The World's Strongest Man competition first started in 1977. Filmed at Universal Studios in Florida, it was almost entirely dominated by American weightlifters and Football players.
The competition has evolved over the years, and from being considered an entertainment show, worldwide Strongman contests have become their own specialised discipline categorised as 'Strength Athletics'. It's a niche market worth tens of millions of dollars worldwide, in equipment, TV deals, advertisement and supplement sales. As the sport has developed, so have the competitors. Gone are the days when entertainment wrestlers such as Lou Ferrigno (The Incredible Hulk 1978 – 82) could take part at the behest of television producers.
As the competition has bulked up, so have the weights of the apparatus used in the events - and year on year the competitors bulk up in order to keep pace.
Despite constant changes of name and management, the competition generally stuck to the same format and has been contested in September each year. However, the results have been one of sport's best-kept secrets through the years as the television deals that run worldwide (Channel 5 in the UK) are synchronised to be shown at the same time, over the Christmas and New Year period. To this end it has become an institution in the UK over the festive period. This, along with an ever-increasing rotundness of competitors, had led to the competition being viewed as a mere curiosity as opposed to a serious sport.
All that changed, however, in 2002 with the arrival of a man from Poland called Mariusz Pudzianowski. From the outset of his debut in the competition, something just didn’t seem right. He was obviously a big guy, but unlike the other competitors he managed to have a very low body-fat percentage and looked like a comic-book bodybuilder, such was his physique.
Pudzian, as he is known, has gone on to completely dominate the sport, winning the competition in 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007 and becoming the most successful competitor ever by winning his fifth title in 2008. No wonder he is known amongst sports analysts as The Dominator.
But, more important than simply dominating the competition so completely, Pudzianowski has changed the approach of competitors and singlehandedly forced the sport to evolve into what it is today. Large essentially fat men who could lift huge weights but who had poor motility were blown away by the sheer speed of the phenomenal Pole, as many of the events require competitors to carry huge weights over certain distances. Not only could Pudzianowski compete with some of the world's best dead lifters and squatters, he was also an all-round athlete, playing rugby for his local team, competing as an amateur boxer and achieving a fourth kyu in karate.
He also competed in the Polish Dancing with the Stars TV show in early 2009.
To keep up with such a dedicated and driven individual, professional strongmen now enlist the services of professional dieticians, nutritionists and specialist coaches. A science has now evolved and transformed what was once a sideshow into arguably the most intense and demanding sport there is.
The next step for Pudzianowski now comes on December 11 in Warsaw, where, having signed up to Polish promoter Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki (KSW), he makes his debut in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighting against fellow MMA novice Marcin Najman, a one-time contender for the Polish heavyweight boxing title. This has come about due to Mariusz's popularity in Poland and is sure to attract a full house at the 5,000 capacity Torwar Arena.
How this pans out I’m not sure, but the move hardly comes as a surprise. I personally do not watch MMA or UFC as it seems produced simply for its car-crash and bloodlust value.
Eight-ounce boxing gloves are replaced by mitts that offer little protection in the search for brutal knockouts, of which there are plenty. But one thing is for certain, in looking to increase the sport's appeal, the marketers know exactly how to get people excited.
But if Pudzianowski should prove adept at beating people senseless in a cage, then what would that say about the sport of MMA and the promotional rhetoric that it is not about the brutality but the high-skill levels at various martial arts? I think MMA faces a danger of exposing itself if the strongest man in the world can take on and beat MMA champions.
Wednesday, 30 December 2009
Thursday, 3 December 2009
A Knockout Blow for Calzaghes Legacy?
Whether or not Joe Calzaghe has felt any physical pain over the last month he must certainly be smarting, as unusually within the world of boxing his resume has been almost completely discredited and has turned into a who’s who of boxers who were either in complete decline or who never produced at the top level and he hasnt even been in the ring. Without even stepping into the ring the 46-0 fighter who was a world champion and title holder for little over 10 years at Super Middle Weight has watched his achievements be undermined significantly, and he only has himself to blame.
