Global Gossip

When I was in Ohio at the Arnold last month I was working at my sponsor’s booth when a young guy named Austin Uku approached me. Austin, who I could see was in excellent condition walked up to me and started talking to me about our product Vitargo and how his good friend who is a sponsored BSN athlete told him Vitargo is what help to give him that extra edge.   Since Im with Vitargo I now allready liked  Austin and his BSN friend who is known as a Muay Thai fighter.  

Austin lives like myself in Southern Ca and told me he’s been training for about 15 years, boy time flies by.  Austin was training to help increase his power and speed while playing as a Defense End at University of Arizona and then the iron bug really bit him.  He ventured off into MMA fighting where he is now a Pro MMA Fighter and when he’s not fighting you’ll find him in most of the top bodybuilding magazines as a model.

Today is the tenth anniversary of the horrific shooting spree and subsequent deaths of those children and teacher, at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado.  This is 20 minutes from my home, and I know and knew students (now adults) that attended at that time.  I did not know any of the victims.  I will say if you lived in Denver, Colorado or the Denver Metropolitan Area that there was not one face, not one storefront, not one business, school, or vehicle that did not aptly express the treachery and sadness that ensued that day.

I was four months pregnant, on bed rest on that day.  I watched it unfold on the television like most others did as well.  I believe since I was pregnant and I had a 6 year old son at the time as well, that I deeply empathized and ached over what occurred.  However, I am humbled and unbelievably thankful that no one I knew was involved, but I felt then, and I feel now like I did know someone, one of them, all of them.  The faces on the parents out in the parking lots waiting to hear if their child was one of the dead or one of the missing was torture.  It was not moments, it was hours and hours and hours.

Today for those that lost someone, for those that waited out in the parking lot, for those that crouched behind library bookshelves and watched a teenage girl get shot in the head for refusing to denounce her God, for the boy who, already shot and bloody, threw himself out of a window on an upper floor, and for those that thankfully got their children back… today is a opened wound.  The entire city reflects it, there are reminders everywhere.

I wanted to extend my continuing, heartfelt condolences and my gratefulness for my own and to send peace and well wishes to those aforementioned and those that are remembering.

-Jaime Girard (BiologyBabe)

Below are photos and also the victims that dies, not including the two murderers; and not including the more than 20 that were severely injured and survived. I some of the photos are not showing, I apologize.

http://www.acolumbinesite.com

http://acolumbinesite.com/victim/memoriam.html the victims who died.
Injured victims by name…

+ Brian Anderson
+ Richard Castaldo
+ Jennifer Doyle
+ Stephen ‘Austin’ Eubanks
+ Nicholas ‘Nick’ Foss
+ Sean Graves
+ Makai Hall
+ Anne Marie Hochhalter
+ Patrick Ireland
+ Michael Johnson
+ Joyce Jankowski
+ Mark Kintgen
+ Lisa Kreutz
+ Lance Kirklin
+ Adam Kyler
+ Stephanie Munson
+ Patricia ‘Patti’ Nielson
+ Nicole Nowlen
+ Jeanna Park
+ Kacey Ruegsegger
+ Valeen Schnurr
+ Daniel Steepleton
+ Evan Todd
+ Mark Taylor

Michael Torchia Launches his Shape Up America Campaign with a free Health and Fitness Event at Westwood Park in Los Angeles

To launch this monumental movement of ending obesity in America, Torchia is hosting a free health and fitness event on August 1st for adults, children and even pets.  This event will offer free advice, classes and  products for everyone in attendance.  There will also be special guest appearances from renowned Doctors, fitness experts and bodybuilding champions.

Los Angeles, CA  April 11, 2009–Michael Torchia, founder of Operation Fitness, will be traveling across America on a 16-city tour to encourage people to end obesity in America.  His Shape Up America Campaign is designed to help adults, children and even pets get healthy for their own benefit and for the lasting benefits that will strengthen the entire nation for generations to come.  To mark this monumental event, he will be launching his campaign from Westwood Park in Los Angeles on August 1, 2009 from 10:00 am - 2:00pm.

Torchia’s organization, Operation Fitness, will provide the crucial information that will help even the most stubborn and unmotivated Americans learn how to break their bad eating habits and become more physically active.  The goal is to show people how they can create simple ways of working out, along with participating in stimulating activities at home, office, in a park or even in the wilderness.  In addition, pet owners will learn innovative ways to get their pets in shape and on a healthy track with food advice.

