Looking at my watch, I realize that almost half an hour has passed since Chris said he was on the 405 freeway, a mere 10 minutes from the gym. I step outside for a breath of Pacific Ocean breeze, when a black Cadillac Escalade rolls into the parking lot. I'd know the bullet head behind the wheel from a mile away. The Real Deal squeezes out of the driver's seat, giving me a shout.

"Everybody and their brother is coming out here today," he says, checking the cell phone that never leaves his presence. Yes sir, Southern Californians living the life of envy: Sun, beach, cool breeze, short-shorts, tight tanks, bronze skin; what more could you want?

Chris looks large. On the phone, he told me he was about 290 pounds, and as he strides purposefully over to me, I can see he wasn't exaggerating in the least. The boy is big! The Deal is dressed more for the beach than the gym. Triple-XL blue Max Muscle t-shirt, stretched to seam-bursting degree, tan Sean John shorts and fresh, black and red Nike kicks. People stare and murmur as he makes his way across the parking lot. "It's Cormier," I hear them say.

Scheduled to take some training shots, I suggest we do the interview first, knowing that Chris is waiting to erupt like a volcano. "No problem, I'm cool with that," he assures me. Standing in front of our old gym, deciding where to go, he's beset by well-wishers offering encouragement on his Olympia preparations. Let's see, the Firehouse is out. Way too noisy and nosey. Can't do it in the gym. Finally, we decide on the Max Muscle store, formerly Flex Wheeler's Max Muscle. The plush, comfy sofas in the guest lounge are ideal for a sit down. What better place to talk with the man who many feel best embodies the tenets of the IFBB's mandate? Executive decision made!

Max Muscle store gal Colleen is a gracious host, offering us cold drinks on the house and any other amenities at her disposal. No wonder people roll by and hang out here. Chris and I are hungry and decide to feast from another old favorite, the Firehouse. I already know what I'm having while he unleashes on this long overdue directive issued by the federation. Unfortunately- and I should have remembered- the Firehouse doesn't do take out until after 3:00 p.m. on Sundays. Oh well. What are you gonna do?

We settle in and I can see Chris is eager to get it on. The Real Deal came with his game face firmly in place. Chris' temper, not unlike someone else back in the day, is world-renowned.

Throwing caution to the wind, I launched the first pitch, "Evidently, the new guidelines, which aren't new at all, demand that athletes return to the classic ideals of bodybuilding. Does Chris Cormier embody the physique the IFBB is presenting as the ‘new' standard?"

He's got that gleam in his eye as he starts, "From day one, my goal was to build a balanced, proportionate physique. To me, the aesthetics- symmetry, detail and shape- are the very definition of bodybuilding. My neck, arms and calves are all equal in circumference. How many bodybuilders can make that claim?" Stopping, hands in the air, staring at me for emphasis, he continues, "Now add to that size and you can see why I believe I have one of the best physiques out there. I've always tried to compliment the aesthetic side of bodybuilding with the more brutal aspect of pure size."

"You've managed to combine both elements, shape and size. In a way, you're both the beauty and the beast. You represent the beauty of the human body with the aesthetics, as well as pure, animal mass, the beastly side," I offer.

He runs with it, bullet head nodding in agreement. "Well, I've always maintained symmetry, shape, proportion and detail, with enough size to battle the so-called size freaks. Yet at the same time, I have the finesse qualities to battle the lighter bodybuilders."

Asked when the tide turned, he hesitates slightly, clearly uncomfortable with naming names. I'm sorry, I thought I was talking to the Real Deal! Come on, where's the Chris Cormier I know? Asked to be more specific, after a quick clearing of the throat, he says, "That would have to be the reign of Dorian. He came with explosive size that nobody had ever seen before. We were accustomed to Lee Haney sporting a tight waist along with a big body. He didn't have the greatest abs, but the shape of his body defined the word Mr. Olympia. That, to me symbolized what Mr. Olympia should look like. It still reigns to this day."

