TheBodyguard’s BodyBlog

The Olympia Press Conferance was underway as Pro Bodybuilding Weekly Hosts Dan Solomon and Big Bob Chicherillo took the stage as Dan began talking about the upcoming festivities and the excitement leading up to the 2009 Mr. Olympia and the possibility of a Historic happening this year Big Bob ever the gentleman brought up the fact that this year should also be a time of remeberance as the bodybuilding community at large should acknowledge the loss of Ben Weider, Steve Stone and Kenny Kassel. And as we took a moment of silence I thought about how this thing of ours (bodybuilding that is) is a huge international family and because of the fact bodybuilding is still a subjective individual pursuit on the fringe of main stream only at these type of gathering do this many like minded individuals gather and it felt good at any rate the bodybuilding community suffered a loss of good friends and family but it was now time to proceed with the press conference.

As per Big Bob’s style he owns the stage with bad puns a plenty playing off Dan’s straight man persona. The Crowd goes wild showing their support for their individual favorites Kai the Predator Greene who set the competitive world of Pro Bodybuilding on fire this year gets tons of Audience response as does Markus Ruhl greeted by his perenial fan cheer of Rhuuuuuuuuuuuullllll! One by one the Olympia contenders file in dressed in their Black and Red Olympia Track Suits Victor, Branch, DJ, Dennis Wolf, The X-Man Toney Freeman all had their fair share of accolades but I tell you what when they called out two time Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler and Jay rounded the corner looking like a real life Johnny Bravo complete with a new hair style reminicent of well Johnny Bravo the roof almost came off the auditorioum it was obvious Jay was there for war I have been around this sport for a long time and I have followed Jays career as well as the others but I have never ever seen Jay’s face look like this Jay’s face was drawn and tight no more beach boy baby cheeks Jay’s jaw line was straight chizeled lean and tight he was amongst if not the widest guy on stage and looked absolutely huge he was also wethering the storm of his conditioning as he looked tired and very hungry and I mean that more in the ambition sence Bill Reynolds from Muscle and Fitness even stood up and said Jay I have never seen your Jaw so lean if that is any indication of the physique you bring etc. You could see the look on the other competitors faces yeah they knew it too Jay meant business and right then and there he started converting fans and pundits a like opinions, cause the response he got just from the glimpse of his face shook the very foundation of the casino hotel.

Jay was a very humble gentlemen at the Press Conference not engaging in any of the ripping and bravado that often ensues at these conferences despite being jabbed by some of the others and woefully dismissed by all the talking heads pundits and so called experts and journalists Jay remaind the embodiment of the Champ he always was and is.

I have to say that all the competitors looked good from what we could see with the exception of Darrem Charles who did quite display that hunger in his face the others did Victor Martinez was back after suffering a major injury and the awful untimely death of his sister simply tragic (Condolences). Dexter Jackson (Whom I predicted would not be able to retain the title this year) Thanked all his supporters which quite frankly seemed very few after the out burst Jay recieved, and said some very kind words in rememberance of Ben Weider.

Big Bob and Dan tried to get Jay and Dexter to go at it time and time again but save for Jay simply saying that being the ambassador for the sport is more than standing on stage with the best physique and taking home a trophy and that everyone has their own way of going about things Jay wouldnt say much more. I have heard commentary from others regarding Jay’s comment but honestly Jay is right in my opinion and even big Bob said the thing that separated Jay from a lot of others was that Jay conducted himself like a champion at all times and even in being dethroned the previous year he still carried himself as such. Which didnt seem to sit well with Dexter but I’ve had my own personal experiances with them both as well as my own observations and again I agree with Bob.

Kai Greene who was at the recieving end of Bob’s jokes on more than one occasion encouraged his fans to always aim to be better than their dreams said he would use the title if should be so lucky to inspire others to achieve their goals and better them selves. Kai is a very deep individual who talks metaphorically at times and gives rather eloquent soliliquies on subject matter which gave Bob fodder for relentless jokes.