Free health screenings, fitness demonstrations for children and adults, pet health/fitness seminars, nutrition lectures, healthy cooking tips/food preparation, stretching and yoga classes, chair massages, nutritious protein bars and energy drinks will be offered by the sponsors.  Attendees will learn how to become more confident, physically fit and establish life long healthy eating habits.  In addition, they will be offering a special lecture series and demonstrations for the local law enforcement agencies and fire departments.  

The event will be held at Westwood Park located at 1350 South Sepulveda Boulevard in Los Angeles.  For additional information on Shape Up America, Operation Fitness or the event launching in Los Angeles, please call 800.933.8633 or visit www.operationfitness.com.

The Pioneers of Physical Culture Reunion 2009!
By: Brian Bullman

The first Pioneers of Physical Culture event I attended was back in 1992, in London England. I was 14 years old. I met legends such as Walter O’Malley, Frank Richards, John Paul Sigmarsen, Charles Clairmonte, and even Arnold himself sat down at our table chatting with my parents and Uncle. That event, some 17 years ago was held to honor a true Pioneer of our great sport, Bob Wolger, father to IFBB Judge, and founder of “The Pioneers of Physical Culture” Dianne Bennett. Coincidentally it was also Arnold’s birthday!

Last year saw the passing of one Wag Bennett, who was married to Dianne. He was a former competitive bodybuilder and a friend and mentor to Arnold in his early days. On March 21st of this year, Dianne organized a reunion of the Pioneers of Physical Culture to honor the memory of Wag.

This year more than 40 of the UK’s and Ireland’s bodybuilding fraternity were invited by Dianne to the picturesque town of Portsmouth, England to honor Wag and celebrate the friendships that are created through the sport.

Among those honored with awards were, IFBB President, Dr. Rafael Santonja and IFBB Vice President for Europe, Albert Busek, who received the inaugural Wag Bennett Award, for their lifetime of outstanding contributions to the sport of bodybuilding. Wanda and Bill Tierney accepted the awards on their behalf.

Others who were honored included former Mr. Universe Spencer Churchill, who informed us that at over 80 years old he still hits the iron at least four times per week. Olympia competitors Frank Richards and Caroline Cheshire were horored. The former British Champion Kimberly Anne Jones and 21 Time Irish National Champion Sean Bullman were also recognized for their outstanding contributions to the sport.

There were also a few industry names in attendance, such as the massive Dave Prowse, who played the role of Darth Vader in the original Star Wars trilogy. Rep. of Ireland Bodybuilding Federation President Mike Bullman was in attendance. And the highlight of the night for me, the grandson and the great grandson, of the founder of Professional Bodybuilding, and the inspiration of the trophy for the greatest bodybuilding contest in the world, Eugene Sandow were there, with an original Sandow statuette. These Sandow statuettes were the prize given at the first ever Professional Bodybuilding contest almost a century ago.

The ceremonial side of the night ended with a bang, when Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger individually addressed all invited guests, to thank them for what they have invested in bodybuilding. He also gave special thanks to Dianne and paid homage to Wag Bennett from his office at the Governors Mansion, and stated without the influence and guidance of both Dianne and Wag, he would have achieved nothing like what he has, and said he owes his success to them. Great words and a fitting tribute from the sports greatest bodybuilder.

The party went on into the wee hours of the morning where, stories were being told about how great it was back in the day. And the camaraderie that existed between them, Frank Richards and Sean Bullman told stories of how they used to meet up after competing for a few pints of the good stuff, and how they could be found singing in the lobby of the host hotel, on more than one occasion, the morning after the show! Dave Prowse was asked to reveal secrets from his Darth Vader days, like was he really Luke Skywalker’s father and he still wouldn’t tell. All in all it was great weekend, and I am already looking forward to the next reunion.

Special thanks to Dianne Bennett for organizing yet another great event, and congratulations to all those recognized for their achievements, ye are the true Pioneers of our great sport.

John Hansen was inducted into the National Fitness Hall of Fame on Sunday, March 15th, 2009 at the Glendale Lakes Golf Club in Glendale Heights, Illinois. Hansen is a 2 Time Natural Mr. Universe and was the first winner of the Mr. Natural Olympia contest. He is also the author of “Natural Bodybuilding” (Human Kinetics, 2005) and is the host of Natural Bodybuilding Radio (www.naturalbodybuildingradio.com).

