Lee Priest is most definitely out of the 2009 Australian Pro, which has disappointed thousands of fans who wanted to see the comeback of one of the most prolific IFBB competitors, who was suspended when he left for a while. Lee is going to have surgery this Wednesday in Australia (that is Tuesday here in the US) on a torn tendon, which needed to be screwed back on to the bone and stitched (Lee’s words). After that, he won’t be able to move the arm for six weeks.

We wish Lee a speedy recovery. For all those fans in Australia, Lee is still supposed to be at the 2009 Australian Pro, just not competing on stage, but to greet the Australian fans.

Lee Priest anticipated return to the IFBB pro circuit at the 2009 Australian Pro five weeks away has been talked about for a long time now, and here are a few pictures of Lee Priest.

You can see more pics and a discussion of Lee Priest on the Getbig Boards at

“In light of recent circumstances, I feel it is my responsibility to clear the air and explain one of the many reasons why both Dave Palumbo and John Romano were terminated.

Dave was hired two years ago to be Editor-in-Chief of the Muscular Development website. During the first year, he was instrumental in helping to grow it. During this past year, Dave’s interests were focused increasingly on his side businesses of training athletes and launching his supplement line. John was hired by Dave as a paid employee to endorse and promote this supplement line.

Because of this, John’s position as Senior Editor was compromised. Together they were using MD and the website as a vehicle to further their own interests, and as a result, less time was being spent on increasing the website’s potential and taking it to the next level. During their employment, Dave and John’s contributions were very much appreciated, and they were well compensated.

Editor-in-Chief and Senior Editor are full-time positions and we require those who hold these titles to be willing to give their total focus. This was not the case. Dave and John have not worked onsite in the MD offices for over one year, which made working as a team extremely difficult. No one person is bigger than the team as a whole, and anyone who thinks Dave or John built MD is sadly mistaken. We have always had the best team of writers, athletes and employees and will continue on that path. When one door closes, another one opens and usually for the better.

I love bodybuilding and have always given MD 100 percent and have only had the best interest of the readers at heart. I ask anyone to dispute the fact that I have always been extremely loyal and generous to anyone who has worked for MD.

We are very excited about having Robbie Durand as the new Editor-in-Chief. He brings passion and incredible scientific knowledge to the site and will do whatever is necessary to meet the same high standards of excellence as Muscular Development magazine. Robbie wants very much to work with everyone in making this a team success. I hope you will welcome him aboard.

In closing, I want to reassure each of you that we will never compromise our mission and will always look to enlighten and inspire as well as search for new ways to continue to make MD the best bodybuilding magazine and website on the planet!”

Monday began with a jolt in the small world of bodybuilding, as we learned that Dave Palumbo and John Romano, were both let go by Muscular Development.  Robbie Durand has been appointed the new editor in chief of Muscular Development’s web site.

After Romano was fired by MD, he sent the following statement to PBW Radio about the situation.  (John’s statement was read by Dan & Bob on the PBW’s Feburayr 2nd show).
  
“After 18 years of dedicated service to Muscular Development Magazine, and more recently its website, the relationship that saw me rise from a mere contributor to Senior Editor has come to – as all things inevitably do – an end.  However, the end was not unforeseen. My gradually eroding confidence in the manner in which business was being conducted, and the decisions that were being made, painted a very telling picture of things to come.  Clearly, the direction the magazine and website are now headed counter my beliefs, not to mention those of my radio partner, and former Editor-in-Chief of the Muscular  Development.com, Dave Palumbo.  As you all probably know, Dave’s relationship with MD also ended today.  The manner in which the end unfolded was rather unfortunate, but not unexpected. It evinced quite accurately the evolving attitude of Muscular Development.
 
I am very grateful to Steve Blechman for the opportunity he has afforded me over the years and I wish him and his future endeavors much success.  To all my fans and loyal readers and listeners now decrying the gigantic whole I left in MD, rest assured –  You ain’t seen nor heard the last of me…..”   – John Romano

The weather is very nice here the week before the 2009 Ironman in Los Angeles.  For the last week, we have had 80 degree weather, and it is going to be that way also until Thursday, the weekend of the contest, where the forecasts call for rain.  Rain, in Los Angeles. Yes, it looks like that we may have a raincloud or two trying to wet itself on the convention center, where the 2009 Ironman and Fit Expo will be held.

This is the 20th year at the Ironman Pro Men’s bodybuilding contest, and it looks like the lineup is going to be a good one. Never mind the naysayers, who complain that some big names are not in this show. This lineup is just as good as in past years, and I, for one, am excited to see which names and surprises are going to be thrown at us this year.  You never know, but that does not stop me from making predictions. After all, I am taken away the title from Lonnie Teper from the past two years on making this predictions on the pro show (he will disagree with me, of course), and after a nice relaxing few weeks of holidays spirit, I am ready for the year. The top 5 here at this show are qualified to compete in the 2009 Olympia.

So who do we have competing this year. Here is the list that has been brought to our attention. It looks like 14 countries are being represented here. They are, in alphabetical order.