Big Bob and Dan begin working their way through the competitors the Mic comes to rest in the hands of another crowd favorite and and a man often referred to as a future Mr. Olympia (The Gift) Phil Heath

To be continued…………………

The reason he’s referred to as Big Bob Chicherillo is because the face of Bodybuilding.com is huge. IFBB Pro (1996 Master’s World Champion) Bob Chicerillo looking big as a house and fellow Pro Bodybuilding Weekly Radio Personality Dan Solomon were consumate gentlemen as I extended my hand to greet them that morning in the coffe shop of the Orleans Casino/Hotel prior to the Olympia Press Conference.

I would like to extend my thanks to them for their level of professionalism as well as their courtesy and willingness to field questions and converse on the upcoming festivities both gentlemen were more than eager and genuine in their conversation and more than accomodating with their interaction, again a big thanks and appreciation that the voices of our sport and the personalities that represent us are willing to interact with us the fans.

As Dan and Bob settled in for a brief pre-press conference meeting the Athletes began arriving and things began to buzz the Contenders for the Men’s Open Divison began arriving drawing stares and gasps as the strode through in their black and red Olympia Track Suits most were ushered in quickly not wanting to give away much before the Press Conference which was to be held in the Show Room of the Hotel.

Star Spotting were abundant as I spied Big Bill Wilmore, The Gift Phil Heath, the Enormous Stan Efferding, Petite Gina Aliotti etc. the excitement built as various iluminaries arrived the MD (Muscular Developement) Team was there Steve Blechman, Dave Palumbo, Bill Reynold of Muscle and Fitness, Flex’s Peter Mcgough the pathways through the gaming floor were alive as all of the aforementioned and more funneled their way through to the Hotel Showroom where Photog and fan alike began forming a line from the double doors of the auditorium wrapping all the way through to the back wall of the gaming floor and then back over to the Main Entrance of the Casino floor even at this stage the line threatened to overflow the Show Room for the Olympia Press Confereence.

The Excitement could be felt as this year there were 26 men qualified for the "O" 23 were competing and this was going to be our first glimpses of them for those who have never atteneded the athletes Press Conference the competitors are fully dressed in their Olympia Track Suits save for the cajolling to drop trou or the ocassional lifted shirt to show deeply etched abs which inevitably wil happen as the press conferences have a tendancy to become lively. But to the trained eye the gaunteness of the faces the sunken cheeks, the lean jaw line and the fatigued looks of competitors who are spot on and coming in dry suggest if not ourtright betray the covered level of conditioning that will be on display during the compitition and this was what I wanted to see as I had made my predictions and had been privy to seeing some of the competitors a few weeks out I was very anxious to see the final package.

The Auditorium bagan to fill quickly as I took my seat behind the MD Team Inculding Shawn Ray, Lee Priest. Very quickly the auditorium became standing room only as Photographers and Journalists from all the major publications some International as well, jockied for position to capture the athletes the few fans that were lucky enough to squeeze inside were literally pinned back to the wall as the overflow of onlookers spilled out into the hall don’t let anyone fool you Bodybuilding fans are just as adamant as other professional sports fans and the audiance its self was a virtual whos who with the Likes of Dorian Yates (6X MR. Olympia) Charles Glass etc.

As I sat there anticipating the Emergence of Big Bob and Dan Solomon from PBW. Again I couldn’t help but think to myself right now I wouldn’t rather be anywhere else in the world doing any thing else.

The house lights began to dim and the Spots came up sweeping across the tiered athletes seating area, Hell Yes this was the Begginnning of the Olympia Weekend and this was The Entertainment Capital of the World Vegas BABY AND I WAS THERE!

To be continued………….

The sun rose as the neon dimmed and the increasing pressence of Muscle made its visage noticeable to the ever curious and the anxious fan.

The Orleans was becoming more alive with activity and buzz for tomorrow the Olympia Weekend officially kicked off and here I was in the middle of it. As I went to breakfast the sight of the ocassional IFBB Oficial and tiny Fitness, Figure Competitor was seen darting about hurridly with pull luggage in tow.

