2008 Arnold Blog

I’ve been meaning to post these since about 5 minutes after the men’s finals, and am now just finally getting around to it, LOL!

Here is the pro men’s scorecard and the official press release for your viewing pleasure!

Enjoy! 

The 2008 Arnold Classic Men’s Finals (Night Show) is starting right now!  We’re backstage and the live presentation of the National Anthem was truly goosebump-raising!  The military choir truly inspired -

If you’re not yet watching the action, what are you waiting for?

Tune in here, for free:

http://webcast.bodybuilding.com/fitshow/2008arnold/med/2008arnold_med.html

I was at the Grand Opening for the MAX MUSCLE Denver, where Phil Heath stopped by and said hello. Gunter and Kim were the special guests but a few visitors got an added treat when the IRONMAN champ showed up.

Check out the video interview with Phil on FLEXONLINE.com.

Big Will step on stage at the 2008 Ironman thinking that just maybe this would turn out to be his big day.  When the night was over things hadn’t worked out like Will had hoped they might.  Leading up to the show Will seemed to always be in positive attitude which is not so easy when your on a low carb diet. After Big Will competed in the 2007 Mr. Olympia he started to approach his off season training like there wasn’t a off -season, with keeping better condition thru the year Will realized he would be able to reach contest shape easier without risking loosing hard earned muscle while dieting.

After the Ironman on Sat night I went to train that following Monday at Golds gym in Venice where I ran into Big Will and we talked a few minutes between sets as Will worked with his Clients.  Will admitted he was disappointed with the contest results but that the show is over and he gave what he had. Will “World” Harris said he might take the rest of the year off to bring his body up to a new better level then what we’ve seen so far from him.    Will maintains a very busy scheduel with his personal training company as you can usually find him at Golds Venice from 8:00 am till about 8:00 pm working with clients.  I have had the pleasure with knowing Will for about 10 years and Will has always been a true and honest friend.  Last year after not training or competing I decided to step back on stage and Will was there to give me honest advice up to the show, even with his own busy scheduel.

I had planned to do the Masters Nationals in 2008 and after the Ironman Big Will came up to me and said "Now is your time so let’s do it" so Will started training me last week.  As a Registered Nurse and personal trainer who has my own fitness company I was very surprised after training with Will.  Will has a great deal of knowledge with training and Im now doing things I’ve never seen or did before in my training.

I guess Will is getting that bugg again because Sat afternoon Will said that maybe he’ll look at a show later in the year to do.  For all his fans Will just had a birthday on Sat but I still wasn’t to get his age out of him, let’s just say he’s timeless!

It’s now one week out from the Arnold so I spent a few minutes today with Charles Glass talking about Silvio, the Ironman and the Arnold next weekend.  Many fans thought Silvio should have placed higher at the Ironman here in Los Angeles, with myself being one of those who thought that. However, he only managed to walk away with fourth place at the Ironman.

Training at Golds gym Im able to see Silvio on a daily bases as he trains with Charles Glass at 12:00 in the afternoon 5 or 6 days per week. So, leading up to the Ironman Silvio seemed to be right on track with great condition, improved back and better overall posing and he just kept getting sharper as each week passed.  Silvio told me he like training with Charles and feels it will make a difference in his overall package.

Charles said Silvio will be tighter and sharper for the Arnold next week and hearing this straight from Charles then I know it can come true.  Silvio looks calmer now since the Ironman and appears to be his old joking self around friends.  But dont get the wrong impression as I called Silvio Sat night about 9:15 pm and he was getting ready for bed.

I think Silvio will be ready for battle come the day of the Arnold.  He’s going all out with his training and had been wearing a wrapp on his wrist as he said it has been injuried since the Ironman.  Another added factor to Silvios prep is the addition of his friend and training partner Big Joe Stubbs, talk about raising training to a complete higher level of intensity.

Another big "Thank You!" to those who tuned into watch our Iron Man Predictions live video chat last Friday with NGA Competitive Bodybuilder Matt Biss.

This week’s scheduled live, interactive video chat is with industry insider Kris Gethin and his beautiful wife, IFBB Pro Female Bodybuilder Marika Johansson, who will be giving us their Top 10 predictions for the upcoming 2008 Arnold Classic!  This seventh weekly live video chat will take place Friday, February 22, 2008 @ 1:00 p.m. MST (-0700).

So stop by this Friday and chat with fellow BodySpace members Kris Gethin and Marika Johansson live, pick their brains about the upcoming 2008 Arnold Classic, and hear their AC predictions!  Here’s the link:

http://www.justin.tv/bbcom

See also: our Justin.tv Main Page for weekly chats:

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/justintv.htm

Those of you wondering who will be competing in the amateur portions of the Arnold Classic weekend can now check them out on the Arnold web site. Visit: http://arnoldclassicamateurbodybuilding.com/competitors.html

Yesterday Flexonline.com broke the news of Victor being injured. Last night Dave Palumbo from Muscular Development denied it and said, “He’ll be in the show! Who hasn’t pulled something while dieting for a show? Come on……..he’s not a baby.” Today Dave changed his story with the following report:

It’s Official Victor is OUT
Injury To Knee Forces Withdrawl!       
Written by Dave Palumbo   
Thursday, 17 January 2008
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!

Now the Arnold gets real interesting. Who will be the new victor of the Arnold Classic?

I ran into natural bodybuilding competitor and BB.com writer, Hugo Rivera at the Prolab booth at the Arnold Expo, and did a quick interview with him.

See what the hot products are at Prolab, learn more about Hugo’s new book/DVD combo, and find out who Hugo thought would win the Arnold Classic!

Having problems with the video?  Click here for the downloadable Windows Media version.

We caught up with everyone’s favorite Danish Underground Bounty Hunter, Tomm Voss at the Optimum Nutrition booth, and chatted with him about his upcoming video game project.

See what this great Dane is up to, and what’s new at ON!

Having problems with the video?  Click here for the downloadable Windows Media version.

Another look at some of the top pros pumping up and getting the last minute presentations necessities down.

Phil Heath, Marcus Ruhl and more.

Go behind the scenes in the pump up room:

http://webcast.bodybuilding.com/fitshow/2007arnold/LIFT_GETBIG/videos/pumpup2.mov

I spotted IFBB Pro Bodybuilder, Johnnie O. Jackson at the Expo, and even though I didn’t get to chat with him, I did snag a brief glimpse of him on camera for all his fans!

Check it out!

Having problems with the video?  Click here for the downloadable Windows Media version.