Took the drive out to Hartford with fellow GB'er theEsquire today to check out my first pro show since the NY Pro the year Marvelous Melvin Anthony won it. I dunno, 2005 or 2006?
Anyway here's a recap for yo asses.
- Runningmom is a doll. She was there to support her friend Ripitupbaby (Lori Steele) in her first pro show and was kind enough to meet us and introduce us to some other people. Met Ron Harris and Bob Bonham who were both decent guys in person. She also baked 3 batches of white chocolate macadamia nut cookies and a shitload of cannolis, of which she gave some to us. Dee, you're all class!
- Said hello to Bob Chick and chewed the fat for a few minutes. I made sure to give a GetBig shoutout and to critique his suit (Dr. Evil suit with navy embroidered vest, powder blue check tie and two tone shoes complete with mid length pompadour haircut.) In all honesty, Bob has been super approachable and cool the few times I've met him, and he deserves big props for sticking around the Thunderdome all these years. He also does a great job as MC. Made a good "ketchup" joke about Heinz Senior, timed well and got a bunch of genuine laughs from the crowd.
- Met and spoke w Toney Freeman for a good 10 minutes about a variety of subjects. He was very likeable and well spoken as well as self confident. In the competition, he was clearly the best bodybuilder on stage, just 4 weeks out of shape to be able to win the show. But seriously, everyone else looks like an amateur next to him, development wise. Wish he came in 90% cuz that would be enough to hand everyone their asses.
- Spoke briefly with Jason Arntz, who looks lean and ready very early for the 202 O. Cordial and spent time to chat.
- Jose Raymond has the biggest ghona paws I've ever seen. And forearms. And calves. He looked like he was 240 lbs, 8 weeks out, with a double chin and neck rolls with veins on top of everything. Bizarre beast of a man. His hands were twice the size they should be for a man his size.
- Fahkri Muhbarrek (sp) is an enormous dinosaur midget. I can't even explain this to someone who hasn't seen it in person. Forearms defy physics. Calves are heinously huge. He was wearing a bedspread that looked tight on him. Just pukishly big.
- Evan Centopani dressed like a totally normal new dad dude who just happens to be like 290 lbs. Also, to be noted, looked totally comfortable in his own skin and not the least like a sweating, uncomfortable mess you'd expect from a mass monster. Also smiled a bunch. Congrats on the baby, Evan.
- Jeff Long got HOSED. Kid was diced to bits from the back. His calves shit on everyones so bad it's not funny. They had TEETH. Hams were razors, glutes in , back diced and arms huge. He just looked really good and I had him in 4th. Not sure where he ended up but it was out of the top 5.
- Mark Lavoie (Who?) somehow waltzed into second. I had him in like "who cares, not top 7". So yeah, he was wide as a house, and conditioned nicely... but he just wasn't impressive in person. When Will Harris was called out in 4th, we all laughed that this Lavoie stooge beat him. Then they called out Ben White in 3rd and we were like "Come Onnnnnnnnn..." Total gift to someone who is about to get smeared all over the O stage.
- Ben White was dry as a bone and could have won.
- Troy Alves was tight and shapely and deserved a win.
- Will Harris was no worse than 3rd.
- The Mo fella has oil in his calves and tri's so bad that they don't actually flex.
- The chick who got third in the womens BB contest... I couldn't beat her on every drug on earth. She got hosed too (although the winner was pretty effin good). The rest of the FBB's were "hard to look at".
- Mark Lavoie will probably win the O because nobody can figure out what's supposed to beat him.