Will Harris is always a wild card in the quest for a top five placing at the Ironman Pro. But the competitor surprised us last year with almost winning the 2007 Europa Pro show. So can Will come with a better physique at the Ironman Pro? Various sources who train with Will say yes, he is going to surprise everyone!

For more pics, click below

From our sources, Melvin Anthony has come back from a month out in Kuwait, where he ate, slept and trained hard for the upcoming Arnold Classic competition March 1st. Melvin went out there to endorse a gym, signed a lot of photographs, made a number of appearance, and even went on an Arabic television show much like the ‘Jay Leno’ show that we have here, and talked about bodybuilding, competing and training. Melvin spoke in English to the host, while the translator gave his responses. It was a blast.

Our friends say that Melvin is 255 pounds, and his conditioning is right on to surprise many at the Arnold Classic. Melvin may be considered the underdog at the Arnold Classic to place even in the top three, but he intends to beat out his own physique from the last show, which was the Olympia. Either way, it is going to be a great battle on stage between the competitors. We will next see Melvin at the Ironman Pro show, but not competing. Melvin will be there to check out his fellow competitors, and will be at the Weider booth, since Muscletech may not have a booth there.

Services will be held at:
Lakewood Cemetery & Chapel
3600 Hennepin Ave. South
Minneapolis, MN
2 pm on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2008

Another service will be be held in Rock Springs, WY within the next ten days.

CBS2 News gave us the identity of the two people who died on Saturday, February 2nd at their home. To our dismay and surprise, it was Dr. Bruce Nadler and his wife Terri, but of gunshot wounds that they say Bruce inflicted. Dr. Bruce Nadler was well known in the bodybuilding circles, and he took care of a number of bodybuilder, both before in New York, and also in Los Angeles. Here is the story.

On Monday, authorities identified a husband and wife who died in an apparent murder-suicide in the Park La Brea area of Los Angeles. Bruce and Terri Nadler, both 61, died on Saturday of gunshot wounds that authorities believe were inflicted by Bruce, said Craig Harvey of the coroner’s office. Officers were sent to the 200 block of South Detroit Street on a “shots fired” call about 11:25 a.m. Saturday, and found the bodies in their home, the Los Angeles Police Department reported. Homicide investigators believe they’ve also found the weapon used in the killings, but have not established a motive.

I received a call this morning from Erik Fromm’s sister, Dianna, informing me of the unfortunate news. Erik “The Viking” Fromm was found dead at his Richfield, Minnesota home last night. The cause of death has not been determined. Dianna said she would pass along more details as they became available. At the time of of conversation she believed Erik would be cremated as, “he never stayed in one place for every long”. His mother currently lives in Wyoming and his sister in Montana.

Erik was a consistent top 10 NPC Super-Heavyweight Bodybuilder. The 2004 NPC Nationals would be the last time he took the stage.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Fromm family.

Lonnie Teper, the emcee of the Ironman Pro, puts on his swami hat and breaks down the deepest lineup in the show’s history. Check out LT in this very entertaining video.

Muscular Development athletes are getting dropped or leaving left and right. The latest departure from MD is IFBB Pro Desmond Miller. Miller will be competing at the IRONMAN Pro in less than three weeks. MD’s Flex Wheeler coined him the best NPC Nationals winner of all-time.

The New York Times broke this story that had been lingering in the rumor mill for awhile. Another rumor proves to check out.

PLANO, Tex. — A black Hummer pulled into the Hooters parking lot as dusk fell. Arthur Dale Atwood, a professional bodybuilder with a 61-inch chest, opened the tailgate for a police informant to deliver more than 100 bottles of fake drugs made from vegetable oil.

When Arthur Atwood was arrested, he wasn’t charged with a drug violation because of a continuing federal investigation.

For months, city detectives had been watching as Atwood, 34, amassed steroids, human growth hormone, Ecstasy and exotic thyroid stimulators. Last May, the police made their move. Outside the Hooters lot, officers pulled over the Hummer. But instead of filing drug charges, they turned Atwood over to federal prosecutors running a more ambitious investigation.

Three days later, federal agents began arresting seven other bodybuilders across the state. One of them, David C. Jacobs, 35, known to friends as Bulletproof, publicly boasted of having evidence to link players for the Dallas Cowboys and the Atlanta Falcons to steroids. No such evidence has been revealed, and those teams have strongly denied his statements.

>> Read the full story here.