John Hansen has produced two Natural Bodybuilding DVD’s and writes a monthly column for IronMan Magazine. John is an athlete representative for Optimum Nutrition and American Body Building and he currently promotes two Natural Bodybuilding competitions in Illinois. Hansen is also planning on promoting the Natural Olympia competition in Chicago in 2010.

Hansen was inducted into the National Fitness Hall of Fame because of his work promoting Natural Bodybuilding to the general public and to bodybuilders all over the world. “I feel like I’ve only just begun and I want to do a lot more to promote the sport of Natural Bodybuilding to the general public”, he said during his induction speech. “In 5 years, everyone in the country will recognize me as one of the top fitness experts in the world”, Hansen said.

       The National Fitness Hall of Fame for 2009 included Hansen, Jim Lorimer, Joe Bonomo, Paul Bernstein, Dr. Jan Todd and the Life Time Achievement Award was presented to 90 year old Bob Delmonteque. Past inductees include Arnold Schwarzenegger, Joe Weider, Arthur Jones, Jane Fonda, Bob Hoffman, Jack LaLanne, Charles Atlas, Jake Steinfeld, Tony Little, Robert Kennedy, Dr. Bob Goldman, Ben Weider, Lou Ferrigno, Betty Weider, Cory Everson, Bob Gajda and Tamilee Webb.

www.justin.tv/bbcom

For More information: http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/justintv.htm
JTV is Live and you can chat with me/ask me questions!

MMA Fighter (Pimp Daddy) Kit Cope & Wheelchair Bodybuilder Nick Scott!
     Thursday, Apr. 2, 2009 @ 2:00 p.m.
MST (-0700)

Gold gym knows that Venice Beach is considered the mecca of bodybuilding with all the clean restraunts to eat at, indoor tanning and several nutrition stores within walking distance and not to mention the great beaches and gyms.  With all this to offer Venice Golds is getting in the picture with trying to help out the serious visitors that Golds attracts.

That’s where Sales Manager Jason Williams , who is from Cali and graduated UCLA can help out.  Jason has been working with Golds for 5 years can help you out if your here to train for 1 day or 1 week or even longer.  Contact Jason at Golds at 310-392-6004 and tell him you heard about the offer at bodybuilding.com

Many older bodybuilders might remember Mike Mentzer and Dorian Yates style of training.  If you do and you were ever lucky enough to see these guys train then Im sure you’ll remember Val.  Val is from Russia and worked with Mike Mentzer for about 8 years training both Mike and his clients.  Since my training partner Armin Scholz is back in Germany I have been training with another monstor IFBB Pro Aiman Faour.  About 3 weeks ago we were lucky to hook up with Val who started training us 5 days a week at Golds Venice.  Let me tell you this is one of the most intense hours that I have grown to both hate and love.  These workouts are brief but taken very serious and to the next level.  Even Chris Comier had to make a brief stop to throw up during a leg session.  Within 3 weeks I feel much fuller and my muscles look more round.  We’ll keep you up to date later with some pictures and a short interview with Val.

With the Arnold Fitness past I had some time to reflect back on the event and while looking back I was impressed with the large number of fans that lined up to go thru bodybuilding.com booth and see such stars as Gunter, Charles Glass Marika who will be making her Pro comeback this year in New York.

However, with supplement companies I was impressed with Genr8 who brings Vitargo into the USA via Sweden.  Many people are aware of this great product and as I was walking thru the expo I ran into Jay Cutler’s manager and he wanted to know when Genr8 was as Jay needed some Vitargo.  Victor stop by before his contest to grab a few servings and even people competing in other events like Kettlebell stop by to carb up with Vitaro.  This event was the 1 year birthday for Genr8 as it was introduced last year at the Arnold by Anthony L. Almada, B.Sc., M.Sc. who is a graduate of UC Berkeley, Anthony Almada is a nutritional and exercise biochemist and is the co-founder and past-president of Experimental and Applied Sciences (EAS). He has collaborated on over 25 university-based creatine studies.  Anthony is the brains behind Vitargo here in the USA and your sure to see much more of him in the furture.  Starting this month Almada will have his own column in Muscular Development so if you have any questions feel free to write his as he is full of information that will bound to help you.