Steel Valley Results
Well as you know if you’ve read any of my blogs Susan Beth and I competed in the NGA Steel Valley Classis on Saturday. I have to say for the most part the show was ran very well and almost everything came off right on time. The only snaffu was with the lie detector test but it wasn’t that bad.
Susan and I met lots of nice people and had a fairly good time. That was the good part…now for the bad. I was entered in the Mens Novice as this was my first NGA event and I was in the Mens Masters 50 and over. I placed 4th in the Novice which I have no problem accepting even though I felt I could have finished as high as 2nd and should have had 3rd. But I could live with 4th and wasn’t to upset by it. I knew that I had worked as hard as I could and was in the best shape I’ve been since I started on this journey. I just lost to someone who was better than me. Well 3 someones to be precise but the point is I know I did my best and didn’t lose because I was a slacker. Now for the Mens Masters….I finished 3rd behind a guy who I swear to you had man boobs and a paunch from hell. When they called out the results I was floored as was the audience. I went back stage and was literally beside myself. I just could not believe that I lost to this guy.
As the show wrapped up the promotor lined all the competiters up on stage and was thanking everyone for the contributions they made to the show and then he said…."I would like to thank my good friend and the oldest competitor here today 61 year young…..and said Mr. Man Boobs name!!!! At that point the clouds cleared and the light came on above my head. Come to find out this guy was not only the promotors good friend but he trained in his gym! What a crock of crap!!!
After we were done I made a beeline to the judges to see what they had to say to me as far as feedback. The head judge told me that they were split in their decision and although they felt I had much more muscle and looked good that Mr. Man Boobs was just a little leaner then me! Susan and I both looked at each other and gasped! Leaner then ME??? I’m standing there at 4% bodyfat, 180lbs and a 28 inch waist and this guy has the audacity to tell me they based their final decision on him being leaner then me! What a kick to the goin! 8 weeks of ball busting work for this??? Like I said I don’t mind losing to someone who is better then me…that is just incentive to work harder next time. But when a decision is so blatently unfair and bias it just makes you want to throw up.
I have to tell you this has left a very bad taste in my mouth but it is not going to derail me. No way JOSE’!!! I’ve decided I’m just gonna work that much harder and next time I will be so freaking hard and shreaded that there will be no way they can steal it from me. Count on it!!
Our next show is in 8 weeks in Buffalo and I’m going to be in even better shape then I was for this show. I hope this doesn’t sound like I’m being a poor sport or a baby but seriously it’s a very tough pill to swallow. But I’m done with that and it’s on to Buffalo. Just chalk it up to a bitter lesson learned.
August 17, 2009 at 3:59 pm
I feel ya on the judges decision, B… My last show, I finished behind a guy that had "Cottage Cheese" over his abs… After our group, he then sat at his table in the VIP section, right behind the judges…
August 17, 2009 at 4:00 pm
Great Job Bryan. Don’t forget to pack your Dolphins Jersey when you go to Buffalo and pimp it all over the place
August 17, 2009 at 4:08 pm
Chris what’s up whith that kind of stuff??? I expect that kind of crap at a little local show but this was an NGA show and a pro qualifier I expected better then that.
Hey Wayne no doubt about it man I gotta throw it in their faces. although since they got TO I kind of feel sorry for them now! LOL!
August 17, 2009 at 4:10 pm
What a slap in the face to guys like Jim Kelly and Thurman Thomas to let hin in there
August 17, 2009 at 4:11 pm
man that is just wrong!! I’d want to throw up too if something like that happened to me after all that hard work…oh well, you are better for the experience, and YOU know you look better than that dude anyway, so keep at it and you will get your fair and deserved win!
August 18, 2009 at 5:51 am
A victory easily won is usually a victory taken for granted and easily forgotten. When you win the big one, and you will, the victory will be that much sweeter seasoned with the blood, sweat, and tears that only you applied and understand first hand.
August 18, 2009 at 8:16 am
Its always gonna be a bit subjective. No pics of the other guys, so I can’t tell what they possibly saw that would’ve led them to that. Important thing is to remember that its not just about how conditioned you are, too. Obviously you looked awesome, I can see that from the pics. Go beyond that though and work on your posing more to really give the best presentation possible of what you’ve worked hard for. I’ve seen some guys who were perfectly conditioned pose like crap and suffer for it. Vice versa, a friend who took overall at his show wasn’t necessarily the most conditioned but the judges felt his confidence, stage presence, and posing were good enough to place him higher than the other guy. You just never know. I know you bust ass and will only continue to improve. For now, man, enjoy some good ‘ol "normal food" and keep your head up for next time. Make sure they have no excuse to not place you where you deserve to be!
August 18, 2009 at 8:39 am
Thanks everyone for the support. I didn’t want to seem like I was being a sore loser but come on! I knew I wasn’t better then the guys who won…I could see that, but I knew I was waaaaaaay better then that dude! Oh well like I said lesson learned. I’ll just work harder next time.