding are working on beer budgets, not champagne. Do I think Aaron and PJ would have liked to have seen Evan make a bigger splash at the Arnold Classic? Absolutely, but I also don’t think that had any bearing whatsoever in the decision to release him from his contract.

Going forward I think bodybuilders need to understand that the landscape of a sponsorship is not what it used to be. Bodybuilders spend more time on their personal Facebook and Instagram pages than they do promoting their sponsors. Last time I checked, the monthly income is coming from the sponsor and not the FB and IG followers. Muscle Phone (Isaac Hinds) has recently been on a campaign to not only have athletes start thanking their sponsors after winning a show (what a novel idea), but to also encourage athletes to stop thinking of their endorsers as sponsors, but instead as partners. This is undoubtedly what Prime and Evan had in mind, but to take it a step further, we need bodybuilder to start learning how to become businessmen. As great as it is to be an expert technician on social media, most middle-school kids have us all beat. The trouble with many, if not all, bodybuilders is that they often times never grew up. Too many have never held down “real jobs” or saved for retirement or even moved out of their parents basements.

It really is unfortunate that Evan Cenopani and Prime Nutrition weren’t able to sustain their business relationship, but I think it’s fair to assume that if this relationship wasn’t maintainable, than all bodybuilders need to start doing some self-evaluation and take stock of their current situations. The bodybuilding landscape is changing and somebody will be without a chair when the music stops.

[baby muscle]

Thanks Dave, for keeping things in perspective. All that being said, I have been growing more and more in my respect and admiration for Evan Centopani. I noticed he had a classical posing style and his music was very old school majestic at the ASF, which got my attention right away. I recently sent my dad some of his videos and now he's a fan! Evan is very older parent friendly, unlike some other videos from other bodybuilders. My parents went and tried Evan's mag water recipe and like his stay-within-a budget style.

[huge285]

People can't relate to EVAN sometimes because they try to impose their own wants and desires on him. You can't make someone be like you want them to be. He's his own man and he marches to his own drummer!

[Poker face Ace]

Well said Dave. Don't get me wrong I love the guy, and so does every one here including the miserable ones, but at the end of the day, Big ev should have had everything in contract of the way he wants things done. He left (From what I heard) Universal w imo is an AWESOME company to work for to go w these guys. Why not state in contract how you (Evan) want things to be. I knew this will end up this way btw.

People can't relate to EVAN sometimes because they try to impose their own wants and desires on him. You can't make someone be like you want them to be. He's his own man and he marches to his own drummer!

[baby muscle]

People can't relate to EVAN sometimes because they try to impose their own wants and desires on him. You can't make someone be like you want them to be. He's his own man and he marches to his own drummer!

Yup, you said it! It takes a lot of maturity and self discipline to practice accepting people for who they are, rather than trying to change them into who we think they ought to be.

[JUSTINIAN]

Classy post Dave! Evan is one of the TRUE class acts in bodybuilding period. Great role model, great guy.....anyone who attacks Evan's character I question and am immediately on Evan's side. He's one of the few real non ego driven people in this sport. This was a very classy post here Dave and I commend you for writing it.

[Poptart]

Dave makes a lot of valid points, however, I'm also going to say that some of the things that Meinrod says do hold water.... It's really 2 people looking at this situation from different perspectives: Much like PJ/Aaron and Evan did with their expectations regarding Prime.

As I said earlier in another thread prior to this one, I simply think it's people having 2 different business goals. Evan is steadfast in his beliefs and principles and they've worked for him; but you can't fault PJ/Aaron for what has worked for them. I think both sides tried to value working with a friend over their own values and soon came to realize that never works out.

People can get on here or any other forum and start forming Team Evan or Team Prime, but the reality is both sides are at fault. Is it for you and I to come out and say who was more wronged especially since we don't have all the facts? Go ahead if you want to. Have fun. Haters gonna hate. But here's some info, that I'm sure you don't know and it's from a very good source, PJ/Aaron gave Evan a very, very, nice departure check, something that they likely did not have to do.

Evan's posts have been nothing less than classy (I didn't expect anything different from him); I think the same is true of Prime. Where the drama comes from is all our interpretations.

I'd like to say that I hope they are all still the best of friends, but the reality is that regardless if the split was really the best thing for both sides (something I think is absolutely true) and ended fairly, there is no way their relationship is the same....it may be good but not the same.

