Strong & Shapely Gym the Place to Be This Saturday for Charity Event

On Saturday, November 15, the world of bodybuilding will come together for an event like no other. At Bob Bonham’s Strong & Shapely Gym from 8 am to 6 pm, the likes of Gregg Valentino, Guy Cisternino, Evan Centopani and Alex Federov will be on hand to help raise money for the following charities: Tomorrow’s Childrens Fund; FOWA; The Salvation Army and NY Blood Center.

The event is open to the public and will be held at 150 Union Avenue, East Rutherford, New Jersey, 07073, (201) 896-1360.

When Bodybuilders Turn Pro…

Recently, MuscleSport Mag had the pleasure of doing a one-on-one interview with Gregg Valentino, who is a top staff writer in ‘Muscular Development’ magazine. His ‘Ramblin’ Freak’ column is just one of his contributions each month to the famous publication and is known throughout the industry as the type of writer that pulls no punches and tells it like it is – if it pisses off some people or not. (Part Two of this interview also appears in the October issue of New York Sportscene magazine.)

Being around professional and amateur bodybuilders his entire adult life, Gregg Valentino has noticed one consistency during the progression of their careers. “A guy will win an amateur contest and then turn pro,” he said. “A year later, he’s a totally different bodybuilder.”

The difference, Valentino says, is usually 20 pounds bigger and ripped. “I think it takes a lot of money to be a pro bodybuilder with all the drugs.” While that may sound shocking to some, the obvious is blatant and to have a frank conversation about the subject, denying that there is steroid use in the sport of bodybuilding is detrimental. It is there and has been for a long time.

Continue Reading »

WWF/WWE Mogul Vince McMahon Tried His Hand at Bodybuilding in the 90s

The IFBB can be viewed as a monopoly. Even an organization that monopolizes its own industry couldn’t make a dent in bodybuilding. Considering that it was Vince McMahom from the wrestling world makes it even more surprising.

Back in September of 1990, at none other than the Mr. Olympia weekend in Chicago, the World Bodybuilding Federation was born in a press release stating that the new organization would “revamp professional bodybuilding with dramatic new events and the richest prize money in the history of the sport.” Calling the competitors the ‘WBF BodyStars,’ a slew of pros were signed over from the IFBB, including Gary Strydom, Berry DeMey, Mike Christain and Lou Ferrigno. Continue Reading »

Bodybuilding Guru Passes Suddenly in Montreal

Although he was 85 years old, the passing of Ben Weider comes as a shock to the bodybuilding world. He died at a Montreal hospital of an undisclosed illness. Just a few short weeks ago, Weider was standing on the Mr. Olympia stage crowning Dexter Jackson in Las Vegas.

A funeral is being for Monday in Montreal. Weider is survived by his wife Huguette Derouin and their three sons, Louis, Eric and Mark.

Aesthetic Dexter Jackson Unseats Jay Cutler for 2009 Mr. Olympia

The following article will appear in the November 2008 issue of New York Sportscene magazine.

Heading into the 2009 Mr. Olympia contest, the two names being thrown around were Jay Cutler, the two-time defending champion, and an up and coming Dennis Wolf. Three other names heard often were of the men who were to miss the show due to injury: Victor Martinez (the 2007 runner-up), Branch Warren and Kai Green.

Dexter Jackson kind of stayed under the radar, which was quite all right by him. While Cutler and Wolf trained all year for the show, Jackson was piling up first place trophies at the Arnold Classic, Australian Pro and New Zealand Grand Prix. When asked two days prior to the Olympia if dieting down and all of that preparation and travel would be a detriment to him, Jackson replied, “You just have to know how to pace yourself. It’s not going to affect me in any way. I’ll still be 110 percent on that stage.” Continue Reading »

Two Huge Names to Grace the Columbus, Ohio Stage

One had to sit out because of an injury, the other finished a disappointing fourth. Two names that were being thrown around liberally before the most recent Mr. Olympia contest was Branch Warren and Dennis Wolf, and it won’t be long before they’re being spoken of in the same light again.

The difference this time will be that Wolf and Warren are going to be hitting the stage at the next Arnold Classic. For Wolf, this will be his first foray in Ohio, and Warren finished in second place at the 2006 Arnold. Continue Reading »

’82 Mr. Olympia Chris Dickerson Had a Great Mentor in Bill Pearl

Bodybuilding is different from many other sports. Winning a competition is a self-gratifying accomplishment, one that differs from team sports. There are no other players, coaching staff or front office to thank. But there are special people behind the scenes that are there with the athletes every step of the way, from that first workout in preparation to the night of the contest.

Chris Dickerson had someone that fit that description, and then some.

“My parents divorced when I was just a kid,” he said. “I’m one of triplets, so I never had an older brother. Bill Pearl was like a father, older brother and coach to me.”

Pearl, the legendary bodybuilder from the 1950s and ‘60s, was a mentor to a young Dickerson, who began training at the age of 23. “I emulated [Pearl] even with the big plaid shorts he wore,” said Dickerson. “He influenced me in many ways.

“Winning was for myself, but also to please him.” Continue Reading »

Long Island Native Finishes Second in 202 Showdown

Most athletes have the luxury of something called an ‘offseason.’ You know, the winter in baseball and the spring for football. A time of the year to recover from all the work that you put in. That is the case in most sports.

Not in bodybuilding, which is a 12 month, seven days a week commitment. To prepare for a competition, especially one with the magnitude of Mr. Olympia, there isn’t a day to waste. Kevin English has to get down approximately 70 pounds to his contest weight of a little over 200.

“Usually when people see me on stage they think that I’m about 20 pounds heavier,” the 5’4” Great Neck, New York native said. No wonder with the mass that he possesses.

In September, he was on bodybuilding’s largest stage at the 44th Mr. Olympia contest, which took place at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. It was English’s rookie ‘O,’ and he finished 16th out of 19 competitors. Earlier in the day, he was the first runner-up in the 202 Showdown, which pitted the smaller bodybuilders against one another. Continue Reading »

“Big Bad” Lucky to Finish in Fourth

Heading into the Mr. Olympia contest, the fan favorite to take the title away from Jay Cutler was none other than Dennis Wolf. The 5′11″ German had been spoken of as the most likely of the competitors to make the biggest jump from his fifth place finish in 2007.

While he did come in looking as if he trained intensely for the show, he did have enough flaws that his fourth place finish was questioned. Tony Freeman finished in fifth and appeared to be in much better condition than Wolf.

Wolf lacked in a few areas, including his hamstrings and calves. His obliques were not where they should have been, either. From some angles, he appeared to have ‘love handles.’ Definitely not a trait that you want on stage striving for the Sandow. Continue Reading »