<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
by Christian Duque<\/em><\/p>\n C\u2019mon guys, are you really buying into this? I understand that as fans, especially for those of us who lived the Coleman era, there\u2019s a nostalgia effect with The Big Nasty. It\u2019s like believing in Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny. I\u2019m not saying that you can\u2019t remember The King in all his greatness, but if you believe that a guy who up until recently could barely walk, is back to 285lbs and that there\u2019s any chance he could ever compete again, you\u2019re bashit crazy. And if you\u2019re a faithful reader of Iron Magazine, I\u2019d hate to insult your intelligence, but I certainly wasn\u2019t the first and I probably won\u2019t be the last. The fact of the matter is that I don\u2019t believe the news and I doubt we\u2019ll ever get any type of conclusive proof that will prove the story. If you were to ask me what this is all about, I\u2019d say hype. Plain and simple. <\/p>\n Ronnie Coleman was one of the greatest bodybuilders that ever lived. When he was on top, no one could hold a candle to him. In \u201898 he edged out a more deserving Flex Wheeler, to win the 1998 Mr. Olympia. In 2001, though he was defeated by Jay Cutler in the prejudging, he somehow, was able to retain his title. Other years, he had the likes of Cutler and Gustavo Badell on his heels. He even lost once, while on top, at the 2002 GNC Show of Strength. But that would never happen again.<\/p>\n While he competed, he dominated supreme 99.9% of the time. Then in 2005, the signs started to show. What\u2019s crazy is that in his recent documentary, Coleman admitted to being in pain his entire bodybuilding career. We didn\u2019t know that; it simply wasn\u2019t part of the story that was The Big Nasty.<\/p>\n By 2006, his run was done. If there were any doubt, he returned the next year, and got relegated to 4th. From there, it\u2019s been back surgery after back surgery, complications, and revisions. His life has been one of extreme physical hardship, but he\u2019s soldiered on, promoting his very successful supplement line and growing his audience exponentially.<\/p>\n That being said, he\u2019s been sidelined so much that walking was the best he could hope for. It effectively denied him the one thing all retired former greats have as a fallback? No matter how boring their lives may be and no matter how out of shape some get, there\u2019s always the bleak possibility they\u2019ll make a comeback. This keeps some of these guys on the radar, but for those who are still in spectacular shape, guys like Kai Greene, their comeback-hype translates to direct sales. Why do you suppose they do it every year? Think about it.<\/p>\n If Ronnie had hinted at a comeback just two years ago, most people\u2019s reaction would have been one of disbelief and\/or downright laughter. Since he\u2019s been in less pain and maybe is able to ambulate more or less on his own, now this talk of him going back to 285lbs comes up? Now he suddenly could make a comeback? Please. <\/p>\n I don\u2019t doubt that Coleman has a ton of heart and that if anyone can face what he\u2019s faced and still lift, it\u2019s him. But to say he\u2019s back at 285lbs of lean muscle, is absurd. Is he also squatting and pulling 800lbs? Is Jimmy Hoffa his training partner?<\/p>\n If I were to speculate what this all boils down to, I\u2019d say it\u2019s probably some pathetic attempt to sell whey protein and pre-workout powder. Lemme guess, Ronnie will soon be seen covered up, doing a set of something, and then he\u2019ll emerge from the shadows chugging his protein. While he\u2019d never suggest that his product got him back to his prime, he could just chug, smile, and flex. Who needs words when you have that visual? Next, he might say that what got him his 23\u201d arms back, was his King Whey Protein. It can grow your arms, fix your finances, and save your marriage. That\u2019s how good this whey is, baby, get you a tub, today!! Oh Yeah!!<\/p>\n I feel like I\u2019ve lost brain cells writing this article, but I\u2019ve actually received DM\u2019s over this. There are people who actually wanted to read an article from me on this matter. I understand that Nick Trigili made a video about this, but if you could read between the lines, you\u2019d know that while he was trying his hardest at being impartial and objective on air, he didn\u2019t believe this crap, one bit.<\/p>\n Other outlets also ran with the story.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n