Some of the massive male competitors were at the check in desk carrying coolers and Jugs of water the glimpses of shredded calves bronzed and rippling out of the bottom of their shorts, bowling pin sized forearms hanging from their T-Shirt Sleeves snaked with viens.

But today was for me to be filled with fitness industry related meetings and client consultation intermingled with vists up and down the strip from the Grandeur of the MGM to the shopping at the Vanetian to the Old School Memberances of the Tropicana and the crowds at the Wynn and the Palazzo it was a day filled with fun and relaxation.

As the day grew on one place faded into the other from New York New York to Madame Tossauds the entire strip was mine for the evening good food, cold drinks and even a fine Cigar many a great conversation and company and the excitement of what was to come tomorrow,

Slowly the heat of the day turned into the heat of the night as Vegas lit up like a Christmas tree there is nothing like the strip at night there is nothing like the energy the excitment and the history that goes with it and there is nothing like looking up at the massive digital billboard above me and seeing the promo for the Olympia Weekend.

After a long day at the strip I decide to head back to get some sleep I had numerous Olympia related events planned for tomorrow and I wanted to be fresh as my VIP schedule basically had me on the move from morning till night starting tomorrow.

Thur Septemeber 24 2009 was the kick off of the Events, tomorrow after breakfast and client consulatation I had the Olympia Press Conferance to attend in the afternoon as well as I would be attending a Meet and Greet with the Competitors later in the evening.

Of course this being the first look at the major competitors in the Open Class I was very anxious to get a preview of their conditioning for this was a Olympia unlike any other in quite a while maybe ever many significant happenings from a historical perspective were about to unfold and the competition was stacked deeper than it ever has been but that is for tomorrows commentary tonight I just needed to sleep between the company I kept and the activities of the day I was tired and very comfortable this had been a great trip so far.

As the night life unfolded below me from the gaming floor to the Vegas strip iluminated as far as the eye could see I drifted off to the most comfortable sleep I have had in a long time.

To be continued……………………

After dinner and a familarization with the layout of the casino and hotel where the majority of the Olympia Festivities would be happening I decided to take the shuttle over to the strip for the evening my pride in being a BodySpacer/Bodybuilding .com Member was well represented as for the most part save for the "O" it’self and the After Parties I dressed in Bodybuilding.com gear.

At this point I have been Bodybuilding for 20+ yrs and at 5′4" I’m about 220lbs (Yeah I know my page says 5′5" but that is because the nurses at my doctors office either need to learn how to measure or they need new equipment!) at any rate I look the part and with the Bodybuilding.com logo stretched across my back I was fielded alot of questions which was cool I’m sure anyone who appeared to be involved in some way had their fair share.

I boarded the shuttle and headed off to the drop off point at the Tropicana from there up and down the strip via the tram, I basically wanted to refamiliarize myself where everything was and look for changes etc as it had been a few since I had been there. I basically layed out my plan for the following day as I was going to have one full day of the Vegas strip before it was all about the "O" and all of its related glory.

As the shuttle and tram zipped along and I revisited various familiarities I kinda of lost my self in thought harkening back to my youth and holding my Mom’s hand as she took me and my dreams to the various Bodybuilding shows of the era, I have a great Mom she was a Fan of Bodybuilding she knew all the Golden Era Guys through the Bodybuilders of the 80’s she knew who everyone was and what they won and well it was just great! A while back I wrote a blog about how Bodybuilding had made a connection between me and my dad http://blog.bodybuilding.com/TheBodyguard/2008/02/26/oct-1978/ and that was my focus but I’d be remiss if I didn’t reflect on my Mom at this point for when I was small and weak she held my hand and Bodybuilding made us close now that she is old and weak I hold her hand and well Bodybuilding made us close, I am blessed to have had Bodybuilding and my parents, (About right now you should be temted to call yours and, you should).

As the neon of the Vegas Night became a blur I wandered about familiar haunts still feeling child like remembering all my Magazines and posters remembering sleeping on my weight bench or on the floor inbetween my squat racks yeah I was that into it. Still I just couldn’t get into the Vegas Night Life. I was just to into and excited about what was going to happen this weekend.

