The Significance of Kai Greene's Victory at the New York Pro

Kai Greene's Victory at the New York Pro a couple days ago indicates that he is most definitely back in the game, but it has an even greater impact down the road as we look at the Mr. Olympia contest in September.  It now means that things are shaping up for one of the toughest Olympia's ever.

Jay Cutler, the current Mr. Olympia, has stated repeatedly that he wants to win the next one and have there be no doubt as to why he won.  After last years squeaker I can understand why as many still claim the Phil Heath won the thing if prejudging actually counted for something.  The problem for Jay is that as this year has gone by, the field has not gotten easier to beat but harder.  It is like the pack of wolves nipping at his heals senses weakness and is ready to bring him down.  Sorry Jay but I don't think a clear victory is in the cards this year.  There are simply to many good competitors.

Phil Heath has been training all year with only one thing in mind -- winning the Olympia.  He has done nothing but aim at this event.  He is going to be even tougher to beat than last year.

Branch Warren is now the winner of the Arnold Classic and that means he also is a number one contender.  The guy has from now till Mr. Olympia to train and get ready.

Two other guys are surging right now and look really really good - Dennis Wolf and Victor Martinez.  Both of them came very close to winning the Arnold Classic.  If they keep surging, they will be right up there with the rest of them.

Evan Centopani can't be counted out as a dark horse either.  He may be new but he is definitely reached the status of player.

Now, there is Kai Greene and Kai looked very good a few days ago and if he looks even better at the Mr. Olympia that contest between Kai and Phil will indeed take place along with all the rest thrown in as well. 

In short, there are a whole pack of competitors that could take Jay's crown this year and I am banking that one of them will succeed.  Sorry Jay, I think it will be too much to hold off more than one.  Last year you really only had Branch and Phil to worry about.  This year, it is going to be Branch, Phil, Dennis, Victor, Evan and yes indeed -- Kai Greene.  This is shaping up to be very interesting indeed.

Flex: May 2011 - Review

The May 2011 edition of Flex Magazine features Pro Bodybuilder Kai Greene on the cover. Dubbed the Build Old-School Muscle Issue, this issue promises gains in strength, size and focuses on arms. Kai Greene sat the Arnold Classic out this year, but that does not mean he has been idle as he has his sights set on the New York Pro this year. Flex, as always if focused on the sport of Bodybuilding and does its level best at covering as many aspects of training and competition as possible.

Best Quote: "Nobody Trains for Seventh, Eighth or Tenth." - Kai Greene p 168.

Highlight Article: "The O-Men Workouts" - Covers various workouts of Five former Mr. Olympias and analyzes why they worked. Each Mr. O (Arnold Schwarzenegger, Frank Zane, Lee Haney, Dorian Yates and Ronnie Coleman) is featured in one of their best body parts and then dissected as to why the workouts worked. (p 125-141)

Best Regular Feature: This month I want to highlight the NPC Report. Usually Flex has this one the back of every issue and it is a good dose of information hitting the highlights of the NPC Amateur Bodybuilding scene. It is nice to see at least one mag cover the sport's amateur side. (p.275-280)

Notable Articles:
1. A New York State of Mind: A great interview with Kai Greene. You know, I am starting to become a Greene fan, at least until he goes up against Phil Heath or Branch Warren. (p. 166-174)
2. Eat Like a Pro: You have to see this one day of diet that Phil Heath is on during the off season. I don't often say this, OMG! (p.196-205)
3. Power Circuits: A Circuit Training Workout for Bodybuilders. No kidding. (p. 180-190)

Duds:
I am not sure about this one. On the cover, there is the expression "7 Keys to the Perfect Workout". Maybe someone could point it out to me, but I couldn't find it inside the mag.

