- 3/2/04: Joe McNeal. Honestly, I had heard that name before, but only when Dexter Jackson said that he worked with Joe in bringing him to the top of his game did I learn more about Joe. Dexter Jackson than said that Joe had stopped working with him right after the GNC Show of Strength, and he retired again. Why did he retire? Well, On_Swole from the board was kind enough to post a response by Joe and what he thinks of Dexter. Here is is and I hope it helps explain things.
From Joe McNeal. "I decided after the GNC that I was NOT going to work with ANYMORE bodybuilders, because of several business ventures that will be consuming all of my time. From as far back as 1992, when I worked with Flex, I've always said he had the greatest physique in bodybuilding. I'd never considered mentioning any other bodybuilder in the same sentence with Flex, until I had the privilege of working with Dexter. In my opinion, Flex and Dexter have the two best physiques, ever in bodybuilding. When Dexter came to me five weeks out from the Olympia, he was as big as he had ever been, and I feel he deserves all the credit for that. I could see that he had been working real hard since the Arnold Classic. But I am responsible for the size he was, when he walked on stage at the Olympia and the GNC. Not only did I show him how to keep all his size, but he had actually put on more muscle. The tests that I perform, on all of my athletes, actually showed Dexter's muscle mass was higher the day before the Olympia, than five weeks out. How many times have we all seen pictures of bodybuilders four to five weeks out, showing all the size they had put on, only to lose it all by the time they had walked out on stage? That's how I knew he was going to be even bigger and harder at the GNC. Not only did he give a message to all the bodybuilders at the GNC, but I feel he had also sent one to Ronnie. I've always said Ronnie is by far the greatest bodybuilder of all time. Not only can he beat everyone when he is on, but he can even beat them when he is WAY off. I know for a fact, when Dexter steps on stage at the 2004 Olympia, NO ONE will beat him if they are off. We found the formula that works for him. No matter if he has two weeks between shows or eight months, you will see a bigger and better Dexter at each show! I hope people haven't forgotten all that Ronnie has accomplished, since he found what works for him. I am so proud of Dexter, not only for being a great athlete, but for all that he has accomplished in bodybuilding . I know he will take all that we worked on and use it to his advantage. I will always consider him my friend and I hope he knows that I will always be here for him. He will be Mr. Olympia one day, not so far down the road. So all you people out there, can keep talking all the shit you want about him, unless you're blind, you can obviously SEE, there is a new sheriff in town, and his name is DEXTER JACKSON!"
- 3/1/04: I must say I get this question emailed to me at least once a week. What bodybuilding magazine do you really read, and which is my favorites? The answer is usually the main ones. Being one that likes the stories about bodybuilders, contests and other items like that, I tend to look at Flex and Muscular Development first. Then, for more straight forward articles, I lean towards Muscle & Fitness and Ironman Magazine. And once in a while, I pick up MuscleMag, and other bodybuilding magazines whenever I can. And I can’t forget Max Sports, which I have a column in once a month. Now, keep in mind, I love magazines. Anyone who knows me can tell you that I have well over 2,000 bodybuilding magazines around, with close to 90+ different titles. And many of them have had or still have (if they are in circulation) some unique quality to them that will appeal to someone. Of course, I also have the ones that look like a magazine, feel like a magazine, but are really a catalog for a manufacturer. Sometimes they have some good articles and pics, but are usually more biased. For those who think that you can get everything on the Internet, there is just something about holding a magazine in your hands instead of just looking at everything via the computer screen. Something about seeing what history was like in 1999, or earlier. That is the one thing that you can’t really get from the Internet.
- 2/29/04: I love the Oscar telecast. Ok, I just like the first 20 minutes of the show, especially when Billy Crystal is the host of the show. Billy, I consider has been one of the best hosts of the Oscars, and his skit this year when incredibly funny. Especially when he had one of those big olaphants from the Lord of the Rings stomp out Michael Moore because of his political comments the year before. And to sing and remember the words in from of 3,000 people, and 1 billion people around the world, and get it right was awesome. Of course, my mind was think about Dennis James, and it was nice to see, way later on that evening, that Dennis James posted bail, and was released from a jail in Bangkok. Soon, he will be back home to his wife and daughter. Which means that the charges were definitely not as serious as everyone thought. Which is my always be patient and never belive every rumor you here, even if a newspaper reported it.
- 2/28/04: In the 2004 State of the Union Address, President Bush said, “The use of performance-enhancing drugs like steroids in baseball, football, and other sports is dangerous, and it sends the wrong message—that there are shortcuts to accomplishments, and that performance is more important than character. So tonight I call on team owners, union representatives, and players to take the lead, to send the right signal, to get tough, and to get rid of steroids now.”
