Global Gossip

Shawn “Flexatron” Rhoden, 33 began bodybuilding in 1992. What has transpired since then has been nothing less than spectacular. In ‘92, Rhoden met former Mr. Universe Yohnnie Shambourger. Shambourger provided Rhoden with the building blocks to create one of the most sculpted, muscular physiques in the nation taking a 155lb frame and turning it into 260lbs (in the off season) of solid muscle.
Rhoden has accumulated wins in over 10 competitions including the 1997 East Coast Tournament of Champions. In July 1999, he took 2nd in the Jantana Classic’s Light Heavyweight Division and 3rd in the Light Heavyweight Division of his first NPC Team Universe Trial; took 2nd in the Light Heavyweight at the 2001 NPC Team Universe Trial and 2nd at the 2001 IFBB North American Bodybuilding Championship.  
Rhoden’s success has not come without several trials and tribulations. In 1993, the young athlete cut 9 tendons in his right hand and was told by doctors that he would never be able to write, use a hammer, or play piano, let alone lift heavy weights. In fact, he was told lifting weights could cause permanent damage. Rhoden persisted, built strength in his hand, and 14 months after the accident won the Natural Eastern Classic in New Jersey. Again, in January 1996, he was injured. While squatting over 500lbs at a mere bodyweight of 205lbs, he severely hurt his back causing him to take a year off and leaving his bodybuilding career in jeopardy. He began training on January 1, 1997 and once again his determination, desire and persistence paid off; he was on stage again on April 26, 1997 competing in the Mid Atlantic Natural Bodybuilding Championship in New Jersey. Having trained for only 4 months following a year long layoff, Rhoden placed 2nd in the Light Heavyweight Division and won the show’s best poser award.
Rhoden, who is Jamaican born, moved to the U.S. in 1990 and received his U.S. citizenship, enabling him to compete at a higher level. Although he could have competed in the Jamaican Nationals (the equivalent to the Team Universe he felt he would have had no competition). It has been evident throughout his young career; Rhoden has never taken the easy way out.
While preparing for the 2002 Nationals, Rhoden’s father became very ill. Rhoden once again put his bodybuilding career on the back burner to focus his attention on his ill father. Rhoden lost his father after a year of battling lung cancer. Rhoden was devastated; his father was one of his biggest supporters, always in the front row and cheering him on at all his shows. While taking on the grieving process, that really took a toll on Rhoden mentally and physically, Rhoden engrossed himself in learning more about the horrible disease that took his father’s young life.
Now, after 6 years Rhoden has stepped back into the gym doing what he loves most. It hasn’t been easy getting back into the routine of those 5am wake up calls to start the first meal, getting to the gym and giving it nothing less than a 100%. Rhoden is taking it one day, one work out at a time. Although Rhoden has been successful, he has still not reached his potential and anticipates on winning the 2009 NPC Nationals.

Mike Ergas a IFBB Pro that hasn’t competed in awhile but has started training for another pro show within the next few months.  But Mike was in San Diego last weekend to watch his roomate.  Daniel Rivera who just graduated shool as a Registered Nurse and is 29 years old trains with Mike at Golds Venive.  Daniel said seeing Mike make his comeback really inspired him to also try his luck on stage.  Daniel came in a heavyweight where he got 4th place his first show.  After the show Daniel said he will diet 4 more weeks till the OC and try his luck there.

Leading up to the Ironman and then the Arnold there was a new face at Golds who seem to become a regular.  Con Demetriou who has won the Mr. Australia over 6 times had came to Venice Golds in hope that training there with the likes of Charles Glass and others would help to improve his body and raise his placings as a Pro bodybuilder.  After the Arnold Con return to Australia to compete.  Everyone at Golds wishes Con the best of luck and we hope you return soon.

Join us this Friday for our live JTV video chat with FAME USA president and FAME pro Jason C. Powell.

For more information go to http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/justintv.htm

The Chat starts at 1p.m. Mountain Time.

While eating at Firehouse just down the street from Golds Venice I ran into a close friend of mine Shawn Dreamer who moved to Cali from a small town in Pennsylvania where he  went to Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, at that time Shawn competed in Martial Arts and received a Master’s degree in Telecommunication and two Bachelors’, one in Psychology and one in Telecommunications with minors in Music and Computer and Information Science.  After graduation Shawn moved to Lake Placid, New York and competed in Triathlons before moving to Los Angeles.

After he arrived in California he worked construction until he finally started his own company, which was successful for two years before Shawn dissolved it to peruse his fighting career.  In between all his training Shawn got bored so that brings us to Dreamer Girls. Now Shawn runs a company called Dreamer Girls that provides businesses access to extremely beautiful women to be hostesses, ring girls, bar tenders, go-go dancers, and the such.  Dreamer Girls also hosts a Mixed Martial Arts Event called Bitter Sweet that showcases spectacular cage fights, gorgeous women and delicious barbecue.

