by Christian Duque
In a latest interview “The Mutant” Nick Walker acknowledged that he didn’t like to take action many visitor posing appearances. His take was based mostly on the truth that bodybuilders that do these appearances are oftentimes within the offseason and don’t look their greatest. He additionally talked about how individuals gave him numerous crap for his midsection and the way he didn’t suppose it was vital for bodybuilders to get on stage and do this sort of work. He then tried to make it seem to be an industry-wide factor, by stating that 8 out of 10 occasions there could be distention within the midsections of bodybuilders getting on stage to visitor pose.
He additionally talked about consuming within the low season. He pointed to the wrath of the followers when it got here to their favourite rivals getting onstage and never being in contest situation. And I believed this was attention-grabbing as a result of right here we have now a bodybuilder who aspires to be Mr Olympia, who is taken into account a prime contender [on paper], and anyone who’s a significant draw with followers all all over the world. I take a look at how he appeared in Pittsburgh this 12 months and final 12 months and it type of begins to make slightly little bit of sense. I feel it’s very attention-grabbing that Walker feels the necessity to make it about all prime rivals. That entire “8x out of 10x” is bullshit. When did Dexter Jackson, Gustavo Badell, or Kai Greene seem like shit once they visitor posed? They could not have been in contest form, however they took their visitor posing appearances significantly. The followers solely get pissed when a man seems like trash on stage. Let’s not get it twisted. Nick is telling a half-truth and hoping nobody will name him out for it. That is TEXTBOOK Nick Walker. (Sorry not sorry)
As you guys know, I’m not an enormous Nick Walker fan when it comes to his character. I don’t like the truth that he has me blocked and I don’t like the truth that he has such skinny pores and skin on the subject of criticism. Whether or not it’s constructive criticism or damaging trolling, he’s going to dam you as a result of he can’t take it. He can’t settle for anybody questioning him. And that’s probably not a really sturdy ambassadorial high quality ought to he ever maintain the best title in sport. He has already held the second highest title by successful an Arnold Traditional – even when it was a lackluster lineup that 12 months. Nonetheless, he has gained the second largest title in Columbus, and he has gained the third largest title, 3 times, on the New York Professional. That being mentioned, he has by no means held the largest title and he most likely by no means will. That’s as a result of he’s a fairly unhealthy ambassador. And in my view, he isn’t somebody who works arduous sufficient to be #1.
How can I qualify that? How can I, a mere author, say that Nick Walker, among the best bodybuilders on the planet, doesn’t work arduous sufficient? Through the years we have now heard this remark made about guys like Chris Cormier and Flex wheeler. “Oh they didn’t work arduous sufficient. Oh they may have accomplished this or they may have accomplished that.” And often I’d say that writers that make these sorts of statements may very properly fall into the class of being trolls, however with a few of these guys that I simply talked about earlier, that they had the genetics they usually had the steadiness, so perhaps they actually didn’t work arduous sufficient. I take a look at a man like Lionel Beyeke. He had phenomenal construction, stunning muscle bellies, great movement, however one thing about his situation simply didn’t work in his favor when it got here to the competition. So many individuals thought Beyeke may win the Olympia however he by no means did. Perhaps he didn’t work arduous sufficient, perhaps it was one thing else. Regardless of the case might need been, the subject of how arduous somebody works comes up with elite stage guys that don’t make all of it the way in which. When Nick Walker says that he doesn’t like visitor posings as a result of he can’t deal with the criticism, it makes me suppose that he’s lazy. As a result of the followers solely get pissed when visitor posers seem like absolute trash. Don’t are available in wanting like a pile of shit, and try to be okay.
Visitor posing appearances for the highest guys may also be a really profitable supplemental revenue stream. Not solely do they receives a commission huge cash, however it’s money cash. Now I’m not saying that bodybuilders don’t all the time pay their taxes, however when anyone arms you $10,000 in a brown paper bag backstage, who’s to say that everybody pays taxes on each greenback in that bag. And plus, money is king. For those who’ve obtained a competitor going to a present making $10,000 to strut up and down the stage for 10 minutes after which perhaps signal some autographs at a sales space after the present, that’s fairly simple cash. Not solely that, however numerous rivals will parlay that cash and cost for these autographs, or promote dietary supplements from their sponsors on the cubicles.
I imply there’s simply so many alternative methods to earn cash by visitor posing appearances. And if rivals are already going to be on the town for a few days on the promoter’s expense, they may additionally promote personal one hour 1:1 coaching packages with their most hardcore followers. A man like Nick Walker may simply cost $500 for some fortunate fan to coach an hour with them after which go get some meals at Chipotle. And in the event you suppose I’m kidding, suppose once more. And $500 is definitely perhaps low ball. Perhaps if Nick actually wished to advertise himself he may cost a grand. Within the sport of bodybuilding there’s all the time a loopy fan prepared to spend any amount of cash to really feel like they’re mates with their favourite heroes.
But when cash isn’t what motivates a star athlete, perhaps it’s respect. Visitor posing is an effective way to develop a fanbase. It’s additionally an effective way to place your identify on the map with out having to compete. And if something about working an viewers and dealing a stage, you’ll be able to undoubtedly create an incredible quantity of buzz for your self with out struggling a 16 week prep to compete.
Visitor posing has all the time been a improbable approach for rivals to earn cash and get their names on the market. So for a man like Nick Walker to complain about any doable damaging suggestions or any criticisms, shouldn’t be solely weak, however it makes him look lazy. Does he actually need to be Mr Olympia? If he’d quite keep dwelling than visitor pose, why is he aspiring to be the sports activities #1 ambassador to the world? It’s a must to journey an terrible lot if you’ve gained the Sandow, my man. It’s form of an unstated requirement. Perhaps as an alternative of being Mr O, Nick ought to turn out to be a full-time podcaster. Then he’d by no means have to depart dwelling once more. He may order his groceries with Amazon Prime and entertain visitors in his front room. His solely touring necessities would then be restricted to strolling over to the fridge, the shitter, and out to the mailbox.
I hope that the Federation and the judges are studying alongside. Our present Mr O, Samson Dauda, has toured the world extensively. There are international locations that he has been to twice and thrice since successful the title. He’s a throwback to Brandon and Flexitron; he’s a throwback to Ronnie and Jay. However think about if we had a Mr Olympia like Nick. The man doesn’t need to visitor pose, most likely doesn’t need to work expos, most likely doesn’t need to do in-store appearances. What sort of a Mr O is he going to be? We don’t have magazines anymore, message boards are quite lifeless, so this man goes to point out up in Las vegas, win a shit ton of cash, after which disappear? We already had that with Hadi and Ramy. Do we wish that once more with Nick?
I don’t know who manages Nick and I don’t know who he has in his camp, but when he’s going to make ridiculous statements like those he made on this latest interview, then perhaps anyone ought to get in his ear and inform him to close up. There is no such thing as a ambassadorial worth to having Nick Walker as Mr O with an angle like this. You may have a bodybuilder who’s scared to visitor pose – that’s not a bodybuilder that needs to be the face of the game. That’s simply my two cents. I can’t sit right here and say something however the reality.
As all the time, thanks for taking the time to learn my article, right here, at IronMag. I sit up for studying your suggestions within the feedback. Do you agree with me? Do you agree {that a} bodybuilder that’s scared to visitor pose due to constructive criticism or damaging suggestions is a man we wish because the face of the game? No matter your opinion could also be, I’ll respect it. Please copy and paste a hyperlink to this text on all of your social media feeds. I assure you it’s going to drum up some fairly vigorous dialog.