I’ve neve
r started a thread; I’ve never made a post and I don’t even have a screen name; but I’ve been here from the beginning (actually, way before that considering I’ve known Dave Palumbo for 40+ years and if I didn’t beat him in an arm wrestling contest this website might not even exist, but that is a story for another time). I regularly listen to Heavy Muscle Radio, I troll the boards and I’m aware of most everything that goes on (including some behind the scenes stuff).
So what do I want? Same thing you do. Same thing I always did. To have a site that entertained me and focused on a “lifestyle” I’ve always embraced. Rx Muscle was supposed to be the Hardcore Holy Grail. It was supposed to be The Truth in Bodybuilding. You came to listen to some of the greatest minds in bodybuilding and learn. You heard about the newest supplements, diets and training methods. No one did better interviews than Dave. No site had better contest coverage. You came to listen and share stories with others of similar mind. You came to look at pictures of your friends who competed in some small show no one ever heard of and no one (not even you) attended; except Rx muscle was there. Or maybe you came just to look at some hot chicks (or guys, no homo) or laugh at Jimmy the Bull’s antics. But then it changed.
It didn’t happen overnight. It started gradually and it ate away at th
e very fabric of Rx. Dave made some bad decisions. Somewhere on this long strange trip, Dave Palumbo and Rx Muscle got sidetracked. Too much time was spent trying to appease “the powers that be” and he lost sight of “the people that mattered”. Those people were you and me.
But while most of the blame falls on the bad shoulder of Dave as our leader, there are plenty of other guilty parties. There’s been employees who sabotaged Rx for their own agenda; those that stole directly and countless others who took a paycheck and contributed nothing. There was in-fighting between mods and the overall blatant disrespect for co-workers. The good natured humor that always existed on the boards became replaced with vicious diatribes and hate. Dave’s correct when he says the advertisers abandoned this site. Can you blame them? Was there ever a shred of support or even appreciation from any organization for all the hard work, promotion and coverage Rx provided for their events?
But it’s not too late. Pundits have been proclaiming the demise of Rx Muscle (and Dave Palumbo) for as long as I can remember. Guess what, they’re still here. Guess what, people still listen to HMR and you know why? Because deep down, even those that don’t like Rx or Dave know one thing: Dave Palumbo loves bodybuilding and his passion is inspiring. He is a relentless worker and he knows his “shit”. He doesn’t do this for the money; he does it out of love and for all of us.
The list of th
ose who once made this a great place includes some of the most successful and respected people in the bodybuilding industry (you think that is by coincidence?), unfortunately, many have either been run off or left. It’s a list that includes not just Dave and Chris; but John Romano; Aaron Singerman; PJ Braun; Carl Lenore; Layne Norton; John Meadows; Matt Meinrod; Lonnie Teper; Shelby Starnes and John Hansen to name a few. I once mentioned to Dave, in another universe with a team like that you could rule the world (which is maybe what the “powers that be” fear). I didn’t even mention any of the great guests or forum members who contributed so much. I know I would be happy and glad to welcome any of those people back to the site.
Dave recently let go of a large number of people and that caused some shock waves. It was the right decision. He had no choice. Some deserved to go; others not so much, but Rx couldn’t survive being run that way. It’s time to break it down so we can build it up. Dave promised us change. He promised us a return to glory. He’s got a lot of surprises in store (sorry can’t share, we aren’t that tight yet). I’m holding him to that and so should all of you. It won’t happen overnight. But it will happen or he will perish trying. Just ask yourself this: What is gained if there’s no Rx? Aren’t we the ones that lose?
I first came to this site to support Dave because I consider him a brother; I stayed on it because it felt like a family; and now I
will pick up my sword (or pen in this case) to try to save it and rally others to get behind it once again and return it glory.…. I’m hoping some old friends and some new hear the call. I ask you all to join me and RISE…. Let’s make this a place to be proud of again and especially one where we can laugh and laugh at ourselves…..
I hope this is the 1st of many columns….but if you tell me I suck, I promise I won’t cyber bully or threaten you, after all I’m only 5’9” ……but I will likely keep writing….
Fuck Everyone and Rise
Poptart