March 26 at 8:oo pm the doors will open for Shawns first fight hosted by his company Dream Girls. As of the morning of the fight Shawn said over 2000 tickets have been sold.  So if you need to buy tickets or just directions call 310-945-6969

My good friend that I met in Thailand a few years back has not let up on dreams since movng to the USA.  When John and I first met his training was geared more toward Muay Thai and not fitness or bodybuilding.  Then once I introduced him to IFBB Pro Gary Strydom he changed his training style.  While living in Thailand John stated several times that he wanted to relocate to the US.  When i came back the the USA John came out a few times to visit
and fell in love with Cali .  John made his move here to California and while in Las Vegas met his wife Noy Alexander or now Noy De Beer who is a fitness model and competes herself. John has just finished filmimg a relality tv show called Superbodies and starting next week he will be filmimg a movie in Long Beach, California.  Johnny has been busy since arriving in America and it seems he is getting more in demand all the time.  Keep your eye on him as Im sure his career will move forward very fast.
here

Last year while getting ready to compete in the Masters Nationals my training partner Armin Scholz introduced me to a friend of his that was doing a few photo shoots and had agreed to also shoot me.  When I met Josef Adlt i discovered he was from Czech Republic and himself had 3 times been the Czech National champion along with placing 11th at the World Championship in 1994.

Along with being on stage as a top bodybuilder Josef up till 2008 had owended a gym for over 20 years.  Josef said he always enjoyed shooting photos of people in shape and has worked with many top pros with alot of cover shots to his credit.  The story is very much like our own bodybuilding.com Editor and Chief Kris Gethin.  If your looking to have pictures made Josef is now living in the USA and you can contact him by phone at 714-905-6719 or adlt.czwww.josefadlt.com

Right after the Arnold I wrote an article on the negative aspects of being a good bodybuilder and what your lifestyle might be like.  Now let’s take a look at some of the positive things.  When you travel as a bodybuilder you tend to gather attention from people.  Many people seeing your larger than the average guy will offer to give you a better seat that might be larger or even extra food to eat.  You will make many new friends from all walks of life from writers, doctors and many great fans.  People will tend to show you more respect because of your larger size.

I will describe a typical day while working a fitness expo with my focus just on the positive not the negtive.  After getting up at 5:00 am and doing my cardio I head to the restrauant to eat and order my special extra egg whites, oatmeal and things and while eating the chef comes out to see who ordered all this an see how I like the food.  While on my taxi ride to the Expo the driver tells me all about the city and places to visit and things to do.  During the demo I find myself working next to the famous Frank Zane who use to compete with Arnold and Reg Park.  After working awhile and listing to many great stories I go off to eat and run into my friends Chris Comier and Joe Stubbs both IFBB Pro Bodybuilders.  We go to eat where we run into a few female fans and talk for awhile before getting there numbers to discuss training, yea training at a later time that evening.  We all then head back to work the demos or booths for our sponshors and after the Expo closes were taking out to a nice dinner by  local vendor.  We then hurry back to our hotel and change and get to the contest.  At the contest i find that BB.com has gotten me a seat with a great view along with my backstage pass.  Once the show is over before going back to the hotel we hit a local nightclub where many of the top Pro’s and fans will be.  Standing in the VIP line I didn’t get a pass but then Flew Lewis and Doran Yates both whom I know come by and grab me and my friend as their guest and bring inside.

So, as you see things are not all bad as being on the Top can bring many postive things your way.

Right after the Arnold I wrote an article on the negative aspects of being a good bodybuilder and what your lifestyle might be like.  Now let’s take a look at some of the positive things.  When you travel as a bodybuilder you tend to gather attention from people.  Many people seeing your larger than the average guy will offer to give you a better seat that might be larger or even extra food to eat.  You will make many new friends from all walks of life from writers, doctors oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooppppppp
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Check out Strong Man Corey St. Clair’s
live chat tomorrow.

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

Corey is a professional strong man and personal trainer.

If you have any questions about competing, health/nutritional/supplement questions or just want to chat with him check it out  tomorrow at 1 pm Mountain Time.

For Immediate Release
March 10, 2009

Contact:
New Deep Media
317.247.0400

Fitness Model Tiffany Forni Launches New Website

Portland, Oregon - March 10, 2009 - Tiffany Forni, a 24-year-old national level Figure Competitor and Fitness Spokes model is delighted to announce the launch of her new website, www.tiffanyforni.com.

