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by Christian Duque<\/em><\/p>\n The detractors rallied their forces, they berated \u201cSugar\u201d Shawn Ray throughout social media, so much so that it started to become as if the entire industry wanted Shawn\u2019s head on a silver platter. I\u2019m not saying I approve of what the IFBB Hall of Famer said on that bizarre RXMuscle interview, just a day after the passing of Mr. Olympia Shawn \u201cFlexatron\u201d Rhoden, but I think it\u2019s safe to say that Palumbo had a huge deal of responsibility in that whole fiasco. Interestingly, many of Ray\u2019s fiercest critics not only gave Dave a pass, but they appeared on his programs. Some might say that\u2019s a bit hypocritical, but I\u2019m not here to pass judgment on anyone. The fact is, when the pressure against Ray seemed to hit an all time high, many of these outspoken figures turned their sizable audiences on the people who sign SSR\u2019s checks. They wanted him gone from the Olympia and perhaps, in their estimation, they figured if they put enough pressure on Olympia COO Dan Solomon or owner, Jake Wood, that they would manage to cancel Shawn Ray.<\/p>\n Others pointed to the Arnold Classic\u2019s decision to bring Fouad Abiad to their coverage team, as something that Wings of Strength could do as well. Perhaps calls replacing Ray with Abiad would send a strong message to one of the most outspoken voices in the sport of bodybuilding. What that message was, probably amounted to him quieting down when it came to controversial perspectives. But as Dan Solomon said on his interview with legendary 4x Mr. Olympia, there are a lot of things that Shawn says that he doesn\u2019t agree with, but firing Ray was never on the table. For as much as his critics wanted to put the hall of famer on the defensive, they always came up short. <\/p>\n At a time when guys like Jerry Ward get thrown into Youtube jail for discussing articles published on Google (which ironically owns YouTube) and when any mention of certain illnesses and treatments for said illnesses can see you banned on the most popular social media outlets, it\u2019s interesting that anyone would be calling for someone\u2019s voice to be silenced, from WITHIN our industry. Is that hypocritical? Well, that all depends on you. You may say yes \u2013 or \u2013 you may say no. The fact is, the passing of Flexatron hit all of us quite hard. Whether you called him your best friend, a friend, or you looked up to him, it came out of nowhere. For a couple of years he was denied the ability to compete at the Olympia, he lost many sponsors, and the vast majority of people in the industry turned their backs on him. I can say, I never did. I was always a fan and I always vocally supported both his relevance in bodybuilding and my belief he was innocent, but I was in the minority. That being said, most people wanted nothing to do with him, so when news of his passing made the rounds, and was then confirmed, many people looked back and must have realized how sad his last years must have been. He never got to clear his name, he never got to get back on stage. In a very real way, Shawn died with a broken heart. And for many of the people who turned their backs on him, raising hell over the RXMuscle interview, maybe, was part of their way of getting some closure. In a weird way, maybe calling for the end of Shawn Ray, cleared their consciences up a bit. Who really knows, though? <\/p>\n The mainstream media was classy. They didn\u2019t run sensational titles or disrespect Flexatron or his legacy. Naturally, when fans got a hold of the RXMuscle interview, from the insensitivity of its timing, to the bold accusations, and below-the-belt insinuations, they became irate. RX could have calmed things down by deleting the video immediately and taking accountability; instead, they stoked the flames, milking the discontent all the way to the bank. Further, many of Ray\u2019s fiercest critics, turned a blind eye to Palumbo and his antics. No one called for RX to be canceled, no one contacted their sponsors urging them to drop the page. Why is that? <\/p>\n Well, as Jay Cutler himself stated in his interview with Solomon, Shawn Ray is generally disliked in the industry. Do I agree with Cutler? No, I actually don\u2019t. I like Jay, but I disagree with his assessment. Shawn Ray gets mobbed by fans at the biggest expos in the world. Whether it\u2019s China, India, or various countries in Europe, \u201cSugar\u201d Shawn Ray commands amazing support. He does, of course, have very vocal critics. Some of these critics have been victims of his rhetoric and\/or aggressive critiques. Does Ray ever go too far? All the time! Many people can\u2019t forgive him for the Dallas McCarver coverage and now many will hold his interview at RX over his head for decades to come. It was a bad interview that should never have happened, but it didn\u2019t cost him his job. And why do you guys suppose he was even asked to do it? Palumbo could have asked anyone. He asked Shawn Ray because Shawn is controversial and tends to get people very angry. Still, Ray\u2019s fiercest critics give the RX host and owner, a complete pass. <\/p>\n Although I don\u2019t condone the statements made by Shawn, I support his right to express himself. After all, isn\u2019t that what America is all about? What\u2019s the point of having free speech, if the public tries to silence less popular opinions? Could you imagine if the government started censoring certain types of speech? Hard to believe, huh?.. Moreover, I have to say I\u2019m very impressed with Jake Wood. I know Dan Solomon, I know how much character he has, and I\u2019m not in the least bit surprised that he didn\u2019t shy away from the interview with Jay. I\u2019m also not surprised that even when Jay pressed him, Dan still wouldn\u2019t support canceling the IFBB Hall Of Famer, not in part, not at all. <\/p>\n On the other hand, I don\u2019t know Jake Wood, and I wasn\u2019t exactly sure how he would deal with the situation. I do remember when Dexter Jackson was calling for Shawn Ray\u2019s head and when he suggested he wouldn\u2019t compete if Shawn was part of the event. Shawn didn\u2019t go anywhere and Dexter competed. It\u2019s akin to Ray\u2019s showdown with Palumbo at the Arnold Classic some years ago. Ray wasn\u2019t fired from MD, Arnold never banned him, and Ray got the last laugh because he\u2019s not the one asking Palumbo to come on Digital Muscle, Monday Night Muscle, or any Olympia commentaries. It\u2019s Dave who trips over himself to have the 1990 Arnold Classic Champion join him at RXMuscle. Think about it. <\/p>\n
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