Like they say: Everything happens for a reason.

[HTW]

Hit the nail on the head here .. Well said David .. As I said in another thread, there could only be 1 of three reasonings for the parting of ways for Evan.. And I'm glad it went the way it did.. Evan has class and wants to keep his dignity .. Hope the future is bright for evan and I am sure it will be ..

[Vince Goodrum]

Take a minute to read Matt Meinrod's rationalization of why Evan Centopani was fired from PrimeNutrition (below) as it appeared on Project Bodybuilding. Let me start by saying that Matt happens to be a terrific writer and he spends a lot of time making sure his articles are logical and well thought out. Having said that, it’s also important to understand that he's drunk so much of the Aaron and PJ Kool-Aid these past few years that his view of the situation is a little skewed. After reading Centopani’s resignation-from-Prime Nutrition "post" on social media, I could tell Evan was merely being a gentleman when he delivered his well-articulated message. No drama, no blame, no animosity... he merely thanked Prime for the experience and moved on. This peaceful resolution on his part does not mean that he didn't feel slighted, deceived, or mislead. It just means he walked away with dignity. But Aaron and PJ are not that passive. Their egos need the public to know that they did nothing wrong; Evan was the one who failed to live up to his end of the contract. Public perception is everything to these guys. They don't wanna be the bad guys; the guys who convinced Evan to leave his sweet deal with Universal and sign the "Blockbuster Deal of the Century" with them.....only to have them "change their mind". So they called on their "publicist" Meinrod to plead their case to the public.

Why did Aaron and PJ really get rid of their Superstar athlete? I’m sure most of you are wondering. Well, the truth is that Evan wouldn’t “sell out” his principles to their business model. What model is that, you may ask? Sell product at any cost! Hey, who am I to criticize them; they’re making a lot of money selling everything that people “want” and nothing that people “need”. Mazel tov! Good for them! But herein lies the moral dilemma Centopani had with Prime. Evan, actually, wanted to come out with a supplement line that would improve people’s health—vitamins, essential fats, etc…. Products that people should take to increase muscle gains, increase recovery time, and increase general well-being; not flashy “pump you up” products. But high potency vitamins, minerals and protein powders are not profitable unless there’s a huge education push to teach the public why these should be used. Aaron and PJ’s model is, “sell what people want, whether they need it or not”.

Centopani also had a huge problem with some of the questionable marketing techniques that Aaron and PJ used. Hiring a porn star, for one was offensive to Evan. Likewise, PJ having “mock” sex (on video) with an inflatable blow-up doll to promote a new product didn’t exactly paint the picture of what Evan was hoping to convey from “his” line of nutritional products.

But what about the claims that Evan refused to post on social media or that he failed to cooperate in helping to promote Prime in the same way as some of Aaron and PJ’s other social media mavericks do? On first glance, it appears that this is classic apathetic Evan-as-usual. But once you look closer the reasons become way clearer. Why would Evan help promote a company that is using embarrassing (in his mind) marketing technique; a company that refuses to make his promised line of high quality products; and a company that is run by two “supposed” friend who are now tyrannically dictating to Evan what he should and should not be doing? Evan is not your typical sponsored athlete. He’s supposed to be your “partner” in this business. Just because he doesn’t own part of the company doesn’t mean he shouldn’t be treated with the respect of an equal. This is classic bullying 101 and once Centapani saw the writing on the wall, he bailed emotionally. Once he was no longer emotional invested, Aaron and PJ realized they needed to cut this huge expense to their pocket books and they dismissed Evan based on his failure to comply with his contractual obligations. In one sense, I’m sure Evan was secretly relieved (despite the huge loss of a monthly paycheck).

Were Aaron and PJ legally wrong in what they did? Absolutely not. They have every right to fire an employee who isn’t complying with the spirit of their contract. So no one can doubt them for what they ultimately did. But, to paint a picture of Evan Centopani as an impossible-to-work-with athlete who never wants to leave his house or post on social media is unfair to him. I know Evan very well. He’s a very spiritual soul who is driven by his intuition. He doesn’t allow “the good opinion of others” to control or rule his world. He’ll always be this way; love him or hate him. And I respect the heck out of him for having such strong moral convictions. I usually don’t get involved in this gossip-mongering drivel online but I felt that Evan’s character was being assassinated and I felt compelled to say what he’s too much of a gentleman to reveal.