Wow, that was one topic that I did not expect our President to talk about. Sure, hardcore drugs, like cocaine, crack, heroin, even Ecstasy, but steroids? That was definitely a surprise. I guess that the whole BALCO indictments and tainting some of our biggest stars, including Barry Bond, and a whole list of Olympic athletes, has cause some shame for the USA. Bodybuilders, well, they are just a tiny, tiny, tiny part of the equation. The thing is that many people know that about 7% or perhaps more of the sports world uses steroids to enhance their performance, and the fact that they got caught with ‘designer steroids’ made the USA look bad. So the new thing is to go after steroids. Who cares about the drugs in the streets. That won’t make the pride of the USA athletes look bad?
Truth is, BALCO has created a nightmare for many, including bodybuilders. SNAC System Inc, a part of BALCO, lists on their website a number of athletes, including
Barry Bonds, Marion James, Tim Montgomery, Zhanna Block, Regina Jacobs, Dwain Chambers, Kelli White, Kevin Toth, Michelle Collins, Michael Chang, Bill Romanowski, Jim Courier, Dan Marino, Ivan Lendel, Terrel Davis, Mac Wilkins, Brian Paup, Neil Smith, Gregg Tafralis, Mike Buncic, John Hill, Mike Swain, and more.
And in bodybuilding, they list Milos Sarcev, Jim Quinn, Ronnie Coleman, Chris Cormier, Mike Matarazzo, Gunter SChlierkamp, Roland Kickinger, Eddie Robinson, Emeric Delczeg and more. We know that they have looked into Emeric Delczeg and Milos Sarcev. Is this the beginning of a tough new DEA against steroids, when they should be persuing the more hardcore drugs? Who knows?
- 2/27/04: Dennis James Arrested. I don't know what to say when I hear one of our favorite bodybuilders get arrested. Seeing it on the bulletin boards, hearing from friends that Dennis James was arrested made me feel bad. Why are they going after him? What did he do? Did he do something real bad to get arrested, to be put on the front page of a Thai newspaper, to get his picture taken as he is led away handcuffed, like it was a national story. Rumors abound around; according to someone, he received a package from Germany which had 2 kits of Growth Hormone, and 18 hits of Ecstacy in it. The moment he signed for the package, the International DEA arrested him, like they had been watching him for just the right moment. True, Dennis probably had steroids somewhere in his home or gym, but aren't they legal in Thailand. I am told that the maximum amount of Exctasy you can have in Thailand before it goes to a higher charge of dealing is 15 hits. Why would anyone send Dennis 18 hits instead of 15 hits in a box. What were they thinking? I am told that Dennis already has a great lawyer that will argue that it was for his own use, that such a little amount can't really be considered dealing? Because in Thailand, with their strict drug laws, Dennis can get the death penalty or life in prison. And that is pretty scary. I am also told that this might be from something from the past, or it is part of an American-Thailand DEA sting that may be extradited Dennis back to the U.S. Or that Dennis has been dealing steroids into the U.S. for years. Or that this is all a big misunderstand. I don't know. All I know today is that Dennis James was arrested, and these are the rumors. I feel bad for his family, his wife, his daughter who are facing fears that I wouldn't want to wish on anyone.
- 2/26/04: I love the days before the Arnold Classic, when you have a large group of people argue and debate on who will win the show, who will come in shape, and who will have the best physique at the Arnold Classic, Saturday night, in Columbus, Ohio. I myself even got into it, betting Craig Titus that Jay Cutler will beat Dexter Jackson for the title. What did we bet. A box of Entemann's Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies, the same type that Craig was eating after he placed 5th in the Ironman in Pasadena last Saturday. Do I really care who wins? No, but just getting into the hype is kind of fun. Truth is, I hear that Chris Cormier is kicking some ass getting ready, training with Charles Glass on Gold's Gym Venice for the show, and Jay Cutler should some pics with great striated legs and arms, and Dexter Jackson is probably in his best shape since the Show of Strength. Which makes for an excited contest. I can't forget Markus Ruhl or Gunter Schlierkamp who both might surprise us for the show. Either way, these 13 athletes that appear on stage that Saturday night, first weekend of March, should be quite exciting. It is always a sold out show, and this year won't be no different.
- 2/25/04: Lee Priest, after placing second, got a special invite by the Arnold Classic committee to compete at the Arnold Classic, but he declined the invitation. Wow. Declining an opportunity to make some more money at the show. But Lee is an interesting bodybuilder. Deciding that he would rather stay at the Twinlab booth at the Arnold Expo, where he can make money anyways by getting $10 a pop for an autographed picture, Lee said he doesn't want to compete until the Olympia, as he secured his goal of getting a qualification for the O. That is his choice. But what about the San Francisco show which he signed a contract to go to. I will compete in it, but don't expect me to be in the shape that I was for the Ironman, Lee writes. His rejection of the special invite made one person extremely happy. That was Gustavo Badell, who placed 3rd at the Ironman, also qualifying for the Olympia, but wanting quite badly to go to the Arnold. Gustavo accepted the invite, so we will see him at the Arnold.
