Huge weekend at the USA’s …

I have many friends competing this weekend in Las Vegas, NV at the 2010 NPC USA Bodybuilding, Figure, and Bikini Championships.  I want to wish each and every one of them the very best as they embark on perhaps their greatest competitive accomplishment thus far.  I still miss competing at the USA’s … always had a great time, and the show always seemed to bring out the absolute best in my physique.  The hard training leading up to the show, the months of bland food, the tremendous anxiety waiting for the show to start, the thrill of victory, and of course the agony of defeat … what a roller-coaster ride! LOL.

Way too many names to throw out there so I’ll just say “Good Luck!” to all of my bodybuilding friends competing.  So many familiar faces that I competed against back in the day still vying for a victory and pro card.  Also, so many fresh faces of very hungry talent looking to make their mark in the sport.  I have said this before, but the USA Championships is my favorite of the two major NPC national level shows.  Always in the same place, and always around amazing food & entertainment.

To Anh Jung … you looked fantastic last night.  With so many fit bodies up there, sometimes its easy to get overlooked.  Keep your head up and soak up the USA atmosphere.  Jea, you did a great job helping her through her first national level show.  To Julia Aragon (Figure, Class A) … good luck this afternoon.  Your ride through the NPC may be a very short one if you can come up with a victory this weekend.

What a HOT summer!

Don’t know about everyone else out there, but southern California is friggin’ hot these days!  I guess it could be worse considering my son is in Texas where blazing hot weather is the norm … coupled with humidity that can be cut with a knife and daily thunderstorms, it can certainly be much, much, worse … LOL.

On a different note, I am still getting a lot of emails about returning to the sport of professional bodybuilding. Although I do miss the art of transforming my flesh into chiseled granite, I definitely don’t miss all of the bullshit.  I have many friends who still compete and are still caught up in the political turmoil that continues to plague the sport.  When the competitive bug bites hard, all it takes to dissuade me is to log into Bodybuidling.com’s contest coverage and check out the latest contests news and pictures.  I guess to the average eye, the physiques all look the same.  However, there are always a few bodybuilders who get overlooked.  At the end of the day, its still about who’s with whom and the almighty dollar.  I can certainly sympathize with all those who are not given a fair shake … I have been there.  I just don’t see how “the powers that be” expect competitors to try their absolute best when they are judging by a completely different set of rules.  Just let the best physiques place … how hard is that?  But then again, some people compete just for the sport of it.  I walked away because competing was no longer fun.  I had great sponsors that took care of my expenses, but I just wasn’t having fun.  To each his own, but I don’t see how anyone would want to compete when all it does is eat away at their finances.  Isn’t the whole point of turning professional to make a living at what you are doing?  Oh well … if it doesn’t dawn on them today, it certainly will dawn on them at some point.  The sad thing is that many of them have families to support.  For those of you who can relate to this last paragraph, let me leave you with a simple thought.  If competing robs you of your finances instead of building it … and if competing robs of you of your health instead of nourishing it … then, is it really worth it at the end of the day?  It doesn’t matter how many championships you win or how many Sandows you attain, you are only as good and as remembered as your last victory.  One life to live, and an extremely limited time to fulfill a legacy for those who matter most … your family.

How the heck did I start with the weather and end up on life?  Sorry folks, I went off on a tangent there.  I guess spending time with some of my closest friends who still compete, and listening to them vent about their frustrations has made me really thankful that I walked away from the IFBB with my life intact.  I don’t want to be remembered by my accomplishments on stage.  I want to be remembered as a good person who helped others become good people.  Now that’s a legacy worth striving for.

Looking forward to an amazing 4th of July at Muscle Beach …

I will head-judging the 4th of July Muscle Beach Championships.  Once again, Joe Wheatley has planned a fun and excitement filled weekend at the world famous “Pit” in Venice Beach, CA.  Not only will there be plenty of hot bodies on stage, but for the first time in Muscle Beach history there will be a wedding held as well. NPC National sensation Jerome Ferguson and IFBB Pro Marnie Holley will declare their marriage vows on stage and set off fireworks long before the evening festivities are slated to occur.  If you have never been to a Muscle Beach event, don’t miss this one.

Many thanks to Joe Weider and his family for donating four extra bleachers to accommodate the thousands of spectators who come out to support Muscle Beach.  Be sure to bring plenty of sun-block as the bleachers are not covered, but are plenty comfortable for all to enjoy.  I hope to see everyone out there.  Don’t hesitate to stop by the judges table to say “hello” … I certainly do not bite … LOL.  No matter what you decide to do, do it responsibly and be safe.