Was Louie Cheated in 75?....

[c3bodybuilding]

At least in my opinion he was....

Third place? He looks close to what todays pro's look like. Big, and thick. I don't think he should have been number 1, because Arnold had more of a presence, if that makes sense. But number two for sure. Look at Surge Nubret! With legs like that, he shouldn't have even been allowed on stage. He looks like those ab doers on the cover of "men's health' or some crap like that. I think Louie was cheated, and should have at least taken second place. Who else thinks he was cheated?

On another note, whats up with his father? What a prick. Talk about living through your son. Lou seems so lonely, and his dad just sits back and takes credit for it all: "we want it" "when we are up there" "when we hit that stage" "what a work out (like he did anything)" what was with all the we's? And the best "I had an old set in the cellar, i used to do a little bit of it myself" So, his dad pretty much takes credit for it all. I read something Lou wrote, about his father abusing him mentally, I believe it! I think if it wasn't for his father, Louie would have went a lot farther in the sport. What a shame....

 

[Nickerbocker]

I totally disagree with you.....I would pay to have someone train with me every day and give me the motovation to keep going like lous father did. He never had any friends not because of his father but because of his disability. His father was his best friend and I am so sure that lou is greatful for his fathers support.

 

[c3bodybuilding]

Nicker, that sadly was not the case. Here is a few things taken from an interview with Lou:

Ferrigno's father was disappointed in his son.

"My father couldn't handle not having a perfect son," he said. "I didn't have a very good relationship with my father."


and then at the end:

And with this focus, he has forgiven his father, who at 75 weight trains and jogs.

"He was my biggest critic and my best defender," Ferrigno said of his father. "He did the best he could."

Ferrigno said his father treated him like his grandfather had treated his father, and by understanding that he was able to break the cycle in how he treats his own kids.

----
Sounds to me like a man who has delt with some mental abuse, and in time realized all he could do was forgive, and realize that the person didn't mean to do it, but didn't know any better.

 

[c3bodybuilding]

Iceman-

Your right, I don't think Lou should have gotten first in 75. But I do believe he deserved 2nd place over Serge. Arnold was too good to beat (not so much in body, but the mind). Arnold did have an incredible body, but he was a clever man. He could beat you, even if he was 190lbs. He was just that good at his little mind tricks and such. I think if Lou would have stayed with it, he would have taken the tall class in 75 (losing to Franco for overall), and *maybe* won the overall in 76. We will never know, but I do feel in 75 third place was just a crappy placing, when Serge didn't look nearly half as good.

 

[Wyllis]

I think 3rd was fair.

I think Arnold should have won the heavyweight like he did, but I dont think he should have won the overall. Franco columbo was looking awsome he should have won it.

 

[Lumberg]

I definitely agree that Franco was more muscular and better defined than Arnold in Pumping Iron. But then again,

"Franco is like a child to me, and on contest day he comes to me for advices. And it is not so hard to give him.......the wrong advices"

I guess Arnold gave him the wrong advices.

 

[frorider6]

Can someone post a link with the pictures?

 

[Prometheus]

agree Lou had Serge beat. but 1st no way.

as for his father, I did think he was overbearing, but with so many fathers abandoning their wives and kids, etc., better to be overbearing and misguided than not to give a shit at all.

JMHO

 

[mvmaxx]

Can someone post a link with the pictures?

Go buy Pumping Iron on Ebay - it's cheap. Great inspirational movie.

 

[wonderstanding]

Lou hasn't talked with his father in years... read one of his books... he gives a lot of insight into the relationship... basicly his father did the best he could, but the best he could was still lacking considerably... they don't talk to this day from what I understand.

Lou is one of my heroes because he's had a tougher row to hoe than a lot of other guys and he's still standing strong and has a great family, etc. did you see him when he made a "comeback" run at Mr. O in the early 90's!??! he looked fuckin' AWESOME!

Forrest

 

[EngiCream]

Nicker, that sadly was not the case. Here is a few things taken from an interview with Lou:

Ferrigno's father was disappointed in his son.