The way Chris describes it, the look under question gained further domination with the current Mr. Olympia. "Well, in '98 Ronnie still had the aesthetics. His waist was tight and he had great detail. But I think when you start climbing up to 300 pounds or more, the fibers can't hold onto that type of size. Everything becomes impacted. You lose density, shape and detail. Plus structurally, a short torso can't handle that kind of weight. You can't carry 300 pounds on a short torso. It's gonna look rounder and rounder. You need a longer torso for that classic x-frame."

The question is, will the judges actually follow suit? Will they penalize the athletes? He hopes that's the case, "otherwise what's the use of the president of the federation issuing a mandate if no one's gonna follow it?"

As proof, he observes that it's gotten to the point where he can't even see some of these guys' triceps. "Where's the horseshoe?" he asks. "All I see is a block of muscle with no shape or lines. Everybody knows a dude's triceps aren't gonna stick out three inches beyond the delts, which by the way, don't balloon out like Mushrooms. Look at pictures of some of these guys from a couple of years ago and you will not see delts and triceps like those. Everyone knows lats don't bubble out like that, either. How'd they manage that?"

Could it be that the judges themselves don't know what to look for? If they uphold these tenets, he feels his chances of winning still hinge on a very controversial issue. The Real Deal would like to see the judges "put down their pens and stop looking at the faces." He wants them to forget the past.

"Preconceived notions hold no place on a bodybuilding stage," he admonishes. "Forget what a guy looked like last time. How does he look compared to everyone today? Pick the best physique standing onstage at that moment. It sounds elementary, but the best physique of the day doesn't always win, so something's getting lost in translation."

"Let's define the ‘best' physique. Does the public aspire to be 300-pound monsters?" I ask.

"No," he says. "I've never heard anybody say they want to be 300 pounds with all the inherent health risks. I think the best physique should be the one people admire, not just a huge assemblage of body parts that represents the purely brutal aspect of bodybuilding. At that point, it's just shock appeal."

The unattainable physique has surely hurt the marketability of bodybuilding. Asked if he agrees, he's quick with a vehement, "Yes! Who wants to look like a chemical experiment or a mad scientist's creation? It takes time to build a complete, appealing body. Taking the short way around results in something grotesque, which is what we're seeing today."

Speaking of short cuts, lately the iron game has been desperate for fresh faces in an attempt for a much-needed injection of adrenaline. The problem Chris sees is these young guys, who are not ready, are rushing something that can't be rushed. "I've been doing this for 25 years," he says. "You can't rush muscle maturity; it's something that has to be earned in the gym with time. That's why you're seeing these young guns coming in touted as the next big thing fizzle and die. They take short cuts and end up with something far removed from the very reasons they started bodybuilding."

He insists that his game plan remains unaffected by the mandate. Why fix something that doesn't need fixing? None of the negative characteristics apply to him, so he sees no reason to alter his own approach. If anything, he says it "strengthens his resolve."

Where's My Close-Up?

When I ask him to expand on that statement, I do so without any knowledge of the massive river waiting behind the dam. Here then is that conversation, verbatim. Let the walls crumble and the water flow:

FW:      How so Chris? After all these years, how could this proclamation affect your approach?

CC:       I have a new outlook. My concentration and devotion are stronger than ever. In the past, motivation was a problem.

FW:      This is the Mr. Olympia, Chris. How can one of the top athletes have motivational problems heading into the biggest show in our sport?

CC:       Well, you answered part of it right there. In the past, despite being one of the top three bodybuilders in the world, the Olympia was always billed as a two-man event. There was Ronnie and there was Jay. It was pretty much a foregone conclusion Ronnie would win and Jay would take runner-up. The feeling was, why should I kill myself when I already know the outcome? I think a lot of guys feel the same way.

FW:      That's been an immense thorn in your side. I remember at last year's press conference, you got pretty heated as you addressed this very issue. Why such animosity?

CC:       I've been up there consistently. I've never been a scrub- in anything I've done! To be disregarded as a top runner, when the fact of the matter is I have one of the best physiques onstage, hinders my enthusiasm. How much effort can you give with that dark cloud of negativity hanging over your head?

FW:      So it interrupts your momentum? Here you are, one of the top guys and yet your presence is nowhere to be found on the posters or ads for the contest.