Eddie Abbew (England)
Troy Alves (USA)
Oliver Adzievski (Sweden)
Mohammad Bannout (Lebanon)
Thomas Bengali (Italy)
AD Cherry (USA)
Omar Deckard (USA)
Constantinos Demetriou (Australia)
Mark Dugdale (USA)
Tamer El-Shahat (Egypt)
Moe El Moussawi (New Zealand)
Oleg Emelyanov (Russia)
Aiman Faour (Lebanon)
DeShaun Grimez (USA)
Ahmad Haidar (Lebanon)
Marcus Haley (USA)
Johnnie Jackson (USA)
Martin Kjellstrom (Sweden)
Marc LaVoie (Canada)
Don Long (USA)
Daron Lytle (USA)
Caesar Mendible (Venezuela)
Evgeny Mishin (Russia)
Ronny Rockel (Germany)
Silvio Samuel (Spain)
Daniele Seccarecci (Italy), and
Hidetada Yamagishi (Japan)

So here goes, my top ten predictions.

1)   Moe El Moussawi.   Now Silvio is the man, the favorite in this contest, and some say that he will come in and win this show easily. I am not so sure.  Last year, Moe stunned the Ironman crowd by defeating Silvio here, causing Silvio to shake his head.  Silvio did come back and beat him at the Olympia, but this is a new year, and the question is, which one of these competitors can withstand the holiday season, and come back three weeks into January looking better than the other.  I have seen some pictures of Moe. He is ten pounds heavier than last year, and looks shredded. He is determined. He just may pull it off, and defeat Silvio here again, like last year. Only this time, there is no Phil Heath to block is path to the prize. Moe is flying in from New Zealand a week before the contest and will be ready.

2)   Silvio Samuel.   Silvio is amazing. No question about it. This guy enters contest after contest and never looks like he is out of shape. I think when I talk to people, Silvio is the one that they say will beat everyone who has entered this contest. Even in the offseason, Silvio looks great, so why is he in second. I don’t know. I just have this feeling that Moe might take it, and look for shredded.  Silvio, pound for pound, is bigger, stronger and more muscular, but in terms of being shredded, well… it is going to be a battle.

3)   Hidetada Yamagishi – Hide is hungry, coupled off the firestorm last year that derailed his career, and had him lose his contract and much more, in terms of respect from the Japanese people.  He was a Japanese hero, and his arrest was too much for some. Never the less, this is a new year, and he is determined to show everyone that he is in shape, that he can compete in the rank, and will qualify for the 2009 Olympia on the first contest of the year. After all, he is not currently competing at the 2009 Arnold, so this is his big change to show what he has.

4)   Johnnie Jackson –  Agreeing to compete on the last day of the deadline, Johnnie never looks bad, and is the strongest bodybuilder on stage. He knows he is in shape, his muscular and will not bore us as he should earn a trip to the 2009 Olympia.

5)   Troy Alves – Back look great, chest looks great, legs look good, but the hamstring and glutes. This is where placings are made, and will Troy be ready in terms of bringing the overall package this year. I think he will.  I spoke to Troy earlier this week, and he seem like he was spot on, and is excited to be competing again at the 2009 Ironman.

6)   Ronnie Rockel – Ronnie always comes in shape, and I know think this year won’t be different.  Muscular, conditioned and just a good overall physique will catapult him in the top 10, but will he be able to get into the top 5 . I am not so sure, judging by the deep lineup we have now.

7)   Mark Dugdale – For some reason, I feel that Mark, to me, as some of the deepest respect in bodybuilding. A full time job, married with three little girls, great family values, how do you get in shape for a contest. Still, it has to be tough, and Mark usually is in that spot between being a smaller bodybuilder or trying to pack on size and lose some symmetry by being a heavier bodybuilder. I hope Mark does well here, he is one of the nicest competitors out there.

8)   Eddie Abbew – We always forget about Eddie, but somehow, Eddie likes the early shows, and usually comes out in the best shape of the year at them. He placed 3rd at the Ironman a few years back, so I don’t doubt Eddie will be in the top 10.

9)   AD Cherry – He looked great when he won his pro card two years ago, but has not been able to look as good as he did. Still, I think this show AD will crack the top ten, and keep getting better and better.

10)   Marcus Haley – Marcus is going to surprise us, and get into the top 10 in the 27 man lineup. He is a small competitor, but the way I feel, his physique is going to make the judges happy, and they will reward him.

There are others who can make the top 10, including Ahmad Haidar, Omar Deckard, and DeShaun Grimez, and of course, anyone else who worked hard during the holidays, and will surprise us here. It always happens. See you at the 2009 Ironman!

Alan Stiles, the former publisher of Mens Fitness and Esquire magazines, has died. He was 54. Mr. Stiles died Jan. 9 after being struck by a commuter train in Boston. The death was confirmed by Marlene Kahan, the executive director of the American Society of Magazine Editors, and Joe Pesaturo, spokesman for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.

