Do Not Believe The Natural Springfield Rumors! [Archive]

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wnbfwarriorpro

11-03-2009, 08:55 AM

Its a shame we can't all get along. WNBF PRO Michael Thomas is one of the hardest working promoters in the INBF. Unfortunately, he is the target of some vicious rumors being spread about his show. These rumors about his show being cancelled are totally false and an attempt at sabotaging an event he has invested time, sweat and finances in making a success for the athletes competing this Saturday.

If anyone has any questions about the event , please contact Michael at michael03champ@yahoo.com

Plaster Student Union Auditorium
Missouri State University Campus
Springfield, MO
Nov 07, 2009

Classes Include:
Novice Bodybuilding
Men's Bodybuilding
Women's Bodybuilding
Masters Bodybuilding
Figure
Masters Figure
Best Body Swimsuit

www.buildmusclelosefat.org

AustrianOakJr

11-03-2009, 08:58 AM

wnbfwarriorpro

11-03-2009, 09:03 AM

Politics in bb'ing sucks. Just let people do the shows they want to do. Why bash each other? It really ruins an awesome sport.

Absolutely. It has taken us years to be accepted as legitimate bodybuilders and now we are slitting our own throats. Really, really sad.

AustrianOakJr

11-04-2009, 08:12 AM

Absolutely. It has taken us years to be accepted as legitimate bodybuilders and now we are slitting our own throats. Really, really sad.

It really sucks as a competitor to have to deal with it. I ran into my first dose of this nonsense this year and its really discouraging. Most of the time we (competitors) walk into these fueds between organizations, promotors, competitors, etc and have no idea they even exist. Then, only to find out that placings are effected or judges slant one way or the other because this guy was trained by so and so or that guy won this show, etc. We just want to be judged on physique. Leave all this other crap for the ladies locker room and lets get to bodybuilding.

wnbfwarriorpro

11-04-2009, 08:37 AM

It really sucks as a competitor to have to deal with it. I ran into my first dose of this nonsense this year and its really discouraging. Most of the time we (competitors) walk into these fueds between organizations, promotors, competitors, etc and have no idea they even exist. Then, only to find out that placings are effected or judges slant one way or the other because this guy was trained by so and so or that guy won this show, etc. We just want to be judged on physique. Leave all this other crap for the ladies locker room and lets get to bodybuilding.

I understand. Unfortunately, rather than agreeing to disagree or work separately, but peacefully, these feuds happen. Its more stress for the athlete who just wants to compete.

Tortiecat

11-04-2009, 01:37 PM

Difficult as it may be, you've just got to try & rise above it. There will always be haters and detractors, but as long as you live as nobly as possible and keep your head above it, it can't truly hurt you - in fact you can make it work for you!

MTWNBF

11-05-2009, 04:53 PM

Thanks Rich for the post. I haven't been here for a while working, on my show. I tell you it is hard for me not to get on here and publically say some things but I won't do that. I do believe in time the folks that were out to hurt our show will be exposed. Rich and Charlie, have done such a great job supporting us here in the midwest.

Our show is on and the lineup looks really good. We are giving away procards so come out if you are in the area and see the show. Our venue is awesome and we should fill the house with a ton of college kids.

Exactly Rich, Don't believe the rumors. I wrote that on my site. If any one has questions feel free to email me.

MickyWinz

11-08-2009, 07:14 AM

Congrats to Sean McCauley!

wnbfwarriorpro

11-19-2009, 09:25 AM

Congrats to Michael Thomas on his show. Despite the attempts by individuals outside the INBF to derail him, Michael did a good job bringing natural bodybuilding to Missouri.
There was actually a scoring error in the posedown at this show, and unfortunately, Sean did not win the overall. But he was extremely gracious and presented the eventual winner with the trophy. Anyone who knows Sean knows he is an awesome guy and one of the most determined athletes in the sport. He has been chasing his WNBF Pro card for a few years now and is getting closer every time.
No doubt, he will earn one someday. I'm hoping he posts up here and gives us his thoughts.

