The internet boards are buzzing with predictions and boasting who will have the best physique, and the final big battle of 2008 will lay down and settle the score... See where I believe the world?s best will fall!
I am getting excited again, as the contest is coming closer, as the greatest bodybuilding event of the year is coming to town again. The granddaddy of the IFBB, the Mr. Olympia, is once again in the city of Las Vegas, at the New Orleans Arena, which is a beautiful 9,000 seat venue.
The internet boards are buzzing with predictions and boasting on who will have the best physique, and the final big battle of 2008 will lay down and settle the score on who really are the top IFBB bodybuilders.
It doesn't matter what you did in any other IFBB show during the year, but right here, right now is where you put it on the line, for only the best of the best come to the Olympia to compete.
23 competitors have qualified for the 2008 Mr. Olympia, of which 19 will compete at the end of September. Here is the list of competitors and how they have qualified.
Four of these competitors are not going to compete, three for injury related reasons (Victor Martinez, Kai Greene and Branch Warren), and one, because, the greatest bodybuilder of the past decade, Ronnie Coleman, has retired.
It would have been quite an interesting battle had Victor been healthy this year, for a good many people proclaimed that Victor Martinez was the rightful winner in the 2007 Olympia. Alas, it isn't to be, so we will look for Victor, Kai and Branch to compete at the 2009 Arnold.
And while we will get glimpses of these competitors on various web sites around the web, including Bodybuilding.com, Getbig.com and Flexonline.com, the real story will start on Thursday, September 25th, where we begin with the annual Mr. Olympia Press Conference, beginning promptly at 1pm.
Click Image To Enlarge. Only The Best Of The Best Come To The Olympia To Compete.
No female competitors this year will be there, so the first serious chance we get to see them will be later on that Thursday night, at the 'Meet the Olympians' event, where you can talk, take pictures, get autographs and get various memorabilia.
So who do I think is going to place where on the list? Ah... let me gaze into my crystal ball, and wear the Swami hat. Hmmm... this isn't working for me.
First of all, the hat is way too small for my big head, and the banner inside the hat saying 'Lonnie Teper - Do Not Touch', just doesn't go for me. So away goes the hat and crystal ball. I will sit down, and order some Chinese Orange Chicken, and ask for 19 fortune cookies, and see what happens. The predictions are unlike others... true, but that is what makes me an awesome predictor... ok, maybe a lucky one.
So here it goes...
1. Jay Cutler:
Yes, Jay will destroy all competition here at the Olympia. This is not the Jay of last year, who limped into the winners circle amid a fury of naysayers. This is the Jay of 2008, who knows that he must prove to everyone that he is a dominant force and the king of them all, with the best physique in a long, long time.
It has to be done. It needs to be done. Jay is very smart, and he heard it all on last years 'O'. This year, all will be quiet. He will be the one. Simple as that. I happened to see a few pics of Jay, and he looked great. His abs were spot on, his huge figure dominating, and I think that once he steps on stage, the muscle freak will earn his spot in history with another win.
Second? Are you kidding, said a number of people when they heard that I was putting Dennis in second place. Why not? After all, these are predictions, and they all laughed at me last year when I said Ronnie Coleman wouldn't be in the top two.
The Wolf looked great last year, really good, and should of placed a little higher at the 'O'. This year, I hear his physique is the best yet, and he should dominate the arena. Perhaps even give Jay a run for his money, and make the big man sweat a little backstage. Dennis was 5th at the 2007 Olympia.
Dexter placed 3rd last year at the 2007 Olympia, and with Victor Martinez injured, Dexter is eying that coveted 2nd place. But it won't be easy. He will need to battle it out with the German Giant, Dennis Wolf, and if his physique spot on, just may get 2nd. Or 4th. Or even 5th.
Dexter is going to be heavier on stage this year. Will it mess up his conditioning? This isn't going to be a walk in the park for Dexter. He has the young basketball wonder right behind him here.
The wonder power has arrived to the Olympia stage. While qualifying last year, Phil elected to opt out (not ready and perhaps a little scared?) of the 2007 Olympia, but then came back with an amazing physique for the 2008 Iron Man, which amazed everyone.
If Phil is on, with his perfect conditioning and amazing physique, he can surprise everyone, but can he outmuscle the big guys. Based on the pictures, I know he is ready for this contest, but can a rookie Olympian do justice on the stage, when compared to the best of the best.