CC:       Yes! That's a slap in the face. I was in the pose down in my rookie year. How many guys can say that? Only a handful! Let's go back even further. Everyone knows I'm the uncrowned Arnold Classic Champ. But when I leave here today and get in my car to drive home, I'll be getting into my Escalade, not a Hummer.

FW:      (Laughs) You didn't get what you deserved at the ASC. You're not visible in any of the Olympia advertisements. Playing devil's advocate here, does it make that much of a difference whether your face is on some poster?

CC:       It makes a huge difference. The public sees who's on the cover of the magazines. You're in their face, constantly. It creates an aura. It adds momentum.

FW:      But being on the cover doesn't justify the actual physique come contest day.

CC:       That's what I'm trying to say. I'm losing to guys- guys on the covers of the magazines- despite the fact that I'm bringing the classic x-frame. My shoulder-to-waist differential is one of the best in the sport. The cuts in my legs are so deep you could stick quarters in them. When I hit my back double biceps, I have detail these guys can't even dream of matching. Still, I'm losing to these same guys on the covers who can't bring everything I have to the table. I almost feel as if they're judged by a different set of rules. If you want to see championship quality physiques, you have to open the magazine and look inside. Then you'll be looking at guys who have all those attributes, yet still aren't getting the big breaks.

Seeing Red

Before I knew it, the Real Deal turned the tables on me. Ever try holding back a pit bull frothing at the mouth? Then you have a very mild understanding of what I was facing. I had just waved a red cape in front of an enraged bull. He unloaded- in very heated fashion:

FW:      Okay, so the guys on the covers and posters are-

CC:       Take Federov for example.

FW:      Okay, make room ‘cuz the Real Deal I've been waiting for has just arrived. I was worried a little earlier when you were reluctant to mention any names. I thought to myself, "I am talking to the Real Deal, right?" All right, speak on it!

CC:       He has no business on any cover talking about the Olympia. Homeboy's never even been in the Olympia! In fact, what shows has he done, other than that little contest held in his backyard?

FW:      Which he didn't win.

CC:       Exactly!

FW:      But pasting him on the cover sends a message to the public. It says, "This guy is one of the best of the best." It's creating that image in the public's mind.

CC:       That's what I'm talking about! Here you have a guy, with a bunch- it's not even a bunch- with a few freaky body parts that are impressive if he turns a certain way. He spends more time hiding his flaws than he does showing his entire body. You ain't gotta hide your waist when you're onstage. You ain't gotta hide your torn pec. If that's a priority, you do not have one of the best physiques in the world.

FW:      There's been tremendous hype, even carried over from last year. How do you think he'll do?

CC:       Top six will be a gift. He hasn't been tested. He hasn't proven a thing.

FW:      Here's a loaded question: Certain magazines have a close affiliation with the IFBB. Doesn't having Federov's type of build on the cover contradict their mandate?

CC:       I think that's a strategic move on the part of the magazines. In a way, they control what the public thinks because they provide the information. If the public is bombarded with pictures of a certain athlete who's hailed as the next big thing, that thought, even if it's untrue, starts to take on a life of its own. That's why I feel so strongly about magazine covers, photo spreads, posters and all the other media that serves as a link to the public.

Far East Delegation

Just as we finished this portion of the interview, a conglomerate of Japanese fans converged on us like flies to a barbeque. We spent the next 10 minutes taking photographs, signing shirts, scraps of paper, whatever they had in their hands. I felt honored to be remembered, despite the fact that I haven't donned the posing trunks for a few years. Having satisfied their appetite for pictures and memorabilia, we settled in and continued. You'll see that Chris makes a very valid point in regards to how the judges need to perceive the athletes. Read on.

FW:      What's one change you'd like to see implemented, as far as judging is concerned?

CC:       I think the symmetry round needs to be revamped. You can't really judge symmetry until the guys hit their poses. Standing there, some things will not be evident. It's when you hit a double biceps or a side chest that you see the arms in relation to the calves, the differential between delt width and waist.

FW:      That brings me to something you touched on briefly over the phone. You are the only guy to mention this and it's a highly critical observation. You suggested that the judges score the guys the whole time they're on stage. Elaborate on that.