The shame of the whole issue is that Calzaghe was a worthy world champion, an extremely effective and well conditioned fighter. He put together some very good performances. But when you look at his record now there is not even one defining fight against a top level boxer in his prime.
Talk of being considered an all time great alongside the likes of Leonard and Duran could not be further from peoples’ minds when perusing their respective list of achievements. The irony of the whole situation is that in protecting his unbeaten record Calzaghe has left so many question marks over his career that it was being debated by boxing fans how good he actually was before he even retired.
Calzaghe has always pointed to four fights that prove he was world class and the best fighter at his weight at his time; Hopkins, Roy Jones Junior, Lacy and Kessler.
Hopkins was beaten by a debatable split decision and had Calzaghe down hard in the first round. Let’s not forget that Hopkins was 43 years old at the time a full 15 years past his title bout with Roy JJ in one of the most physically demanding sports there is. There’s no doubting that Hopkins is still a good fighter after his schooling of the previously heralded Kelly Pavlik, but what would a 15 years younger Hopkins have done to Calzaghe? And why was the fight not made earlier?
Jeff Lacy was a fighter who never lived up to the hype that usually goes with unbeaten American prospects, unbeaten when he faced Calzaghe his career at the prime age of 32 has not got anywhere near the top level.
In the last few weeks Kessler who was unbeaten when he faced Calzaghe was comprehensively outpointed by American Pro novice Andre Ward who was in his 21st pro fight. As good as Ward promises to be Kessler looked one dimensional and out of ideas. He certainly has work to do to prove himself a worthy world level scalp on Calzaghes record and only time will tell.
Finally we have Roy Jones Junior who this evening in Australia was stopped after only 1:58 of his title bout against the Australian IBO cruiserweight belt holder Danny Green after being floored heavily with a right hand. There is no way that this should detract from what Roy JJ has achieved in his career, but what it does show is that he is no where near the fighter he was in 1993 when he beat Hopkins for the vacant IBF Middleweight title. The slide probably began with his back to back defeats to Tarver (twice) interspersed with a defeat to Johnson in 2004. Since then Roy JJ has looked a shadow of his former self but still took Calzaghe the distance in 2008.
Calzaghes protection of his unbeaten record has cost him dearly, for all the adulation he receives in the UK, history will judge him on the quality of opposition he faced. Of that there was not a great deal in the first place, but recently the few fighters that Joe claimed were world class have been exposed as either not good enough to be considered top contenders or simply well past their best. Boxing is a risky business and you can only be judged to be as good as the risks you have taken and triumphed from. Unfortunately for Joe and his fans he seems to have taken little risk and what he is left with now is a resume that may read unbeaten but with not even one fight against a worthy top level opponent in their prime.
The shame of the whole issue is that Calzaghe was a worthy world champion, an extremely effective and well conditioned fighter. He put together some very good performances. But when you look at his record now there is not even one defining fight against a top level boxer in his prime.
Talk of being considered an all time great alongside the likes of Leonard and Duran could not be further from peoples’ minds when perusing their respective list of achievements. The irony of the whole situation is that in protecting his unbeaten record Calzaghe has left so many question marks over his career that it was being debated by boxing fans how good he actually was before he even retired.
Calzaghe has always pointed to four fights that prove he was world class and the best fighter at his weight at his time; Hopkins, Roy Jones Junior, Lacy and Kessler.
Hopkins was beaten by a debatable split decision and had Calzaghe down hard in the first round. Let’s not forget that Hopkins was 43 years old at the time a full 15 years past his title bout with Roy JJ in one of the most physically demanding sports there is. There’s no doubting that Hopkins is still a good fighter after his schooling of the previously heralded Kelly Pavlik, but what would a 15 years younger Hopkins have done to Calzaghe? And why was the fight not made earlier?