Graphic Content Review:
Solid and Varied as always from Flex. Lots of pictures and some great shots from the Arnold Classic all the way through. Flex really puts the color into things and I like that. Lots of good photos

Eye Candy:
IFBB Figure Pro Kathleen Tesori in some very good shots. This is how a bodybuilding magazine should do a photo shoot of a woman. Get one of your pros and showcase them. Playboy playmates simply look too soft and with some pros there is still some mystery to some of their parts. Not much, but some. (p. 252-258)

Rating: Four Stars. Solid in every way but nothing really says "wow!" but still good. Graphics are good and varied with tons of good shots from the Arnold Classic. Good one.

Flex: April 2011 - Review

Flex's April 2011 edition features Bikini Pro Amanda Latona on the cover as this is also the annual swimsuit edition. The special feature this month is said swimsuit photo spread with this year being about the top 15 Hot Bodies from the past fifteen years. As always, Flex also is about bodybuilding in all its forms as well as training and nutrition. It is Muscle and Fitness' big brother as as such goes a little deeper into all of the above. In addition to the ladies there is also an emphasis on chest training.

Best Quote: "Concentration and Mental Toughness ARE the Margins of Victory." - Bill Russell (11 time NBA champ) p.84

Highlight Article: "The All Time Hot List". Flex did a poll online to get the top ten all time most hot swimsuit models from the past 15 years of swimsuit issues. It actually lists the top ten in order and five other honorable mentions based on this poll. I don't want to spoil everything but the winner was Amanda Latona (that is why she is on the cover). As for the rest, buy a copy; you want the pictures anyway, right? Each of the top ten gets her own spread of one or two pages. (p. 164-188)

Best Regular Feature: "Flex Street Scene" (p.38) I like this feature as it gets some face time to young up and comers as well as a look at some people at entry level. It is always a great way to see new faces.

Notable Articles:
1. "Build a Treasured Chest" Great article not only on chest training but back training as well. The idea being to get a larger chest measurement by hitting both sides. (p. 120-138)
2. "Triple Threat" Phil Heath, Jay Cutler and Toney Freeman sound off on their chest training issues (p. 144-156)
3. "The Education of Eduardo" Brazilian Eduardo Correa da Silva lays out a full arm training regimen. (p 206-216)

Duds: No single article to point to, but the sound bite type articles that seem cluttered are back.

Graphics Content Review: Good pics and lots of them as always from Flex. They are not as crisp and clean as MMI or even their own sister mag M&F, but there are a lot of photos. The main focus of course in this months graphics was the swimsuit issue and it definitely was a collection of each lady's best shots. That of course means this issue is about the eye candy and it does a fabulous job.

Rating: 3 and three quarter stars: There was great number of training articles but the nutrition articles seemed a little thin this month. The sound bite clutter does not help this month's edition either. BUT, the girls save the day and this one should fly off shelves for that alone.

My Arnold Classic 2011 Picks - Part 2 - Me vs. The Results

So how did I do? Do I have a future job as a bodybuilding prophet?

The Winner: Branch Warren. I picked Branch Warren. Now let the talk begin of a true three way competition at Olympia between Jay Cutler, Phil Heath and Branch Warren. Branch Warren (pictured above) is the Man.

2nd: Dennis Wolf. I picked Dexter Jackson. Dexter was a disappointment this time. I had hoped Dexter's star was not dropping, but he did not look good this time. Dennis Wolf is definitely back though and in the hunt and will keep the big three looking over their shoulder.

3rd: Victor Martinez. I picked Dennis Wolf. Victor is definitely on the rebound, with some solid work he could definitely do well at Olympia. Note: Had the right order at this point except for Dexter Jackson finishing so poorly.

4th: Evan Centopani. I picked Victor Martinez. Evan was the best Dark Horse of them all this time. I felt he would finish seventh but looking at the pics, he definitely deserves fourth. There is a new player in town.

5th: Dexter Jackson. I picked Ronny Rockel. Dexter's fifth place has got to be a disappointment. Honestly looking at the pics I feel Ronny still deserves this spot. Dexter just looked wrong. This was a case of 'Gee Dex, you kind of suck today but because you are a former Mr. O we can't place you lower".

