This giant 500-page issue happens to be our annual “Arnold issue” in which we dedicate tons of pages to the greatest show on earth, the Arnold Classic. Why is the Arnold Classic the greatest show on earth? Because it's the greatest for the fans. The Olympia is the most prestigious for our pro bodybuilders, but the Arnold has an expo three times larger than the Olympia with 39 different sports competing - and the 130,000 fans who come to Columbus are paying witness to an event nearly double the size of the Olympics. That's why it's the greatest show on earth. The fans' perspective is the most important, and this one is the best for the fans. Remember, the fans love Arnold!
It's also a giant payday for the pro bodybuilders. Not to mention prestigious in its own right, going all the way back to 1989 when Rich Gaspari won the inaugural event. Every year, the competition has gotten tougher, and this year is perhaps the deepest lineup in history.
In this issue, four-time Arnold Classic champion Flex Wheeler gives his preview and predictions for the top seven in this 19th running of the Arnold Schwarzenegger classic. Flex puts Dexter Jackson, Victor Martinez, Gustavo Badell, Toney Freeman, Markus Ruhl, Branch Warren, and Phil Heath in no particular order, however with six of the top seven guys members of Team MD, chances are pretty damn good that one of our guys will once again be driving home from Columbus in his new truck, wearing that enormous Audemars Piguet watch and clutching a check for $105,000.
We are also, for the first time, the official national sponsor of the ASC. I look forward to working with Arnold and Jim Lorimer in the future - helping them and doing more to help make the show become even bigger and better.