On Monday Night, “Pro Bodybuilding Weekly” the radio voice of professional bodybuilding, will celebrate its 100th episode. The show that first took to the air back in June of 2005, will mark the occasion by presenting a rare visit with one of bodybuilding’s most celebrated champions, Sergio Oliva. Regarded as bodybuilding’s most elusive interview, the former Mr. Olympia champion will join hosts Dan Solomon and Bob Cicherillo for a special “100th Edition” of bodybuilding talk radio.

>> Read Full Story Here.

Listen to replays on Bodybuilding.com

VYOTECH Nutritionals is excited to announce that “The Olly Girls” have officially committed to attend the Arnold Fitness Weekend and will be available for personal photographs with fans at the VYOTECH booth. This will be a first time in attendance at the Arnold Expo for the super duo from Beverly Hills. “We’re proud to be able to provide the fitness community an opportunity to meet and mingle with these two celebrities that have gained their fame outside of the fitness sector” says Spiro Kandis, VYOTECH Nutritionals President and Co-founder. “Their presence will provide the every day guy a chance to get close and personal with two of the hottest women in the entertainment industry right now”. “These are elite young Hollywood stars that you won’t find at any other booth”.

Today, The Olly Girls (Holly Huddleston and Molly Shea) are recognized worldwide and currently have the #1 reality show “Sunset Tan” on the E! Television Network. These sexy blonde bombshells are sure to make for an exciting and entertaining weekend February 29-March 2, 2008 in Columbus, Ohio.

VYOTECH Nutritionals are the makers of ORYX “The World’s Perfect Protein” and the new appetite suppressing “Hoodia Shot” all day energy drink. Both of these products will be available for sampling at the Arnold Classic Fitness Expo all three days. VYOTECH Nutritionals has always been known for having the hottest women at their booth and 2008 is no exception.

Season #4 to open with Nasser El Sonbaty & Boyer Coe – Plus: “Pep Talk” with Phil Heath

“Pro Bodybuilding Weekly” begins its 4th season on Monday night with an expanded 90 minute format.  Special guests will include the outspoken Nasser El Sonbaty, along with legendary Hall of Famer Boyer Coe, a former Mr. America, Mr. Universe and 1979 Mr. Olympia runner-up.  PBW’s 2008 Season Premiere also includes the first edition of “Pep Talk” – a new 30-minute weekly segment with bodybuilding insider Larry Pepe (featuring special guest Phil Heath).

The Voice of Professional Bodybuilding is LIVE on Mondays at 8pm ET. Visit the broadcast center at www.BodybuildingRadio.com

With the Ironman Pro 4 weeks away, it is looking to be one of the best Ironman men’s bodybuilding show ever. Phil Heath, Toney Freeman, Gustavo Badell, David Henry, Silvio Samuel, Johnnie Jackson, Troy Alves, Desmond Miller, King Kamali, Paco Bautista, Omar Deckard, Moe El Moussawi, Deshaun Grimez, Ray Arde, Will Harris and many others are going to showcase the first pro show of the year.

2008 Show Flyer:

From New Zealand, Moe sent us a few pics of him getting ready for the 2008 Ironman Pro, to be held on February 16 in Los Angeles. Moe plans on getting on the stage at 225 pounds, and at 5″9″, he plans to make excellent progress in his shape since last year. It will be interesting to see Moe compared to a number of other bodybuilders, as he looks quite good at the moment.

It is official. Victor Martinez, the number 2 bodybuilder in the world, and the defending champion of the Arnold Classic, is out. According to reports, he saw the pictures of Phil Heath and just freaked out.

Ok, maybe not. According to Dave Palumbo of Muscular Development, who denied the rumor yesterday, has reported it is true. Victor was injured on Wednesday, January 16th when he was doing some warm-up lunges. A visit to the hospital and a quick MRI showed that Victor will need surgery on his left knee.

Here is the statement by Dave:

On Wednesday January 16th, while doing a set of warm-up lunges at his home gym in New Jersey, 2007 Arnold Classic Champ Victor Martinez fell off balance and felt something “give” in his left knee. The pain wasn’t intense but it forced him to discontinue his workout. Today, he went for an MRI at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City and it was determined that he’ll require surgery to repair the injury. Victor will have one of the top orthopedic surgeons in the country operating on him tomorrow morning; and, if all goes as planned, he should be home by Saturday afternoon. As a result of the injury, Victor will be forced to withdraw from the 2008 Arnold Classic and, instead, will concentrate on the upcoming 2008 Mr. Olympia. Stay tuned for daily updates!