Arnold Classic 2008 - Who do you want to see in it?

[Lift Studios]

The Arnold will be here before we know it. Who would you like to see in the line up in 2008?

My short list. Obviously not everyone will get in and as you can see there are a number of great physiques to choose from. Those that get in will have a battle on their hands to get into the top 6.

Figure -
Michelle Adams
Catherine Anderson
Paola Almerico
Huong Arcinas
Sonia Adcock
Gina Aliotti
Natalie Benson
Monica Brant
Mary Jo Cooke
Krissy Chin
Amy Fry
Bernadette Galvan
Jennifer Gates
Heather Green
Mary Lado
Amber Littlejohn
Jenny Lynn
Shannon Meteraud
Inga Neverauskaite
Zivile Raudoniene
Kristal Richardson
Desha Rodriquez
Felicia Romero
Amanda Savell
Jessica Steffens
Kristi Tauti
Valerie Waugaman
Nicole Wilkins
Latisha Wilder

Fitness -
Myriam Capes
Heidi Fletcher
Addela Garcia
Tracey Greenwood
Oksana Grishina
Kendra Elias
Jen Hendershott
Tanji Johnson
Kim Klien
Julie Lohre
Michelle Mayberry
Mindi O'Brien
Julie Palmer
Julie Shipley-Childs
Stacy Simmons
Hollie Stewart

[mbell]

Well if Mo does the show, you know I'd love to see her take A title. She has earned and deserved it many times over.

If not and it goes how it usually goes, my guess is they'll give it to Amanda Jo or Gina A.

[Lift Studios]

Well if Mo does the show, you know I'd love to see her take A title. She has earned and deserved it many times over.

If not and it goes how it usually goes, my guess is they'll give it to Amanda Jo or Gina A.

"give it to"  I think those two have shown they deserve the title.

I asked who you'd like to see in the show, not complain about who you think will win the show. 

[mbell]

"give it to"  I think those two have shown they deserve the title.

I asked who you'd like to see in the show, not complain about who you think will win the show. 

Lol...good one Isaac  You just love to stir the shit don't you!

I can complain as much and anytime I want to and on any thread, even yours PUNK! You know Mo has deserved to win both the O and the Arnold a few times. However the powers that be won't ever let that happen. You know it, I know, she knows it and the fans know it. So quit yappin' at the jaws!!! 

By the way, that was not to take anything away from any other athlete. To compete on that level is a huge accomplishment and on any day, most of the ones mentioned could take the title.

[Fitness Fan]

Wrong side of the bed!?!?

I can complain as much and anytime I want to and on any thread, even yours PUNK!

[mbell]

Wrong side of the bed!?!?

You want some of me??

[Lift Studios]

Lol...good one Isaac  You just love to stir the shit don't you!

I can complain as much and anytime I want to and on any thread, even yours PUNK!

[mbell]

IF you only knew how dead on you were!!!

[FigureRX]

What does everyone think about having the Arnold be a pro figure debut?  I know that Briana T did it a year ago and I felt that was a well deserved invite, but I see a couple of athletes on the list above who have had their pro cards for a while but have not yet competed at the pro level.  Given the large number of qualified competitors do we think that hurts them, as far as selection?

[Tre]

What does everyone think about having the Arnold be a pro figure debut?...I felt that was a well deserved invite...

Never a good idea, especially in figure.

Otherwise, make it an 'open' event. 

[Lift Studios]

Never a good idea, especially in figure.

Otherwise, make it an 'open' event. 

I disagree. Many women would love to be invited to the Arnold stage and never make it. There are many pros that can hold their own on this stage. Nicole Wilkins is one who could fair well if she gets an invite.

Why isn't it a good idea oh tre one?

The Nationals winners usually receive an invite to the Arnold as well.

[cray2005]

Great topic, Issac!

Well, you pretty much nailed on the head who I would like to see on the Arnold Classic. I would like to add a few names for my list:

Figure:
Jane Awad
Juliana Malacarne
Julie (D.J.) Wallis Rengert
Debbie Leung

Fitness:
Angela Semsch
Debbie Czempinski

FigureRX and Tre have a point about people making the Arnold their pro-debut. I feel that you need to earn your spot at the Arnold since it is a prestigious title, much like the Olympia. They select who represents the sport the best to compete in it.

I'll use Julie Childs and Amanda Savell as examples. Each of them have worked their butts off to be the best in the business. They build up credibility until they made their Arnold debut and what happens? Julie gets in the top 5 in fitness at her first Fitness International, and Amanda gets a top-three spot in her first Figure International. Having a spot in the Arnold is not something anyone deserves; it's something you need to earn.  That's my take on it.

