What is it about competitive bodybuilding that breeds extreme dedication and focus, but at the same time breeds incredible laziness? I write this on the eve of the 2013 Arnold Classic and can’t help but think that the vast majority of competitors in the lineup rely solely on competition earnings, media contracts, and supplement deals to finance their careers and day-to-day lives. How many of these men actually have a retirement plan? How many own a home? How many struggle just to pay their bills? But how can you feel sympathy when a large chunk of these athletes refuse to hold down day jobs?
“The Debut” is the new DVD by upcoming professional bodybuilder Ben Pakulski. It chronicles Ben’s debut in the 2012 Mr. Olympia contest in Las Vegas. This is not a training DVD or even a Road to the Olympia type DVD but a more personal reflection on a bodybuilder accomplishing the dream of finally making it onto the stage of the biggest contest in bodybuilding.
For over 20 years, The X-Man Toney Freeman and The Blade Dexter Jackson, have lived up to their comic book super hero personas. They continue to get up on stage time and time again making bodybuilding fans around the world shake their heads in amazement. The 46-year-old Freeman has showed that age aint nothing but a number, having competed in an unprecedented 17 shows in the past two years. And at 43, Dexter is just as impressive. The entire bodybuilding industry had all but written off the 2008 Mr. Olympia and 3x Arnold Classic Champion early last year; however, The Blade would have nothing of it, emphatically putting a halt to the ‘past his prime’ talk, coming in 4th place at the 2012 Mr. Olympia and further showing he’s still got gas in the tank with a 1st place trophy at the 2012 Mr. Olympia Masters competition this past December. The 25th Annual Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic is now less than one week away. The hype train seems to be all aboard Cedric McMillan, but when the dust settles in Columbus, don’t be surprised if The X-Man or The Blade is left holding up the 1st Place Trophy.
NATIONAL PHYSIQUE COMMITTEE AND GASPARI NUTRITION ANNOUNCE NOVEMBER ATHLETES OF THE MONTH 
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA (February 15, 2013) - The National Physique Committee and Gaspari Nutrition have announced six competitors as the November Athletes of the Month – Brian Yersky, Juanita Blaino, Angela Skeels, Nicole Sims, Toni West and Vincent Fiore. All six of the winners won Overall titles at the NPC Nationals in Atlanta, Georgia last November.
What does it mean to train hard? Branch Warren thinks he trains hard—screaming “yeah mother fucker” and throwing down old rusted weights in Metro Flex has to count for something. What about those CrossFit douche bags? Ever try doing 8 ass-to-the-ground front squats, followed up by 10 pull-ups, no, wait, kip-ups, or was it a muscle-up—then run a 400-meter sprint around the track and immediately down a gallon of whole milk? It makes me want to puke just thinking about it. They must be training hard.