Cincimanatti

11-20-2009, 04:31 AM

Good luck Michael. Hope its a great show. What is with all these haters. Keep your head up.

wnbf2be

11-23-2009, 07:01 PM

OK, this could get long-winded, so let me apologize right now. ;)

As many of you know, I competed at Mike Thomas' show in Springfield, MO on the 7th. The show is going to be very memorable to me for a few reasons and I will elaborate more as this discussion evolves. That said, I need to clearly state what happened at that event so that the rumor-mill does not get out of control.

The show itself was a ton of fun. Additionally, after 62 weeks of dieting, I feel I presented my best-ever package. While the diet clearly took a toll on my body, I had never been harder or leaner and I felt this was a best-to-date peak, courtesy of Joe. So with that said, the show with regards to my own body was a big success. And I think the drama that unfolded the night of the show highlights that.

In terms of the show itself, it was a smaller event. That said, there were some very talented competitors on the stage that day. I was fortunate enought o win my middleweight class (a first for me as I had never won a class before) and quickly found myself in an overall with three other very talented guys. We posed in that overall for alomst 20 minutes I am told (thought it felt like about 30 seconds to me). The scores were tallied...and I was announced the overall winner. That feeling was truly unbeleivable to me. Years of hard work, sacrifice and torment all came to fruition for me in that moment. Looking back on it now, it was then and is now very surreal to me. The look on my face was one of surprise I am sure, as I had not expected to win that show, given the guys I was going up against. Needless to say, I soaked up every second of it. The overall took place at the very end of the show. So by the time I got off the stage and got backstage to my bags, I was the only one there. I remember setting that trophy down on the ground and just staring at it for several minutes. Part of me wanted to jump through the roof. Part of me wanted to scream and part of me was just in shock. I remember standing there, then dropping down to a knee and just thinking to myself "I can wear my shirt now." Side story here: I purchased a WNBF t-shirt back at the 2007 WNBF Worlds and would not let myself wear it until I won a pro card. Well that shirt has been haning in my room for two years now. I stare at it every single day...and I take it with me backstage to all my shows, always hoping that I can finally put it on and call myself a pro. So in that moment, I quickly began toweling the Dream Tan off and I put my shirt on. Sounds kind of lame perhaps, but that was seriously as close to emotional as I get. Big moment for me.

I packed up my gear, grabbed the trophies, handed them to my dad (who was now back there) and went to find Joe and the rest of the crew. I walked into the auditorium and found everybody gathered around the judges table and the immediate area. Two groups of people. The first group were some of the judges and Joe...and the second group was Mike Thomas and the LHW (Gerald Geil) that I had just beaten in the overall. I walked up to Joe and with a very serious look on his face, he said "Do you know whats going on?" I told him I had no idea. He said "There was a tabulation mistake and you just lost this show by one point". BOOM. Talk about a shot to the freaking gut. My initial reaction was wanting to actually vomit. I looked at Joe and said "Well then he (the LHW) gets the trophy". I motioned to my dad who was at the back of the auditorium with the trophies and he walked down to the tables. I took the overall trophy from him, walked over and gave it to Gerald. What you need to know about Gerald is that he is not only a great competitor and a great guy, but he is also a 23 year veteran in the Army and is a member of the Special Forces. This guy deserves a LOT more than just a trophy and I thank him for his service to me and to our country. We had a nice talk about everything and we were both very cool about everything. After I gave him that trophy, we shook hands and each went our way.

