Louie Simmons Post about the Arnold Classic

[Risk]

Mike Wolfe posted this on another forum, but this some big shit.

Just read this on goheavy it is legit and it really is Louie. Looks like I wont be doing any APF/WPO's no more!!!! Wolfy!!!

~ WHAT LOUIE SIMMONS WROTE ~

First I would like to apologize for the treatment of Taisia and Sergiy at the 2007 Arnold Classic, on the behalf of Westside Barbell and all of its lifters. Because of this, I Louie Simmons and all members of Westside Barbell, will not and cannot be associated with the APF and/or the WPO from this point on April 3, 2007.

I hope others with integrity will follow us in a new direction. If powerlifters don’t stand behind each other, regardless of race and nationalities, the integrity will crumble before our feet. My life has been dedicated to powerlifting for 41 years and all my memories and friendships have sprung from powerlifting. The fins, Germans and of course the Ukrainians are a large part of these friendships.

I would like to extend a warm invitation to all countries especially the Ukraine’s and of course Mr. Kutcher and Mr. Yarymbash and the 19 year old 100k lifter who was disqualified without doing a single deadlift, to come to Ohio and have a chance to win money and I mean guaranteed cash money competing against the best we have to offer. If our competitions from our foreign lands die, we die as well. We will treat you as we would like to be treated, fairly and with respect.

Once again, I would like to apologize to Taisia and her Ukrainian teammates.

Sincerely

Louie

[Giant Killer]

Mike Wolfe posted this on another forum, but this some big shit.

Holy shit what happened?

[rcrott1]

interesting............

[Risk]

Its mainly about Kieren Kidder not paying the reps out, but there is more to than I know so I won't speculate.

[tek52086]

this is huge for the sport of powerlifting, i dont think people quite realize it yet

[Powerfreak]

this is huge for the sport of powerlifting, i dont think people quite realize it yet

This is beyond huge. Finally the nightmare that is the WPO may finally come to an end.
I was lucky, when I competed in the WPO I actually got paid, such has not been the case as of late. Thousands of dollars are owed to competitors that continually go unpaid.
It was bound to happen sooner or later. KK has basically sealed his own fate,
There are alot of details that I won't go into but the WPO has become a stain in the underwear of the powerlifting world, and unfortunately since KK took over the APF also, it too has gone to shit.
Now this will leave the door open (hopefully) for the IPA ("Lifters for Lifters"), to once again thrive, grow and rise to the top.
I had boycotted the WPO several years ago, too much drama, too much bullshit, it just was not any fun to lift in that Fed, and if it ain't fun i don't wanna do it.
Way to go Louie!

[BEASTOFRAGE]

this shit was shockin to hear just over the phone...but it will be interesting to see what happens from this point...
TB

[brandona]

Damn....I dont know what happened and I am not a powerlifter...that said I give my full support to the powerlifters of the world and offer any help, albeit probley not much help, that may be needed. It is a shame that the bodies that are supposed to be there for the athlieths turns aginst them. Powerfreak, Big AL and all the other keep fighting, Best of luck to you guys..You are a great insperation to a fat kid who wants to move a ton of weight....

-B

[Risk]

Way to go Louie!

Lou is a damn good role model for PL's everywhere. I hope the guys pick a good fed, or even fix up the IPA's judging. I hope for a nice progression in all federations.

[Powerfreak]

Lou is a damn good role model for PL's everywhere. I hope the guys pick a good fed, or even fix up the IPA's judging. I hope for a nice progression in all federations.

Watch it bud, I am an IPA Judge.....lol. We are trying to make it more consistent.

[tek52086]

consistancy in judging is huge.

having the pro's compete in an untested league and the amateur's in a tested enviorment is the way to go as well, thats just my two cents.

[Powerfreak]

consistancy in judging is huge.

having the pro's compete in an untested league and the amateur's in a tested enviorment is the way to go as well, thats just my two cents.

In the IPA there are both PRO and AM devisions, one is subject to testing one is not, as well as jr., teen, open, master, sub-master,women in both divisions.

