Question: If I could have any competitive bodybuilder's physique it would be...

[fleXodus]

Post your answers and comments here.

[arpeejay]

Good question. In general I like 'em the bigger the better but on occasion the whole bloated midriff due to HGH enlarged internal organs kinda creeps me out.

Two really big guys who have (or had, in one case) really great lines are Matt Duvall and Mike Francois. Mike, especially, was just about the creme de la creme, from my point of view. 5'8 and 290 lbs. offseason, he competed at 260 lbs., massive, hard, excellently proportioned. He never placed very high but I think he was just a couple of years too early. And then there was the illness and that was that. Very sad.

Duvall, though, has very similar lines and even better biceps. His chest isn't as awesome as Francois' was but that could change.

Woof!

xoxo

richard = rpj = arpeejay

[fleXodus]

Though a part of me would love to be a freak like Eddie Moyzan and other massive behemoths, I think I'd personally be in heaven if I had the physique of someone like Bob Paris. He probably had one of the most beautifully proportionate and aesthetic physiques ever. And he's gay to boot.

[hulkmuscle]

I still like the lines of guys like Paris, Francis Benfatto, Lee Labrada. Even Mike Mentzer, they still had lines then. Craig Titus when he started out.

I guess of the current crop, I do like Cutler, Ahmed Haidar is also beautiful.

[benchdude]

for me it's all about pure mass and bulk, so I'd have to go with Vic Richards. I know a lot of people say stuff about him because he wouldn't compete, but he still counts as a bodybuilder in my opinion. I'm sure there are guys out there weighing 360 in the offseason now, but how many of them are only 5'9"? and still like 15% or less bf?
I'm actually a powerlifter, but Vic is the reason I got into serious bulking [as well as Ted Arcidi].

[myophile]

Originally posted by benchdude
for me it's all about pure mass and bulk, so I'd have to go with Vic Richards. I know a lot of people say stuff about him because he wouldn't compete, but he still counts as a bodybuilder in my opinion. I'm sure there are guys out there weighing 360 in the offseason now, but how many of them are only 5'9"? and still like 15% or less bf?
I'm actually a powerlifter, but Vic is the reason I got into serious bulking [as well as Ted Arcidi].

yeah, vic is huge. its too bad there aren't more photos around of him. and arcidi is just a beast... yikes.

i don't think there's anything wrong with not competing. richards has talked about his view of bbuilding, and how it should be focused on reaching your own personal goals, rather than the standards set by a judge. i'd rather be massive and freaky than super cut. just my opinion, tho.

[arpeejay]

Take a look at:

http://www.vicrichards.com

The pix of him when he was 17, well, uh, WOOF! 5'9 and 240 lbs. of muscle at 17?

Ai yi yi!

rpj

[myophile]

yeah, that's really amazing/depressing. interesting to see he's XYY

[wbhunk]

I've gotta run with one of RPJ's choices....Mike Francois has always been a huge favorite of mine.

[muscleboytom]

Branch Warren!

WOOF!

muscleboytom

[Bull]

This is always such a tough question, because there is always something about them I'd want to change. I'd choose Eddie Robinson or Franco Santoriello, if I could make them taller; or Gary Strydom if I could peak his biceps and widen his lats; or Markus Ruhl if I could put a new head on him and reduce his roidgut; etc., etc.

Of the current crop, I guess I'd have to say Jay Cutler or Gunter Schlierkamp.

[biguglymofo]

Eddie Moyzan, Gunter Schlierkamp, or old school, Berry Demey.

[Mdlftr]

Interesting thread. I agree with most of the above, but I also think all of these guys need "something". Nobody has the complete package, IMO
My picks: with changes:

Old school

Schwartzenegger--with legs
Mentzer--taller, with bigger upper pecs
Zane--more mass

More recent

Mike Dragna --taller, with same proportion
Flex Wheeler--hmm. not sure. Maybe just taller with more proportionate mass? He's pretty good.
Matarazzo-nose job (Sorry, but I guess I'm just shallow <g>)
Atwood--if he tightens up his chest--it has a "puffyness" in the crab shots in the ads.