Centopani and Prime Nutrition Part-Ways: No Surprise from Projectbodybuilding.com

PROJECT BODYBUILDING MARCH 23, 2015 1

Evan Centopani and Prime Nutrition parted ways following the Arnold Classic weekend in Columbus, Ohio, ending a short 8 month business relationship. Last July, Centopani joined Prime Nutrition when he opted to not re-sign with his long time sponsor Universal Nutrition, but instead join forces with his close friends and owners of Prime, Aaron Singerman and PJ Braun. Due to Centopani and Braun’s friendship, many people online speculated that Evan had likely been offered an ownership stake within the company to secure the blockbuster signing. In the press release last year, neither side made any proclamation that a partnership was included in the structuring of the deal, however, it was made very clear that Evan would be used in a much larger capacity beyond an endorsed athlete. He would be called upon to formulate products and be directly involved with the decision making on the business as a whole.

Ok, so that’s the very open and public side of the story, but you’re reading this for the inside scoop. I’ve kept a close eye on the Centopani/Prime Nutrition signing since it took place last year. On the surface it seemed like such a great idea. Nobody understands social media marketing, the bodybuilding industry as a whole, and captivating fans better than Aaron and PJ. Then again, Centopani has an equally large following (perhaps even bigger), but done so in a manner that is essentially proprietary. To try and duplicate what he’s done is next to impossible. He came into bodybuilding as a wholesome boy from the northeast, still living with his family well into his 20’s, as many Italian young men do (although I find incredibly strange). Turning pro in 2007, Evan took nearly 2 years off until his pro debut (which he won), and followed that up with another 2 year hibernation before he took the stage again, and won, beating Dexter Jackson in the process. However, Centopani has been on cruise control since then falling in the pro ranks and making virtually no physical progress since his 2009 IFBB debut.

How can that be? Well, part of what makes Evan an underground cult-phenomenon are his holistic and often times eccentric views on life that contradict not only the bodybuilding industry, but American culture as a whole. If you know the story by now try not to skip ahead. Evan’s father was diagnosed with cancer a few years ago, taking what might have seemed like a healthy obsession with alternative living and put a jet propulsion rocket on his back. Organic foods and grounding pads turned into glassware and at home vegetable gardens. His approach towards pro bodybuilding started to look less like his mentors Dave Palumbo and Oscar Ardon had intended and more like Suzanne Somers and Tom Cruise (but less glib). Why does this matter with Evan’s sponsorship with Aaron and PJ?

If there’s one thing I know about Aaron Singerman and PJ Braun is that they trust their instincts, but are very well-calculated in what they do. Very rarely do they act on things out of emotion or stumble upon success on blind luck. One business exercise I know they’ve practiced has been to ask themselves, “If money was no object, what bodybuilder would you sign to the brand?” And Evan’s name was always at the top of the list and for many obvious reasons. He’s well liked in the industry. He’s a critical thinker. And it never hurts to work side-by-side with friends. But alas, here’s the crux in the relationship between Aaron/PJ and Evan. What makes Aaron Singerman and PJ Braun very successful businessman is their innate ability multi-task. They juggle multiple companies almost seamlessly and never seem rattled (at least in public). Evan, well, he’s a bodybuilder: Eat, sleep, train, repeat. Sure, he balances his family and travel (at his chagrin) and has plenty on his plate, but certainly not at the level of his two former bosses.

Having once been employed by Aaron and PJ they can be quite demanding at times. But that’s to be expected by their employees, especially those with integral roles within the company. Because there are many moving parts at Prime Nutrition (along with their other business holdings) they do not micromanage their employees, however, with that freedom comes responsibility. And part of that responsibility lays in understanding what it means to be a team player. The brand of the company is more important than the personal brand each employee (famous or not) carries along with them.
Evan was tasked to help formulate many of the new products that would be hitting the shelves at retail stores across the world; but so was John Meadows. And while this responsibility is incredibly important in not only making sure the consumer receives an elite product, but as we’ve seen from the Intra-MD product, it literally has the man’s name stamped on the label. Now, having said that, understanding business is paramount in having a seat at the boardroom. If Aaron or PJ task Centopani with the duty of formulating his own mulit-vitamin/mineral supplement and he returns to them with a list of ingredients that will cost $79.99 at the wholesale level, nobody in their right mind will be willing to shell out $150 at the retail cost for a 30 day supply, no matter how much Evan Centopani believes in it.



