Is Heath's Legacy Affected by Kai Not Competing?

[Big Beat]

I believe there are tiers in bodybuilding with competitors operating at different levels.

The top tier is reserved for bodybuilders that have a real possibility of winning the Olympia.

In the past 5 years there have been but two bodybuilders in the top tier......Phil Heath and Kai Green. The others such as Wolf, Ramy and Rhoden have dazzled to deceive when it comes to being bodybuildings very best.

We know that Kai never really delivered his top condition at the Olympia but he was easily 2nd place well ahead of the others. Essentially I am saying Kai is the only guy in the past 5 years that had a real chance of knocking Phil off the top spot, this is emphasised by Kai's three 2nd place finishes.

So if Kai is not competing is Phil denied the opportunity to beat his only real rival? Will Phils win of last year and potentially this year have an asttrix beside it because the other great bodybuilder of the era the consenus No.2 did not compete. Will people say Kai's political problems in relation to the Olympia are "gifting" Phil his Mr Olympia titles?

Is it simply a question of to be the best you have to beat the best of what is out there?

How big a shine is taken off Phil's wins when there is no Kai?

[Curt James]

Greene's absence tarnishing or adding that asterisk to Heath's record is the basis of Dan Solomon's complaint over Kai not competing at the O.

Exactly as you say, Solomon and Chad Nicholls say Kai not showing up casts a shadow on Heath's run as Mr. Olympia.

[the mighty stu]

The argument being that a champion is only as good as the competition he faces, Has Heath seriously had any real threats during his run?

S

[SAMSON3-16]

Who ever wins, wins that day because the judges score it that way period. Kai not showing is Kai's problem not Phil's. If Phil collects another Sandow do you think he cares if Kai shows or is worried it may cast some shadow of doubt that he could beat Kia. Phil goes into the history books with 6 in a row. Dexter and Shawn will be there to win and will give Phil a run and one of them could possibly take it. As Phil goes for 6 the odds start to work against him, he must look great this time to take it, OK is not going to cut it. To me Kai is putting himself in a bad place by not competing, you can't win if your not on stage.

[Young Gotti]

Chris aceto will be quick to point out that Rhoden is the only one to score points against phil at the olympia....something that Kai has never done

So one can argue that Kai hasn't even been Phil's biggest threat

[bigmikecox]

Sergio was competing in another organization when Arnold was winning, does it tarnish Arnold's legacy not to have faced Sergio more?

[The_Waylon]

No.

[Curt James]

Who ever wins, wins that day because the judges score it that way period. Kai not showing is Kai's problem not Phil's. If Phil collects another Sandow do you think he cares if Kai shows or is worried it may cast some shadow of doubt that he could beat Kia. Phil goes into the history books with 6 in a row. Dexter and Shawn will be there to win and will give Phil a run and one of them could possibly take it. As Phil goes for 6 the odds start to work against him, he must look great this time to take it, OK is not going to cut it. To me Kai is putting himself in a bad place by not competing, you can't win if your not on stage.

That's not true, though, is it?

Or at least it's not a unanimous opinion. The term Uncrowned Mr. Olympia ring a bell? It's not just sour grapes.

[Curt James]

Sergio was competing in another organization when Arnold was winning, does it tarnish Arnold's legacy not to have faced Sergio more?

Yes, in fact, it does.

Arnold is king, but I would guess in his heart of hearts that even he would agree.

A competitor wants to compete.

A warrior wants to do battle! He doesn't want empty victories. How much joy did Arnold take from his 1971 Olympia win?

[JohnnyStyles]

While this is a great question ....i've been thinking for a while...


With KAI'S body...you'd figured he would walk around with a t-shirt....Look at him touring Australia fans waiting for hours to shake Kai's hand in his not 1 but 2 jackets . . .

JustSayin

[Joe Pietaro]

Heath is a confident - perhaps cocky - competitor and probably would rather face Kai than any questions about his reign.

[Big Beat]

Sergio was competing in another organization when Arnold was winning, does it tarnish Arnold's legacy not to have faced Sergio more?

Sergio beat Arnold hands down in the 1972 Olympia and Weider's golden boy won anyway. Arnold was soft with no tan.

Remember Sergio did not do the 71 Olympia because he was banned.

There is doubt over at least a couple of Arnold's O wins if we do the research.

People know that Arnold's face and personality fitted the picture.

[Curt James]

While this is a great question ....i've been thinking for a while...


With KAI'S body...you'd figured he would walk around with a t-shirt....Look at him touring Australia fans waiting for hours to shake Kai's hand in his not 1 but 2 jackets . . .

JustSayin

But Kai has always covered up. Nothing new and no indication of his condition.

Does ANYONE know what the deal is (besides Kai) why he won't compete? Is it because he sees this as a "Why bother if they'll never award me the Sandow even if I show up HYOOG and INSIDE-OUT?" situation?

[MusclePoppins]

Kai has been Phil's only threat. Guys like Rhoden have never finished ahead of Kai or Phil in a bodybuilding contest, but they've beat each other at top shows.

When Kai was way off in September 2010 that's the last time Dexter beat him and the only time Wolf ever did. A peaked Rhoden, on the other hand, lost an Arnold to Wolf and has been neck and neck with him every show they compete in together. Kai,Phil/Jay are/were on another level, with Dexter lingering in a grey area between their level and the Rhoden/Wolf level.

Essentially Jay Cutler and Kai Greene have been the only guys close to Phil. Shawn Rhoden scored points against the smallest, least impressive Friday night version of Phil ever (most people had Phil 4th), and then Rhoden proceeded to finish 3rd. Not much to hang your hat on there in a Kai Greene conversation about who has been a bigger threat. Undersized back and no arm detail.

An in-shape Ramy and a full and diced Dex can both threaten Phil.

Anyway, final thought: last year ended with Rhoden losing to Phil, Dex and Ramy (in Prague). So just remember he's ranked 4th going in to the Olympia before you go making your biggest threat predictions for September. And don't fool yourself, he would have finished 3rd at the Arnold Ohio behind Kai and Cedric.

[MusclePoppins]

But Kai has always covered up. Nothing new and no indication of his condition.

Does ANYONE know what the deal is (besides Kai) why he won't compete? Is it because he sees this as a "Why bother if they'll never award me the Sandow even if I show up HYOOG and INSIDE-OUT?" situation?

He's looking in shape. He has a big off-season face and a smaller but still big in-shape face and right now he has his big but smaller in shape face if you know what I mean. So if it's not the Olympia then it's going to be a show right after the Olympia.