[Mdlftr]

Interesting thread. I agree with most of the above, but I also think all of these guys need "something". Nobody has the complete package, IMO
My picks: with changes:

Old school

Schwartzenegger--with legs
Mentzer--taller, with bigger upper pecs
Zane--more mass

More recent

Mike Dragna --taller, with same proportion
Flex Wheeler--hmm. not sure. Maybe just taller with more proportionate mass? He's pretty good.
Matarazzo-nose job (Sorry, but I guess I'm just shallow <g>)
Atwood--if he tightens up his chest--it has a "puffyness" in the crab shots in the ads.

[Radiokida]

Originally Posted by fleXodus

Post your answers and comments here.

I'd say Nasser El Sonbaty when he was second-best in the Arnold Classic. His front body was perfect at that time, in my opinion.

[glammaman2000]

Steve Michalik,pre-car crash.AMAZING V-taper,proportions of a much taller man.

[Notbigenuff]

If I can only pick one I have to go with Ed Robinson--IMHO greatest arms ever!

Of course, Lance Dreher wasn't bad, or Darren Lannaghan, or Dave Draper, or...okay, you get the idea.

[falseyedee]

like the favorite bodypart poll, this was more difficult to answer than i initially thought.

there are terrific bodies that i'd love to have at different levels of maturity and competitiveness. bodybuilding is a sport where athletes are actually working to change their physiques as they progress thru the ranks from local amateur to national pro to international pro. at each level of competition there are bodybuilders with physiques i'd be happy to have, some whose names i don't even know.

the guys with bodies i'd like whose names i know are:
bob paris
ade rai
sean allen [in competition shape]
flex wheeler
stan mcquay
bruce patterson
lee priest

i could go on...but i won't.

[cutlerfan]

I would have to say Jay Cutler; not a hard question for me given my login name.
I would like him a few inches taller. I recently saw Jeremy Freeman on a game show network show called Extreme Dodgeball! He looks huge. His team is the Barbell mafia! I also liked Berry Demay, Gary Strydom, Jim Quinn, and Eddie "Big Guns" Robinson at various times. The last three were on a special edition of Family Feud playing on the same team a while ago. You don't hear much about Strydom or Demay anymore. I liked Dorian Yates a while ago; killer body! I love Lee Priest a few weeks before a contest; BEFORE the anorexic skeletal face appears! Jay is still my favorite but I would love to have Art Atwood's awesome body or one like that of John Cena of wrestling fame. I really liked Big Scott Klein; he was closer in body type to me so I could relate to him. I was saddened to hear he had died. Peace, cutlerfan

[glammaman2000]

of the newer guys,i'd have to say Ahmed Haidar.a big,hard,PRETTY body!i don't think it gets much better.

[ottomun6]

I'd have to say Jean-Pierre Fux, but with Gary Strydom's awesome glutes.
I would love to be 6'6", towering over people and be overwhelmingly imposing.
But alas, Jean-Pierre has no ass. (pardon my french )

[cutlerfan]

I knew I had forgotten one. Jean-Pierre Fux is another guy whose physique I admire! Peace, cutlerfan

[rlcmuddy]

Branch Warren would be my choice if I could have it. He is overall about the best proportioned of the monster muscles. I would settle for his legs and chest.

[brent]

Originally Posted by arpeejay

Good question. In general I like 'em the bigger the better but on occasion the whole bloated midriff due to HGH enlarged internal organs kinda creeps me out.
...

I agree with the bigger the better bit, but I don't mind the 'roid gut. It just looks like a big strong stomach on a big strong man to me. However, I don't want one myself, enlarged internal organs can't be healthy...

[dallasmsl]

Ronnie Rockel or Alexandr Federov; either physique would be fantastic!

[DonnieJvilleNC]

Man, this sure is a difficult decision. I think these are my choices (at least at this moment):

In no particular order-

Lee Priest
Tommi Thorvildsen
Kraig Feldman
Mike Morris
Eryk Bui

[UKBeefy]

Paul de Mayo.