6th: Ronny Rockel: I picked Toney Freeman. Ronny deserved the fifth place spot I gave him but with Evan doing so well and Dexter being so bad, Ronny hit sixth - again.

7th: Jonnie Jackson: I picked Evan Centopani. Jonnie deserved this spot. He looked good. Definitely moving on from being a strong man to a bodybuilder.

8th: Roelly Winklaar: I picked Roelly Winklaar. Dead on here. Roelly has a great future ahead of him.

9th: Toney Freeman: I picked Sergey Shelestov. Toney didn't do as well as I had hoped. Sergey did almost this, it is just Jonnie Jackson did well; others were surprises.

10th: Ben Pakuski. I picked Ben Pakuski. The Pak Man will have a great future in this sport if he remembers one thing -- he is going to have to work very hard.

11th: Sergey Shelestov. Me: Fouad Abaid

12th: Fouad Abaid. Me: Jonnie Jackson

13th: Essa Obaid. Me: Robert Poitrkowicz (Mohammad Touri did not compete)

14th: Robert Poitrkowicz. Me: Essa Obaid

Looking at it I did pretty good for a guy who has only been looking at men's bodybuilding for a couple years. I had the order pretty close. Dexter Jackson not doing well and a stronger than expected performance from Even Centopani and Jonnie Jackson were the only things I really got wrong. Toney Freeman was a slight disappointment. The rest I was very close (1 or 2 placings off either way) and I nailed three of them including the winner.

To Team MD (Muscular Development Magazine) - Congratulations: 1st, 2nd and 3rd. You have to be proud.

My Arnold Classic 2011 Picks!

I am only going to pick for the big competition. Sorry Bikini, Figure, Fitness, Bodybuilding Women and 202 Men, I just don't know your competition criteria enough to make a call. The only reason I am even picking this is to see how well I am learning the sport and compare my thoughts to what happens.


The big news is of course that two time champ Kai Greene is sitting this one out and so is Phil Heath (being 2nd both at Olympia and Arnold last year). Jay Cutler being Mr. Olympia needs not apply. Last year's Heath vs. Greene will not repeat. That leaves things a little wide open. This is going to be a wild one with some very good and evenly matched competitors. Based on what I see, here is what I think should happen.


1. Branch Warren - Branch has been playing second fiddle long enough. Two 3rd places at Olympia the last two years and a second and 2 third place finishes at the Arnold over the last three years are his resume and without Heath, Greene or Cutler in front of him, he should win this one. He needs this one to make a statement going into Olympia 2011 so that is even more motivation.


2. Dexter Jackson: The 2008 Mr. Olympia and three time Arnold winner will add a second place trophy to his mantle. I really like Dexter but he is starting to have the air of veteran player who is starting to have his star slowly fall. Hopefully I am wrong and a Arnold win would definitely mark him as back in the game, but I have to say second.


3. Dennis Wolf: Dennis Wolf has regained his momentum and is heading forward with his 'no more gurus' approach. I think it earns him a 3rd slot barely. He is a guy who can challenge the top two and if he has a great day could definitely pass them.


4. Victor Martinez: Victor needs this one and a top finish at Arnold would put him back in the big game as well. He seems to be rebounding from his leg injury very well and if he can get it together he could win this one with a little help.


5. Ronny Rockel: Ronny finished sixth last year. I would normally say then it would be fourth place for the German with Greene and Heath out. The problem I see is a resurgent Wolf and Martinez. He is going to have to be perfect to finish better than fifth.


6. Toney Freeman: I love the X-Man and in a perfect world where symmetry and frame mattered as much as size, Toney should be in the top three. However this is not a perfect world.


7. Evan Centopani: After two years off Evan is going to be the guy that rises to the top over the next decade. Finishing this high would be a good start.


8. Roelly Winklaar: 'The Dutch Beast' is getting better, I just don't see him having that little something extra that takes him past the guys I have listed above him.