Pesaturo said the trains 240 passengers were not injured in the Jan. 9 incident. Stiles, of Nashua, N.H., parked his car along the Massachusetts Turnpike, then apparently walked into the path of the oncoming train after it left Bostons South Station. Stiles had a long career in magazines. He helped relaunch Mens Fitness, where he worked as publisher from 2003 to 2004. He also helped launch ESPN The Magazine and served as publisher at Esquire and as a top executive at Vanity Fair and GQ.

From http://www.tributes.com/obituary/show/Alan-Stiles/85011758

Johnnie Jackson also has elected to jump into the 2009 Ironman, and thus we have a great lineup for the first IFBB men’s pro contest of the year.  We last saw Johnnie Jackson on the 2008 Mr. Olympia stage! See you in one week at the Los Angeles Convention Center for the contest.

Running a supplement store is never easy, but Troy Alves is doing quite well in Peoria, Arizona taking care of his customers.  Today, Troy Alves announced that he is also competing at the 2009 Ironman next Saturday, and judging by some of the pictures that we saw, he is going to do just fine!

In the last day, I have heard that Omar Deckard and Tamer El-Shahat both have applied to compete in the 2009 Ironman Pro men’s bodybuilding contest.  The contest is now up to 25 competitors, and I have heard that a few more top bodybuilders are planning to showcase themselves too.  This lineup is getting good, and remeber, at this contest, the top 5 competitors are qualified to compete in the 2009 Olympia in Vegas! 

I have known the main people of Pro Fight for a few years, and congratulations on Pro Fight becoming the title sponsor of the 2009 Ironman. Here is some of the team at the 2008 NPC Excalibur, as we talked about their sponsorship of the Ironman.

Except to see Pro Fight everywhere at the contest, near the boxing rings, the powerlifting events, and much more.

For more pics, click on the link below

Monday morning, January 12th, and an updated competitor list came out, as the start of the 2009 IFBB Men’s bodybuilding season will begin 12 days, on January 24th, at the Los Angeles Convention Center Hall. As I have heard, there will be more added to the list as the deadline to enter approaches, but here is who we have competing at the moment.

Eddie Abbew (England)
Oliver Adzievski (Sweden)
Mohammad Bannout (Lebanon)
Thomas Bengali (Italy)
AD Cherry (USA)
Constantinos Demetriou (Australia)
Mark Dugdale (USA)
Moe El Moussawi (New Zealand)
Oleg Emelyanov (Russia)
Aiman Faour (Lebanon)
DeShaun Grimez (USA)
Ahmad Haidar (Lebanon)
Marcus Haley (USA)
Martin Kjellstrom (Sweden)
Marc LaVoie (Canada)
Don Long (USA)
Daron Lytle (USA)
Caesar Mendible (Venezuela)
Evgeny Mishin (Russia)
Ronny Rockel (Germany)
Silvio Samuel (Spain)
Daniele Seccarecci (Italy)
Hidetada Yamagishi Japan)

The biggest name to pull out is Gustavo Badell, who was rumored to have said that he pulled out due to family reasons… but with the Arnold Classic six weeks after the Ironman, will he be ready for that show?

Kenny Kassell, part of the NPC team that takes care of all of the national shows, passed away unexpectedly. For many of us who cover the NPC shows, we just saw him at the NPC Nationals, backstage, doing what he loved doing. He will be sorely missed, and he is also the backstage announcer at many of these shows. The cause of death was determined to be Congestive Heart Failure (CHF). 

The funeral service will be on Sunday, December 28th, at 10am

It is on Sunday at 10 am  at Temple Beth El, 221 Schraalenburgh Road, Closter, New Jersey, 07624  Please call 201-768-5115 for more info.

From bodybuilding.com’s profile on Kenny.

Kenny Kassel has been involved in the fitness industry for over 25 years and in the entertainment industry for over 15 years. Kenny had been training with weights since he was 14 years old. He was lucky enough to have learned how to properly work out from legendary bodybuilders like Tom Platz, Danny Padilla, Robby Robinson, Leon Brown, and Pete Grymkowski, while visiting California in the 1970s.

After starting a gym, he began training many bodybuilders, and specializing with the women, starting around 1981. Kenny also had some of the professional athletes in his native NY area, such as members of the NY Yankees training in his gym. He worked with several members of the 1986 Super Bowl Champion NY Giants.

His foray into the entertainment industry began when he started Beauti-Fit Talent Agency, in order to start and nurture the careers of model Raye Hollitt, who became a star of the popular television show “American Gladiators.” Kenny also worked with several women who were bodybuilders and were marketable and helped them find work doing guest performances, and receiving major media coverage.

Kenny has managed 1989 National bodybuilding Champion Sharon Marvel, and later on managed 2000 Ms. Olympia Valentina Chepiga. In the early 1990s a friend who was a trainer and had moved out to California to train film stars introduced Kenny to 11-time World Kickboxing Champion Don “The Dragon” Wilson, who had already starred in over 20 action films.

With over 400 competitors, here are the top overall winners and the final shot of the night on stage here in Atlanta. Congratulations to Ed Nunn, Erin Stern and Shiela Black.