by Christian Duque
Bodybuilding followers all around the world have taken to the message boards and teams to speak concerning the departure of Lee from RX. The announcement despatched shockwaves all through the game’s most fanatical adherents. The fact of the matter is that legends like Lee are few and much between. This can be a man that has a observe file of standing as much as the person it doesn’t matter what. He by no means takes a backward step and he at all times speaks his thoughts. The followers respect that degree of transparency in a sport that’s sadly stricken by hustlers and con males.
Typically the best factor you may hear is the reality. Typically the reality isn’t fancy and possibly it isn’t all that thrilling however it’s the fact and Lee has at all times been a person of the reality. Though at instances he might not be an enormous fan of mine, I’ve at all times been an enormous fan of his for the easy incontrovertible fact that when push involves shove, that’s the form of man you need in your nook.
Lee has continually put all of it on the road to face for what he believes is correct. I believe his addition to RX made all of the sense on the earth provided that that web site is at all times the holy grail of hardcore bodybuilding. Sadly all good issues should come to an finish and when information got here out of the departure it despatched shockwaves all through the health trade. Now the query is what’s subsequent for this legendary bodybuilder that dominated three federations in NABBA, the PDI, and the IFBB? Nobody can ever neglect how a lot injury this man did and all of the whereas he was barely 5’4. While you consider the quintessential big killers, guys like Lee Priest come into play.
Lee completed High 6 within the open Olympia. And never simply any Olympia both, however again when the Olympia was all about dimension with class. These guys have been monsters. This was the heyday of Ronnie Coleman and Chris Cormier. These guys hit the stage with large quantities of muscle, deep striations, and vascularity in contrast to something we now have seen within the final 20 years. Lee was battling with guys that outweighed him by 50lb and have been typically as a lot as a whole foot taller than him. However together with his killer forearms and his will to win he was a formidable opponent on any stage that he bought on. He even beat Chris at San Francisco and was in a position to give even the easiest of the perfect a run for his or her cash.
That historical past has not been misplaced upon at this time’s followers. They keep in mind it warmly and nonetheless to today they want for the day they’d see Lee make a comeback to the skilled bodybuilding world. Even at effectively over 50 years of age he would nonetheless current a really actual menace to any competitor in 2024. This isn’t to say that the blokes at this time are inferior to the blokes in yesteryear however it’s to say that Lee stays very aggressive no matter his age and no matter how lengthy he has been off the stage.
I’ve to say that what Lee has been in a position to accomplish as an everyday contributor to RX Muscle has been nothing wanting wonderful. The followers have actually found the humorous aspect of this extremely gifted bodybuilder. It’s one factor to have an important physique but it surely’s fairly one other to have the ability to be entertaining for an hour. It’s very tough to have the ability to keep on the air whether or not co-hosting with another person or typically with 10 different individuals. Lee has been in a position to present that he can give you materials on the fly and he can hold a present attention-grabbing irrespective of how lengthy it’s. This isn’t one thing that simply any bodybuilder can do. Many individuals truly imagine that he can be wonderful as an MC however sadly he has burned so many bridges due to the actual fact of his sheer honesty that it could be tough for him to land these forms of jobs.
That being stated I believe any promoter would have a blockbuster competitors if Lee was on the microphone. He would know precisely easy methods to hold the viewers engaged, he would know easy methods to hold the athletes within the zone, and he would actually present a world-class manufacturing. Nonetheless politics would by no means permit it at the least not anytime quickly. And sure, Lee can be among the many first to inform you that politics is a factor in bodybuilding.
The fact of the matter is that Lee is simply not making the cash. In response to his personal phrases he’s bored with placing in all the trouble to actually stroll away with nothing. Everyone knows that he’s a gifted broadcaster and everyone knows that he is without doubt one of the finest entertainers within the sport of bodybuilding, nonetheless no one ought to work free of charge. Whereas many individuals thought Lee could have been kidding, I solely perceive the place he’s coming from. I really like bodybuilding but when bodybuilding didn’t pay me and didn’t hold me afloat I most likely wouldn’t do all the work that I do. In a really possible way, time is cash and hobbies are hobbies however you may’t spend appreciable quantities of time every week on a interest. You simply can’t do it in the true world.
Lee is someone that may be very gifted and really gifted so if the cash will not be there coronary heart and keenness can’t fill within the void indefinitely. If he actually is shifting on and has discovered a profession that’s going to reward him for his efforts then I say extra energy to him. I want that podcasting may give him the form of residing that he desires but it surely looks like it simply can’t these days.
Bodybuilding followers all around the world are in utter disbelief. Many followers have taken to social media in tears hoping that the Australian legend is in reality simply bluffing. I believe he feels their ache however should do what’s proper for him and his household. like I stated a interest is okay if it’s simply an hour or two per week. While you put within the form of time {that a} podcast requires week in and week out, that’s now not a interest. That’s principally a job. a job that doesn’t pay you but it surely requires a truckload of your effort and time. I don’t suppose it’s all that stunning if the cash isn’t there – the curiosity goes to subside.
Let’s see what occurs. Solely time will inform. I’ve a sense that Lee will work out a solution to hold in there, however why ought to he? He must be paid the best approach. I don’t know what association he has with RX or different podcasts. Getting a $100 per video once you’re at Lee’s stature is a bit of iffy.
Once we had IronMag TV, most of our reveals bought $75 to $300 per episode – and that was in 2017. In response to CPI Inflation Calculator, $300 in 2017 is equal in buying energy to about $375 at this time, a rise of $75.42 over 7 years.
A few of our former prime expertise have been making practically 4x what Lee purportedly makes per look at this time. $100 in 2017 is okay however in 2024 for a man on Lee’s degree is fairly low cost.
Once more, if the cash isn’t proper, nobody is forcing him to do it, however think about if he’s on a 2-3hr present and all he will get is $100. He may do higher working a shift at Walmart saying hello to folks that stroll in. If he’s doing it out of affection of the game – nice. If he’s doing it to complement his revenue, he’s not going to be supplementing it a lot.
Nobody ought to query Lee’s love of bodybuilding, although; all of us have to make a residing. If he’s simply joking – nice. If he’s not, nobody can provide him shit for eager to receives a commission higher cash.