9. Sergey Shelestov: The Russian Born Canadian will lead the rest of the field. He is my dark horse in a sense because I feel he will finish this high. I like his physique it reminds me a little of Nasser El-Sonbaty.


10. Ben Pakulski: Like Ben as well, but he is going to have to be spot on to beat some of these veterans.


11. Fouad Abaid: This guy's classic looks should serve him well.


12. Jonnie Jackson: The worlds strongest bodybuilder of 2009 will be hard pressed in this field.


13. Mohammed Touri: This guy looks great, but a veteran field will sweep him away. Give him a few years and he will challenge someone.


14. Robert Poitrkowicz: I think this guy slips this year.


15. Essa Obaid: A lot of people are going nuts for this guy, I don't see why myself. Maybe its the hair.


Well that is it. I guess we will see how it comes out on March 5th. I hope I do OK, but I have only been bodybuilding myself for a year and a half and following the sport for a couple years. We will see how it comes out.

Flex - January 2011 Issue - Review.

Flex Magazine is kind of the bigger brother of Muscle and Fitness. Both are produced by Weider Publications. That is where the similarity ends and as a general rule Flex is far more advanced in its content and it has as its focus bodybuilding as a sport. If there is something you want to know about bodybuilding competitors or competition, Flex probably has it. In fact, I find it at times to be cluttered with 'sound bite' type articles that give quick blurbs about something and then it is off to the next thing. The content ultimately is either intermediate or advanced training and nutrition or the sport of bodybuilding in its various forms from men's to women's (bodybuilding/figure/fitness and bikini).

The theme of January 2011's issue is arms and arm training. There is also a lot of 'looking back' articles.

Best Quote: "When the desire to succeed is in your heart, setbacks won't hold you back." -- Yenny Polanco -- Women's Fitness Competitor p. 68

Highlight Article: "Arm Yourself/Feed Yourself" p. 124-146 -- Actually this is two articles back to back but the focus of which is to provide both training and nutrition for a three week program to blast your arms to 1" growth. Everything is laid out including advice, supplements and sample meal plans. I am focused on what to do for arms later on in this year, so it caught my attention and it might be a possibility.

Notable Articles:
1. "Phil Heath's 23" Gun Salute": A good close up look at Phil Heath's arm training.
2. "Top Secret Arm Arsenal": A look at some of the better, but less known, arm exercises
3. "Pecs in the City": A close up look at Kai Greene going to the gym where he started his career and his monster chest routine.

Dud Articles:
1. Fast Food Fix: The Guide -- Trust me I understand that people may want this info but the fact is it covers only a few places and it relatively short on each one. It could have been much more in depth. Great concept, but poor execution.
2. Assortment of small articles: Its the sound bite thing that often bothers me. Its not the content of the articles that bothers me so much as the quick word, lack of depth style.

Graphic Content Review: Flex has a far more graphic content than most muscle mags. Tons of pictures of competitors and they are usually crisp and clean. Each article often has its own graphic style too and so the magazine avoids repetitive graphics. Their black and white photos are some of the best. There are two pictures of real note: Jack LaLaane is featured on page 70 from the cover of May 1950's Your Physique and an old photo of Eugen Standow on page 304 which are both classics. Probably one of the best long running photo shoots is the one Flex does with female competitors (This month it is Alicia Harris - Figure competitor) where each woman every month wears the same olive green and black workout outfit as they do their training so you get a more true comparison of how they actually look. There is of course a closer look at the online monthly winners for Flex's Bikini model search featuring the winners from month one through four. Finally, the same Met-Rx calender that was in Muscle and Fitness this month is also present here. It means I could put one side of one and the other side of the other together and have the whole year in front of me all year long, but that would almost assuredly bring about the breaking of both arms and probably other important pieces of my anatomy by Mrs. Rabyd Theologian. It too will remain in the magazine.

Rating: I always like the graphic content of the Flex magazine line and this issue is no exception. Lots of pictures an good pictures. The articles are often helpful when they are not of the 'sound bite' variety. Four stars.