"My father couldn't handle not having a perfect son," he said. "I didn't have a very good relationship with my father."


and then at the end:

And with this focus, he has forgiven his father, who at 75 weight trains and jogs.

"He was my biggest critic and my best defender," Ferrigno said of his father. "He did the best he could."

Ferrigno said his father treated him like his grandfather had treated his father, and by understanding that he was able to break the cycle in how he treats his own kids.

----
Sounds to me like a man who has delt with some mental abuse, and in time realized all he could do was forgive, and realize that the person didn't mean to do it, but didn't know any better.

yep, right on.......in his book he says the whole pumping iron thing was made up (the parts with him supposedly having fun with his dad)

EngiCream

 

[SofaGeorge]

I totally disagree with you.....I would pay to have someone train with me every day and give me the motovation to keep going like lous father did. He never had any friends not because of his father but because of his disability. His father was his best friend and I am so sure that lou is greatful for his fathers support.

This is total BS. I know Lou. He is an intelligent guy... definitely not the most talkative guy in the gym... but quiet, sensative, and always a gentleman.

Lou has written a lot about his relationship with his dad and how important it was for him to break away from his father's attempts to dominate his life.

Joe Wieder gave Lou a contract many years ago not just because Lou was a top pro... but also because he was a good kid (at the time) who wanted to get out in the world and stand on his own two feet.

The only time in my life I've ever seen Joe Wieder was when he walked into Gold's one day for a photo shoot. Lou happened to be working out. There was no missing the genuiness of their relationship.

Joe, much maligned in the body building world, is a truly good guy in my book.

 

[Enigmaxxx7]

At least in my opinion he was....

Third place? He looks close to what todays pro's look like. Big, and thick. I don't think he should have been number 1, because Arnold had more of a presence, if that makes sense. But number two for sure. Look at Surge Nubret! With legs like that, he shouldn't have even been allowed on stage. He looks like those ab doers on the cover of "men's health' or some crap like that. I think Louie was cheated, and should have at least taken second place. Who else thinks he was cheated?

On another note, whats up with his father? What a prick. Talk about living through your son. Lou seems so lonely, and his dad just sits back and takes credit for it all: "we want it" "when we are up there" "when we hit that stage" "what a work out (like he did anything)" what was with all the we's? And the best "I had an old set in the cellar, i used to do a little bit of it myself" So, his dad pretty much takes credit for it all. I read something Lou wrote, about his father abusing him mentally, I believe it! I think if it wasn't for his father, Louie would have went a lot farther in the sport. What a shame....

Welcome to Elite Fitness Lou! How did you pick the name C3bodybuilding? Tell your dad I said hi.

 

[c3bodybuilding]

Sofa, your description of Lou is just how I would have imagined him. You can tell that he is a good guy. If you watch Pumping Iron, you can't help but feel bad for him. He was surrounded by a lot of negative energy. His father for one. But the two parts of it that make me feel real bad for Lou, are when he is eating that orange alone, and in the very end when Arnold said he was going to visit him, he had a smile on his face "you're gonna visit me?" like an excited kid who just found a friend. Then it turns out Arnold was just joking with him.

The man's delt with a lot while growing up. I'm sure he was picked on a lot, had a mentally abusive father, and was pretty much cheated in bodybuilding (in my own opinion). Yet he overcame it all. Sure he never became a *huge* star. But he did make a name for himself. Even after all these years, when it comes to the general public and bodybuilding, the only two names they seem to know are Arnold and Louie....

 

[SheHuLK]

I do think Lou was cheated to a certain extent. He looked great, and should've gotten 2nd I think. He seems so sad in Pumping Iron. Almost like he just needed a friend.

 

[Shaved Ape]

I dont think he deserved better than 3rd. Louie had the size but Serge was harder, and neither could compare next to Arnold. Aside from Arnold's dominance, it was all about what that group of judges was looking for on that day, and Nubret was well put-together, although lacking in mass. Just look at Frank Zane -- could you imagine him even standing on a pro-BB stage any time in the last decade?!

 

[robsatx]

Most the guys on this board were not born yet.

