Priest's exorcism

As 2005 turn rounded into 2006, it was a done deal--Lee Priest would acquire a bigger shaft than an Empire State Building elevator when he go intoed the 2006 Ironman Pro Invitational upon February 18. Didn't matter what he direct the eyeed like, sparky. Behind closed doors, the IFBB had decided it was payback time for a competitor who had discharge his mouth off one too many times.

It all began in 2004 when Priest plucked out of that year's Olympia amid headlines in which he proclaimed "F--k the Olympia!"--an epithet Arnold Schwarzenegger, to leeward Haney, Dorian Yates and Ronnie Coleman, among others, had at no time felt compelled to utter.

from one extremity to the other of 2005, Priest continued taking potshot at the Olympia, judging practices and the powers-that-be in general. In particular, he complained about the Orleans public-house and Casino (the centerpiece of Olympia activity), which he appeared to perceive as a bigger dump than a King Kong bowel movement

Les than sum of two units weeks before the O, in a replay of the previous year and fast becoming a greater advocate for withdrawal than a Catholic birth-control manual, he again shakeed out of the Olympia as the main occurrence loomed. His reason was the Olympia contract he was asked to ink, which he interpreted as akin to signing upon with Spartacus and the striplings for a slave galley trip 'round the Med

To further antagonize the powers-that-be, Priest is among the pro who have been welcomingly enthusiastic about a so-called of recent origin bodybuilding federation, whose gestation period is publicly rivaling that of a reluctant elephant, feeling that a novel game in town would be good

in like manner against that scenario, the IFBB judging panel--well known for its nefarious activities, just ask Priest--waited for its opportunity to advance down on him like well, a ton of pricks.

suggestion the 2006 Ironman, and Priest is neck-and-neck for first place with 2002 NPC National middleweight champ Dave Henry. Here we had an NPC alumnus more clean-cut than a Thanksgiving turkey against the number-one example of whine and poses; there would not at any time be a better way for the IFBB to exercise its so-called bias and hit Priest below the belt where it damages most--the wallet. To most on-lookers the contest was very shut up and a Henry victory would not have been a surprise and certainly not an outrage.

on the other hand lo and behold, what did the "corrupt" IFBB judging panel do? No more than hand the number-one slot to the Aussie superman by dint of an almost straight-firsts verdict. The decision caused heated debate, many feeling indeed that Henry (more consummate and with better pecs and back) should have won

Priest's "the reality will set you free" retort was for the cynics to simply direct the eye at the scorecard and diocese how wide his margin of victory was--an urging that without doubt proves how much faith he now lays in the integrity of an IFBB judging panel.

by dint of Peter McGough

cluster EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

COPYRIGHT 2006 Weider Publications

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