Excellent Line-up in March; Comeback for Many

A loaded line-up including some of the biggest names in bodybuilding grace the 2009 Arnold Classic. The most interesting ones are returning from various injuries and had to sit out the 2008 Mr. Olympia. Names like Victor Martinez, Kai Green and Branch Warren will be back on stage and ready to go and all three should be viewed as favorites going in.

Toney Freeman, who finished fifth at the O, should also finish high. Dennis Wolf, who had announced immediately after the Mr. O contest that he would compete at the Arnold, had to drop out following hernia surgery.

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New Champ Not ‘Sexy’ Enough for Sales

Business is business. The cold, harsh reality is that Dexter Jackson is not the type of person that makes someone grab a magazine off the newsstand and plunk down their $4.00 or more for it. No offense towards the newly-crowned Mr. Olympia, but he was basically not controversial enough to warrant any good (or bad, depending on which way you’re looking at it) press. Thus, he didn’t warrant any covers in the world of bodybuilding magazines.

For right or wrong, Jackson is too ‘vanilla’ and this industry survives and strives by the ‘wow’ factor, which Jackson doesn’t bring. Is he a champion bodybuilder that deserves cover features? Absolutely, but a publisher has to look at the bottom line. The main selling point of print industry is the cover and headline. Why do you think piece of shit rags like the New York Post and the National Enquirer have made such an impact?

Jay Cutler brought an air of controversy with him due to the blocky look that attracted so much criticism. Was he a great champion? That is debatable, but he was and still is a face and body that sells. Like him or not, Cutler’s popularity cannot be disputed.

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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 »

“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 »

No Contest in Taking the Sandow from Jay Cutler

Las Vegas, NV - Although a good portion of time had passed, when Dexter Jackson arrived at the after party, the newly-crowned Mr. Olympia was still at a loss for words. Arriving fashionably late dressed in a dapper dark blue suit, the man known as ‘The Blade’ was introduced and spoke briefly to the gathering as he accepted his FLEX Magazine award for ‘Bodybuilder of the Year.’

“I still can’t believe it,” he stated more than once. But believe it, because it’s true. Once the top six competitors were down to two, there was no way that Jay Cutler was going to make it three straight.

Jackson had better symmetry than the defending champion and the rumors swirling around the Orleans Hotel that Jackson was ahead after the prejudging came true. Perhaps the only disappointing thing about Jackson’s presentation Saturday night was his posing routine, which did not flow and his transitions were a bit awkward. In comparison, Cutler’s routine was sharp and regal, but it was not enough to get him a third Sandow. Continue Reading »

The Blade Will Shred the Rest of the Board

Predictions are like opinions. Not everyone will agree with them, but that’s why we make them. Just for the hell of it, MuscleSport Mag has the Mr. Olympia board after witnessing the pre-judging as follows:

1- Dexter Jackson
2- Jay Cutler
3- Phil Heath
4- Dennis Wolf
5- Tony Freeman
6- Gustavo Badell

Badell is just a hunch. He came in looking good and has a great stage presence.

Pre-Judging for Mr. Olympia Title Complete

Call it reading into something. Or reading between the lines. It could be either or a combination of the two. But it certainly appeared on Saturday night during the pre-judging for the 2008 Mr. Olympia that reigning two-time champion Jay Cutler and Dennis Wolf are going to be in the forefront tonight at the finals.

Both received a raucous ovation when introduced, and even more so when they were placed next to one another during the comparison stages. That may have been what occurred when the two behemoths were performing the requested poses, but the interesting moments came as they stood off to the side while some of the other competitors were posing.

What they were doing wasn’t the issue, but rather what they were not doing. Camaraderie runs high between the bodybuilders, even during strict competition. Many of the men, including, Cutler, were congratulating each other when the head judge called their name. A small handshake, fist pump or backslap were common, but Wolf and Cutler stood next to each other for a good length of time on and off stage without nary eye contact, let alone an exchange of words. Continue Reading »

Fans Line Up for Defending Champion at ‘Meet the Olympians’

Las Vegas, NV - When you’re the defending champion, long lines are expected at these ‘meet and greet’ functions. That also holds true if you’re the guy that everyone feels has the best chance to unseat number one. It just so happens that both of these people were seated on completely opposite ends of the Mardi Gras Ballroom, but directly across from one another.

That made for difficult logistics as each line grew. By the time the majority of the crowd was allowed in the room, it was difficult to see who was sanding where. Jay Cutler and Dennis Wolf were the obvious stars of the session, and the fans that showed the patience to wait for a few moments with them, it was all worth it.

Cutler had an air of confidence about him, and judging by the way he appeared, had good reason to feel that way. “Everything seems to be coming together well,” he said. “The year went well. The preparation has gone great. Now it’s just fine tuning into the contest.” Continue Reading »

Bodybuilding’s Newest Player Vegas-Bound

This time next week, the staff of MuscleSport Mag will be settled into The Orleans Hotel and Casino in sunny Las Vegas. Lucky enough to be lodging at the same location as the actual Mr. Olympia contest, we will be hands-on the entire weekend. Nothing will get by our prying eyes and ears without us reporting it and getting the information out to the bodybuilding fans.

From the ‘Meet the Olympians’ on Thursday night; to the Olympia Expo on Friday and Saturday at the Las Vegas Convention Center, the Women’s Fitness, Figure and Ms. Olympia pre-judging and finals; and of course the Men’s Mr. O pre-judging and finals, MSM will be bringing you all the action.

Be sure to check our site regularly the entire weekend for up-to-the-minute photographs of everything happening out west. Will Jay Cutler make it three in a row? Will Dennis Wolf climb the mountain? Is Dexter jackson going to cap off an incredible year with the Sandow? We’ll be there and you will feel like you are with our around-the-clock coverage of the entire Olympia experience.