Most of the guys on this board have no clue what you are talking about. I am 33 and have very little info to base my vote. Just thought I would throw that in.
However, is there anywhere - movies, videos etc. That we could educate ourselves? I like to get history on things that interest me.

Thanks!

 

[Big_Brick]

Sofa, your description of Lou is just how I would have imagined him. You can tell that he is a good guy. If you watch Pumping Iron, you can't help but feel bad for him. He was surrounded by a lot of negative energy. His father for one. But the two parts of it that make me feel real bad for Lou, are when he is eating that orange alone, and in the very end when Arnold said he was going to visit him, he had a smile on his face "you're gonna visit me?" like an excited kid who just found a friend. Then it turns out Arnold was just joking with him.

The man's delt with a lot while growing up. I'm sure he was picked on a lot, had a mentally abusive father, and was pretty much cheated in bodybuilding (in my own opinion). Yet he overcame it all. Sure he never became a *huge* star. But he did make a name for himself. Even after all these years, when it comes to the general public and bodybuilding, the only two names they seem to know are Arnold and Louie....

Very good post. I agree. I read somewhere that he had asked his father if they could train together again. And his father said something like "are you kidding?". And the pumping iron video was the only time they had been together in the gym.

 

[dmxdmx112v]

Lou needed to be better conditoned and ripped up...his posing was atrocious in Pumping Iron...and another little thing is he had school-girl calves...Peace

 

[Jeff_rys]

no, third place was fair

True Nubret's calves where not good, but Louie lacked definition. He was big and thick, still had to loose some (maybe 10 pounds).
He did not even come close to Arnold or Franco.
By the way did you notice Nubret's abs??????
Yeah i know, abs don't count anymore.

Jeff

 

[MASSIVEmorris]

Surge Nubret's abs were nothing short of perfection. I love the part where Arnold was telling Lou he didn't peak for the contest and needed a few more months. Lou did nothing but agree with him ...poor sap.

 

[Jeff_rys]

you obviously didn't see the pics of the 1975 show

"Surge Nubret's abs were nothing short of perfection. "

Also about Lou needing some months more to get cut up.

The show was then not some months later. By the way those extra months later was not have made any difference. Let's not forget that Lou never really made it like Zane, Franco, Mentzer etc.
So i guess he always was some months too late.

Jeff

 

[strong island]

Anyone that has seen Pumping Iron could see that Ferrigno was a child. He couldn't pose and had no stage precense whatsoever.

He shouldn't have retired in 1975..but that is his problem.

 

[RottenWillow]

Re: you obviously didn't see the pics of the 1975 show

By the way those extra months later would not have made any difference. Let's not forget that Lou never really made it like Zane, Franco, Mentzer etc.

Jeff

you must not have seen any pics of Lou from '76 after Joe started training him.

Lou had stupid awesome genetics, but until '76 he lacked the training and diet knowledge he needed to seriously contend for the Mr. 0. In '75, Lou looked like Arnold in '68...massive, but unpolished.

In '76 Lou was significantly more polished looking, and we can assume that Joe provided professional advice on posing. I think it would've been a serious battle with Franco in 76 for the overall. And if Lou had continued to improve and compete, then as much as I love Zane I dont see him getting his three Sandows. Lou would've been a 3 or 4 time Mr. O.

Let's not forget it took the tutalage of Weider from 68 to 70 to polish huge Arnold into Mr. 0 Arnold. Joe would've done the same thing with "big louie"

 

[mlong23]

I have always heard that Lou is an asshole that doesn't care about the fans. He only acts like he does when the cameras are there.

 

[RottenWillow]

I have always heard that Lou is an asshole that doesn't care about the fans. He only acts like he does when the cameras are there.

I met him at the 1993 Mr. 0 and he seemed nice enough. Shawn Ray was the asshole. I guess it takes a prodigious ass to be rude to a little girl asking for an autograph, so perhaps he may have been less friendly to grown fans.

 

[letsrun4it]

Lou was a good buddy of my dad's years back, very nice guy.

I would have done the order the same it was given. Arnold wasn't quite as pumped out as Franco but he just looks so perfect you can't not give him the award for best built body.

