“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.

Being a personal friend of Gregg’s and having spoken to him about this appearance for months now, I had figured that – for the most part – he would be portrayed the way he has been in a number of other mainstream media outlets the past few years. For the first part of the story that held true. The reporter spoke to Chris Bell, director of “Bigger, Stronger, Faster” and – in a part that should have made the cutting room floor – a brief word or two from Dan Clark who played ‘Nitro,’ one of the original American Gladiators who has admitted to being a steroid user for 20 years. Clark admitted that he didn’t know Gregg personally but was at a loss to comprehend how he does not have any side effects from his extended use of anabolics and stated that Valenino was a “walking side effect.” This claim was totally refuted when ESPN put Valentino through a battery of medical tests and, according to the reporter, he is in overall good health. 

At one point during the story, the screen goes black and states, ‘One month later,’ and Valentino is again being interviewed and breaks down emotionally. This is due to the fact that he is estranged from his teenage son and that his daughter saw him on a school film talking about drug and steroid abuse. That was it for him and Valentino had an epiphany. 

The man who has always been connected to steroids does not want to talk about them any longer and feels that they are ruining the sport of bodybuilding. On camera he is seated in front of his computer at home and was writing his “Ramblin’ Freak” column for the June issue of Muscular Development magazine. This one would be different, he said, and didn’t care if people would consider him a sell-out for writing what he did. 

As soon as the segment ended, I called Gregg and to my surprise he was not watching it but rather out on the road somewhere in his car. He told me that he was “nervous” to watch it but wanted to make sure that it was done properly and in good taste, especially the parts about his children. 

For those of you that do not know Gregg and he is just a guy you read about in the magazines, he is the most down-to-earth and honest guy out there. His knowledge of the history of the sport of bodybuilding is vast and deep and he is far from just ” The Man Who’s Arms Exploded.” Being funny, witty and having street smarts are just a few of the traits that make him who he is. 

Gregg compared the way he feels now to a recovering alcoholic that never wants to see a bottle again. Although he has been talking about this for some time now with me, I was still surprised to see this side of him come out in the media. He may have made a name for himself due to steroids, but he is so much more than that and I for one feel that it is about time that everyone gets to see the ‘new Gregg,’ if you will, and not just the ones who know him away from the game. 

Gregg Valentino E:60

E:60 Gregg Valentino Preview

The monthly 500 Word Article Submission Contest on the Muscular Development website forums (www.musculardevelopment.com) has already begun posting some of the entries, with the winner having his/her article published in the print magazine. Voting will begin shortly and go until December 12. Is this a shameless ploy to get some votes for my entry, “Sweatpants and a Duffel Bag” by MuscleSport Mag? You bet, it is! To get your by-line in MD should not be taken lightly, and I’m not doing so. If you have never been on the boards, then you’re doing yourself a disservice. MD is the top publication out there and their website is loaded with great material. The forums are legendary, especially the ‘No Bull’ section. Sign up, post and don’t forget to vote every month.

Sweatpants and a Duffel Bag

Remember the first time that you hit the weights? Me neither, but it doesn’t really matter, I suppose. As long as there is a first time to think back to and that there’s been many more since then.

Yeah, the longer that you’ve been training the harder it gets to recall how bad those first few workouts were. Your form was totally off, hands in the wrong position and all. But you got your ass in there and, lo and behold, it wasn’t too much longer before you figured it out.

Watching the ‘big guys’ training near you, reading magazine articles and (if you had the balls) asking questions of the guy waiting for you to finish on the incline bench gave you the knowledge that you needed to make that jump. Before you knew it, you were on the answering end of those same questions.

Over the years, you’ve gone through enough changes but one thing’s remained consistent – no matter what you always found time to get yourself to the gym. Even if it was one of those pieces of home equipment with the rubber band weights. While the people you lived near or worked with made their January cameos to satisfy their fat consciousness, you took care of business.

It may get harder every year, but when you can look yourself in the mirror and say that you’re in the best shape of your life, you know that you’re doing something right. It’s a simple formula – take care of your body and reap the rewards. The kind that stares you down every morning when shaving.

“There goes that guy with the sweatpants and duffel bag again.” Is that what your neighbor thought to himself this morning when you waved to one another as he raked another bag of fallen leaves? Have fun with that cleanup, my friend. I have a little back and bis to take care of.

The monthly 500 Word Article Submission Contest on the Muscular Development website forums has already begun posting some of the entries, with the winner having his/her article published in the print magazine. Voting will begin shortly and go until November 12. Is this a shameless ploy to get some votes for my entry, “Over Time…” by MuscleSport Mag? You bet, it is! To get your by-line in MD should not be taken lightly, and I’m not doing so. If you have never been on the boards, then you’re doing yourself a disservice. MD is the top publication out there and their website is loaded with great material. The forums are legendary, especially the ‘No Bull’ section. Sign up, post and don’t forget to vote every month. (http://forums.musculardevelopment.com/forumdisplay.php?f=17)

Over Time…

Oh, there goes that damn alarm clock again. Let me just hit the ‘snooze’ button once or twice then I’ll drag myself out of bed. A quick something to eat and off to the gym. Then it’s another session that I can probably do in my sleep, and the way I feel today I may just be doing that. Have to wake myself up and by the time I finish my warm-ups, the blood has started pumping.

Now I’m beginning to remember why I have been doing this since high school. It’s been over 25 years since then and I’m still moving iron around as if I was getting paid overtime to do it.

And you know what, the reward from doing it all this time isn’t anything you can buy (well, maybe you can in some ways). While all those other lazy SOBs are shoving glazed donuts down their throats, I’m here playing those same songs over my iPod sweating bullets. Blasting my chest, blowing out my biceps, adding another two plates for the next set of squats.

Some days it gets real hard to throw up that amount of weight. Am I going to admit to myself that it’s time to slow it down some and just stop by the gym the old ‘three days a week?’ You know, the bare minimum that some do just so they can justify that expensive membership and second helping of dessert? Listen, if I ever become one of them, please take me out of my misery.

This isn’t just something we do to kill time. It’s a way of life, a commitment and not to be taken for granted. It makes you drop bad habits and go back to what you were taught as a kid – no sweets, eat right and get good rest. How many people can have grilled chicken three or more nights a week and not get tired of it? We do it because we are taking care of our biggest asset.

The workouts blend in from week to month to year. Sometimes it feels like an almost robotic type of ritual. But when you miss one you regret it all day long. That’s when you know that it has become second nature to you.

So let them say what they want and think that you’re crazy for doing what you do. Plain yogurt and fresh fruit do taste better than that bacon, egg and cheese sandwich. Water washes down a meal just as good as soda, and that extra hour sleep will fell good in the morning. Because that’s when it counts.

Time and time again.