[Big Jawn]

Keep this clean bros, thusfar we are on track...but politics can be a testy subject, as any powerlifter should know. Lack of consistancy has been the downfall of powerlifting, a main reason that such a great sport had not settled itself on the Olympic stage.

My opinion...some of the things WPO/APF has done in the past have drawn my disagreement, said from the mouth of such a big name in powelifting (LS) ,this is a step in the right direction. Although, I think powerlifting outside of these two feds is still far from perfect...we all throw ill words over to other federations without thinking anything of it, not only judging but many other factors have to be improved upon for powerlifting to truly grow.

[SomeDayI'llBeXL]

Big Jawn,

I was wondering if you could elaborate on the lack of consistancy in the powerlifting world. Im a newbie when it comes to powerlifting and I could only list about 5 names, but I always wondered why they had Olmpic lifts in the Olympics, but no big 3. If you cant go into further, I understand, Im just abit curious.

Good Luck Brothers

[Powerfreak]

Big Jawn,

I was wondering if you could elaborate on the lack of consistancy in the powerlifting world. Im a newbie when it comes to powerlifting and I could only list about 5 names, but I always wondered why they had Olmpic lifts in the Olympics, but no big 3. If you cant go into further, I understand, Im just abit curious.

Good Luck Brothers

It is my belief that the reason there is no "Powerlifting" in the Olympics is because of the issue of drug testing and the controversy that would go along with such a strength sport.
Olympic weightlifting has been around for a long time, but I'll bet if they could find a way to get rid of it they would.
Enter a sport that is based purely on superior feats of strength , you will not be able to avoid the issue of drugs and testing. Christ, look at what a clusterfuck Baseball has become, and Baseball is NOT a strength sport.
Equipment would become another issue, what type if any would be allowed.
I have been around for a good while, i have sat in on meetings held by the USAPL concerning this very subject. The USAPL even produced a short film on Powerlifting and submitted it to the IOC,(Olympic committee) , I saw the movie at the 2000 USAPL nationals, it portrayed Powerlifting in a very positive way, But still no go.
As Popular as we may believe Powerlifting is, it is still far from being accepted by the mainstream public. Even the Olympic lifting is not really accepted, have ya ever paid attention to what time they air those events? Usually around 2 or 3 in the morning on a Sunday, they don't want it to be seen, think about it.

As far as the inconsistancy of judging, that is kind of a touchy debate.
I have cometed in the WPO, APF, IPA,and the USAPL, all on a national level.
The USAPL is where you will find the most strict judging, almost to a fault. Their depth call for the squat is fucking uneccesary and dangerous.
They have several other rules that are absolutely stupid, but I won't go into that here.
As for the other feds, it's not as bad as everyone seems to think. If you pay attention to who exactly is complaining, it's not the lifters at the meet, 90% if not more are the fucking armchair quarterbacks, that try and judge a depth cal by a photo or video, usually from a front view.It is very rare that someone can catch a lift on camera at the exact moment the lifter is at depth. There is a reason why the head judge does not call depth, it's because HE CAN"T FUCKING SEE, I am also a judge and I can tell you that there is no way to accurately judge depth from a front view, that is why there are TWO side judges.
Most of these armchair judges if not all are just jealous idiots, some who have never even competed,
Sure, there will always be the chance that a lift is miss called, good or bad remember we are only human, shit happens. People need to lighten up a bit.
Now as far as the WPO, the big controversy there has nothing , if very little to do with judging, it has everything to do with good Ole' KK lying cheating and stealing to make a buck and rip off the lifters and any other sucker that gets roped into that mess.
Well that is about all I have the patience for this morning, I haven't even had breakfast yet an i have a fucking headache.
Sorry BIG JAWN, wasn't trying to step on your toes by answering this, I just been around a long time and have experience with the different feds, thought maybe I could shed some light.

[SomeDayI'llBeXL]

Powerfreak,


Thanks for taking the time to explain that. I didnt think there was that much judgement going on in a lifting meet. I thought you either made the lift or you didnt. I didnt mean to give you a headache that early, haha, thanks man.

Good Luck Brothers