 

[Twoguns]

I totally disagree with you.....I would pay to have someone train with me every day and give me the motovation to keep going like lous father did. He never had any friends not because of his father but because of his disability. His father was his best friend and I am so sure that lou is greatful for his fathers support.

Lou's father wasn't very supportive, this was played up in pumping iron.

 

[solidspine]

I think Arnold won,

but I would have like to see Louie win


at some time in his career.


The man is all heart

 

[Vascular Freak]

Wow you guys are going way back.

 

[solidspine]

75 is not way back

1955 is getting there,, but who can forget Steve Reeves

 

[al420]

One thing for sure is if you lined the class of 73 up today Serge would be the only one that should still bne taking his shirt off. At 65 he still looks incredible.

 

[AncillaryGuys]

2nd or 3rd placing would have been appropriate, not first.

 

[solidspine]

Frank Zane advertises locally, and his pictures look current, and he is in phenomenal condition.

He is not that old, born in 1942, so 68 years old.

 

[CO B-man]

Wasn't Lou Ferrigno just a character played by the Incredible Hulk? I know dumb but I figured somebody would have mentioned the Incredible Hulk by now in this thread so I figured why not!

 

[AncillaryGuys]

Frank Zane was the best conditioned Mr. Olympia ever

 

[solidspine]

Wasn't Lou Ferrigno just a character played by the Incredible Hulk? I know dumb but I figured somebody would have mentioned the Incredible Hulk by now in this thread so I figured why not!

Thats Our boy Lou, the green paint was fake, everything else REAL.

Frank Zane was the best conditioned Mr. Olympia ever

Oh I agree 100%

 

[Twoguns]

I read that zane could "trance out" and do crunches for like 2 hours straight.

 

[Snarling Force]

Wasn't Lou Ferrigno just a character played by the Incredible Hulk? I know dumb but I figured somebody would have mentioned the Incredible Hulk by now in this thread so I figured why not!

Lou Ferrigno played the Hulk in the show. When he wasn't pissed he played a character named David Banner in the show The Incredible Hulk. When David Banner would get pissed, he would turn into the Hulk (Lou Ferrigno). Lou Ferrigno is a real name, real person. He can currently be seen playing small parts in The King of Queens. Seems like a real nice guy but I've never met him so who knows...

 

[CO B-man]

Lou Ferrigno played the Hulk in the show. When he wasn't pissed he played a character named David Banner in the show The Incredible Hulk. When David Banner would get pissed, he would turn into the Hulk (Lou Ferrigno). Lou Ferrigno is a real name, real person. He can currently be seen playing small parts in The King of Queens. Seems like a real nice guy but I've never met him so who knows...

Yeah, I grew up in that era we watched the incredible Hulk religiously. "You won't like me when I am angry" lol! I even had the little incredible hulk blow up muscles that you put under your shirt that came with a little hand pump to make it blow up before your very eyes. Who would have thought that at age 36 I would look just like him. NOT!!

 

[c3bodybuilding]

I still think 2nd, damn this thread is old, lol. I do think Lou should be get credit for being the first mass monster of the 90's. When Lou wanted to make a come back and started to bulk around 90, he went up to 320lbs off season. At 6'5 he was just so much bigger than everyone else. It's ashame he didn't even win the first master Olympia.

 

[TRAINHD]

Lou had last place locked up opps I meant third. I mean there were only three guys in the tall class , dont get me wrong he had weight but on a 6'5'' frame not that impressive ,my reason for saying this is if he had diet'ed down to the condition that Arnold or Serge were in Big Lou would've had to lose another 10-15 pounds of fat and water, he simply had size and NOT ENOUGH CONDITIONING.
Another thing I'd like to mention is he never won the O!!!!!!
Yeah he quit all together and then when he came back in the 90s and did'nt win (instead he came in 10th) he blamed everything else except himself for not peaking at the right time!!!!
He might be a nice guy to some people and I'll keep my opinion to myself on that one, BUT THE FACT REMAINS HE NEVER WON THE OLYMPIA , in fact WHAT CONTEST HAS HE WON AS A PRO?????
Look at Vince Taylor a man who's won numerious PRO CONTEST and yet no glory for him.
The fact remains LOU is famous for being the HULK if not for that acting role he'd been but a faint memory for a few die hard fans.
In ending HE WAS A PRO BODYBUILDER just not a great pro bodybuilder to prove this just look at how many pro contest he's won.

