‘09 Show in Ohio Would Go a Long Way After Being Reinstated by IFBB

After battling for nearly three years to be reinstated by the IFBB, Lee Priest has decided to make his return to the stage at the Australian and New Zealand Pros instead of the Arnold Classic. That may come as a surprise to some people, since all three shows are within a week of one another and the Arnold is viewed as the next big thing after the Mr. Olympia contest.

Last year, Dexter Jackson scored a hat trick of all three shows in March and then topped it by also taking the Mr. O title. While this is not a scenario that Priest would be able to duplicate, the Arnold show is held in a much higher regard than either overseas shows. Being from Australia, perhaps Priest feels that his best chance at taking one of the championships - or at least placing in the top three for Olympia qualification purposes - is with minimal travel.

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Training a Full Year the ‘09 Mr. O Will Benefit “The Gift”

Finishing third in his first Mr. Olympia, Phil Heath has decided to concentrate on moving up the ladder with Sandow on his mind. The bodybuilder known as “The Gift” has decided to skip the Arnold Classic in March and utilize that time preparing for next September in Las Vegas.

While some feel that is a mistake, Heath’s high finish in 2008 gives him a ‘pass’ in having to win any other contests prior to the Olympia. He has proven his worth and if he happens to come into the Arnold not at his best, he can lose some credibility, the type that he just has been rewarded with.

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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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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 »

“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 »

Finishing Third in Maiden Olympia a Huge Accomplishment

Heading into the 2008 Mr. Olympia contest, the one name being tossed around as a wild card was Phil Heath. The man known as the Gift was making his first appearance on the Olympia stage, but has had a very productive year. Winning the IFBB Iron Man and finishing second to Dexter Jackson at the Arnold Classic had the 28 year-old in line for a good finish in Las Vegas.

Two days before the Olympia, Heath remained humble about his chances. “Any time that you have the opportunity to be mentioned like that, it is a privilege,” he said. “Especially being a rookie, with the build up, to be in my position (being picked as) in the top six going in, for me, it’s an honor and a privilege.” 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 »

As MuscleSport Mag Predicted, the Blade Unseats Jay Cutler

Las Vegas, NV - On Thursday night, Dexter Jackson took the high road when asked where he would finish in the Mr. Olympia competition. “No predictions,” the humble one said. But surely he had to have an opinion inside, one that was very high. Who could blame him after winning three contests in the calendar year.

Winning the Arnold Classic, Australian Pro and New Zealand Grand Prix were incredible accomplishments, but paled in comparison to latest triumph by the Blade. On Saturday night in at the Orleans Arena, Dexter Jackson was named the new Mr. Olympia.

It came down to two men, both who stood on the stage awaiting the announcement from host Bob Cicherillo. As his name was read, Jackson was visibly emotional and went down to one knee and bowed his head. By the time he was able to arise, tears of joy were flowing down his face while the crowd erupted even louder. 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.