Prime Nutrition is not a sponsor of Project Bodybuilding. And while PJ and Aaron are two of my friends, as of writing this article, they’re not contributing to my site via Prime Nutrition, which is why I feel my unbiased opinion counts. One great thing about Prime Nutrition is that they don’t hide behind prop blends. They use top notch ingredients and doses that actually work. This is a brand I could stand behind and promote. And maybe one day they’ll be part of the great lineup of advertisers already reaping the benefits of Projectbodybuilding.com
As an observer of all things bodybuilding, I was the first to point out that Evan was doing virtually no promotion for Prime Nutrition. He made some early videos towards the end of summer last year (very well produced I might add), but that concluded the coverage. And I couldn’t help but notice he wasn’t doing much on the Muscular Development website either. Of course, we all came to learn that Steve Blechman had been dropping athletes left and right, and even the golden boy wasn’t safe from the firing squad. While the MD cronies ducked and dodged the criticism, even now, no deal has been agreed upon. But during all of this drama and turmoil, we did see the launch of Centopani.com. His personal website with nutrition and training tips scattered throughout. Now while I think it’s great for personal branding and self-promotion, it’s only acceptable once all of your commitments are fulfilled with your paying sponsors.

Once Centopani realized his product formulations might not be delivered upon, I could sense the relationship was in shambles. After all, that’s what he prided himself on. He was more than just an athlete who did videos and posed on stage. And now his ideas weren’t being utilized. Unfortunately for Evan and many people in the supplement industry, ideas, formulations, and products are one thing and making them fit inside a business and marketing plan is another.
You would have to be blind to not recognize Evan’s poor promotion of Prime Nutrition. First and foremost, he’s not a social media fan. Back when I first met him I asked him what Facebook account he used and said he didn’t have one. And if I ever saw one with his name on it, it was a fake account. Since then, he’s found his way to Instagram, but beyond the occasional post or visit to a website that no longer thinks he’s worthy of a long term contract (MD) he’s not easy to find online. And let’s not forget, he’s a homebody that doesn’t like to travel from weekend to weekend on the guest posing circuit. All the while, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention another Aaron/PJ employee, IFBB 212 Pro Aaron Clark; who just happens to work as a sales rep and is on the road throughout the state of Florida every single week talking to store managers and owners trying to get product on the shelves for the company. And for all intents and purposes, Clark is ranked higher than Centopani in their respective divisions.
So there you have it. A bodybuilder with a massive fan base, who doesn’t like to promote. And although he may have great ideas for potential new supplements, in reality most people in bodybuilding are working on beer budgets, not champagne. Do I think Aaron and PJ would have liked to have seen Evan make a bigger splash at the Arnold Classic? Absolutely, but I also don’t think that had any bearing whatsoever in the decision to release him from his contract.

Going forward I think bodybuilders need to understand that the landscape of a sponsorship is not what it used to be. Bodybuilders spend more time on their personal Facebook and Instagram pages than they do promoting their sponsors. Last time I checked, the monthly income is coming from the sponsor and not the FB and IG followers. Muscle Phone (Isaac Hinds) has recently been on a campaign to not only have athletes start thanking their sponsors after winning a show (what a novel idea), but to also encourage athletes to stop thinking of their endorsers as sponsors, but instead as partners. This is undoubtedly what Prime and Evan had in mind, but to take it a step further, we need bodybuilder to start learning how to become businessmen. As great as it is to be an expert technician on social media, most middle-school kids have us all beat. The trouble with many, if not all, bodybuilders is that they often times never grew up. Too many have never held down “real jobs” or saved for retirement or even moved out of their parents basements.

It really is unfortunate that Evan Cenopani and Prime Nutrition weren’t able to sustain their business relationship, but I think it’s fair to assume that if this relationship wasn’t maintainable, than all bodybuilders need to start doing some self-evaluation and take stock of their current situations. The bodybuilding landscape is changing and somebody will be without a chair when the music stops.

I agree with Dave's assessment for the most part. I just find it sad that this situation is occurring and a longtime friendship is likely broken beyond repair

[Curt James]

Will Centopani be welcomed back by Universal?
Who's in the running as a possible new Prime Nutrition athlete?
Will Evan put out his own multi or other supplements?
What will PfA's next thread involve?
And what's wrong with hiring a porn star?