 

[chazk]

In 1975 lou was only 24 years old. arnold was 28 years old. Arnold had 4 years of working out and competing in his advatage.Lou being 4 years younger looked like he should have at age 24 it was praticaly baby fat and his muscle had not matured yet.

only fair way to compare arnold to lou is to take arnolds shape in 1971 and compare it to lous in 1975 then they would both be 24 years old with roughly the same amount of bodybuilding exp.thats the way i look at it.

for lou at age 23 to come in second at the bigO in 1974 was impressive lou retired after 1975 and never stepped onsatge for almost 20 years.I cant belive lou burned out at age 24.had lou kept on going another 4 years he might have taken the title from frank zane in 1979-1980 and i bet arnold would not have had his little comeback and won

 

[AncillaryGuys]

I read that zane could "trance out" and do crunches for like 2 hours straight.

Sounds like a myth. 2 hours of crunches is too much

 

[TRAINHD]

In 1975 lou was only 24 years old. arnold was 28 years old. Arnold had 4 years of working out and competing in his advatage.Lou being 4 years younger looked like he should have at age 24 it was praticaly baby fat and his muscle had not matured yet.

only fair way to compare arnold to lou is to take arnolds shape in 1971 and compare it to lous in 1975 then they would both be 24 years old with roughly the same amount of bodybuilding exp.thats the way i look at it.

for lou at age 23 to come in second at the bigO in 1974 was impressive lou retired after 1975 and never stepped onsatge for almost 20 years.I cant belive lou burned out at age 24.had lou kept on going another 4 years he might have taken the title from frank zane in 1979-1980 and i bet arnold would not have had his little comeback and won

That's like saying Jay cutler should be Mr O because Big Ron is 40 and has that much more training under his belt
The fact remains Lou' best was 3rd place in 75 ( last place in the tall cat )
Something to think about is , do you hear Ed Corney making a big stink about comeing in 2nd ? ( in the short class ) NO BECAUSE HE TOOK IT LIKE A MAN AND KEPT ON COMPETEING

 

[jerol]

If anyone got cheated in 1975, it was Serge Nubret. I thought he looked awesome. Arnold was reigning champ, and I don't think Nubret had enough to take the title from him, but he still looked great. I think Ferrigno was an appropriate (and distant) third...

Jerol

 

[TRAINHD]

^^Exactly Lou had size, but so do a lot of amatures.
You can see the differance in the conditioning of the bodybuider.

 

[jacshelb]

If you watch the beginning of "stand Tall" (kind of like a Lou's pumping iron...) it shows the 74 Universe where Lou looked much better, fuller and more defined. He was just on. If he had been in that shape for 75, it would have been a closer battle, def would have gotten 2nd at least. I believe he was 275-280 for 74 universe vs. 268 and less defined for the 75 O.


Jacob

 

[bicepts101]

wow this is an old one.....lou looks better now than he did in 75

 

[Skinnyarms]

Lou was alot flatter that year, its true, but at the same time I heard that Serge had not trained for almost 3months prior because he was banned for competing due to some bullshit that he was in french porn movies or something, he lost a huge amount of size prior, but truth be told Arnold was the best physique of the competition the tall man competition that is, I think him and Franco were just to closeto tell it tough but come on, who are you gonna pick? between the Child and the Oak lol

 

[abolish the weak]

3rd was more than fair, and he probably only got that because of the hype magazines printed off long b4 the show even took place. Arnolds arms had way more peak, and arnolds legs had more speration, also tighter waistline and better abs. Lou was bigger but blockier. Serge Nubret was fucking sick with it. I think you guys better go look at some of his pics, www.sergenubret.com Serge was smart back then, many of the bodybuilders came to Serge for advice on diet and water drop/ last week show prep. If there was anybody experimenting with state of the art before its time shit it was Serge Nubret. Guys legs never dialed in like his upper body but that fucker was sliced beyond sliced.