Now Melvin is incredible. He, when he is right on, has a small waist, and excellent conditioning, giving him an incredible physique. Coupled that with a great posing routine, and Melvin is a sure in for the top 5 placing. (He placed 6th in last years O.) But Melvin is not going to be happy in 5th.
There is no reason why he can't beat Phil Heath. And even Dexter said if Melvin is right on target, he may even challenge Dexter for the top three spot. It will be a good contest to watch.
Silvio knows how important the Mr. Olympia contest is. Last year, he competed in 8 IFBB contests, and still managed to place 7th at the 'O'. This year, he took it easy, competing in only 3 contests, but he still beat Melvin Anthony at the 2008 Arnold Classic.
Silvio will be ready, and reports from Gold's Gym of Venice have said that Silvio's conditioning is better than it ever has been. Melvin Anthony, watch out, here comes Silvio!
No respect for Gustavo. Gustavo is the one that we usually forget about, but he always seems to come back and remind us why he is always a very competitive bodybuilder, especially when it comes to the Olympia stage. Once again, Gustavo will come in shape, albeit larger physique, but will not make it in the coveted top six again this year.
Johnnie is coming into the Olympia with a powerful 2nd place finish at the Atlantic Pro, and should make the coveted top 8 if he continues and maintains his physique. But anything can happen, as 8th-13th place are the hardest to predict, for each one of these competitors has beaten the other one in the past few months.
Too many shows in the last few months in a row for Toney, and Toney seems to have lost his way two weeks before the Olympia, but Toney will regroup, and fight his way back. He needs to.
We all know what Toney's physique can be like with his win at the Tampa Pro and the Europa Show this year, and really want to see that on stage at the Olympia!
Ah... the dark horse. Moe stunned us all at the 2008 Iron Man with his conditioning, and if he can come back from New Zealand, and bring back that conditioning again to the Olympia stage, he is going to surprise a lot of people, and sway the judges into putting him in the top ten.
Moe can do it, and somehow, I just feel he may just bring the package. After all, this was Moe's dream, to stand on stage at the Olympia! Congratulations!
I just can't imagine seeing Dennis James outside the top ten. Can it really be? Dennis almost won the Tampa Pro show, and in many peoples perspective, should easily beat Toney Freeman at the Olympia. So why in 11th place? Because predicting the Olympia is very hard, and the fortune cookies have said that Dennis might have a harder time than we think in breaking the top ten.
Darrem does not get any respect, and until this year, has been having a hard time finding his groove in coming back into a great physique and conditioning. Not that his physique isn't something that many people would want - he looks great on stage. But put Darrem with the best of the best, and suddenly, the decision on who is going to have a better physique gets a lot tougher.
The little man, who looked absolutely incredible at the Tampa Pro. Surprised me and a number of other people, and David should go better than 13th. However, sometimes being small in a group of huge freak physiques on an international Olympia stage is harder than it looks, and the judges might overlook David. Too bad.
A dream to be on the Olympia stage for Abiad, as demonstrated by his tears backstage at the Europa Pro has he get his packet for the Mr. Olympia. It is time to have fun, to enjoy the onslaught of 7,000 fans on the biggest stage for bodybuilding.
Ronnie is another one of those competitors that just doesn't get a lot of respect, especially when you have a line up for the Olympia that everyone is in shape. However, Ronnie will come to the Olympia in shape, and have lots of fun!
Craig's best finish came at this years Houston Pro (he placed 2nd), but Craig seems to have a lot of problems into breaking the top 15 at the Olympia. This year is just as hard, so like I say to a number of competitors who don't really have a chance to make the top 10, just have lots of fun, and enjoy!
This is Kevin's best year ever, and his first time to the Olympia stage, but the awesome power and force of the other competitor's will keep him from getting noticed. Still, Kevin looked great at the New York Pro, and if he can come with that condition and physique to the Olympia, he will gain some respect.
Another rookie to the Olympia stage, but seriously outmuscled here. Still, great experience to be where the best of the best are, and I am happy for him!
Sergey? How is he on an Olympian stage? Again? Sergey is back to the Olympia stage, if you can believe it. By placing 4th at the New Zealand Pro (the top 3 were qualified), Sergey can come back, just to have fun.
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