Mike Dragna

Chris Cook

[arpeejay]

Jean-Pierre Fux, Ronnie Coleman and Matt Duvall crossed with Pete Kuzak and Ken Ryker. Aka, one of FantCDude's characters!

:-)

xoxo

richard

[bigbearny]

Tommi Thorvildsen, Mike Mattarazzo or Mike Dragna.. they're all soooo hot! *drool* erm excuse me i need to clean up my keyboard now

[DalBear]

I'd love to look like Dexter Jackson (but at my height of 6' 1").

God, that'd be sweet...

[Wynfrith]

Originally Posted by arpeejay

Jean-Pierre Fux, Ronnie Coleman and Matt Duvall crossed with Pete Kuzak and Ken Ryker. Aka, one of FantCDude's characters!

:-)

xoxo

richard

I'm with you!

[jacestar]

stan mcquay and eryk bui

[mslayer]

message deleted

[XXLTank]

Jay Cutler off season.

[TheMM]

I'm going uber old school and going with Lou Ferigno. In my opinion, the best of the best of the best (sir!).

[karateboy310]

Originally Posted by DonnieJvilleNC

Man, this sure is a difficult decision. I think these are my choices (at least at this moment):

In no particular order-

Lee Priest
Tommi Thorvildsen
Kraig Feldman
Mike Morris
Eryk Bui

Eryk Bui's a nice enought peson but he doesn't have a body I would want, I'd probrably go with Jay Cutler

[brent]

I'd have to go with Jay Cutler too. He's like walking, talking sex!

[muscl4life]

Originally Posted by TheMM

I'm going uber old school and going with Lou Ferigno. In my opinion, the best of the best of the best (sir!).

Actually, in my opinion, the young Ferrigno starring in "Pumping Iron" has a really sweet, tender (some might say he was dumb, and well, i kinda liked his apparently naivety at the movie...) was pretty hot and "doable". But, I can't help to think on him as Hercules on that "corny" italian version of "The twelve Labors of Hercules" - maaaaaaaaaan when he pumped those massive pecs to puy down a tree and especially (okay i'm a macro lover, but that's not new to you) the scene where he is grown into titanic size to create the mediterranean sea.... WOW - That is a magnificent view.... Also when he played a few years later another crappy version of "Simbad the Saylor" - he looked also pretty hot, and those arms and pecs looked just as big and juicy as before...

Even today, as he occasionally appeared on "The king of queens" i'd still do him)

Okay, okay, I guess it's kinda like an obsession, but hey - you asked me

Take care.

[LittleArm]

It's so hard to choose just one!

For sheer size, I'd like to walk around with a build like Gunter or Marcus Ruhl. Mass-monsters like those men must get the most stares just going through their everyday routines.

If I were to compete myself, I'd want to be an Ahmad Haidar, or a Gustavo, or the new-and-improved Victor Martinez. Guys who are slightly smaller but with fantastic shape.

But here's the strange thing- if I skip the fantasy and start getting bogged down in practical matters, I think realistically I'd want to have a build like Sagi Kalev. He obviously has a fantastic physique, but if necessary he could dress up and still look somewhat "normal" in public. Let's face it- a lot of people get really disgusted by the freaks, but Sagi's build is a little less intimidating.

[nypup2train]

Originally Posted by brent

I'd have to go with Jay Cutler too. He's like walking, talking sex!

Well... walking, maybe. Beyond that, the "strong, silent type" stereotype is a good fit for him.

-Pup

P.S> Oh, yeah... my picks would have to be Ruhl (he's the outlier in my list... but he's just SO massive!), Danny Hindalov, Heiko Kallbach, or I can't believe nobody's already mentioned Johnnie Jackson!

P.P.S> ...What can I say? "Short and wide" is how I tend to describe the guys who cause me to experience sudden, inexplicable tightening of the pants. At some point it just graduated to an easy shorthand for describing my "ideal fantasy man" type. Also, I'm in that minority that likes the thick, bulging "roidgut" look that the thickest pros carry.