So after hours of recollections and mapping out my day for tomorrow I decided to head back and begin analyzing the competition and making my final predictions for how all was about to unfold. Tomorrow I promised myself I would concentrate on just having a good day on the strip I had to be honest with myself I had just arrived hours earlier and I was feeling overwhelmed and excited beyond explanation to be here I had been looking forward to this all yr. I have literally been not just a Bodybuilder but a fan a hardcore fan I love Bodybuilding with a passion.

A passion that hasn’t died or changed since I was a young boy learning for the first time it was possible to look like the Heroes on the pages of Marvel Comics and dammit I was so glad to be here I loved the fact this was Vegas and the greatest show on earth was about to unfold this weekend and I was going to be part of it. Some may laugh or think my bavado about my elation over being here is silly but I have no shame when it comes to my passion Bodybuilding has done so much for me enhanced my life in ways you wouldnt belive without it I may not even be here to write these passages but that is a story for another day and most certainly another blog, But I will share this Bodybuilding is the only thing in my life that hasn’t let me down everyday I enter a gym and wrap my hands around the cold steel bar and feel it slowly warm to my touch I know one thing more than any the Iron is always there for me and the Iron is forever someday I’ll write of the true meaning of that bit of reflection.

But for now my concentrations lay elsewhere I felt energized yet tired but eager to just wake up and enjoy the strip in the desert heat tomorrow I was feeling like a kid but still man enough to appreciate all that I had remembered I picked up the phone in my suite "Hello Mom? I’ts me I’m at the Olympia!"

As the desert air began to cool and the gaming continued down stairs I lay in bed thinking to myself I wouldnt rather be anywhere else in the world tonight than right here a day out from the pinnacle of Sport Entertainment sorry WWE you aint got nothing on the IFBB!

To be continued………….

As I walked through the massive doors of The Orleans Hotel and Casino who’s facade was that of fond memberances of Bourbon Street I felt the Buzz even at this juncture of two days before the festivities the excitement was in the air!

Glimpses of the occasional tiny fitness competitor zipping betwen the blue haired grannies at the slots or the massive European athletes sneaking a smoke on the gaming floor were spied amongst the chaos of the Casino Backdrop decorated with Huge Banners Welcoming all to the Olmpia Weekend the slots were topped with Olympia Headers Video screens continuously played clips of past Olympias inbetween promos for Casino events huge placards greeted you at every major corridor listing the scheduled Olympia Events etc.

Yes this was going to be a grand experiance at check in when the staff found out I was there for the Olympia Weekend they couldn’t have been more professional or accomodating as I looked down at my Commemorative Olympia Rm Key yes that is right Olympia Suite Rm Keys how class and cool is that I felt like a child again.

I had the rest of the evening and a full day before the events began and I had every intention of making full use of it enjoying as much of the Hotel/Casino and the Vegas strip as I could. Major Kudos to the Hotel who had provided through one of their restraunts a Competitor’s Menu which was more than BodyBuilder friendly.

Many curious hotel guest and vistor to the strip stopped to talk and ask me about BodyBuilding and the various activities as well as the occasional drunk woman who’d wanna touch me but we aren’t gonna talk about that, just glad it didn’t happen more than it did but hey it’s Vegas and alcohol does flow. At any rate tonight and tomorrow are all about relaxing having fun in anticipation of the Upcoming Olympia Weekend a day and a half away.

After unpacking I decided to have dinner then make plans for the evening and the following day.

To be continued…………..

From the encroaching Winter climate of Denver to the searing heat of the Nevada desert my plane arrived at McCarran International Airport having survived another bumpy flight sans the over zealous flight attendant maybe my luck was starting to change and I was back on track to having a great week.

I manuvered through the airport unfettered picked up my luggage and headed down to hail a Taxi so far so good as my luggage was being placed in the trunk within a few mins of me stepping out of the baggage claim.