 

[bbkingpin]

Louie lacked a lot but in some shots he was just as massive as Arnold (upperbody) but Arnold's chest striations were so developed. Don't forget Louie got calf implants in the 80s. In 1975 my calves were probably as big as his. His back was lacking. No one ever thought he should've won the show. This poll is a first. But upper body was massive, but biceps did not have Arnold's peak either -- no one since that I can think of did either (have Arnold's biceps).

 

[ALIN]

At least in my opinion he was....

Third place? He looks close to what todays pro's look like. Big, and thick. I don't think he should have been number 1, because Arnold had more of a presence, if that makes sense. But number two for sure. Look at Surge Nubret! With legs like that, he shouldn't have even been allowed on stage. He looks like those ab doers on the cover of "men's health' or some crap like that. I think Louie was cheated, and should have at least taken second place. Who else thinks he was cheated?

On another note, whats up with his father? What a prick. Talk about living through your son. Lou seems so lonely, and his dad just sits back and takes credit for it all: "we want it" "when we are up there" "when we hit that stage" "what a work out (like he did anything)" what was with all the we's? And the best "I had an old set in the cellar, i used to do a little bit of it myself" So, his dad pretty much takes credit for it all. I read something Lou wrote, about his father abusing him mentally, I believe it! I think if it wasn't for his father, Louie would have went a lot farther in the sport. What a shame....

I definitely dont think he should have one,,,2nd place,,,maybe.

 

[hurricane]

Serge deserved 2nd imo and louie still looks great till this day

 

[Powerbuilder333]

Louie looked like half a Hulk last September (2007) at the Olympia Expo.
He's showing his age, like everyone does sooner or later.

 

[23CALIBRO]

for his age and size lou is still in fantastic shape, but from what i've read and understand he's a bit of an a**hole, from treating his brother like crap to making fans pay for a picture with him.

 

[Powerbuilder333]

for his age and size lou is still in fantastic shape, but from what i've read and understand he's a bit of an a**hole, from treating his brother like crap to making fans pay for a picture with him.

LOL, it's true about the pictures.
Every year I take several of him (not with him) and I can see it's pissing him off. I've been doing this for a least 5 years.

 

[Jacob Creutzfeldt]

I think third in relation to Serge Nubret and Arnold Schwarzenegger looked correct. He lacked the symetry and cuts of Nubret and lacked the symetry and torso thickness of Schwarzenegger.

 

[galaxy]

The placings were on point as far as Im concerned./

 

[slat1]

No one got jobbed.

 

[23CALIBRO]

LOL, it's true about the pictures.
Every year I take several of him (not with him) and I can see it's pissing him off. I've been doing this for a least 5 years.

So, it is true!!!!, Why is he an ass about his pic.... U got so many others in celeb status who will stop take a pic on your camera phone. So why is lou so bitter?

 

[Powerbuilder333]

So, it is true!!!!, Why is he an ass about his pic.... U got so many others in celeb status who will stop take a pic on your camera phone. So why is lou so bitter?

I never asked. Didn't want to get escorted out of the Olympia Expo - lol.

 

[c3bodybuilding]

Looking back, second would have been fair. The ripped/dry look wasn't in yet. So Serge being ripped to shreds really wouldn't have mattered until around 83ish. Based on his mass, 2nd. Wow, this thread was when I was a 220lb rookie from WAAAAAAAAAY back in the day. Who the fck dug this crap up?! LOL

 

[bbkingpin]

No, if you watch the 25th anniversary DVD of Pumping Iron, special features, Louie confesses that during the contest he began to worry that he might not finish 2nd. He had no calves and a poor back (lats). Serge Nubret had awesome proportions and symmetry. Don't forget that Frank Zane was Mr. O at one time, so size alone was not the only criteria. Today, it seems that size will always win over smaller guys with better aesthetics but much less mass.