The opposite day I stumbled throughout a submit from Matt Tsinkorang from MuscleDiscord, proprietor of one of many Large 3 of unbiased bodybuilding media retailers, together with Nick’s Energy & Energy and Desktop Bodybuilding. MuscleDiscord, or MD for functions of this text, is headquartered in Canada. Matt has amassed an enormous following of loyal viewers and has bought the eye of everybody, together with giants like Fouad Abiad, Bob Cicherillo, and Ron Harris. On account of his recognition, Tsinkorang has sadly been blocked by some prime names among the many athletes and has developed a fame for ruffling feathers. That stated, it’s the worth you pay whenever you break tales and focus on controversial subjects. I’m positive Tsinkorang want to be liked by all, however that’s seldom the case whenever you’re tackling among the sport’s most complex points. And that brings us to the subject of at present’s article. It’s not simply sophisticated, however it’s additionally uncomfortable.
The very last thing I wish to do is dogpile on a reigning Mr. Olympia. Plus, I knew Derek earlier than he was Mr. O, earlier than he was even 212 Mr. O. Derek was doing in-store appearances proper right here in Louisville and again then he was a very nice man. However as fame would have it, we misplaced contact by the point he was successful massive titles due to the truth that he modified. He was now not right down to Earth. He was a star. And that’s cool. That’s cool. However as Mr. Olympia, he has an obligation to be the ambassador of bodybuilding to the world. He has a accountability to develop the game. So what’s the deal?
Properly, the deal is that Matt known as Lunsford out. And what was his justification? Easy. Matt pointed to Derek’s social media exercise – or lack thereof. Since Lunsford isn’t doing the upcoming Arnold Traditional and he’s not anticipated to compete once more till the 2026 Olympia, it stands to cause he could be lively on all his socials. However as Tsinkorang identified, Derek’s sole social media story for the day was a plate of white rice and a chunk of salmon on it. The champ wasn’t even holding the plate. It may have been anybody’s plate. And that was his solely submit for the day. Consequently, Matt accused Lunsford of being essentially the most inactive Mr. Olympia in historical past. The subsequent day, Derek posted one story. A random shot of him flexing. A Mr. Olympia has 12 months to develop the game. What’s Derek doing? As Tsinkorang identified, Derek actually wished to win the title again. He’s solely the second man (in addition to Jay Cutler) to ever obtain that feat within the title’s 60+ yr historical past. And for what? To simply get a paycheck and do nothing for the game? Possibly that’s one hell of an assumption, however for at the very least a handful of days, it’s been crickets on his socials. What precisely is Derek Lunsford going to do for the game of bodybuilding?
Is the half the place it will get uncomfortable as a result of lots of people don’t wish to speak about this kind of factor. Folks would somewhat discuss concerning the historical past of bodybuilding or the ever-increasing price of dietary supplements. An article like this will simply get you blocked by the athlete in query. Most writers somewhat dwell prior to now. Very seldom does a author wish to speak about precise issues within the current. We don’t roll like that, right here.
I’d be unhappy if Derek blocked me, however oh nicely. Maybe his followers may activate this publication and possibly they’ll activate my social media platforms. However on the finish of the day the identical method that Matt is stating what’s in any other case apparent, I’ve to write down what’s true. I can’t defend athletes as a result of I like them or as a result of they’ve physiques that I occur to suppose look good or as a result of I’m afraid of the fallout. On the finish of the day there is just one Mr. Olympia. There is just one ambassador of bodybuilding to the world. And sitting at house enjoyable and placing up one story a day isn’t going to develop the game. Why isn’t Derek doing native information? Why isn’t Derek doing extra coaching content material? Why isn’t Derek merely getting on Instagram LIVE for half an hour? On the finish of the day the extra interplay the champ has with the followers the extra the game goes to develop. The extra content material that he places out the higher. It doesn’t even should be content material with an expert photographer or with an expert videographer and even with a movie crew following him round, both. That’s not the purpose. It simply needs to be authentically good content material. Possibly he talks about one thing, possibly he prepares a meal, one thing like that. It additionally doesn’t require a whole lot of effort. He doesn’t should get all dressed up nor does he should even depart his house. He can do high quality content material from his sofa however the backside line is he must do one thing greater than taking an image of a plate of rice with a chunk of salmon on it and posting that as a narrative. Now his supporters would possibly argue that everyone has the proper to some free time.
What could be the best off-time for a Mr. O? I’d suppose the weeks after successful the title would suffice. In fact, there’s Thanksgiving, Christmas, New 12 months’s, however then what? I imply we’re in February and it’s crickets on Derek’s socials. That’s unacceptable. He’s like a throwback to Large Ramy or Dorian. The game wants a prime man who is definitely concerning the enterprise of bodybuilding. A part of the explanation I used to be so completely happy that Derek gained the title, and Samson earlier than him, is as a result of I knew these guys had been going to be seen, heard, and talked about. Between Hadi and Ramy, I believe they set the game again by years. I do know it’s not politically appropriate to say this, however bodybuilding is an U.S. based mostly sport. For starters, you must dwell right here. Even should you dwell in Europe, you’re at an obstacle. The three greatest exhibits are in America. A lot of the contests are right here. Except for the Dubai Professional and a few exhibits in Brazil and Europe, there’s no want for a bodybuilder to depart the U.S. Actually, most don’t. Why hassle? And the second greatest part – additionally politically incorrect to say out loud – is being fluent in English. You’ll be able to have fluency in a second language – the extra the merrier – however English is crucial. So when you have got a Mr. O who lives in america and speaks English fluently, you SHOULD have a house run. However what occurs when you have got a lazy Mr. O? Then you have got what we now have now.
To be truthful, the competition season doesn’t actually kick off till the Arnold occurs. So maybe Derek has a wholesome calendar value of appearances in any respect the large expos, in-store appearances, and visitor posing stops. The issue is, what about November, December, January, and February? So will say you possibly can’t cry over spilt milk, however I’m going to cry about it as a result of 4 month is in any other case often known as 1/3 of the yr. For 1/3 of his reign, Derek has rested on his laurels and never finished something. And it’s not me noticing, it’s one of many greatest, most revered unbiased media retailers blowing the whistle. All credit score goes to Matt Tsinkorang as a result of he caught it earlier than anybody else. If something, I’m writing a response to his spot-on reporting. I believe the media performs a key function in breaking tales, but additionally in restating the apparent. The aim right here isn’t to piss Derek off, somewhat, it’s to gentle a hearth underneath him. He must get cracking. Plus, the entire sport is seeking to him to be the chief.
Solely time will inform if Lunsford steps up. How would you fee his stage of exercise as Mr. Olympia this second time round? As all the time, thanks for studying my article, right here, at IronMag. I sit up for studying your suggestions within the feedback. Please remember to copy and paste a hyperlink to this text on all of your social media feeds. It’s certain to generate full of life dialog.
Creator Bio:
Christian I. Duque is the proprietor of StrengthAddicts.com, a physique and energy web site based in 2008. He has labored for quite a lot of bodybuilding web sites, together with RX Muscle and Muscular Improvement. Christian has written almost 1,000 revealed articles for IronMag Weblog, in addition to articles for StrengthAddicts, RX Muscle, and others. By day, he’s additionally a licensed legal professional training within the areas of household regulation, immigration, and prison protection.