CC:       You cannot see a distended belly when a guy hits his pose. He's sucking his gut in. You've gotta catch him when he transitions between poses. You've gotta catch him when he's standing in the lineup, outside of the spotlight. From the very moment you walk on stage, the judges need to be watching you with a magnifying glass.

FW:      Right, the way we were taught in the beginning. I remember being told that how you stand- at all times- sends an important message to the judges.

CC:       Yup, that's how we were taught. I can see their blue coats right now!

FW:      (Laughs) You had to stand with your legs tight, stomach tight, chest up, shoulders back. That was a signal to the judges that you came to win.

CC:       Uh-huh. That's why I'm seeing an image of you standing there with your hands on your hips. (Laughs)

FW:      Hey, I turned that into an art form. They should name that pose after me! That's why I always tried to get off stage at some point. I knew the judges were marking me the whole time.

CC:       I think that's one of the requirements of being a bodybuilder. You have to suck it up [we have something wicked in store for you later] and show that you have the strength and discipline to endure. It's grueling as hell. Standing with everything flexed, under those hot lights for hours, is grueling. And we're weak from dieting and being bone dry. It shows your mental toughness.

FW:      It could mean the difference between first and second. It says, "I have the tenacity to be a champion." Okay, I just thought of another angle for this mandate. Is it more for the judges? Is it a message to them? Is it saying, "Guys, you're guiding the sport in the wrong direction?"

CC:       I think it's for both camps. We need to define where we came from and where we're headed. The future of our sport swings in the balance.

FW:      To me, it's more on the judges' heads. They have to enforce it. What are some of the possible repercussions?

CC:       That's the million-dollar question. I wouldn't even know where to begin.

Still Banging

We stopped here for a little break. On returning, I decided to take a different direction with the interview. Here's this guy, who I had known since my amateur days and he's still in it, battling for the brass ring. Knowing that the motivation to continue fades with time, I had to know how and why he's still chasing the dragon.

FW:      What's keeping you in the game? How has Chris Cormier managed to stay in this thing for so long? You're one of the last guys from the Venice Beach days.

CC:       I always knew what I wanted to look like. In my mind, I had a picture of the perfect body. It never involves having body fat so low that you look like the skin's been peeled off while still looking as if you're smuggling a basketball under your stomach. How is that possible? You know there's something wrong going on. But I had kept that image and worked to achieve it. I read "Beef It." I followed every instruction. I measured my calves, arms and neck. I practiced posing.

FW:      We're sitting here in Venice Beach, more than 10 years after it all started.

CC:       Yeah, the boys from Venice got this thing rolling. We started that whole scene. Arnold and Franco had their Venice thing, then we came and reinvented it in our own style. Everybody was copying us. From the tattoos, to the fancy cars, wearing fresh Nike kicks. We had the whole hip-hop thing on display. Bodybuilders didn't roll like that before us. Now we see bodybuilders from Indiana copping our style. I've even seen the European guys wearing the same stuff we do. I see guys wearing G-Unit and they don't even know whose label it is. They just saw us wearing it and thought it'd be cool.

FW:      Is this the year we see the real, Chris Cormier? People have been waiting a long time.

CC:       It's gotta be this year, cuz I'm tired.

FW:      (Laughs)

CC:       Seriously, I feel like I've got a new lease on life with the option to buy. It looks like we're going back to the days when shape ruled. In that age, I was tearing it up. Then the size era came and I was still top three.

FW:      Does this [mandate] give you an advantage over the others?

CC:       Yeah, we're looking for the best qualities- the best of both worlds. It's the complete package and I know I have what they're looking for. I always did, but they [judges] didn't.

FW:      You've been criticized in the past for partying when you should have been in the gym, deep into your diet. What's your retort to those allegations?

CC:       Man that was five years in the past. It's funny that people assume I'm doing the same things now I did back in 1995. Everywhere I went, I heard, "Chris was in the club and he was dancing. Chris was at a party and he was dancing! Did you see Chris? He was dancing!" I was getting my cardio out of the way. I was the only bodybuilder on the club scene at that time. You'd walk into a club and I'd be the only guy with arms the size of everyone else's legs. These days, walk into any club in the world and you're bound to see some bodybuilder chillin'.

