As the years went on, the likes of Bill Pearl, Dennis Tinerino, Boyer Coe, Chris Dickerson, Casey Viator, Steve Michalik, Jim Morris, Tony Pearson, Ray Mentzer and Tim Belknap all were honored with victories. The last winner was Tracey Dorsey in 1999.

Now it is once again part of the bodybuilding schedule as an all-natural show sanctioned by the INBF. The man responsible for doing all of this is none other than Bob Bonham of Strong and Shapely Gym in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Bonham has penned numerous articles for the various bodybuilding publications over the years and is well known throughout the industry.

The 2011 INBF Mr. America contest will be held on May 21 at Martin Luther King High School located at Amsterdam Avenue and 65th Street in New York City. The pre-judging begins at 11 AM ($25 tickets) and the evening show is at 6 PM ($50).

Highlights include men’s bodybuilding, women’s bodybuilding, figure, Best Body and mixed pairs.

For more information, contact Bob at SSGYM01@aol.com or (201) 896-1360. Be sure to check out the official contest website.

“In Bodybuilding, the posing routine will no longer be scored. This will value the Prejudging and Finals Posedown at 50% each,” was listed as one of the rule changes included as part of the IFBB Advisory Notice 101409 prepared by Chairman Jim Manion. (http://www.ifbbpro.com/news/advisory-notice-101409/)

This may be viewed as a step backwards for a sport that has been finding the terrain difficult growing from its hardcore fan base. Back in its heyday, bodybuilding could promote many superstars who were classic posers. Men such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ed Corney, Frank Zane and Chris Dickerson made it an art form. But that has not been the case since the end of the 1980s.

With the new rule, competitors will no incentive to even prepare a posing routine and that will do the fans a disservice. As it was, there were only  few who even appeared as if they worked out a presentation. One of the reasons why Kai Greene made such a splash on the scene was because of his unique and incredible posing routine. Hopefully the 2009 Arnold Classic champion will not just go through the motions knowing that his score cannot be improved even though he is head and shoulders above the rest of the pack as a poser.

Some may say that he had enough size when he finished in third place in his rookie ‘O,’ but with behemoths like Jay Cutler, Dennis Wolf and Victor Martinez to contend with, Heath apparently felt the need to take it a step further. 

He appeared extremely thick and soft, but with nearly four months of preparation ahead of him, he certainly has enough time to cut up and get his physique the way he needs to to take the Sandow home with him. 

This should come as a warning shot fired to Dexter Jackson, who is looking to repeat but may not have the size to do so. That and his age are working against him and ‘The Blade’ may be a ‘one and done’ Mr. Olympia such as Chris Dickerson and Samir Bannout. Nothing to be ashamed of, of course, but he would certainly like to go on a streak of his own.

To see more photos of Heath, please visit http://www.rxmuscle.com/rxgallery.php?contest=&year=31&bodybuilder=1598#0

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.”

One of those victories came in 1970 when Dickerson won the Mr. America title, which he still views as his most gratifying win during his illustrious career. “That one broke the color barrier,” he proudly stated.

12 years later, Dickerson won the biggest trophy the sport holds, the Mr. Olympia crown, at 43 years of age. The contest in London pitted Dickerson against greats like Frank Zane, Tom Platz, Bertil Fox and Samir Bannout. Defeating names such as those – especially in his forties – was a statement for Dickerson, and the moment that his mentor Pearl suggested be his last competition.

“It was a bad decision to compete again,” Dickerson recalls. “I did it on my own without Bill. You never outgrow your coach.”

Sitting out the 1983 Mr. Olympia won by Bannout, Dickerson trained for the following year’s show, and felt confident going in. “With Samir winning, I thought I’ve always beat him before,” he remembered. “When I look back on it, it was a mistake, the low point of my career.”

Dickerson, 69, finished in 11th place in 1984, which was the first of eight consecutive titles won by Lee Haney. Dickerson later went on to compete in couples competitions and the Masters class, finishing in fourth place in his last contest in 1994.

Many people attribute Dickerson’s strong posing routine to his Olympia win, and that is something that he feels today’s bodybuilders lack. “I watch these guys and they’re huffing and puffing after two poses,” he said. “We were in better shape. I think we made more of a sport of it.

“We didn’t have the human growth hormone, we weren’t doing insulin, balancing this and that” he continued. “Nowadays, you have to practically be a chemist.”

Dickerson has been recognized time and time again since hanging up the posing trunks. He has been inducted into the NABBA Hall of Fame, IFBB Hall of Fame and, most recently, the Ben Weider Hall of Fame. Even with all of these accolades and awards, there is still one old little trophy from 43 years ago that means the most to Dickerson.

“It’s an ugly little thing. Wooden with a brass Adonis on top,” Dickerson described his 1965 Mr. Long Beach 3rd Place piece. “That little trophy just triggered it.”

And whom, of course, do you think pushed him into entering? “Bill (Pearl) encouraged me to go in.”

Who else? That’s what mentors are for.

For more information on the great Chris Dickerson, visit his official website, www.chrisdickerson.net.