Jeff Lacy was a fighter who never lived up to the hype that usually goes with unbeaten American prospects, unbeaten when he faced Calzaghe his career at the prime age of 32 has not got anywhere near the top level.
In the last few weeks Kessler who was unbeaten when he faced Calzaghe was comprehensively outpointed by American Pro novice Andre Ward who was in his 21st pro fight. As good as Ward promises to be Kessler looked one dimensional and out of ideas. He certainly has work to do to prove himself a worthy world level scalp on Calzaghes record and only time will tell.
Finally we have Roy Jones Junior who this evening in Australia was stopped after only 1:58 of his title bout against the Australian IBO cruiserweight belt holder Danny Green after being floored heavily with a right hand. There is no way that this should detract from what Roy JJ has achieved in his career, but what it does show is that he is no where near the fighter he was in 1993 when he beat Hopkins for the vacant IBF Middleweight title. The slide probably began with his back to back defeats to Tarver (twice) interspersed with a defeat to Johnson in 2004. Since then Roy JJ has looked a shadow of his former self but still took Calzaghe the distance in 2008.
Calzaghes protection of his unbeaten record has cost him dearly, for all the adulation he receives in the UK, history will judge him on the quality of opposition he faced. Of that there was not a great deal in the first place, but recently the few fighters that Joe claimed were world class have been exposed as either not good enough to be considered top contenders or simply well past their best. Boxing is a risky business and you can only be judged to be as good as the risks you have taken and triumphed from. Unfortunately for Joe and his fans he seems to have taken little risk and what he is left with now is a resume that may read unbeaten but with not even one fight against a worthy top level opponent in their prime.
The biggest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist
Was Henrys blatant Handball in the recent world cup play off game really out of character?
Gerard Houllier has waded into the Henry Handball argument recently with his ‘Henry is not a cheat’ comment. Arsene Wenger is also adamant that Henry is ‘not that sort of player’ (The same Arsene Wenger that was annoyed that Martin Taylor was called ‘not that sort of player’ after the accidental leg break to Eduardo last season calling it a comment that ‘essentially means nothing’)
Henry blatantly handled the ball when the opportunity arose; he then gallingly celebrated the goal to further hoodwink the referee into this work of fiction he was making up as he went along. He also sat with Irish players after the game in an attempt to perhaps look earnest in his attempts at consolation.
He went on to explain his feelings of “abandonment”, and being “truly alone”, for a few days after the match to French Sports Paper L’Equipe and also mentioned that he had considered quitting the game altogether as a result of the issue.
There is also the matter of his press release offering to replay the game hours after FIFA had said this wasn’t an option.
In response to Houllier I say this. Henry is a cheat, a very obvious cheat at that. In fact this whole argument has sprung up because he cheated; he cheated Ireland out of a world cup place and cheated France into one. I saw it, as did millions of other people. And his behaviour in the wake of this has been nothing short of that of a guilty man attempting to cover up what he has done and protect his marketability with continuing acts of childlike insincerity.
But what does Thierry Henry stand for as a footballer? Is he this bastion of all that is good in the game who should not be judged harshly by this one aberration as we are being told by the experts?
This is a man who despite having 2 years remaining upon his Arsenal contract ‘demanded’ a 5 million pound signing on bonus in 2006 (he was already under contract having signed an improved deal 2 years previously) and pay rise to £5 million for what was going to be his final season (Demanding £10 million in total for one season), otherwise he would leave to play for another club there and then. This to the club he ‘loves’ and is never afraid of telling people how much so.
This is also the man who feigned injury to win a free kick in a world cup game against Spain in 2006 by clutching his face (despite replays clearly showing no contact between Carlos Puyol and Henrys face) then avoiding answering questions about it when pressed after the game. He did the same in the champions’ league final of that year, again, with Carlos Puyol on the receiving end of his deception.
