by Christian Duque
Bostin Loyd was an actual legend for the easy indisputable fact that he informed the reality. He was a younger man that beloved bodybuilding and beloved being within the scene. He was a man that the varied social platforms banned usually however who at all times discovered a strategy to get his phrase out. He made cash, sure, however nowhere close to what he might have. He didn’t whore himself out to quite a few firms and he was obsessed – nearly to the purpose of being a neurotic – with by no means placing his title subsequent to something he didn’t imagine in. He was a purist in that he believed that his title and repute have been all the things.
In contrast to so most of the schills in our sport that may change sponsors such as you and I alter socks, Bostin was actually formidable and had an incredible work ethic, however cash wasn’t the catalyst for doing what he did. I wasn’t shut mates with him and I don’t know that we even met in particular person. I do know we have been at sure contests on the identical time and perhaps got here as shut as fifty ft from each other, however I don’t recall ever assembly him.
So then what am I basing my character assessments on? Am I a fanboy making an attempt to piece collectively a story? Completely not. Not solely is that weak, however it’s wholly inaccurate. You’ll be able to’t communicate to somebody should you didn’t have any direct interactions with them. Not less than not for my part and never for an article like this.
I spoke with Bostin on quite a few events once I was making an attempt to get him to work with StrengthAddicts, then throughout a quick time when he was single and we spoke at size about relationships and life, after which why I attempted to recruit him for IronMag TV. All in all, I believe he was apprehensive about working with me and you’ll see that in an excellent interview that Bostin did with Joe Pietaro at Muscle Sport Magazine. Joe and I’ve lengthy made up, however on the time we have been embroiled in a reasonably intense warfare. It’s an excellent interview and speaks to numerous what my recollection is insofar as Bostin’s emotions.
After I obtained began with StrengthAddicts nobody was speaking about gear. There was an enormous stigma and completely nobody needed to the touch the topic. Actually, there was an enormous video that includes Ronnie Coleman the place he was requested by a reporter if he took gear. You would hear a pin drop earlier than Ronnie dismissed the query and appeared offended. That sentiment unfold like wildfire and the entire room rejected the reporter. You’d suppose the man requested Ronnie if he beat his spouse or abused senior residents for enjoyable. I imply the gang turned hostile to this poor reporter who was asking a superbly regular query. I imply Ronnie was nonetheless huge with 24” weapons, huge wheels, and veins in all places. Nobody appears to be like like that consuming hen breasts and ingesting protein shakes. Nonetheless, there was an actual worry {that a} soundbite like Coleman admitting to gear use might get picked up by the mainstream media. Again in these days the mainstream media was out for blood. They hated all issues bodybuilding and so they noticed it as purely as a drug fest. This was additionally at a time when prohormone bans have been nonetheless a factor and elected officers have been seeking to make examples out of athletes and complement firms.
It was throughout this time that Bostin began making movies. And never solely was he speaking about what he took, however there have been instances he was pinning on digital camera. There have been movies the place he had a sink filled with bottles, BAC water, and syringes. He was there pinning them and speaking about what every compound did. He wasn blurring his face or altering his voice. He additionally coined his personal nickname and used it on his merchandise.
Then in fact there was the entire synthol challenge. If gear was taboo, web site enhancing oils weren’t even alleged to be a factor. Everybody denied utilizing them, despite the fact that upwards of 90% of prime amateurs and professional’s have been utilizing it. I imply it was completely apparent. One present a man had lagging shoulders or calves and two months later these physique elements have been successful them reveals. Typically the muscle groups regarded good, typically they left you scratching your head, and typically they regarded simply plain goofy. Not solely did Bostin admit to utilizing website positioning’s however he used them on digital camera. And if that wasn’t sufficient, he then began making his personal website positioning merchandise and selling them all through all his movies and appearances.
After I needed to deliver Bostin to StrengthAddicts we have been each just about beginning up, however he was apprehensive of me as a result of I used to be a part of the media. StrengthAddicts is a media web site. I labored for Dave at RXMuscle writing articles and writing Muscle In The Morning. I’ve at all times been within the media. And despite the fact that Bostin would go on to be a columnist for Muscle Sport Magazine, I don’t suppose Large Daddy B ever noticed himself as a reporter. I believe he was skeptical of writers and videographers as a result of he suspected our driving drive was hits, not spreading the reality. Possibly I’m flawed however that’s the vibe I obtained from our conversations. He revered Dave and Ron [Harris], however typically he wasn’t an enormous fan of the press. So evidently, I used to be by no means capable of deliver him onto StrengthAddicts as a paid contributor.
In the course of the time he was single, I bear in mind us speaking over the course of a few weeks. I wasn’t making an attempt to rent him or collaborate with him. I simply bear in mind a DM that developed right into a sequence of voice texts and conversations. We didn’t discuss any bodybuilders, merchandise, or something like that. He confided in me about some issues and I did the identical in form.
A couple of months after that string of chats with Bostin, I recall doing a pre-recorded interview with the late nice Jerry Ward. Jerry and Bostin had a tumultuous relationship. I believe they’d mutual respect for one another however they usually butted heads as a result of they have been each so outspoken. Jerry had mentioned some issues that I assumed went a bit beneath the belt and I bear in mind reaching out to him throughout post-production and we had a name the place upon listening to me out, Jerry conceded that a few of his feedback have been method too aggressive. I don’t suppose it’s applicable to say what was mentioned, particularly since each guys are not with us, however I’m glad I used to be capable of maintain sure feedback off the completed interview. I did numerous that in post-production with the late nice Mighty Mike Quinn. Despite the fact that there’s numerous madness that also made the ultimate reduce, there was much more that didn’t. It’s loopy that every one three guys I’m speaking about have all handed.
One of many previous few instances I spoke with Bostin was through the IronMag TV days. Bostin had had a present on MD that was canceled after one episode. That’s debatable, however what isn’t debatable is that the very first episode obtained pulled for being too controversial. That disgusted Bostin. He would at all times respect Ron as a result of in the long run he was simply doing his job, however he was bitter on MD. And since IronMagTV had my present and Gregg’s present additionally on MD, he took his anger out on us. He refused to work with IML and talked about it within the interview with MSM.
We actually needed him and have been prepared to supply him a selection spot on our roster. He simply wouldn’t budge. He was too apprehensive of lending his title to a complement firm even when simply to place out in-house content material. We’d have been an excellent match and it might have been killer to have paired Bostin with Large Frank, The Goon, and/or Gregg every so often. We had an enormous roster and many expertise again then, however we simply couldn’t get Bostin to signal on.
Bostin Loyd was his personal man. Love him or hate him, he marched to the beat of his personal drum. I personally by no means actually understood him and regardless of what number of lodging I’d attempt to make, he simply wouldn’t work with us. Possibly he was a creature of behavior or perhaps he simply by no means questioned his instincts. That’s not a foul factor.
Bostin was a pioneer and an innovator. He beloved bodybuilding and he hung his hat on at all times telling the reality. For this reason I believe his legacy will stay on by means of his movies, articles, and his very spirit. I imply take a look at me and this text. I’m not writing on the anniversary of his dying or as a result of he made the information. I’m scripting this letter at Panera on New Yr’s Eve 2023 morning as a result of I used to be brainstorming article concepts and I thought of this loopy child who lived his finest life within the sport of bodybuilding. After I say he’ll be remembered that’s not wishful considering. He’s remembered and he will probably be for a few years to come back!