Wait... what?

[davidcua]

"Products that people should take to increase muscle gains, increase recovery time, and increase general well-being; not flashy “pump you up” products. But high potency vitamins, minerals and protein powders are not profitable unless there’s a huge education push to teach the public why these should be used. Aaron and PJ’s model is, “sell what people want, whether they need it or not"

This is 100% True. Prime Nutrition and well Blackstone labs only push useless products. Well their Hyperexpensive (and useless) intraworkout supp, with a special fast absorbing carb LOOOL . The Meadow wonder (When you red the label and then the price you laugh, and you laugh a lot).

I don't understand the 1st way of Evan to sign with them, He knew they sell garbage, and he knew has a hard time saying something good about their supp since he does not believe in it, and as such strong believes that he could not lie to the customer. (And I respect the HELL out of him for this. The guy is somebody I can look up too, i admire his integrity).

My opinion, since EVAN wants to push products that benefit your recuperation as well as you health, why wouldn't he sign with SPECIES.

Mineralize (Multi vitamines and Mineral Chelated with added dark berries extract antioxidant)
Omegalyze (The right balance of Omega 3 /6 and 9 fatty acids )
Fiberlyse

and so on. The guy would be like a fish in water. He loves that stuff and I'm sure he would endorse and push these species products. Something he could believe in, even if it won't pay as much.

[davidcua]

Will Centopani be welcomed back by Universal?
Who's in the running as a possible new Prime Nutrition athlete?
Will Evan put out his own multi or other supplements?
What will PfA's next thread involve?
And what's wrong with hiring a porn star?

Wait... what?

Honestly nothing wrong with that in my mind. Especially for Prime it's suit the spirit of their brand. You get fucked by them whenever you buy a supplement form them or Blackstone labs, so a porn star convey that type of idea. And show that there is nothing wrong with being fucked by Aaron and PJ on a daily.

Wait Whaaaat ?

No I respect porn stars, I just use the example to show how bad PJ and Aaron supplements sucks, and fuck their customers. Don't forget they were selling Pro hormones who are complete garbage (I've nothing about real PED's by the way, just that pro hormones are toxics and very bad for your health and your own hormonal production on the long run)

[Crowbar]

Aaron had it all going for him when Carl set him up. As the case usually is his head got big and he thought he was bigger than the show. Carl got fed up and stopped the show. Aaron ran with the connects he made and came to Rx. Funny thing is he got to work for a company that will fire friends the first time a Mannion says then suck Mannions cock to make sure he's happy. Must be a bad bj because Rx still gets fucked at every show. Then big headed Aaron and human penis PJ decide to make money on legal roids and do very well at it until the ban. Then Iron Mag calls wanting their pro hormones back and they start selling bullshit that doesn't work. They may can market if you call taking more selfies then a Kardashian marketing. Truth is Aaron is still an addict, maybe or maybe not with the opioids but he's addicted to being a fame whore that will fuck his sister or her boyfriend to get there. PJ is a partier that will ride the money until it runs out. Can't blame him. Meinrod is a douche that is a crab in Aaron's cunt hair so taking info from him would be like asking Sid to bash Species. So to my wrap up: Dave has fucked over many friends since starting Rx hoping his master Mannion would let him in. I do think he has learned you can't make that fuck happy unless your a judge who throws a show for one of his sons athletes. Dave now seems to understand fighting or taking it up the ass is futile so he is doing what he is allowed to the best of his ability and his supplements are top notch. Aaron did not remember that nobody likes Young punks that take for granted being given a lot and then throws double middle fingers back at his mentors. PJ is a wannabe bodybuilder like everyone has in their gym that likes to throw down partying and will ride that train until they are wearing Depends if able. Probably get me kicked off here but needed to spit the truth as I see it. I never post because momma told me if I ain't got nothing nice to say shut the fuck up, but I have been listening to every show since Rx started and read every forum. HILLBILLY OUT

[JohnnyStyles]

I would love to hear Evan on Iron Debate!!!

[Sunnyday]

I would love to hear Evan on Iron Debate!!!

X2! After reading all this I'd love to hear him too! Always appreciated his physique but was never a huge fan...until all this unfolded, read what Evan had to say and how he handled himself in such a classy way.

Dave, thank you for the well written post!