by Christian Duque
“Is Nick Walker low key doing the Arnold? Is he getting an invitation? What’s occurring? Properly, there isn’t any Arnold for me. That’s too quickly. That’s simply 4 weeks out. And there’s no invite and truthfully I’d fairly [pause] earn my qualification.” – Nick Walker
As all the time I like to start out my articles about Nick by placing it on the market that he has me blocked on all social media as a result of in response to him I’m far too unfavorable. I did meet him on the Pure Nutritional vitamins Epic Block Occasion in Ozone Park, New York a few years in the past, and on the time not solely did he not have me blocked however we had a couple of exchanges in direct messages.
I had suggested him on some strikes for the longer term primarily based on my expertise as a journalist within the health business. For no matter it’s price I believe he appreciated my commentary and I assumed we have been cool. So in fact once I discovered that he could be presenting along with his sponsor at this occasion I made some extent to go and say hi there. We chatted slightly bit and I requested him if I may take a photograph with him and he obliged which I assumed was actually cool. What I assumed was very attention-grabbing nonetheless is that he warned me to remain optimistic. At first in fact I assumed he was kidding however then I observed he was being fairly critical.
Not too lengthy after when his sponsor dropped Shaun Clarida from their roster I took exception to that. It bothered me as a result of the sponsor is co-owned by Shaun’s coach and on the time Nick’s coach as properly. it additionally bothered me that he was dropped contemplating that he was a 212 Mr Olympia defending his title and I assumed it was fairly crappy to remove an earnings stream when he was on the highest of the game.
Whereas I didn’t assault Matt immediately I did criticize the truth that he didn’t combat laborious sufficient for Shaun. On account of my criticism of Matt and the sponsor, Nick went on to dam me. Maybe to him being a journalist requires writing cookie cutter items and by no means criticizing anybody, particularly not anybody related to him. Sadly that will have made me a shill and I merely can not subscribe to that method of doing issues. I’ve all the time stated what I imagine and if I’m incorrect I’m the primary to retract. That being stated, I’m additionally an individual that has deeply held opinions and I’m not about to compromise these opinions simply to not get blocked by some skinny skinned bodybuilder. The fact of the matter is I’ve been blocked by Phil Heath, Nick Walker, and perhaps a few others who sadly lack the wherewithal to face up to criticism. That’s their flaw, not mine.
Now what I discover attention-grabbing is how a lot of a non-factor Nick has change into. At one cut-off date when he gained the North American Championships he was presupposed to be one of many subsequent Mr. Olympia’s; nonetheless, because of quite a lot of massive discuss not backed by motion, he fell by the wayside.
We are able to blame it on harm, we will blame it on exhaustion, however in the end it is a very laborious man to work with. He has jumped from coach to teach, he has jumped from sponsor to sponsor, and let’s face it, he isn’t the nicest man to work with. He could have had a tough previous and he could have been very open about that, however that doesn’t quantity to a hill of beans. If you happen to can’t stick with a coach or a sponsor for the lengthy haul, you then’re a little bit of a unfastened cannon.
The fact of the matter is that he was not in a position to win an Olympia and I don’t assume that he could be very aggressive within the 2024 Arnold Traditional. That’s in all probability why he didn’t obtain an invite and that’s in all probability why he won’t obtain a particular invitation to the 2024 Mr olympia. When he says he would fairly earn it that’s bs. I respect him for making an attempt to promote us that however no bodybuilder that may very well be given a particular invite would fairly qualify as a substitute. Qualifying is all he has left.
However it feels like if he was invited to the Arnold he would settle for the invitation. The one factor is I don’t assume that invite is coming. Almost about the New York Professional I hope to God he brings his finest bundle ever as a result of Huge Steve doesn’t placed on crap reveals. He should carry his best possible physique if he plans on successful. It’s additionally noteworthy to remind you guys that the purpose system is gone. So let’s say he goes to New York and takes second after which goes to Chicago and takes second after which goes to Tampa and takes second – he’s not going to go to the Mr. Olympia. Factors are completed. The one method you get to the massive dance is in case you’re a earlier Mr. O, in case you win a professional present, or in case you get a particular invite. Nick just isn’t a earlier winner and he isn’t going to get a particular invite. The one method that he can go to the Tremendous Bowl of Physique constructing is by successful a professional present.
That being stated, he’s a previous Arnold Traditional champion.
Why do I make that statement? As a result of he can not go to some rinky dink present in Timbuktu and qualify. He must not less than win an enormous present that has some sort of bragging rights. The outdated pecking order survives until this present day. Olympia, Arnold, NOC. The brand new NOC for the reason that departure of Wayne Demilia has been the New York Professional. Huge Steve has placed on the third greatest bodybuilding present with nice pleasure and that area of the nation will endlessly be a hotbed of bodybuilding. I’m speaking about New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. That’s the East Coast Mecca and it’ll eat, sleep and breathe bodybuilding for generations to return.
I’ve little doubt that if Nick places 100% in that he can win that present nevertheless it’s not a foregone conclusion. He’s not going to stroll in there and take the trophy after which prepare for the Olympia. The New York Professional is an all-out battle and he might want to carry quite a lot of combat to be able to stroll away with the W.
Now that apart, how aggressive will Nick be on the Olympia stays to be seen. I don’t assume that he’ll make the highest three in 2024 and what’s loopy is that he says he’s going to win all of it. I’d like to be incorrect and I’d be the primary to congratulate him, however I simply don’t see it occurring. I believe as soon as once more he’s placing an infinite quantity of stress on himself when what he ought to be doing is specializing in successful New York after which hunkering down and making an attempt to fly in beneath the radar to Las vegas. By making a daring assertion that he’s going to win the 2024 Mr. Olympia now he has efficiently elevated his stress stage for no obvious purpose. There may be completely no good that may come from this. So then why did he do it?
He did it as a result of nobody is speaking about him anymore. He did it as a result of he desires to be within the dialog on massive web sites and articles corresponding to this one. I don’t care what any prime bodybuilder says once they suggest on the contrary. When massive stars say they don’t care in the event that they’re talked about or not, that’s utter crap. When you may have been within the dialog to be the perfect on the planet and now no person even brings you up, that’s going to ruffle quite a lot of feathers.
Nick desires to be again in that dialog so sadly he’s counting on quite a lot of massive discuss and right here we’re speaking about him. It might be very unhappy if he can’t even win the New York Professional, a lot much less the Olympia. I hope to God he does much less speaking and extra prepping and lives out his desires. He belongs on the prime however he’s not going to simply stroll again and reclaim his place from when he gained the North Individuals or when he gained the Arnold Traditional. I believe he must serve himself a slice of humble pie and get to work.
What say you?