by Matt Weik
I’ve at all times been a fan of Victor Martinez, and once I would journey to New Jersey on enterprise, I might at all times make it some extent (even when it had been out of my method) to drive to Edgewater to eat at his Muscle Maker Grill location.
Victor doesn’t know me from a gap within the wall as I’m not some fanboy who’s going to hassle him at his enterprise when he’s making an attempt to get stuff completed or hit him up on social media like some loopy stalker. I merely assist the man and respect what he’s completed for the game of bodybuilding. However I lately noticed an interview with him that I actually don’t agree with.
Once more, I need to reiterate that I’ve nothing in opposition to Victor. This text isn’t a private shot at him, however extra of a distinction of opinions based mostly on what he stated.
Bodybuilding Followers Are Disloyal — Says Victor Martinez
In a current Era Iron YouTube video, Victor was questioned about his ideas concerning the bodybuilding fanbase and if he felt strain from followers following his jail sentence and lack of dimension.
The very first thing Victor stated was, “hell no.” Which I’m glad he wasn’t bothered by some individuals pondering he was completed and can by no means do properly within the sport ever once more. However within the subsequent breath, he began speaking concerning the feedback he would learn on web sites about him. To be sincere, that doesn’t sound like somebody who doesn’t care what individuals suppose. Why exit seeking feedback if, ultimately, they imply nothing to you? So, from the beginning, that made no sense.
He then will get into Arnold’s feedback following his “Screw your freedom” assertion and mentions that additional reveals that followers are disloyal. I’m going to voice my opinion right here, and folks can clearly disagree, however had been Arnold’s phrases taken out of context? Some might say so. However for an immigrant to come back to the US and be in his place, his selection of phrases (for my part) was horrible.
To ever say, “Screw your freedom,” when your following and monetary freedom had been constructed off the flexibility to stay free, capitalism, and so forth., he ought to have by no means had these phrases come out of his mouth. If bashing Arnold for saying that’s being disloyal, then Arnold is disloyal to the US and what it was constructed upon. However this text isn’t about Arnold.
Transferring together with Victor’s interview, he then stated that possibly different sports activities have extra loyal followers than bodybuilding. Right here’s my tackle that. I’ve by no means seen anybody fully flip who they observe within the IFBB. Those that observe Phil Heath are diehard Phil followers. Even after he misplaced the Olympia, nobody turned their again on him. Did individuals query his future? Positive. However that’s all opinionated and hypothesis. It’s not a matter of somebody being disloyal or turning their backs on him. And other people have the flexibility to observe a couple of bodybuilder, which leads me to my subsequent main level.
You Have been in Jail… Bro.
What I feel occurred with Victor is that after his arrest, individuals moved on. Why would somebody essentially persist with him if he’s not competing? They produce other bodybuilders that in addition they observe and assist.
I feel one of many hardest issues to undergo was what Shawn Rhoden skilled. He went from profitable the Olympia to allegations of rape in a matter of months. The IFBB banned him from competing, and the bodybuilding business was questioning what the best determination to make was and whether or not or not Shawn was harmless or responsible. Regardless, followers moved on and began following opponents who had been in a position to compete since there was actually nothing to observe with Shawn apart from his life since he wasn’t in a position to step on stage.
Victor’s state of affairs is (kinda) just like Shawn’s in that he couldn’t compete when he was locked up, and subsequently, followers moved on. If somebody adopted Michael Jordan and was a fan, they’re nonetheless a fan to this present day, however they could have moved on to being a fan of LeBron now since he’s really taking part in. That doesn’t imply individuals forgot about MJ, they usually’re disloyal.
I don’t suppose anybody would argue that Victor was something however an awesome competitor. Whether or not they moved on or not, when was the final time we noticed Victor on stage? There’s my level.
Jay Cutler, after retiring, is doing simply nice. His followers nonetheless observe him, they purchase his stuff, they take heed to his podcast, they usually watch his YouTube channel. What’s Victor doing? *crickets*
If something, Victor bailed on his followers, not the opposite method round. He’s doing nothing for his followers proper now apart from making an attempt to promote issues on his Dominican Dominator web site. So, what actual worth is Victor offering followers? Does he have a YouTube channel or podcast to offer his followers with the flexibility to observe him and get worth and knowledge from him? No. Everybody has to pay for one thing so as to interact with him. That’s not what different persons are doing. So, what’s the purpose? It’s not like we’re speaking about an Olympia winner who took dwelling a Sandow and is within the historical past books.
Individuals are judged by their actions, not their phrases. Victor can say no matter he desires, however the majority of IFBB professionals by no means went to jail or had points with the regulation. And that’s not a knock at Victor, it’s simply the reality. Victor went to jail, which is why it looks like abruptly, he feels that individuals turned their again on him and stated his profession within the sport was over.
Transferring alongside, he continues to say he doesn’t care what individuals say about him. Then he rolls proper into how individuals on the web had been saying he’s going to get deported again to the Dominican Republic, which he then stated, and I quote, “I would like you bitches [sic] I’m a citizen, , screw you mom*ckers.” Does that actually sound like somebody who doesn’t care what others say?
Hear, all in all, I’ve nothing in opposition to Victor Martinez. If he comes again to the stage, I’ll nonetheless assist him. If he stays away from the stage, focuses on his well being and longevity, and needs to construct his numerous companies, I’ll assist him. However to say that bodybuilding followers are disloyal just isn’t correct.