Next thing you know I was heading toward my VIP Suite at the Orleans Hotel and Casino. The Orleans offers 1,886 beautiful oversized rooms/"Petite Suites" with separate sitting areas. Spectacular views face the glittering Las Vegas Strip or the sweeping mountain panoramas surrounding the Las Vegas Valley. Free shuttle service is available to their sister property The Gold Coast as well as the Las Vegas strip.

As the Taxi pulled away from the curb night had fallen across the dry heat of the desert and the darkness became iluminated by the sprawling Vegas Strip lit up like the fourth of July all across the face of the globe Vegas is known as Sin City harkening back to the influx of adult entertainment centers which drove the other large gaming centers like Carson City and Galvaston under and of course the colorful characters such as  Bugsy Siegal, Myer Lansky and Howard Hughes and numerous acts to many to name from the Rat Pack to Terry Fator.

But this weekend was diferent as we sped down the strip I looked out my window to see a glittering animated digital Billboard with Jay Cutler smiling down Professional Bodybuilding Had Invaded and taken over Vegas Baby! not organized crime. This weekend was about the "O"

And the experiance of a life time for me was about to unfold.

To be continued……………

On September 22nd 2009 with bags packed and Boarding passes in hand I boarded a Plane at Detroit Metropolitan Airport to wing my way half way across the country to immerse my self in the world of Professional Bodybuilding and and other Fitness Related happenings as a VIP during “Ultimate Nutrition presents Joe Weider’s 2009 Olympia Weekend.”

Manuvering through the airport and the TSA check points went smooth as did the boarding process but the flight which would take me into Denver for a hour layover was racked with turbulence and me trying to find comfort in the tiny seat which definately wasn’t designed for above average size people and definately not a weight trained physique.

As I have a tendency to dehydrate on flights I had prehydrated well but between the tiny seat the turbulence and the shortest seat belt I have ever encountered my bladder urged me to find relief quickly but of course because of the tubulence the seat belt signs were on so I tried my best to wait it out. Until It just wasn’t going to be a feasable proposition that I do anything other than get up fortunately I thought anyway I was sitting in the very back row and was only about a foot away from the restroom I looked over my shoulder to see if the restroom was clear and it was so I unbuckled and stood up took one step with my hand on the rest room door and this 20 something flight attendant is in my face pointing at me "The SEAT BELT SIGNS ARE ON!" "It is not reccomended that you move about the cabin and we highly reccomend you do what the captain says!" (I might point out the Captain said nothing to the passengers at this point) I looked at her fairly incredulous that she had the gall to step between me and the restroom but I’m a structured individual and understand rules and such so I remained calm and said "I really dont think I can hold it much longer I need to go in there right now." to which she raised her voice and said "Sanding here arguing with me is going to get you no where!" I calmy said "Well Im waiting for you to give me an instruction as to what you want?" as she was right in my face and (I HAD TO P MY BLADDER WAS ABOUT TO GO VOLCANIC!) With all the indignation as her other statements she says "Well I can’t tell you what to do!" Needless to say I went to P. (Question if she couldn’t tell me what to do then why did she stop me in the first place?) I know cause I was on my way to have a great week and we couldn’t just let my flight be a pleasant part of that experiance now could we?

Once sweet relife was  met I settled back into my tiny seat and wethered the bumpy ride into a 50 degree Denver with two inches of snow on the ground to wait for my next flight to Vegas which was far more important than the inconveniance of some flight attendant who wished she had the Captains bars on her shoulders and it’s a lot easier to move on when your bladder is empty anyway!

To be continued………

I had the distinct privilage this year of attending “Ultimate Nutrition presents Joe Weider’s 2009 Olympia Weekend.” 

It was quite the experiance actually I have to say one of the most rewarding of my life, I have been very busy since my return but I will be bringing fourth a series of Blogs sharing my experiances inbetween my busy schedule.

My first entry should come later this afternoon/evening or tomorrow at the latest. In the mean time I am preparing for the gym even the Trainer has to train sometime.

