Honor & Integrity

Feb. 2009

by Pete Fancher

     Honor, integrity, pride, loyalty - - these are words that we usually associate with our troops, and at the same time, we hope that they apply in our everyday life with family, friends and business associates.  Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to always work out that way.
 

   In our small cult community of bodybuilding, fitness, figure, and now bikini, we have always been aware of the “scavengers” who frequently venture in hoping to gain our trust and will talk up a fantastic scenario of fame and fortune only to walk away with all of the benefits of the association and leaving the athlete wondering what happened.

     In the 34 years of my involvement in our industry from competitor, to promoter, to official, I have just about seen it all.
     It seems like it all comes in a cycle. 

     The latest fitness guru that spouts off about how great they are in training athletes is every where - - contests especially - - with the latest example of their expert knowledge - - usually a competitor that was doing well to begin with, but is now placing better or even winning and constantly trying to “win” over another trainers client.  The grass is always greener on the other side.

     The expert photographer, and it seems now that with digital, every schmo with a camera around their neck is the greatest photographer ever, and promises photos in the top magazines, magazine covers and fame and fortune.  Eager upstart ladies with huge dreams are their prey and more often than not fall for the garbage that they are selling, sign a model release, or not, and do photo session after photo session and end up with no photos and wondering what is being done with the photos - - which usually end up on the internet on some site, either for sale, or for just viewing pleasure or to promote this “ace” photographers career.

     Fitness, figure and bikini camps are now being offered, at a price of course, for athletes to attend to gain knowledge on how to train and prepare for a show.  Usually offered by a “name” of some sort in our industry and along with this weekend experience may be a photo shoot with some self proclaimed photographer, who thanks to digital and the ability to re-shoot that bad photo over again instantly, is offered. 

     Camps, or weekend experiences, can and should be very beneficial - - but beware and look past all of the glitz and hype and if any “carrots” are being dangled - - be very careful and listen for that sales job that may be offered in a subtle way.  Are they giving back by helping or just trying to “pad” their own pockets with new people to train or recruit to “the team”.

     These individuals are the talk of the industry for a couple of years, then suddenly they are not around anymore, or less visible than before, and another “guru” has taken their place.

     Last year at a show an individual kept asking me what I thought about the winner of one of the divisions, mainly asking if I thought this person was pro material.  I knew what they were after.  To get me  to state that this athlete was indeed pro material so they could run back to them with this information and convince them to stay with them as a trainer, which translates into give me more of your hard earned money.  The answer they were seeking never occurred.  The trainer was told that if they placed the same in a national event, then it would be possible that they are pro material.  At our next national event, this athlete was present on stage, and finished at the bottom of the class.  When the trainer was approached about this athlete at another show, they had parted ways. 

     I was speaking with another chair the other day and they brought up the fact that the sport has lost some of the fun that used to be associated with it.  They felt as if no one could be trusted any longer to keep their word or they would deny making the promises or statements that were made or would not hold to agreements that were made and sealed with a hand-shake.  The integrity that was once so common has long ago vanished.  As much as one would wish that this statement was not even remotely true - - sadly it has become so.

     “My word is my bond” was a guarantee more binding than any legal contract or document.  Sadly this no longer applies to the vast majority of those involved in our “cult” or community - - it has become a game of “who can or do your trust”.

     What can we do about it?  Not much.  Their own misdeeds, broken words, back-stabbing and un-ethical dealings will eventually catch up to them and they will eventually go away - - but there will be others to step into their shoes, maybe in a different form, but hopefully those of us who still believe in words like honor, dignity, respect and loyalty will still survive and be here to carry on our great tradition and  sport without tarnishing it.