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12-31-2016, 08:13 PM #1
- Join Date
- Feb 2009
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- Big Jeff's Family Restaurant, 815 Fremont Ave, South Pasadena, CA
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- 50,069
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Joe Pietaro is January's Rx Muscle Member of the Month!
Joe Pietaro is Rx Muscle's Member of the Month for January 2017!
Pietaro, Founding Editor of MuscleSport Magazine has been a member of the Rx Muscle Forums since the beginning. He is a journalist and radio/TV host in the sports, health and fitness and entertainment industries and is definitely not one to mince words. Let's learn more about this sportswriter and entrepreneur!
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Joe Pietaro and Dave Palumbo
How were you introduced to the weights?
When I was about 10 years old growing up in Brooklyn, NY. One of my friends had a plastic/cement 110-pound weight set in his basement and we got into it after seeing the original "Rocky," typical for greaseballs at the time.
How did you start covering the sport of bodybuilding?
I broke in as a sportswriter in 2005 and covered regular professional team sports for a number of years. But I always loved bodybuilding and followed it since seeing "Pumping Iron" on PBS TV in the late 1970s. So when I started my own media company, I decided to cover both sports and bodybuilding. That was 2008 and I'm still doing it.
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Joe broke into the sportswriting industry in 2005 as the Director of Media Relations of the Strong Island Sound of the ABA.
When did you put your full efforts into MSM?
When I was fired by Steve Blechman at Muscular Development on September 12, 2014. I had always kept MuscleSport Magazine going as a side gig but wanted to give it a solid six months full-time and if it tanked, I would look for another job writing for someone else. So far, so good; still doing it full-time.
How did you learn about Rx Muscle Forums?
Basically as soon as Dave and John launched it. I was a big fan of theirs during their tenure at MD and knew that they could kick ass without the Blechy shackles.
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What’s your favorite part of Rx Muscle Forums?
Muscle Central and how people can say what they want on it without fear of censorship and/or banning, a la MD.
What would you do to improve the site and the forums in particular?
I would love if Dave brought back the print edition of RX Muscle magazine or at least a digital version.
Do you have a favorite movie?
"Goodfellas."
Awesome!
What is your favorite part of the iron game – strongman, bodybuilding, Men’s Physique, Bikini, etc.?
Bodybuilding (open and 212). And the former also includes the women. Freezing out female bodybuilding has been a mistake IMO, especially since the various federations have continued to add divisions. Yeah, I know... WPD has more or less replaced FBBing. But it's not the same and the Ms. Olympia and Ms. International being gone has been a blight on the industry.
Men's bikini... I mean physique, is a total waste of time. And I am not a fan of men's classic physique, either. It's more of the same with underwear instead of board shorts. Of course, I like the ladies' divisions, but bikini should not be a division but rather a model search type of event. Figure is fine and fitness is another category that has been pushed to the back of the line. Another mistake, as far as I'm concerned, since those women were the only real athletes in the sport.
What's your favorite thing about bodybuilding?
I'm more into the overall lifestyle and attitude that it brings to the table. And people that break balls about it are just jealous because they look like shit and don't want to do anything which would be difficult to change that.
What's your least favorite thing about bodybuilding?
The competition aspect and how it is so political. Gurus, agencies, posing coaches... it's basically a money making machine for everyone but the poor schmucks taking the stage.
What's your opinion of all the different categories or divisions?
Overkill and redundancy. There should be only the following divisions IMO: men's open bodybuilding, men's 212, women's bodybuilding, fitness and figure. MPD & bikini should be model searches and not official categories with 'Olympia' status. It's become an 'everybody' sport when it used to be for the elite only.
What is your goal?
To put out the most kick ass, hardcore, in-your-face, don't give-a-fuck product in the bodybuilding industry. Since MuscleSport Magazine takes things from a different angle than FLEX, MD and even RX Muscle, we can cover topics that may not be available to companies that are more mainstream. A niche within a niche, if you will, but one that has a strong following, nonetheless.
I've subscribed to MSM and would say you've definitely reached that goal.
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Joe Pietaro, sportswriter and entrepreneur
Would you share your greatest experience in the sport so far?
Hooking up with Gregg Valentino back in 2007, if I'm not mistaken. I was the Editor-in-Chief of a sports magazine at the time and I reached out to Gregg via the MD forum. I wanted to do an interview with him because at the time steroids were a huge topic in the sports world due to the Mitchell Report (Roger Clemens was the main player named in it) and Congressional hearings.
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Joe and Gregg!
