by Christian Duque
Bostin Loyd was an actual legend for the straightforward undeniable fact that he informed the reality. He was a younger man that cherished bodybuilding and cherished being within the scene. He was a man that the assorted social platforms banned usually however who all the time discovered a approach to get his phrase out. He made cash, sure, however nowhere close to what he may have. He didn’t whore himself out to numerous firms and he was obsessed – nearly to the purpose of being a neurotic – with by no means placing his title subsequent to something he didn’t consider in. He was a purist in that he believed that his title and status had been the whole lot.
Not like so most of the schills in our sport that may change sponsors such as you and I modify socks, Bostin was definitely bold and had an amazing work ethic, however cash wasn’t the catalyst for doing what he did. I wasn’t shut mates with him and I don’t know that we even met in particular person. I do know we had been at sure contests on the similar time and perhaps got here as shut as fifty toes from each other, however I don’t recall ever assembly him.
So then what am I basing my character assessments on? Am I a fanboy attempting to piece collectively a story? Completely not. Not solely is that weak, however it’s wholly inaccurate. You may’t communicate to somebody should you didn’t have any direct interactions with them. No less than not for my part and never for an article like this.
I spoke with Bostin on numerous events once I was attempting to get him to work with StrengthAddicts, then throughout a quick time when he was single and we spoke at size about relationships and life, after which why I attempted to recruit him for IronMag TV. All in all, I believe he was apprehensive about working with me and you’ll see that in a fantastic interview that Bostin did with Joe Pietaro at Muscle Sport Magazine. Joe and I’ve lengthy made up, however on the time we had been embroiled in a reasonably intense battle. It’s a fantastic interview and speaks to lots of what my recollection is insofar as Bostin’s emotions.
After I bought began with StrengthAddicts nobody was speaking about gear. There was an enormous stigma and completely nobody needed to the touch the topic. The truth is, there was an enormous video that includes Ronnie Coleman the place he was requested by a reporter if he took gear. You possibly can hear a pin drop earlier than Ronnie dismissed the query and appeared offended. That sentiment unfold like wildfire and the entire room rejected the reporter. You’ll assume the man requested Ronnie if he beat his spouse or abused senior residents for enjoyable. I imply the gang turned hostile to this poor reporter who was asking a wonderfully regular query. I imply Ronnie was nonetheless large with 24” weapons, large wheels, and veins in all places. Nobody seems like that consuming hen breasts and consuming protein shakes. Nonetheless, there was an actual concern {that a} soundbite like Coleman admitting to gear use may get picked up by the mainstream media. Again in these days the mainstream media was out for blood. They hated all issues bodybuilding they usually noticed it as purely as a drug fest. This was additionally at a time when prohormone bans had been nonetheless a factor and elected officers had been trying to make examples out of athletes and complement firms.
It was throughout this time that Bostin began making movies. And never solely was he speaking about what he took, however there have been occasions he was pinning on digital camera. There have been movies the place he had a sink stuffed with bottles, BAC water, and syringes. He was there pinning them and speaking about what every compound did. He wasn blurring his face or altering his voice. He additionally coined his personal nickname and used it on his merchandise.
Then in fact there was the entire synthol situation. If gear was taboo, web site enhancing oils weren’t even speculated to be a factor. Everybody denied utilizing them, although upwards of 90% of high amateurs and professional’s had been utilizing it. I imply it was completely apparent. One present a man had lagging shoulders or calves and two months later these physique elements had been profitable them reveals. Generally the muscular tissues appeared good, generally they left you scratching your head, and generally they appeared simply plain goofy. Not solely did Bostin admit to utilizing search engine optimisation’s however he used them on digital camera. And if that wasn’t sufficient, he then began making his personal search engine optimisation merchandise and selling them all through all his movies and appearances.
After I needed to deliver Bostin to StrengthAddicts we had been each just about beginning up, however he was apprehensive of me as a result of I used to be a part of the media. StrengthAddicts is a media web site. I labored for Dave at RXMuscle writing articles and writing Muscle In The Morning. I’ve all the time been within the media. And although Bostin would go on to be a columnist for Muscle Sport Magazine, I don’t assume Large Daddy B ever noticed himself as a reporter. I believe he was skeptical of writers and videographers as a result of he suspected our driving pressure was hits, not spreading the reality. Possibly I’m incorrect however that’s the vibe I bought from our conversations. He revered Dave and Ron [Harris], however generally he wasn’t an enormous fan of the press. So evidently, I used to be by no means capable of deliver him onto StrengthAddicts as a paid contributor.
Throughout the time he was single, I bear in mind us speaking over the course of a few weeks. I wasn’t attempting to rent him or collaborate with him. I simply bear in mind a DM that developed right into a sequence of voice texts and conversations. We didn’t speak about any bodybuilders, merchandise, or something like that. He confided in me about some issues and I did the identical in variety.
Just a few months after that string of chats with Bostin, I recall doing a pre-recorded interview with the late nice Jerry Ward. Jerry and Bostin had a tumultuous relationship. I believe that they had mutual respect for one another however they usually butted heads as a result of they had been each so outspoken. Jerry had stated some issues that I believed went a little bit under the belt and I bear in mind reaching out to him throughout post-production and we had a name the place upon listening to me out, Jerry conceded that a few of his feedback had been method too aggressive. I don’t assume it’s acceptable to say what was stated, particularly since each guys are not with us, however I’m glad I used to be capable of maintain sure feedback off the completed interview. I did lots of that in post-production with the late nice Mighty Mike Quinn. Although there’s lots of madness that also made the ultimate minimize, there was much more that didn’t. It’s loopy that each one three guys I’m speaking about have all handed.
One of many previous few occasions I spoke with Bostin was throughout the IronMag TV days. Bostin had had a present on MD that was canceled after one episode. That’s debatable, however what shouldn’t be debatable is that the very first episode bought pulled for being too controversial. That disgusted Bostin. He would all the time respect Ron as a result of ultimately he was simply doing his job, however he was bitter on MD. And since IronMagTV had my present and Gregg’s present additionally on MD, he took his anger out on us. He refused to work with IML and talked about it within the interview with MSM.
We actually needed him and had been prepared to supply him a selection spot on our roster. He simply wouldn’t budge. He was too apprehensive of lending his title to a complement firm even when simply to place out in-house content material. We’d have been a fantastic match and it will have been killer to have paired Bostin with Large Frank, The Goon, and/or Gregg once in a while. We had an enormous roster and many expertise again then, however we simply couldn’t get Bostin to signal on.
Bostin Loyd was his personal man. Love him or hate him, he marched to the beat of his personal drum. I personally by no means actually understood him and irrespective of what number of lodging I’d attempt to make, he simply wouldn’t work with us. Possibly he was a creature of behavior or perhaps he simply by no means questioned his instincts. That’s not a foul factor.
Bostin was a pioneer and an innovator. He cherished bodybuilding and he hung his hat on all the time telling the reality. For this reason I believe his legacy will reside on by means of his movies, articles, and his very spirit. I imply have a look at me and this text. I’m not writing on the anniversary of his loss of life or as a result of he made the information. I’m scripting this letter at Panera on New Yr’s Eve 2023 morning as a result of I used to be brainstorming article concepts and I thought of this loopy child who lived his finest life within the sport of bodybuilding. After I say he’ll be remembered that’s not wishful pondering. He’s remembered and he might be for a few years to come back!