It's a Conspiracy - Women Drivers

Don't get me wrong. I would never make a broad statement such as all women are bad drivers. That's just not me. No, I have a theory and it certainly makes more sense this way. There is a large group of women in the Tri-state area who have conspired to follow me on every road, highway and side street. Even parking lots. And their mission is clear - get in his way and make every wrong move known to man - and woman, of course- behind the wheel.

Take this afternoon, for instance. I was driving in the left lane of the Grand Central Parkway headed west towards the city. You New Yorkers know the way well. Lucky for me, it was past rush hour and the traffic was moving fairly well. If you're doing 60 on the GCP, it's the Autobahn.

This young lady, perhaps a 40-something like myself- was ahead of me but in the middle lane. I can see that she is ever so slowly inching her way into the lane I am already occupying and not signaling or slowing down to see if it is clear or not.

As I am about mid-vehicle smack next to her, she makes the move to the left, leaving me no choice but to hop the curb and ride the skinny shoulder before the guard rail. I blow my horn and hope that this idiot notices me before blasting into me and squashing my car.

Luckily she wasn't texting or doing her make-up and she swerved back to where she belonged. I probably scared the shit out of her. But it want exactly all shits and giggles for me, either.

No I'm pissed off, as I should be. It's been a pretty good year with the business (part of which you're reading now) ands I finally have a car I can be proud of. It's not a Maserati but certainly up there and better than the Honda I had before it. So I intend on keeping it looking nice, thank you.

As we pass one another, she has the balls to give me a dirty look and have an attitude. Listen, mirror breaker. You almost caused a real shitty pile up at high speed and I'm getting crap from you?

So please, help me out in this diabolical plan. A lone male is helpless against an army of females armed with heavy machinery, cell phones and eye liner.

Our Prejudging Olympia Predictions on the Money

Once the men's open prejudging was wrapped up, we called the top six in the exact order they finished in. Yes, Phil heath deserved the win and even the defending champion said as much as he congratulated his best friend on the stage.

Jay Cutler showed a great amount of class as he gave kudos to "The Gift" and was fully entrenched in the runner-up spot. Kai Greene looked better than he had before in his previous two appearances at the O, but still was a bit on the bloated and softer side. Either way, a third place finish for "The Predator" is a great step in the right direction.

Some folks felt that Dennis Wolf deserved fourth, but we felt that Victor Martinez looked a hair better than the big German. Dexter Jackson has gone from first to sixth in just three years, but he is still one of the best conditioned athletes on the stage year in and year out.

Places seven through 10 finished a little different than we expected, but the names were the same. We had called as far back as our Olympia preview in the Summer 2011 issue of MuscleSport Magazine that Ronny Rockel would not make the top six, but ninth was a further drop off than we expected for him.

Toney Freeman keeps going strong at 45 and seventh is a good placing for the X-Man. Brandon Curry followed up an impressive New York Pro with an even better look here and deserved eighth. Rounding out the top 10 was Hidetada Yamagishi, who had a great posing routine.

Tough Break for Branch Warren

It appeared as if Branch Warren was going to have a legitimate shot at winning the Sandow after dominating at the Arnold Classic a few short months ago. But the quad tear he suffered from a freak accident and subsequent surgery will put the Texan on the shelf for the remainder of the year.

With the massive wheels he possesses, Warren should recover well and pick up right where he left off. But that still will not make up for a golden opportunity that he will miss next month in Las Vegas. If defending champion Jay Cutler comes in even a little bit off, then a mass monster like Warren would be in line (along with Phil Heath and possibly a guy like Kai Greene) to take advantage of that.

We will never know what may have been, but a fan favorite like Warren having to sit out his second Olympia in four years due to injury will make the line-up seem a little scant.

Some Thoughts, Post-NFL Lockout

*The Seattle Seahawks will take a step back, not that 7-9 was anything to brag about, anyway. But even in the weal NFC West, they will struggle with T. Jax as their new QB. Sure, Rice is nice and all that, but the 'Hawks were better off with Hasselback.

*Philly comes out looking great with all their moves, but our favorite was getting Rodgers-Cromartie and a number two for a back-up QB that wasn't in their long-term plans, anyway. The Eagles picked up Vince Young to hold the clipboard and he'll learn some valuable life lessons from Michael Vick, who knows a thing or two about being the bad guy and silencing the critics.

Pre-Season Football Would Look Good Right Now

With the announcement that the NFL lockout has claimed its first casualty with the cancellation of the Hall of Fame Game, we here at MuscleSport Mag promise to never complain about pre-season games again. Most NFL fans can do without the four exhibition contests held in August that showcase the starters for a few series and then are played between guys that will probably be cut before the next game.

With the future of training camps and possibly the entire pre-season hanging in the balance of a vote by the players, we can only hope that business does not get in the way. Sure, we all realize that it comes down to dollars and cents, but America's Game is way too important to not be played on Sundays.

What we would give to see those fifth-stringers getting some PT in the fourth quarter on a sweltering weeknight in a tied game.

Get this shit done already!

Tennis Really Sucks

Perfect timing for my cardio session at the gym today with ESPN showing that Wimbelton crap. Tennis is shitty enough, but the match also happened to be in the men's division. I can deal with watching two twenty-somethings jiggling through a few sets, but didn't even get that.

I actually found myself peering towards the other screens showing some financial channel and music videos. Not exactly awe inspiring to get you through the end of your training session.

I know a lot of people are really into tennis and go apeshit over these major tournaments, but I have no use for either of them - the tennis or the fans. They're all annoying.

NY Pro News & Notes

*Kai Greene certainly gave himself a boost heading into the Olympia. He hopes to crack into the top three - or better - in his third trip to Vegas. Perhaps sitting out the Arnold was a good strategy after all. We'll find out in September.

*Everyone is Kai crazy right now, but he will be up against the likes of Cutler, Heath and Warren. These guys will be a lot tougher than what he faced in Manhattan.

*Ronny Rockel continues to impress. The German competes multiple times per year and is never out of shape. That is s testament to what he puts into his diet and training.

*The MD forums have been abuzz with Cedric McMillan coddling. Even after the newcomer won the Europa recently, it seemed as if the fans went out of their way protecting him whenever his victory was called controversial. Now he drops out of the top 10 at the New York Pro in a line-up that cannot be considered deep by any stretch. The big man has a lot of potential and should be able to rebound from this.

*If we thought that the Kevin English-David Henry battle was the one to watch in the 202, then a new chapter was written Saturday night when Jose Raymond edged Flex Lewis. The decision could have went either way and these two guys should meet again in September. English made it clear to raymond - enjoy this while you can.