So, here we are checking the clock to head off to the airport for 'sunny' Columbus, Ohio. Here in NY, the weather was great yesterday and freezing today. Go figure.
I have been doing great in my predictions the past few years in men's bodybuilding, but off a bit when it comes to the women. Let's hope that I continue one trend and break the other - and that can go one of two ways.
I like Branch Warren to win his first Arnold on Saturday night. The guy has been knocking at the door for some time on both Ohio and Vegas, so with Phil and Kai sitting this one out, that proverbial door s wide open for the Texas Rattlesnake. Let's not overlook Dexter and Evan, who both looked to be in great shape a few weeks ago at the FLEX Pro.
The judges in Ohio obviously love Branch and he always is right up there, as well as winning the Most Muscular Award. So it seems as if he has a great shot at this if he comes in on point.
Now to the ladies. Some folks may get the impression that I dislike Iris Kyle because I pick against her often. That couldn't be further from the truth. She is a great person (very gracious when I interviewed her after last year's Arnold) and an exceptional athlete. Her accomplishments cannot ever be taken for ranted.
With that said, I honestly feel that the sport of women's bodybuilding needs a shot in the arm and a change at the top to recover. It has declined greatly the past few years and that may not totally be Kyle's fault, mind you. It is circumstances.
Since 1990 when Lenda Murray's streak began, the competitors have been bigger and more muscular and have gotten further away from what Rachel McClish and Cory Everson set in the beginning. Kyle has taken what Murray did to another level. Only the most hardcore fans have been following the sport and that is not enough to keep it going.
'Going commercial' to rock bands can be tragic to their rabid fan base, but it opens them up to an entire new audience. Take Metallica, for example. The heaviest of the heavy metal bands from the 80s slowed it down a bit (and even cut their long hair) a decade or so later and now are considered one of the biggest rock bands in the world. Was it the right decision? That's debatable, but they have become super rich and a part of pop culture when they would never have attained that status by staying a speed metal cult group.
So should Iris get a crew cut? Obviously not, but a smaller, more streamlined woman with better symmetry may bring in some much-needed mainstream attention. That is why I was predicting that Heather Armbrust could and should be the new face of women's BBing. Unfortunately, her personal issues have taken her out of the mix for now.
Yaxeni has been a champion in the past and very may well again. She has a different look than Iris, but is still fairly muscular. But she is certainly a step in the right direction.
Some people may forget how popular women's BBing was at one time in the early to mid-80s. They had their own night and venue and not grouped in as part of Olympia Weekend. Ms. Olympia was televised on network and cable and Everson graced the cover of the premier issue of FLEX Magazine.
Today, there are only a few pro contests for women to compete in and the line-ups have grown smaller and smaller, number wise. The BBing publications (except us) have barely covered the sport, too. If that's not an indication that something needs to be done, then I don't now what is.
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