Special Ed's Olympia Preview and Predictions
Assuming everyone comes in decent shape, here are BIG SPECIAL ED'S Predictions.
1. Ronnie Coleman - Ronnie could lose to Jay if he comes in sloppy, but a 90% Coleman beats a 100% Cutler every time. No reigning Mr. Olympia has lost his title since "Pap" Samir Bannout forgot to suck up to someone back in 1984. Good thing Chick isn't a judge this year!
2. Jay Cutler - Jay has pretty much maxed out his body at this point. Great legs and slabs of muscle. Will never have Ronnie's arms, back, or diced glutes. Jay needs to bring that shredded conditioning we have seen in the past since his skin is thick and he lacks vascularity. If Jay sticks around, he has paid enough dues to be Mr. O from 2007-2011.
3. Dexter Jackson - Dexter has his flaws (high lats and zero calves) but he also has an extremly aesthetic build loaded with shredded muscle. In top shape, he can challenge Jay.
4. Gunter Schlierkamp - Do I think Gunter is a top 4 physique? Hells NO. But he gets that Arnold love from the judges and I can see that continuing this year. That's why AMI pays him the big bucks and those European judges love him.
5. Victor Martinez - Victor does not have a big frame and he has added about 30lbs of muscle to what I consider the best physique to have won the Nationals in the past 10 years. Though he is, as Judd Nelson observed, "pushing maximum density," in top condition (last seen at the 2003 NOC) he beats Dex hands down.
6. Gustavo Badell - I don't see the big deal with Gustavo. Sure, his arms are ridonkulous but he's too blocky (and cocky) for my taste. Apparently, based on the the last 2 years the judges don't agree with me. Another fave of the Euro judges seems to get the placings when it counts the most.
7. Branch Warren - A real fan favorite with the best tree trunks in the game, bar none. He's looking shredded to the bone and is thick as a brick. A topsy turvy version of Dennis James. Branch just doesn't have the upper body of a Mr. Olympia, but then again, neither did Tom Platz. Aesthetically, it ain't happening for Branch, but did I mention those LEGS???!!!
8. Dennis James - Monstrous upper body overshadows lower half. Muscles don't pop in arms extended poses. Thick and w-i-d-e as anyone here, Dennis is made for the relaxed round and suffers in the flexed comparisons. Unbeatable in the most muscular and very beatable in the front and rear double biceps. He would win the relaxed Mr. Olympia in my book.
9. Melvin Anthony - Has no weak bodyparts except for a sweettooth. Best taper and shape in this lineup. He has some structural issues (high chest, narrow clavicles) that can't be fixed and some conditioning issues (soft bottom blues) that have cost him in the past against the best. If he comes in with ripped glutes, he will break the top 6. If that ain't happenin', he will be battling it out with Branch and DJ for these spots. Melvin, drop the cookie and come out with your hands up!
10. Markus Ruhl - Markus placing 8 spots behind Cutler with more muscle and some better bodyparts doesn't seem right, but that's the way this German cookie crumples at the Olympia. It doesn't make sense to me either. If Ronnie, Dexter and Victor can all shoot the shit out of their non-existent calves, why do we hold Markus's triceps to a higher standard? I'd love to see Markus get some call-outs with Cutler and Coleman but that's not something the powers-that-be will allow.
Yeah, I know there are Mustafa lovers out there along with Troy Alves supporters, Darrem Charles believers, and Johnnie O. fanatics. None of these guys are in the same league as the above guys (assuming equal conditioning). Mustafa is too soft and blocky. Troy is too small without the wheels. Darrem has seen his best days. Johnnie O. is strictly 2nd tier material.
The only other person I consider as having a slight chance to crack the top 10 is Toney Freeman and I don't think he will get it done this year. Toney still has room to grow and hasn't shown he can beat any of the guys in this lineup. He has a great frame but will be exposed in this group.
Top to bottom, this is the strongest lineup in Mr. O history. Markus has been as high as 5th (in 2004). Melvin has been moving up from 11th to 9th to 7th in the last few years. And Victor finally cracked the top 6 last year. So something has to give. Should be interesting.
Ron, that's my prediction. Where's yours?
Special "Look Up My Nose...It Holds the Future" Ed
