A few observations from the Arnold

[MB]

The show was very close, probably the closest top 4 I've ever seen.  They were all in shape, but there was no clear cut winner.
Dexter - Very good with usual head to toe conditioning, but his legs were down in size.  
Kai - Always great from the back, but had a watery film, especially in the abs, chest, and arms
Phil - Pobably his all-time best with an improved back.  His lack of shoulder to waist ratio continues to hurt him.
Branch - Not as conditioned as the Olympia.  He tends to be soft from the back.      

I really thought it was a toss up between Phil, Kai, and Dexter.  

A few other things:
1.  Kai didn't deserve the best routine, his handstand against the back wall of the stage was weak.  I would have given the trophy to Hidetada.
2.  Clint Richards needs to be replaced as MOC.  This guy gets everyone's name wrong (continually called Brian Siders, Brian Winters at Saturday's strongman at the expo) and doesn't seem knowledgable at all.  
3.  The expo space is too small.  It's time for the Arnold to take the expo to a whole new level.  They are only holding themselves back by not growing with the crowd.  

[Lion666]

The show was very close, probably the closest top 4 I've ever seen.  They were all in shape, but there was no clear cut winner.
agree,,, though don't think branch belonged in the top 4 that day
Dexter - Very good with usual head to toe conditioning, but his legs were down in size.  
yep
Kai - Always great from the back, but had a watery film, especially in the abs, chest, and arms
his midsection was less than this year and i dont mean a film over it either, that woulda been better, it was just stickin out, period.
Phil - Pobably his all-time best with an improved back.  His lack of shoulder to waist ratio continues to hurt him.
agree although dont think he gets judged down for soulder/waist v-tape though, he was winning after prejudge
Branch - Not as conditioned as the Olympia.  He tends to be soft from the back.      

I really thought it was a toss up between Phil, Kai, and Dexter.  
dex only lost 3rd at the night show,,, was branch that much better at night, routine better?

A few other things:
1.  Kai didn't deserve the best routine, his handstand against the back wall of the stage was weak.  I would have given the trophy to Hidetada.
inclined to agree after seeing kais routine, thought it was weak too,,, didn't see hide's rout tho,,, how was melvins?
2.  Clint Richards needs to be replaced as MOC.  This guy gets everyone's name wrong (continually called Brian Siders, Brian Winters at Saturday's strongman at the expo) and doesn't seem knowledgable at all.  
qft, he didn't even get the show sponsor name right either, mhp... one of the strongmen had to show him the shirt up close so he could read it... getting the athlete names wrong is one thing,,, sponsor names wrong is bad business, they pay the bills.
3.  The expo space is too small.  It's time for the Arnold to take the expo to a whole new level.  They are only holding themselves back by not growing with the crowd.