The new website provides users with a comprehensive insight to the once “fat girl turned fitness nerd”.  Visitors to the site will find the new look more friendly, easy to navigate and full of information about Tiffany.

“I believe in and want to help people become more fit and healthy” says Tiffany.  “I believe by sharing my story with a fun and interactive website, I can help inspire others to meet their goals” she continues.

The new website, designed by New Deep Media, gives fans and those interested in bodybuilding, health and fitness, an interactive look into Tiffany Forni with photo galleries, her biography, blog, media and appearances along with a subscription area that will allow visitors to join her website. Members will get access to view exclusive photography, video along with training and nutrition tips from Tiffany.

To learn more about Tiffany Forni, please visit her site:

http://www.tiffanyforni.com/

About Tiffany Forni:  Tiffany Forni is a national level Figure Competitor and Fitness Spokes Model.  Once over-weight, Tiffany made a life decision to become a healthy and fit woman.  She has inspired others with her transformation story and proves that with determination and a goal, you will reap the rewards.

Charles Lewis Jr. or as most would know him "Mask" has died in a horrific car crash.

Mask was reportedly racing another individual driving a Porsche, when his very rare $300,000 Ferrari hit a curb and was torn in half by a light pole.

There are also reports of a female passenger who has been taken to a local hospital. She was ejected from the car and is said to be in pretty bad shape.

On Wednesday, American Media, Inc. (AMI) and the IFBB Professional League announced the debut of Joe Weider’s Pro World Cup in Berlin, Germany will be postponed until 2010.

"Since taking over Weider Publications and Joe Weider’s Olympia Weekend in 2004, AMI has been dedicated to expanding bodybuilding not only in the United States, but across the world," AMI Chairman, President and CEO David Pecker said. "Our intention in launching Joe Weider’s Pro World Cup is to continue those efforts by hosting an event on par with the biggest and best in the United States.

"Unfortunately, due to the current economic conditions in both America and Europe, it became increasingly apparent that matching the high standards we set every year with Olympia Weekend would be an extremely difficult task. As such, we will be postponing the inaugural Pro World Cup until 2010 in order to ensure that we will be giving the European fans the best possible bodybuilding experience."

In 2010, Joe Weider’s Pro World Cup will be held at Messe Berlin in Berlin, Germany on October 6-10, two weeks after Olympia Weekend. As originally planned, the weekend will include the European Pro Championships, a Powerlifting Supershow, a European FLEX Bikini Model Search and a Superstar Seminar.

Source: http://www.ifbbpro.com/features/joe-weider-pro-world-cup-postponed/

This is part 1 of a 2 part series with the first article focused more on the negative things that top bodybuilders face.  However, with the second article we’ll focus on the positive things that you might encounter.  

This past weekend was the Arnold Classic which is one of the biggest Expos and bodybuilding contest of the year.  So starting off I had a ticket to fly out of Los Angeles on Fri evening to the event in Ohio.  I knew it would be a busy weekend as my sponshor Genr8/ Vitargo was bringing me out but also I would be working the contest for bodybuilding.com.  We’ll bb.com informed me I had to be there Thur to cover the womens events on Fri.  With a two day notice it was hard to find a open flight but I did.  Arriving in Ohio at 10:30 pm on Thur I jumped in a taxi for my $50 ride to the hotel and being on a diet for an upcoming photo shoot I was counting the minutes to the hotel so I could eat.  After checking in I can’t describe how happy I was to find out the kitchen and room service was closed for the night.  Tired and hungry and now 12:30 I jumped on the treadmill for my cardio and found myself in bed at 2:00 am only to wake up at 5:30 am to do my morning cardio, get ready, eat and get to the expo.

The first day of the expo and I thought that I’d be able to get my meals down at least while working, was I in for a surprise!  A huge number of people showed up for the expo so it was busy from the start.  Thank God for protein drinks because that was all it was going to be today.  I have a great sponshor Anthony Almada of Genr8 who is very understanding and made things easier on my end.  So working the expo with our great product Vitargo for a few hours I then rushed over to the womens prejudging.  So now with the contest going on I at least got to sit instead of standing.  Once the womens prejudging was completed I went back to work my sponshors booth at the expo for a few more hours.  Two hours went so fast so now off to my boss at bb.com Kris Gethin’s room to change clothes and off to the night show to work again for bb.com.  So this is what each day was like for the weekend a limited amount of sleep, food and exercise.  

On Sunday I thought that I’d get back to Los Angeles and have time for a good workout and back on tract with my diet.  After taking 12 hours to get to LA due to bad weather and flight delays I was so happy just to get home of course without my luggage.  So you normally dont get to see this part of the life as a bodybuilder but remember this is only part as it does have many positive aspects which we will talk about in the second article.