COMPETITION
The 1979 Night of Champions: A Classic Show that Ended in Controversy!

New York City: Brash; Bold; Unpredictable. It is a city where anything can happen and, at one time or another, pretty much everything does. And so it is fitting that "The Big Apple" would play host to the professional bodybuilding competition that probably holds the record for most controversial decisions: "A Night of Champions."

Inaugurated in 1978 by Wayne DeMilia, Karen Clark, and Charles Blake, "A Night of Champions" was New York City's first and, to this day, only professional bodybuilding show. Held at the upper west side's Beacon Theater, the NOC has attracted some of the sport's most rabid fans from the tri-state region and beyond.

Until the creation of the Arnold Classic by Arnold Schwarzenegger the NOC was considered to be the second most prestigious event for IFBB athletes, next to the Mr. Olympia. And, being such, it has always attracted many of the best bodybuilders in the world.

Let the Show Begin
The show's history began smoothly enough, with the popular Robby Robinson being its first winner, beating out massive second-place finisher Roy Callender, aesthetic Bill Grant in third, and the "Ragin' Cajun," Boyer Coe who tied master poser Ed Corney for fourth place. It was the following year, 1979, however, when the NOC started to earn its reputation as a competition with a little something extra.

Once again, superstar Robby Robinson was entered. Having won the heavyweight class of the 1978 Mr. Olympia seven months prior he was considered to be the second best, if not the best, bodybuilder alive. Bill Grant, Boyer Coe and Ed Corney were also returning for a second go at it. But there were a few competitors who weren't around the previous year.

New pro Mike Mentzer was already making waves in the I.F.B.B. as the winner of the Southern Pro Cup and Florida Pro Invitational shows that year and was predicted to be Robby's main competition. Old stalwart Ken Waller would make a return from elbow surgery at this show. And 5' 2" Danny Padilla, in his sophomore year as a pro, would also try to upset the seemingly unbeatable Robinson.

They Might Be Giants...
As predicted, Robby walked onstage looking like a superhero– wiiide shoulders, 28" waist, bicep peaks like the Matterhorn. He was, to coin a phrase, "chiseled perfection."

When Mentzer hit the stage it was as if Hercules himself strode down from Mt. Olympus to grace the NYC audience with his presence. Thick and broad, he brought slabs of muscle to the posing dais unlike anything seen there before. Robby would surely have his hands full with the mighty Mentzer.

... But a Giant Killer Lurks
But then, something unexpected happened. A phenom emerged from the Beacon wings. Combining the proportions of Robinson with the mass of Mentzer and showing a level of definition he had never known before, this 5' 2" dynamo went on to bring the house down with his self-deprecating posing routine to the tune of Randy Newman's "Short People." It became immediately apparent that Danny Padilla had finally reached the level of a top contender.

It was clear from the outset that the top three finishers would be Robinson, Mentzer and Padilla. The others would have to vie for fourth place.

When the three comparison rounds were complete the judges tallied their scoresheets to essentially determine their winner. While the final posedown still remained it was usually considered a formality, a crowd-pleasing grand finale during which the top five guys would duke it out, mano-a-mano, hitting poses rapid fire, more for the sound of applause than with the idea of impacting the judges' decision.

The winner of the first three rounds was always the winner of the show.

Danny Padilla

So, during the break between rounds three and four the points were added and the score read:

Robby Robinson- 299 pts.: Mike Mentzer- 297 pts.: Danny Padilla... 300 pts.! A perfect score for the 28-year-old! And against two of the top three bodybuilders in the world! It was no small upset in the making.

That evening, with knowledge of their standings, the three men, along with Bill Grant and Boyer Coe, took the Beacon stage in the free-for-all posedown.

The Showdown
Robby fought against a second-place finish with each pose, despite the exhaustion he was now experiencing from having competed in three shows within a five week span. Mike felt the same stress as Robby and, understanding that his posing skills were not quite at Robinson's level yet became somewhat accepting of the fact that, this one time, he might not take first place. Danny went along posing as he often did, even-keeled, workmanlike, some might say a bit boringly. But he was thoroughly professional throughout.

Shortly after the free pose ended it was time for the trophy presentation. Wayne DeMilia read the scorecard to the audience.

"In fifth place, and receiving a check for $1000... Bill Grant!" Expected by most.

"In fourth place, receiving a check in the amount of $1,200... Boyer Coe!" No surprise there.

"And in third place, receiving $1,600..." The tension grew. "Mike Mentzer!"

While there were scattered boos the audience accepted Mike's fate well.

Fit to be Tied
"And now..." A pause from DeMilia. "Ladies and Gentlermen, we don't have a second place winner. After four rounds... we have a tie... between Danny Padilla and Robby Robinson for first place!"

The crowd loved it. This meant more competition for them because now Danny and Robby would have to engage in a two-man elimination posedown- the first of its kind!

The crowd by this point was clearly behind the "Giant Killer." They made it their mission to cheer him on to victory.

But the experience and regal composure of "The Black Prince" made the difference on the night of May 12th, 1979 and Robby Robinson was awarded the winner's trophy and $6000 top prize, leaving a confused but upbeat Danny Padilla with a check for one-third that amount and a new fanbase 2,700 strong.

The Aftermath
Yet the questions linger: Why was Robby able to win the 1979 NOC- a bodybuilding show- when he was judged not to have the best body onstage that night? Should his posedown ability have been factored into the decision? Did the fact that Joe Weider was promoting Robby as his next great star or that he recently had commissioned a sculptor to create a bust using his head on Robby's torso have anything to do with the outcome? Or did the judges just see something with Danny and Robby going one-on-one that they hadn't previously?

And so began the legacy of unusual and controversial decisions at the "Night of Champions" (as it has been renamed) that continue to this day.

Only in New York, folks. Only in New York.

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Information was compiled from Jack Neary articles in the September and October 1979 issues of Muscle magazine as well as eyewitness accounts.

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