Did Lee Haney get the last laugh? Does his durabilty prove he is the best ever?

**BananaHammock** · 03-24-2016, 10:59 PM

Originally Posted by Curt James

Only 150?

Light weight

**cook** · 03-24-2016, 11:07 PM

One last thing I will add.As young Shizzo pointed out I am old enough to have seen Haney's reign and I distinctly remember thinking yeah he's pretty good.When Ronnie got to his peak I was thinking HOLY FUCKING SHIT!!!! To be fair to Lee I have never seen him in person and I have seen Ronnie and even trained in the gym while he was.A lot of times people look much more impressive in person.I also would rather be able to walk in my 50s

**Puma** · 03-25-2016, 02:03 AM

Originally Posted by MusclePoppins

Haney and Yates were one year. Ronnie beat Jay multiple times and then Jay put him to bed in 2006/2007. Jay is definitely an all-time great. Tremendous development. And Ronnie also had to start his reign against Flex Wheeler, not Mohamed Makkaway.

Not taking anything away from Cutler who was indeed great but it seems to be ignored lately that Ronnie beat Ronnie due to the injuries. His back and arm were pretty unbalanced and down in size due to nerve damage when Jay "put him to bed".

As for the rest of the discussion, I agree with Muscle Poppins (love the name) in the fact that the after effects can't be taken into account in a GOAT conversation. Seems more like a "who'd you rather be now" discussion which I'm guessing is easy if it's simply a question of injured or uninjured.

I was there for both of their initial Olympia wins in NY. Had seen both prior to those victories at the Night of Champions. I followed bodybuilding closely through both their reigns and had seen Haney at appearances and attended a Ronnie Coleman Workout Weekend several years ago. That said, I still find the whole GOAT thing hard to quantify. My instinct is to give Ronnie the edge due to additional pro wins and tougher competition (even accounting for the fact that Haney actually beat 2 potential GOATs as I'll add Sergio Oliva to your mention of Yates.. and yes, Oliva was past his prime by then). Obviously, advances in PEDs make a comparison between eras difficult as well (but that may have finally leveled off as time has advanced and we have still not seen Ronnie surpassed).

As for the term "The Golden Age", it might be ascribed to the 70's as to the fact that the sport simply seemed more pure and less commercialized and you had some amazing characters such as Arnold and Ferrigno whose fame as bodybuilders and beyond have yet to be equaled in terms of recognition to the general masses.

**Mac** · 03-25-2016, 07:48 AM

Originally Posted by Curt James

PfA has him beat. He demanded a reply, I think it was 12 minutes after creating his one thread. Lol

Two peas in a pod these two are.

**scottg** · 03-25-2016, 07:54 AM

I don't think injuries should be taken into consideration but the strength of competition should be. So I vote Ronnie as the greatest, no way the 80's had the depth of talent of the late 90's.

I've seen both in their prime, granted guest posing only, physically there is no comparison.

Who would I rather be? Haney for sure, but I have great respect for Ronnie.

**Big Beat** · 03-25-2016, 10:22 AM

How far Ronnie took it was incredible. Ths tall competitors like Mike Christian or Berry De May were the better part of 20lbs lighter than Haney. He was able to outmuscle the competition easily until Dorian arrived.

**black-elephant** · 03-25-2016, 10:59 AM

Originally Posted by Curt James

Only 150?

Exactly, only 150, is that kilos?

**Nightwing** · 03-26-2016, 07:36 AM

Ronnie is making a shitload more money than Lee Haney with Coleman Signature Series...thanks to Ronnie's partner running everything. So Ronnie wins.

Sent from my SC-01F using Tapatalk

**Curt James** · 03-26-2016, 09:46 AM

How many would give away a fortune for health, happiness, a returned loved one, or something else entirely? Wins has a lot of components.

**Shizzo** · 03-26-2016, 09:54 AM

Originally Posted by Curt James

How many would give away a fortune for health, happiness, a returned loved one, or something else entirely? Wins has a lot of components.

Ronnie paid (is paying) the cost to be the boss. In bodybuilding terms, he is the epitome of a Spartan Warrior. Ronnie Coleman went out on his shield.

**BananaHammock** · 03-26-2016, 11:54 AM

**Shizzo** · 03-26-2016, 12:01 PM

Originally Posted by UKwildcat

Thank you, UKwildcat. In that video, Ronnie Coleman says that Haney is the best of all time.

Case closed.

**MusclePoppins** · 03-27-2016, 08:22 PM

Originally Posted by Shizzo

Thank you, UKwildcat. In that video, Ronnie Coleman says that Haney is the best of all time.

Case closed.

He never said that he wouldn't have whooped Lee's ass on stage.

**Shizzo** · 03-27-2016, 08:25 PM

Originally Posted by MusclePoppins

He never said that he wouldn't have whooped Lee's ass on stage.

You can't compare them by physiques. Two different eras and mentalities about what it took to win.

**MusclePoppins** · 03-27-2016, 08:46 PM

So then we're back to who's currently able to walk better in 2016? Lee Haney is 56 and Ronnie Coleman is 51. Lee Haney retired in the fall of 1991 and Ronnie Coleman retired in the fall of 2007.

So let's do the math. Five years apart in age. Sixteen years apart in retirement. And we're surprised Lee is walking better?