- 2/24/04: Sylvestor Stallone. Sly. Rocky. Judge Dredd? The man himself is coming to the Arnold Classic, to be a judge for the presentation award? To launch a new line of supplements. To just check out the show. All of this and more. The Terminator is going to meet Rocky, and Columbus will be buzzing with these two personalities there. Of course, there is going to be much more security at the show. California Official Secret Service men are going to be hanging around backstage at the Veteran's Memorial Auditorium, making it much harder to go backstage and take pictures. There will be a Pay-Per-View there too, live, with Lonnie Teper, Dorian Yates and Joe Amato doing the talking about the athletes. With the Ironman done, everyone is looking to the Arnold, with it's huge 550+ booth expo, and 50,000 mainstream people checking everything out, from cheerleading to powerlifting to gymnastics to bodybuilding. What a strange mix, but always fun.
- 2/23/04: The Ironman weekend has gone, and it takes time and lots of effort to put up pictures, editing them, renaming them, writing stories, and getting the pictures sharper and clearer with Photoshop and other programs. So much time is put in getting it right, and when will it end. Who knows. Lots of work. Still, reflexions and the word from the patrons who went to the Ironman all said that it was a great location, great show, and great venue, despite the constant pouring of rain which had threatened to dampen the occasion. It didn't.
- 2/22/04: Tom Prince announced that he has retired from bodybuilding. Good choice. With kidney problems the year before, many were concerned that him trying to come back to compete might jeopardize his health. Tom wasn't too pleased when this was put to him, and when his health problem got the best of him 5 minutes before the Ironman prejudging began, I knew that after everyone found that that Tom was ok, then the questions would arise as to why he did what he did. But since I am no bodybuilder and just a fan, I wouldn't understand what drives a pro bodybuilder with the desire for one last show, one more time in the spotlight, one more time to prove to himself and to the world that he could leave the sport with his dignity, at the top of the game, and not bow out from an illness. Tom almost did that, and reports from backstage was that Tom looked good to get up on that stage. Too bad, he didn't get that chance. But Tom has announced his retirement, and I wish him well in his post-competition days.
- 2/21/04: 2004 Ironman Pro: Dexter won. He looked awesome. Lee Priest was second. Looked great. Lee said he would come in shape, and he did. So did Dexter. Biggest surprise of the evening. Gustavo Badell? What? Are you serious. Yes. Remember I said that anything can happen at a contest if you come to it with a great physique on contest day. No matter what the hype is before a contest, competitors come here with their physique and the hope that the judges would judge fairly. But did Mr. Badell get a fair shake. Well, judging from his 7th place start at the end of the first round until the judges noticed him in the 2nd round might make you wonder? But Gustavo was easily one of the most impressive physiques of the evening, and by the 4th round, got 3rd place and qualified for the Olympia. Ahmad Haidar, the king of all abs, placed 4th, and Craig Titus 5th. Titus? Titus 5th? Wait, this guy was supposed to place higher. What happened? Well, Craig came out blasting in the first round, but like at the 2003 Night of Champions, by the end of the second round, he had lost his hardness, and become smooth. He came out strong in the evening 3rd round, but again, lost it during the 4th round. Looking at the scorecard, it was in the last round that he went from 3rd place to 5th place. Wow! David Henry, an enlisted military man came in 6th. Bob Cicherillo came in too soft. Did meet some nice bodybuilders who never get any notice. Ntuk Ntuk and Paul Baker. One very interesting note: Tom Prince pulled out of the contest right before prejudging and rumors said that he was having trouble breathing. But later on that day, he was fine, walking around at the Fit Expo.
- 2/20/04: From Pasadena, the Ironman press conference was a pleasant surprise. This was the first time that I can remember being at a press conference for the Ironman show, and I was not dissapointed. The only competitor that did not show up for the conference was Dexter Jackson, supposedly, he had a Muscletech photo shoot that day. What was interesting about the event has that Lonnie Teper (the emcee) and John Balik (the promoter and owner of Ironman) had also brought a digital scale (and a manual one just in case the digital scale wasn't working) to weigh in the competitors, hats, shoes, clothes and all. For entertainment purposes only. Still it was pretty cool seeing how close the competitors would come to the weight thay they stated they would, and most of them were pretty close. For their weights and complete story, that is in the 2004 Ironman section on Getbig.com, along with some cool pics. The competitors then answered some questions, and they ended the conference with some of them showing the audience a glimpse of their physiques before the actual contest. All in all, I had a good time and am quite glad that this will be a part of the contest for a long time, hopefully.
- 2/19/04: I would like to thank Steve from Retrolution for getting the Getbig.com site back up and running on a new dedicated server, since I had been having trouble with it for a while now. He did fix it, worked on the new upgraded bulletin board, and is working out the kinks to make Getbig.com even faster and better than it has been.
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