Very nice evening in Tampa. A few thoughts after my 2 hour drive home from the show...
The auditorium was insanely nice. ushers everywhere to help.
The seats were very plush and comfy. I was seated in 3rd row, center, right behind photo pit.
The judges included the very famous Lee Thompson. Their little judging lamps were a tad bright for the crowd.
Darrem Charles' son Renald (?) sat next to me. Very nice kid. He yelled out things to Darrem when he was in the final posedown. Then he said some choice words when DC got 4th, and left. his very attractive date liked to talk on her cell phone loudly during posing routines, which got her a few negative stares.
James Flex Lewis was the crowd favorite of the evening. He beat David henry on legs... he beat every man in the show on legs. He's gonna be a beast in the pros. Very tiny joints, and the crowd loved him.
Milos was in the crowd looking lean and healthy.
Palumbo and Sugar Shawn Ray arrived at the night show and discovered someone else in their seats. Palumbo was very upset, there were things. The people moved and gave them their seat back. Dave stayed for the female BBers, then left for maybe 2 hours while Shawn typed on their laptop to MD forum like a madman. Shawn looked healthy.
Dan Solomon took me up onstage afterward and I met Bob and Ron.
Dan is bigger than he looks in pics, probably because he always stands next to pro Bbers. I'd put him at 210 pounds, very solid.
Bob is nothing like the ego-driven show you hear on the radio. In person, very calm and cool. You hear him on the radio, and it's this loud, brash opinionated guy with these little witticisms. In person, very cool, chatting about all sorts of things.
Ron Avidan is the man. Period. I said to him "I hear you have a small website?", and he started to tell me about it before Dan introduced me. We then took the obligatory punching pics.
Toney Freeman was up there cleaning up. Very big human being. However there was a man who handed freeman the winner's check, who was probably 3 inches taller and 50 pounds bigger. Who is he? Biggest person I've ever seen.
Crowd loved Flex lewis.
Crowd liked Darrem Charles and David Henry for the top 2. Judges had them in 4th and 3rd, and people were kinda pissed. Dennis James didn't look good at all. Toney didn't look special.
David Henry... words don't describe him, and pics don't do him justice. he's put together like no one else on the planet. He should have won it.
Dexter came out and spoke. He said Cutler was at his best 3-4 years ago, and he hasn't been that good since, and he knows Cutler won't look any better come Olympia.
marcus haley came out and gave an emotional speech about his trainer and the show promoter, Tim Gardner. TG was loved and revered by everyone there.
Expo was good. The usual stuff.
Lights, sounds, and flow of the show was great.
I'd recommend it to anyone. I'll see you there in Tampa next year!
