Reflections on the 2009 Olympia Weekend! Part VI
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………….