[Lift Studios]

Fair point on "earning" the right to the Arnold stage.

[Lift Studios]

Are you feeling left out because you weren't invited to the Invite-Only After Party in West Palm   

Here is begins - the upset husbands and boyfriends who I left off. 

Sandra has a great routine, no question.

[FigureRX]

I'd like to see Jelena Abbou make the Arnold stage, great star quality and I think she'd fit in very well with how they have judged the Arnold recently (somewhat different than the Olympia).  I think Paola will be up there as you mention and she'll do very well, and now that Amy Fry has an Olympia top ten under her belt the sky is the limit for her.

[Lift Studios]

Jelena is a good call as well to put her name in the mix.

[Lift Studios]

Don't get me wrong, I'm not upset that Sandra didn't make your list.  Everyone's entitled to their own favorites.  I personally feel Sandra has earned the right to be considered for an Arnold invite, simple as that.

If you weren't upset you wouldn't have posted something about an "after-party". The only "after party" I know about was held at Blue Martini and yes was invited to attend, however I chose to work and get the photos up.

Of course YOU are going to feel that way, you're her significant other. Sandra has improved and her routines are solid but let's be honest here has she shown she can consistently place in the top 5 or top 10 of every show she enters? Why should she be given an invite over any of the women that I mentioned on the list? Try to answer objectively.

[Tre]

Isaac,

Are you feeling left out because you weren't invited to the Invite-Only After Party in West Palm   

Whoa whoa whoa - you threw a party and didn't invite Isaac?

Hey, you're welcome to invite whomever you want, but Isaac is a really fun guy to have around...even when he's got his little camcorder.   

[KGM]

A lot of great names on those list.  The Arnold is a tough one to predict because not everyone who deserves to be there applies.  It's not easy dieting through the holidays!  

I would almost like to see the selection committee expand the list a little, at least to 18.  With so many new competitors having done so well it would be nice to see a few more opportunities available.  Plus, it seems every year there are one or two drop-outs after the selection due to illness or injury so expanding the number could balance this a bit.

Of course I have no say or control over this being considered, just my meaningless opinion  

Kevin

www.bodysport.com

[Ron]

The Arnold selection committee has an incredible tough job to decided which 15 competitors get the invite. I figure they use popularity, try to get the top athletes, some pro debuts, and also, competitors are are in Ohio due to the 'hometown' crowd.

For figure, I would like to see

1 - Sonia Adcock
2 - Gina Aliotti
3 - Paola Almerico
4 - Monica Brant-Peckham
5 - Natalie Benson
6 - Andrea Dumon
7 - Jennifer Gates
8 - Heather Green
9 - Mary Elizabeth Lado
10 - Mary Jo Cooke
11 - Jenny Lynn
12 - Shannon Meteraud
13 - Ziville Raudoniene
14 - Amanda Savell
15 - Chastity Slone
16 - Valerie Waugaman
17 - Latisha Wilder


For Fitness...

1 - Tanji Johnson
2 - Heidi Fletcher
3 - Bethany Gainey
4 - Adela Garcia
5 - Tracey Greenwood
6 - Oksana Grishina
7 - Amy Haddad
8 - Jen Hendershott
9 - Julie Lohre
10 - Kim Klein
11 - Mindi O'Brien
12 - Julie Palmer
13 - Brenda Lee Santiago-Capella
14 - Erin Riley
15 - Julie Shipley-Childs
16 - Stacy Simons


This is in no way any disrespect towards any competitor, it is just a list...

[Ron]

Hey Isaac, lighten up bro.  I was making a joke there with my invite-only after party comment (A very inside joke at that, between me and about 8 other people

Dude, relax... we got the special pictures from that party from two of the people there!

[Lift Studios]

Hey Isaac, lighten up bro.  I was making a joke there with my invite-only after party comment (A very inside joke at that, between me and about 8 other people  )

To be perfectly honest with you, I don't know what the selection criteria is for the Arnold Classic is.  Are you saying that a competitor has to have "shown she can consistently place in the top 5 or top 10 of every show she enters"?

I'm lightened dawg. I guess I didn't get the memo about it being an inside joke. Funny Ha. 

No, I'm not saying that but I am asking why she gets the nod over others and what she brings to the table that should put someone else on the outside looking in.

[jelena]

Jelena is a good call as well to put her name in the mix.

Yes I think she would be good in the mix 

[Tre]

I think Sandra should get in because she's from Canada and is a great fitness ambassador.

[Sweet Shape]

Hello everybody, I'm new in this site... there is something I can't hunderstand... Why Valerie Waugaman and Latitia Wilder do not plase top tree... What's wrong with them....??