Do you remember the good old days when:

 

By Ricky Dale Crain

.....the entry blank to a meet looked like an entry blank and not an I.R.S. form?
.....the entry fees were ALL $5.00?
.....Awards were ribbons or medals for gold, silver, and bronze?
.....Outstanding lifter and team trophies were 10" tall?
.....The 45 pound plates were so fat you could only fit 6-7 on a side?
.....The uprights on the bench were narrow and if you didn't pay attention when unloading someone was in trouble?
.....Everyone used olympic bars....there were no power bars or deadlift bars or squat bars?
.....Only plywood.....no rubber mats?
.....Ace bandages were used for knee wraps and wrist wraps and for whatever else you decided to wrap (heh heh)?
And weightlifting belts weren't a whole lot bigger or more supportive than the one you wore to work or school.....