Making matters worse, Posada had this beauty for a cameo: “I kind of apologized to [Yankees manager Joe Girardi]. I just had a bad day yesterday.”

We agree, Jorgie. A real bad day. But “kind of” apologizing to your manager doesn’t cut it. Either way, Posada is totally out of line in this instance. Let’s say that he was feeling one hundred percent but was just miffed that Girardi dropped him (and his .165 batting average) to ninth in the batting order. Is that a reason to be coy and just ask for a day off? Shame on Girardi for not asking more questions of his designated hitter.

“Hey, can I have the day off?” is not something that should be followed by a yes, but rather a “why?” Or in Posada’s case, a “thanks.” When your DH is hitting miles under the Mendoza Line, any time you can leave his name off the line-up card is a huge advantage.

Once the missus Tweeted that his back was the reason he needed to sit, Posada looked foolish. He would have been better of being honest (if his back was in fact bothering him) and told Girardi as much. Instead, he had to make a spectacle of himself.

This is not totally out of character for Posada, either. Yes, he has been a good soldier for the majority of his time in baseball but let’s not forget when Posada stomped on the tiny home plate cameras like a pair of Bronx cockroaches during the 2004 ALCS. And then he had an attitude about it when questioned.

The only reason why he is still in pinstripes is because of his successful past. When Yankees general manager Brian Cashman re-signed him to a four-year, $52.4 million dollar free agent contract in 2007 (the last time he hit .300), it was because the crosstown Mets were wooing him. Cashman upped his original offer by a year to keep Posada around and now he is paying $13.1 million for a disgruntled former catcher in his walk year.

The Yankees have no problem eating contracts and even for a hometown hero like Posada, that may be the best solution for everyone involved.

Photo by Aris Sakellaridis

Kai Greene came into the show as the defending champion and favorite, but was actually trailing Phil Heath, 10-7. Both men looked good enough to win, but Heath’s conditioning appeared to be a little sharper than Greene’s.

As the day turned into night, the winner hung in the balance. There were four men who had a legitimate shot, including Dexter Jackson (16) and Branch Warren (19) also close enough to have something to say. When the six names were announced after the posing routines for all 13 participants concluded, Toney Freeman and Ronny Rockel were also added to the mix.

Since the IFBB no longer counts the posing round towards the final scores, the judges may have made up their minds following the pose down. Rockel and Freeman finished sixth and fifth, respectively, and a case could be made that they could have been flip-flopped. The first surprise of the night came when Jackson – in a very important show for him – dropped out of the top three.

No argument here, but the fans in attendance let out a collective “oh” when The Blade’s name was called. Then they booed when Warren was next, but this was the proper placing for him. A huge fan favorite, the Texas resident came in looking awesome (particularly his legs) but not better than the two who remained on stage.

As Heath’s name was announced by emcee Lonnie Tepper, the audience (or at least a good portion of it) made their feelings known that they disagreed with the decision. That lasted for a short period of time and they gave Greene his due. The Brooklyn native became the fourth to win consecutive Arnold Classics, adding his name to a prestigious list that includes Flex Wheeler (1997, 1998), Jay Cutler (2002-2004) and Jackson (2005, 2006).

But then again Amber Elizabeth Simerly is not just anyone.

“I received my first weight set when I was 12 years old and have been hooked ever since,” the 32-year-old mother of one said. “I powerlifted through high school and began bodybuilding in my 20′s. Six weeks out from my first show I dropped out and it drove me nuts for the past 10 years that I didn’t get up on that stage and finish what I started.”

What transpired since then was a whirlwind of negativity in Simerly’s life. “My mother was diagnosed with cancer for the third time, there were several deaths in my family and I was in a bad relationship,” she recalled. “I went through a divorce and had to face life as a single parent.”

Simerly met a woman in her gym, Natlia Zapata, that had competed in the past and won her class in fitness. After a short period of time, Simerly felt that the time was right to make her comeback. She had her sights set on the Elite Muscle Classic in Greensboro, North Carolina just a few short weeks ago.

“Even though I didn’t place, it didn’t discourage me one bit,” Simerly said confidently. “Natalia and I are going back for more in April at Johnny Stewart’s and North Carolina State.”

Because she has experienced such difficult times, Simerly uses her training as an outlet and something positive to focus on. “When I go in there I take every bit of passion, craziness and stress out on those machines,” she said. “I believe that you can literally think yourself hard. I love being able to say, ‘I want my glutes to come up.’

“Think of some crazy workout to do, do it two or three times and physically see and feel the results,” she added. “I believe, bottom line, is that it is all about intensity. In all aspects of life. You get what you put into it.”

And Simerly has put an awful lot into ‘it’ lately.

http://www.myspace.com/amberelizabeth77
http://bodyspace.bodybuilding.com/AmberMagliocca/
http://community.worldphysique.com/profile/AmberElizabe…
http://www.muscle-ink.com/profile/AmberElizabethSimerly

Photos courtesy of Tyson Arts