This is light. RIGHT?!
After yesterdays post on my worldwide ban of the word ‘Toned’ our tosa friend and awesome graphic designer asked a very poignant question: “If all I do is sit at a computer all day and occasionally have to pick up a 50# bag of fertilizer, why do I need to be strong?” I loved this because I believe this is one of the most common misconception of civilized man. My quick response would be:
What if that 50# bag of lawn food felt like 5#?
That’d be better. Right? And wouldn’t that highlight the exact reason that stronger is better? Because we CAN DO THINGS BETTER. That’s a good thing. It’s the perfect illustration that stronger is best in every day life. Yes?
I cannot for the life of me fathom how Strength went out of style. Like the 80’s. Toto and Strong, poof, out along with Jelly shoes and leg warmers (but I still wear leg warmers. True Story.) Anyways. I honestly have no idea. Why did strong become a four letter word in America? We were out last night to watch the hockey game with Bigg’s Russian pal, also a hockey player, and as I looked around the Brew Pub I realized that there was not one man in the joint that “looked” strong. There were a couple of maybe construction workers so by trade, they needed to be strong but guess what? Their job would go better and they’d last longer if they were not only job strong, but gym strong. Duh. ( By the way, LA is up 3-0. Suck it Rangers.)
I read this article yesterday written by John Romano. It made me ask Bigg this question, are modern American men afraid of Testosterone? Has a T-count over 250 become so scary that men will do whatever they can to avoid it? Are women who demand girly men equally terrified of becoming a victim of the media popular “roid rage” monster that exists as true as Bigfoot and ‘Nessie? Has the media/Congress circus that has revolved around steroids and raised testosterone actually caused men to welcome the low count AND teach their sons that they don’t want a level of 800 or they’ll end up raging and then dead of steroid cancer? Steroid cancer, I’ve actually heard that one.
Why do I need to be strong if I don’t live in a world where I don’t need to display strength? Well, I would ask, what world exists where you don’t display strength? What is the alternative? Well sure, there’s a grey area before ‘weak’…maybe. I had a stint this spring where I tried some different training. It didn’t work. I actually became weaker and fatter. Yuck. See, since I’m strong to begin with I recognize the feeling of weaker. I don’t like it. Do those who aren’t strong just accept that weakness feels okay? I dunno.
But I want to know. Why is Strong out of style? Why don’t we want 50 pounds to feel like 5 pounds? Why is a T-count higher than 246 scary and why are men so afraid to go to a T-Clinic to remedy the situation? Why do skinny jeans in the men’s department even exist? Why don’t more beefy men train in Ranger panties? (Okay, I just threw that one in for fun. But really…)
Brandon Lilly’s 800# deadlift…in Ranger Panties style shorts. You’re welcome ladies.
Really.
I like there to be some testosterone in rock, and it’s like I’m the one in the dress who has to provide it.
Courtney Love
tosabarbell 