FIFA are claiming that the cheating element is ancillary to the whole debate of who qualifies for the World Cup despite the fact that they have been pushing a fair play drive specifically for these play off games. For them to then have to defend Henry for celebrating such an obvious foul to further cheat the referee and game would clearly not sit well with them, but would act as a brilliant microscope through which the hypocrisy of this corrupt organisation would be further revealed, if only to a small extent.
For someone with such dubious loyalty to the ‘club he loves’ and an outspoken advocate of harsh bans to those who win by cheating. (comments made in 2006 following the champions league final where he also said “Marquez and Puyol cheated, I don’t have the mentality to cheat. Maybe that’s my mistake.”) This cannot tarnish his reputation but merely enforce just what sort of cheat he is; the sort who doesn’t want anybody else to find out.
Ironically FIFA would do well to utilize the talents of such an individual to act as a spokesman on their behalf.
‘Welcome to FIFA; We’re ruining the game, making as much money as we can, ignoring anybody who questions what we do and you lot are paying for it’
Gerard Houllier has waded into the Henry Handball argument recently with his ‘Henry is not a cheat’ comment. Arsene Wenger is also adamant that Henry is ‘not that sort of player’ (The same Arsene Wenger that was annoyed that Martin Taylor was called ‘not that sort of player’ after the accidental leg break to Eduardo last season calling it a comment that ‘essentially means nothing’)
Henry blatantly handled the ball when the opportunity arose; he then gallingly celebrated the goal to further hoodwink the referee into this work of fiction he was making up as he went along. He also sat with Irish players after the game in an attempt to perhaps look earnest in his attempts at consolation.
He went on to explain his feelings of “abandonment”, and being “truly alone”, for a few days after the match to French Sports Paper L’Equipe and also mentioned that he had considered quitting the game altogether as a result of the issue.
There is also the matter of his press release offering to replay the game hours after FIFA had said this wasn’t an option.
In response to Houllier I say this. Henry is a cheat, a very obvious cheat at that. In fact this whole argument has sprung up because he cheated; he cheated Ireland out of a world cup place and cheated France into one. I saw it, as did millions of other people. And his behaviour in the wake of this has been nothing short of that of a guilty man attempting to cover up what he has done and protect his marketability with continuing acts of childlike insincerity.
But what does Thierry Henry stand for as a footballer? Is he this bastion of all that is good in the game who should not be judged harshly by this one aberration as we are being told by the experts?
This is a man who despite having 2 years remaining upon his Arsenal contract ‘demanded’ a 5 million pound signing on bonus in 2006 (he was already under contract having signed an improved deal 2 years previously) and pay rise to £5 million for what was going to be his final season (Demanding £10 million in total for one season), otherwise he would leave to play for another club there and then. This to the club he ‘loves’ and is never afraid of telling people how much so.
This is also the man who feigned injury to win a free kick in a world cup game against Spain in 2006 by clutching his face (despite replays clearly showing no contact between Carlos Puyol and Henrys face) then avoiding answering questions about it when pressed after the game. He did the same in the champions’ league final of that year, again, with Carlos Puyol on the receiving end of his deception.
FIFA are claiming that the cheating element is ancillary to the whole debate of who qualifies for the World Cup despite the fact that they have been pushing a fair play drive specifically for these play off games. For them to then have to defend Henry for celebrating such an obvious foul to further cheat the referee and game would clearly not sit well with them, but would act as a brilliant microscope through which the hypocrisy of this corrupt organisation would be further revealed, if only to a small extent.
For someone with such dubious loyalty to the ‘club he loves’ and an outspoken advocate of harsh bans to those who win by cheating. (comments made in 2006 following the champions league final where he also said “Marquez and Puyol cheated, I don’t have the mentality to cheat. Maybe that’s my mistake.”) This cannot tarnish his reputation but merely enforce just what sort of cheat he is; the sort who doesn’t want anybody else to find out.
Ironically FIFA would do well to utilize the talents of such an individual to act as a spokesman on their behalf.
‘Welcome to FIFA; We’re ruining the game, making as much money as we can, ignoring anybody who questions what we do and you lot are paying for it’
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