Until then Respectfully yours in Good Health Thomas.

Do you remember the old animated Tootsie Pop commercial where a little boy walks up to the wise old owl and says "How long does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop?"

Well this is sort of a follow up to my Blog Entry http://blog.bodybuilding.com/TheBodyguard/2009/09/01/question/

The following question was brought up during conversation with some of my female friends in regards to the post mentioned above as it obviously sparked further conversation tongue in cheek or not.

Question: How long after a new female BodySpace Member’s photo appears in the Newest Profiles Pics section on the front page before she gets her first "I love the fit of your Bikini Bottoms Hon!" Welcome to BodySpace what you need to do is post more pics!" ?

Creepy? Funny? makes you go Hmmnnn?

Maybe a little bit of each at anyrate it’s stimulated some in depth discussions it’s also enlightened me to the incredibly colorfully descriptive language women use when discussing these things.

Back to the question so how long does it take? "A oneee, a twoooo, a Threeee…………………….. 

Bodybuilding is a sport where we wear our uniform everyday it’s a suit of armor made of muscle, to others involved in fitness it’s obvious what we do, I personally have been a Bodybuilder for some 20 + yrs save for a few yrs sidelined by a Drunk Driver but that is for a differant post entirely.

Throughout my life the basic man/woman on the street Jo Blow, Ms. American pie has not recognized me as a Bodybuilder I realize it’s still considered a freak show to some and a fringe sport at best to others despite the leaps and bounds and giant strides we have made.

Yet I usually have recieved a variation of the following "Hey Youre pretty Big!", "do you play football?", ‘What do you do are you a Bouncer?", "Are you a cop?", "you look like a cop!" of course intermingled with these is the inevitable "Make a muscle", "How much do you bench?" and the ever popular query from someone who doesn’t want to sound like they don’t know what they are talking about the generic "So how much can you lift?".

I have also been called Hecules junior, Brutus, Bruno, Bruiser, the obligatory Big Guy etc.

And alot of not so nice insulting and misguide comments as well I walked into a office one day and I swear a woman looked at me and said "So do all those steroids actually shrink your nuts?" as if this was perfectly ok to ask! I have been blindsided by ‘Do you mind if I ask you a question?" "So what’s the deal with Steroids?" "Youre not one of those Body Lifters are you?"

I have worn my suit of armor with pride yet I have often just dreaded the rediculousness of me being my size and looking the part but not being recognized as such and weathered the verbal assault on my manhood and my ego and my conciet etc cause you know we are all vain have small genitals and are dumb as rocks and are so narcissitic we can’t have meaningful relationships and if we did we’d ruin them because we would roid rage our way into a broken relationship!!!!!!!!!

And I admit sometimes I give it right back not necesarily in anger but in a sort of smart assed way admittedly still I wear my armor with pride, yet the recognition usually isnt there unless it’s someone else in the industry.

Several week ago prior to me embarking on a week long emersion into fitness industry related happenings again a story for another blog. I took my youngest son who is 7 to get a haircut the ladies in the shop love him he is always on and the world is his stage he has a enormous vocabulary and lives his life as a superhero fighting the forces of evil from the time he wakes up till he lays his precious head down for the night. He was regailing them with conversation about the latest developments in upcoming Marvel Comics related movies and discussing Transformers and the like.

When in the middle of the conversation he turns around to the woman cutting his hair and points to me and says "That’s my dad he’s a Bodybuilder he looks like a Superhero!"

All of a sudden I flashed back to all of the times I wished someone had just said "wow youre a bodybuilder thats cool!" And I realised that one of the only people who I really cared about what they thought just laid it out for everybody!

Well I guess I’ll still get stupid comments about steroids and I’ll probably always get asked if I wrestle. But I am a Bodybuilder and I wear my suit of armor with pride and and my son thinks I look like a Super Hero so I’ll take the heat cause I’d rather look like a Super Hero to my son than justify my Armor to anyone else.

Take pride in what we do in all the world we are unique we are Bodybuilders and we wear our uniform everyday.