FW:      Will we see Chris chillin' in there, too?

CC:       Nah, I'm too old now. That was yesteryear. Now I just hang out with friends, have a nice dinner. After the last Arnold, did anybody see me in the clubs? Nope! Those days are gone.

FW:      You took a lot of unfriendly fire during that period.

CC:       I wish I had a quarter for every time I heard (in a pinched-up voice), "Chris, if you get serious you'll do really well." I could buy my own country with that money. But now I'm the father of a six-year-old. I'm trying to be the best bodybuilder and father possible. I'm working on achieving goals I set 25 years ago. I've matured through my profession. People, that was five years ago. I wonder if these people are still doing the same thing they were five years ago? I wouldn't bet on it.

FW:      What if the judges don't follow through? What if they cave?

CC:       With my focus and physique being what it is, I'm right in it. No one but myself can stand in my way. I've never been so intense at 18 weeks out. Before, I used to wait until three weeks out before turning it on. Unfortunately, to take it to the next level at that point requires you to be hard. The density has to be in place if you want to make changes. This time, I'll have that density at the 12-week mark. My focus will allow me to be a better bodybuilder. You'll see me bring everything. It's still gonna take an enormous amount of muscle to win. But it's gotta be mass with class and that's what I'll deliver.

FW:      I'll ask the question on everybody's mind, which Chris will show up?

CC:       The same Chris that showed up from day one. I'm almost like a golf or tennis pro; I compete constantly, all over the world. Considering all the countries I've been in, I should have a separate watch set for each time zone. If you've done all the shows that I've done, you'd understand how hard it is on the body. You know how it is, Flex. You competed all the time, too. When people say, "Chris is going through the motions, he's not motivated," I just laugh. It's not lack of desire. I'm tired! Putting the body through such rigors takes its toll. Oh yeah, I want to come in a little off. It's tough.

FW:      Yeah, putting yourself out there perpetually doesn't come without consequences. What about the number of pro shows these days? After the Olympia, there's no European grand prix tour. The calendar is empty until next season.

CC:       I miss that.

FW:      I miss the money!

CC:       Oh yeah! You know it! Remember we'd be rolling with a couple of G's in our pockets?

FW:      Don't remind me. With the absence of the tour, do you think that's impacted the camaraderie of the guys?

CC:       Yeah, that chemistry we shared back in the day is missing. We connected on a deeper level, traveling together, competing, eating our meals-

FW:      Getting into scandals-

CC:       Let's not go there! We did create a ruckus, didn't we? But today, everybody's isolated from each other. You go to a show and see the guys, but we're all doing our own thing.

FW:      We were just at Gold's, what about the demise of that scene?

CC:       It's a sad situation. You can't go to Gold's and see Gary Strydom, Mike Christian, Samir Bannout, Mike Quinn, and Berry DeMey blasting away or eating at the Firehouse.

FW:      Tell me about it. Back then everybody was here. I remember seeing all these guys from the magazines walking around. It hit me that they really do exist. It's such an impact seeing someone in person as opposed to pictures in a magazine. Besides the guys you just mentioned, you could see Shawn Ray, Paul Dillet, Rico McClinton, you, myself. It was like a different time period.

CC:       Yeah and the tours were just a nonstop party. We rolled from one country to the next. It was like a traveling circus.

FW:      Being in close proximity 24/7 definitely created an atmosphere among the guys that's absent today. All right, I know you're busy, Chris, so one last question. If they do what they say, what will happen?

CC:       You'll see a new Mr. Olympia. You're looking at him.

FW:      On behalf of Steve and the MD staff, I want to say thank you for taking the time to do this interview. All eyes will be on you to see if the judges live up to their side of the bargain. On a personal note, it was great talking to you. I know you wanted to speak on a lot of issues and it was an honor being the bridge between you and the public.

CC:       Thank you, Flex. You've turned into a great reporter. When I grow up I want to do what you do.