Now that a few days have passed since former IFBB judge and NPC district chairman, Lee Thompson, announced the formation of his new “NPC”, out of the NPC he just left, the winds have defined their direction, so I thought I'd expound further upon this attempted highjacking of our beloved NPC and what's probably going to come of it. But, before I do, let's get something straight. I am as capitalista as they come. I believe any business does better, and serves the public trust better, when there is competition. Fair competition, not competition in the form of retribution, not to mention the duplicity involved in leaving your current employ and attempting to take the name with you. If Thompson wants to leave the federation and start something new, more power to him. But to do so like a pirate-- stealing the name synonymous with amateur bodybuilding in America-- is as egregious as it is 
ludicrous. You don't want to play anymore? Fine, go home. You just can't take the ball with you.
Thompson is obviously a smart dude, perhaps a bit Machiavellian, but he is still, nevertheless, no stranger to making a buck. His initial strategy will admittedly be thought of down the road as a rather ruthless approach, but he has certainly accomplished quite a bit in a short amount of time, for free. Let’s see.....
First, he obtained a ton of free global media exposure, social and otherwise, with very little effort. All of us basically did the work for him in getting the word out that Thompson is starting his own federation. And, in so doing, will attempt to highjack the acronym to which he's been associated for many years – the NPC. How scandalous! This move, in turn, attracted lots of attention, especially on social media. Now, without spending a dime, Thompson has gotten all of our attention. Merely leaving quietly and starting his own federation would have garnered him zero attention. He'd be just another disenfranchised member of the club with an axe to grind and no one would care. But, try to steal the NPC? Now, that's something to talk about. And talk we did, do, and will do; this is simply too big a fish not to fry.
Next, Thompson now knows who's on his side, who's not, and where he can start/continue aligning his relationships. Apparently, there is at least one giant supplement company – conspicuously missing from the Olympia – willing to toss in some dough, and probably another, and whatever else. Strategically, it's good to know where your alliances lie. Now he does, and it also cost him nothing but a lame video, that was designed, shot and edited for its specific affect, and it worked perfectly. Score two for Thompson.
Now, let’s say he's got enough money to put on some shows and give everyone who competes in them some go-round money. Let’s say that everything he outlined in his video comes to pass, even more. He's still not going to be able to use “NPC.” He can try incorporating in Hong Kong with holding corporations in the Bahamas and DBA's filed in 12 different cites to finally weasel his way around most of the IP loopholes, but, in front of a judge, in America, there is no way he will be awarded its use. The bottom line is that the NPC has, since 1981, stood for the National Physique Committee, and has sanctioned and promoted bodybuilding events and nothing else. That is the public's perception of the NPC and that is what the judge will protect when he tells Thompson he'd better put on his thinking cap and come up with another name. You can’t quit your job at KFC, open your own fried chicken stand and call it KFC Global.
We have laws in America that prevent that kind of entrepreneurial skullduggery. I'm sure Thompson knows this and has already thought of a name, because only a complete retard would set out to start a new federation to do the same thing the federation from which he departed is doing and using the same acronym to promote it. It's never gonna fly.... But, like I said, I'm sure he knows that. I think he's doing it for effect. And, so far, it's paid off.
But, let’s say he gets to keep the acronym. Let's say Thompson coaxes into fruition absolutely everything he put forth in his video. The only problem is that too few will give a shit and the ones that do were never going to make it in the NPC/IFBB anyway. The best he will ever attract is the D tier athlete. And I'll tell you why...
Every top bodybuilding star that emerged since 1981 has come up through the NPC under Jim Manion. His is thee organization most affiliated with national level champion bodybuilders and other physique athletes. The great champions and Olympians of the 80's, 90's and the 2000's have all cut their teeth in the NPC – Manion's NPC. To be an NPC champion is prestige. It's an honor, it's where you win your pro card; it's the door through which you pass to chase your dream to the Olympia stage to compete for the title of your idols. No one can replicate that, and no amount of glitz and “revenue sharing” can make up for it. Of course if you dangle enough money in front of someone they may jump – it's certainly happened before - but, if your heart is the heart of champion, and you're good enough, then you're holding fast to where you are. No top national contender is going to blow a chance to be an IFBB Pro. Thompson offers nothing comparable; he can't and he never will. Even if he gives away a million dollars he's never going to attract the athletes closest to the top of the NPC who have what it takes to turn pro. He's fishing in the shallow end.
There are people who may not like the NPC, they may not agree with it, they may not want any part of it, they may want to drive by its headquarters and shoot chartreuse paintballs at it. . . you can't please everyone. But, in reality, it is what it is and it just might not be your cup of tea. So you have options. You have Paul Dillett's WBFF and you have NABBA and WABBA and Bla Bla Blabba.... They're all out there; now add the former NPC Global (or whatever it's going to be called next). More options if you just want to compete – JUST compete. But, if you want to be a real champion, recognized around the world, the real NPC is the revered federation. There could be Thompson's and 15 other new games in town and none of them will ever bring what you get in the NPC – authentication as the crème de la crème.
Jim Manion's National Physique Committee is steeped in the revered history of our sport; it is the incubator of our top and most infamous pros and awards the most venerated and most coveted amateur bodybuilding titles in America. It is a seasoned giant and it is the exclusive feeder of the giant of all giants, the IFBB. The only way you're getting into the IFBB and competing as a pro for the crown worn by the most notable of our industry, is by going through the NPC - the real NPC. And that's just the way it is, and will always be, and not Thompson, his partners, nor all the tea in China is ever going to be able to do anything about it. You can't buy a real pro card and you can't buy prestige.
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