I walked back to Joe and the group and at that time, Mike Thomas reappeared (he had went backstage, unbeknownest to me) to get another trophy. LOL. So we stood there talking and it was clear that Mike was about as sick over this as I was. Nobody knew what would happen given that I had just been awarded WNBF Pro status but had actually lost the show by a vote. So it was agreed that the most likely scenario would be that the WNBF would award two pro cards given the unfortunate nature of what transpired there. At the time I felt that was fair to be perfectly honest. I knew Gerald rightfully won the card and my own emotional-response to the situation was one of self-preservation as well. "I just won my pro card!" is not a feeling you want to let go of. LOL. So we jumped in the car and drove home that night, talking about everything obviously. It was on this drive home that I started to plant a seed in my head...one that would shape the events to come. "I didn't win that show"...

That was Saturday night. On Monday morning, I was back in the office and was quickly in touch with Charlie. We spoke at length about everything, as I brought him up to speed on the situation. I was, admittedly, pretty shocked when I was told that I would not be presented with a pro card. I had told my friends and family I was a pro via text during the time that I thought I was a pro. That spread like wildfire (I got over 100 emails within 24 hours). I posted up on FB. I posted up here as well, thinking I was going to be awarded that status. My mistake on that front, as I should have waited...my excitement got the best of me there.

So Charlie and I spoke at length about this and he told me that the WNBF did not want to give me that pro card. It was a gut shot to say the least, but having known Charlie and Rich for a long time, I knew immediately that this was not a personal blow, but rather the WNBF taking the position they thought was best for the organization. So we spoke for awhile longer and agreed that we would meet up and talk at the promoters meeting in NYC a few days later. So that was when I formally "lost" the pro card.

A few days passed (and I sent a LOT of emails to people explaining the situation). We flew to NYC for the World Championships and I went to the INBF promoters meeting. After dinner, I sat down with Charlie, Rich and Mr. Cheh Low, the owner/operator of the INBF/WNBF and Chelo Publishing. Let me first say that I have never in my life been so impressed with three individuals as I was that night. Mr. Low and I spoke at length about this situation and the INBF/WNBF in general. His passion for the natural sport is unparalleled and his committment to growing the INBF/WNBF is unquestionable and I am very proud to call him my friend. As we spoke and I layed out my thoughts/position, that seed in my head just kept growing..."I didn't win that show".

After a lot of discussion, we all decided that the best course of action would be for me to not accept a pro card and to go win one "right". Now needless to say, thats a tough pill to swallow, given that (so I am told), I am the only guy in the history of the WNBF to have been stripped of a pro card for this reason. HOWEVER, the key here, in my mind is this: I did not win that show. Gerald did. That pro card was not mine even though it was presented to me. I feel badly that I took Geralds moment from him on the stage that day and the best I can do to make up for that is to do what I feel is the most honorable thing: Make sure he gets everything that is rightfully his and then soldier on myself and go get what is rightfully mine someday.

Its hard to have it and walk away from it. But I for one have not spent the last 4 years of my life chasing a dream, only to have it handed to me with a question mark. I don't want an asterick by name. I want to win it right. I want there to be no doubt that the show I WILL win is mine. The competitor in me won't stand for handouts or give-me's. I will put in more time. I will sweat and bleed more. I will diet harder. I will pose better and I will win one day. That I promise you all. So that is the story. The WNBF t-shirt has been washed and is once again hanging in my bedroom. And the feeling I had when I put that on is not one that will soon be forgotten. This whole situation is a bit surreal and unfortunate in some regards. That said, there is a silver lining for sure: I tasted it, guys. I KNOW what it feels like now. And as sure as the sun rises each day you can count on the fact that I am more motivated now than I have ever been. It feels like somebody poured gasoline on my soul and lit on fire. I am eating well, training hard and gunning for that WNBF Pro status. And given my recent experiences with Mr. Low and the rest of the organization, I could not be any more proud to be associated with such an amazing group of people.

In closing, I would like to thank EVERYBODY for thier support. The "win" was one thing...but the outpouring I got in the aftermath was just flat-out amazing. I don't even know where to start other than to say THANK YOU to everybody and I want you all to know that this quest is not over. It's just starting.