Tiger Fitness
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- Sep 12, 2021
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Just watched Mark Lobliner break down the current chatter around how “everyone’s a pro now” in bodybuilding — and honestly, he made a solid case against that claim.
Lobliner starts by addressing the hate some pros get with people saying, “Pro cards don’t mean anything anymore.” He shuts that down quickly by pointing out how brutal the process still is — physically, mentally, and yes, with drug risks too. People literally die trying to go pro.
He then cites a post by fellow competitor Paul Barnett (who earned his card at 49!) and digs into the numbers:
USA's = 6 pro cards
Nationals = 13
Amateur Olympia = 3
Team Universe = 9 open, 4 masters
North Americans = 13 open, 4 masters
Masters USA (where Lobliner won) = just 4
Total in the U.S. over the last 10 years? Just 670 new pros — or about 67 per year.
Now compare that to 256 players drafted into the NFL yearly. Statistically:
1 in 746 amateur bodybuilders go pro (0.134%)
Better odds of making the NFL than going pro in bodybuilding.
He also makes the case that more pro cards have created more opportunity — especially for guys who would’ve gotten destroyed back in the Ronnie, Flex, Kevin era and just walked away. Now? They stick with it and push further.
Mark wraps it with this: Respect anyone who earned pro status — it still means something. Not everyone can diet, train, eat, and suffer enough to get there. The system isn’t broken; it's evolved.
His take: maybe we need more pro cards, not fewer.
Thoughts? Do you agree with Lobliner? Are there too many pros today — or are people just salty they never earned one?
Let’s hear it below.
Lobliner starts by addressing the hate some pros get with people saying, “Pro cards don’t mean anything anymore.” He shuts that down quickly by pointing out how brutal the process still is — physically, mentally, and yes, with drug risks too. People literally die trying to go pro.
He then cites a post by fellow competitor Paul Barnett (who earned his card at 49!) and digs into the numbers:
USA's = 6 pro cards
Nationals = 13
Amateur Olympia = 3
Team Universe = 9 open, 4 masters
North Americans = 13 open, 4 masters
Masters USA (where Lobliner won) = just 4
Total in the U.S. over the last 10 years? Just 670 new pros — or about 67 per year.Now compare that to 256 players drafted into the NFL yearly. Statistically:
1 in 746 amateur bodybuilders go pro (0.134%)
Better odds of making the NFL than going pro in bodybuilding.
He also makes the case that more pro cards have created more opportunity — especially for guys who would’ve gotten destroyed back in the Ronnie, Flex, Kevin era and just walked away. Now? They stick with it and push further.
Mark wraps it with this: Respect anyone who earned pro status — it still means something. Not everyone can diet, train, eat, and suffer enough to get there. The system isn’t broken; it's evolved.
His take: maybe we need more pro cards, not fewer.
Thoughts? Do you agree with Lobliner? Are there too many pros today — or are people just salty they never earned one? Let’s hear it below.
