Kyle looked unbeatable from the rear, as usual. And her new hairstyle looks great. (Don’t want to sound like a sissy, but it does count for something with the women.) She did come in what was described as “a little under the weather” by MD’s Shawn Ray and it showed when she was on the side during the second call-outs. Kyle was being attended to by the show personnel and appeared to be dehydrating. Just goes to show you what a great champion she is.

The other three women in the first call-out were Debi Laszewski, Alina Popa and Betty Viana-Adkins. Laszewski looks as if she will either take third or even have a shot at the runner-up position if the judges agree that Oriquen-Garcia is off. Popa may be the surprise of the night and brings a much more streamlined look to the stage that is much needed in the sport. Viana-Adkins took a year off and that appears to have been the right move.

The finals will be here soon, so stay tuned with MSM, our Facebook and Twitter pages for updates and analysis.

Did he reflect back on the 2008 Junior USAs, when he took the super-heavies and overall? If he did, McMillan must have felt deja-vu when he heard his name announced once again as the best man in town that evening. What made this accomplishment all the more special was the fact that he was one of seven young men to earn their pro card.

Also taking home pro cards were Bleu Taylor (bantamweight winner), Joe Vu (lightweight winner), Shavis Higa (welterweight winner), Nathan Detracy (middleweight winner), Seth Feroce (light heavyweight winner) and Jeff Long (heavyweight winner).

Some popular names finished out of the running, such as “Big” Sean Allen (6th – SH), Trey Brewer (8th – SH), Lee Banks (2nd – HW), P.J. Braun (12th – HW), Paul Sousa (13th – HW), Tamer El-Guindy (3rd – LHW), Branden Ray (4th – LHW) and Timothy Corscadden (DNP – LHW).

McMillan joins a list with some quality company in winning this contest. Lee Haney (1982), Shawn Ray (1987), Jay Cutler (1996) and Victor MArtinez (2000) all have enjoyed this honor.

In women’s bodybuilding, Kris Murrell won the heavyweight and overall titles and earned her pro card along with Lori Steele (lightweight winner), Lisette Acevedo (middleweight winner) and Nicole Berg (light heavyweight winner).

In figure, Mindi Smith was named the class E and overall winner, earning her pro card. Joining her on the paid circuit were Kimberle Trowbridge (class A), Kathleen Tesori (class B), Ava Cowan (class C), Taylor Gallagher (class D)and Holly Beck (class F).

As far as the bikini class went, Jessica Anderson won the overall and class E. Others who walked away with pro cards were Trina Goosby (class A), Erica Reder (class B), Alea Suarez (class C), Tianna Ta (class D) and Stephanie Lindsey (class F).

Most athletes have the luxury of something called an ‘offseason.’ You know, the winter in baseball and the spring for football. A time of the year to recover from all the work that you put in. That is the case in most sports.

Not in bodybuilding, which is a 12 month, seven days a week commitment. To prepare for a competition, especially one with the magnitude of Mr. Olympia, there isn’t a day to waste. Kevin English has to get down approximately 70 pounds to his contest weight of a little over 200.

“Usually when people see me on stage they think that I’m about 20 pounds heavier,” the 5’4” Great Neck, New York native said. No wonder with the mass that he possesses.

In September, he was on bodybuilding’s largest stage at the 44th Mr. Olympia contest, which took place at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. It was English’s rookie ‘O,’ and he finished 16th out of 19 competitors. Earlier in the day, he was the first runner-up in the 202 Showdown, which pitted the smaller bodybuilders against one another.

Two days prior to the show, English felt confident that he was going to do well. “Me being a newcomer, I sat back for many years and observed,” he said. “It took much to get here so I’m not here just to compete. I’m definitely here to place well.”

English trains at Bev Francis’ Powerhouse Gym in Syosset. The former female bodybuilder and powerlifter runs a place that local lifters are honored to work out at, and she is also a promoter for the New York Pro, the contest in which English finished second this year, giving him his Olympia qualifier.

Earlier in the year, English took first place at the Shawn Ray IFBB Men’s 202 and Under Pro, which was a great accomplishment for the 34 year-old. Realizing that even an individual sport such as bodybuilding requires a ‘team’ concept, English said, “If you look at any sport, teams have coaches and a staff. I got myself a phenomenal trainer named Dr. Michael Camp and a nutritionalist. We came up with a great plan about a year ago to get ready for this show (Mr. Olympia).”

Being the only competitor of the 19 from Gotham City, English knew he had a big responsibility to his hometown. “New York pride means everything,” he said. “I have to come in here and I have to represent at the same time.”

Being one of the shorter men on the stage does not bother English. In fact, he views it as an advantage. “I feel that me having small joints and a tiny waist, I think that whole illusion is going to make the appearance of me looking a lot bigger that what I actually am.”

Being bigger is the name of the game, and height is not really an issue. Of the 19 men who competed, only one was six feet or taller. Standing tall in bodybuilding holds a different meaning. One that English has done extremely well in a short period of time.

“I don’t just want tom walk on the stage,” he said of contest time. “I want to do damage and place well.”

So far, so good.