So I wanted to get the opinion of someone who had first-hand knowledge of how these drugs worked and it turned out that Gregg was also a huge sports fan. So we hit it off right away and have been buddies ever since. I love that fuckin' guy like a brother and it's fantastic having him on board as my right hand man (Managing Editor) at MuscleSport Magazine.
Gregg is fantastic.
What has been one of your greatest disappointments?
When I first began covering the big shows, I still had that sportswriter mentality and tried to get quotes from as many guys as I could. But when one of them tells you he can't speak to you because he's signed to another publication, I found that to be completely idiotic and still do. That would be like trying to get a quote from Peyton Manning in the winning Super Bowl locker room and he says that he can only speak to Sports Illustrated.
Do you have any favorite bodybuilders or strength athletes?
My all-time favorite physique belonged to the great Sergio Oliva, who I had the chance to interview not long before he passed away. Bit of a nasty old fuck, he was. LOL
Who is someone you look forward to meeting and perhaps picking their brain?
I'm really not one for 'star fucking,' which was a term we used in the press box for newbie scribes who were more fan than journalist. If anything, I would look forward to speaking to a fellow writer and/or publisher in the industry for tips on making my business grow. But this is an industry with a huge void for writing talent, so I'd have to say that outside of Peter McGough and Dan Solomon, there aren't many names that come to mind.
If there was a way to pick someone's brain who is no longer with us, I'd love to hit up Joe Weider for publishing tips.
Absolutely, and I'd add Dan Lurie and Robert Kennedy to that list. Plus an interview with Peary Rader of Iron Man fame.
How’s your training going?
I'm going to be 50 soon, so I'm more concerned with just staying in shape at this point. Joint pain and old injuries keep me from worrying about how much I bench. As long as I'm consistent, eat okay and include cardio, I won't become a fat bastard and turn off my wife.
Worthy goals. :-D
And how long have you been training?
Emulating Rocky Balboa at 10 notwithstanding, I really started working out at 14 when I took weight training as a gym elective as a freshman in high school.
How long have you been writing and reporting?
Since 2005.
What’s the craziest workout program you’ve followed?
Cybergenics back in the 1980s. Franco Santoriello (remember him, Curt?) pitched it and the entire kit was pretty expensive at the time. It had supplements, a workout schedule and nutrition plan. A lot of lifting but not much results.
I sold Cybergenics as a GNC sales clerk during college in the 80s. Definitely remember Santoriello. Those kits ran $125 at the time. Zoinks!
What has been the most effective workout you’ve followed?
Five days a week (bis/tris, chest, back, shoulders, legs) with cardio 4 X a week, abs/forearms/calves every day.
Favorite TV show?
The Honeymooners.
Classic TV!
What are three things you couldn't live without?
My iPhone, MacBook Pro and Internet porn.
What currently drives you nuts?
The left mainstream media and the Jets.
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Joe and Gregg have a message for the left mainstream media and the Jets!
What motivates you?
Being successful and never being satisfied doing my job half-assed.
What are your hobbies?
I don't have much time for them anymore with the business, a wife and two children. But I suppose following sports, even though that is technically still part of my job. LOL
Do you have any pets?
Yep, two dogs.
Great! Thank you for sharing your time with the readers of the forums. Wishing you continued success in 2017, Joe!
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Visit Joe @ http://www.musclesportmag.com/ and http://www.joepietaro.com/Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Join Rx Muscle on Facebook!
Contact [email protected] to be interviewed!
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12-31-2016, 08:27 PM #2
Congrats Joe!!!
2013 & 2014 RX Member of the Year
2014 RX Muscle September Member of the Month
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01-01-2017, 08:04 AM #3
Congrats Joe.
The Fucking Jets! LMFAOCutlerAthletics.com
CutlerNutrition.com
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01-01-2017, 05:32 PM #4
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01-01-2017, 07:20 PM #5
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01-01-2017, 09:06 PM #6
Nice read. Congrats Joe.
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01-02-2017, 01:34 PM #7
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01-02-2017, 04:33 PM #8
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01-03-2017, 10:10 AM #9
Big Ups Joe! Thanks for your contributions to this board!!
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01-03-2017, 04:19 PM #10
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01-04-2017, 02:29 PM #11
- Join Date
- Mar 2016
- Posts
- 1,330
- Rep Power
- 2147626
Good interview Joe. I'm guessing it was nice to be the one being asked the questions for a change.
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01-04-2017, 09:29 PM #12
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01-05-2017, 03:41 AM #13
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01-11-2017, 05:30 PM #14
Congrats Joe. Happy New Year!
"What’s sauce for the gander is also sauce for the goose." - Unknown.
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01-12-2017, 02:25 PM #15
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