By: Bob Bonham

The buzz going around this year is which Ronnie will show up? Is he too old, is his left tricep and Lat torn, can he at 43 pull it off one more time?!

Rumors are flying; Jay is big and incredible. His training partner Eric shows us pictures on his cell from 3 weeks ago-WOW! He's physique is thick, hard, and full.

Ronnie's girlfriend Alti says he is ON! I only live 15 minutes from Victor, his girlfriend and their baby, and Tammy says he is looking real good.

Poll:

I started polling people while on the plane ride from Newark, NJ.

• Two hardcore guys & INBF Fitness Pro, their predictions: Jay, Victor, and Ronnie.

• At the Expo I ran into 1994 Teen National winner Hollis Lieberman. He predicts Jay, Ron, Vic, Dexter, & Badell.

• Rick Collins: Body Builder's lawyer & writer for MD Magazine say his guess is, Jay, Vic, & Ron

• Pete Grimkowski: who bought the original Gold and turned it into the franchise it is today- his pre guess; Jay.

• IFBB Pro Idress Wardell says; "same as last year".

• Lee Labrada and Chris Cormier: both say in no particular order; Jay, Ron, Vic.

• Larry Pepe: who started the body building radio web casts, and he's the author of "The Precontest Bible"; his prediction, Jay, Ron, & Vic.

• Brenda Kelly-Pro Fitness/swim suite model, she predicts; Victor, Jay, & Ron.

The 1st Round:

They come out one at a time. My notes and first impressions;


Dennis Wolf:


Great conditioning! His Lats are a little high and he needs more calves. He should place top 5.

Click To Enlarge.
Dennis Wolf At The 2007 Olympia Pre-Judging.
View More Pics Of Dennis Wolf Here.

Dexter Jackson:


Full complete classic Jackson.

Click To Enlarge.
Dexter Jackson At The 2007 Olympia Pre-Judging.
View More Pics Of Dexter Jackson Here.

Hidetada Yamagishi:


He is thick with a good physique. There were hundreds of shell shaped fans with his picture on them being waived in the crowd. That was pretty cool!

Click To Enlarge.
Hidetada Yamagishi At The 2007 Olympia Pre-Judging.
View More Pics Of Hidetada Yamagishi Here.

Click To Enlarge.
Hidetada Yamagishi Fan.

Victor Martinez:


Flows so nice, the best I've ever seen him! He has great separation on side thighs and Hams.

Click To Enlarge.
Victor Martinez At The 2007 Olympia Pre-Judging.
View More Pics Of Victor Martinez Here.

Eddie Abbew:


Out classed in this show. He's just big like the hundred of bouncers in New York City.

Click To Enlarge.
Eddie Abbew At The 2007 Olympia Pre-Judging.
View More Pics Of Eddie Abbew Here.

Gustavo Badell:


He has a very lean face. He looks really good to me.

Click To Enlarge.
Gustavo Badell At The 2007 Olympia Pre-Judging.
View More Pics Of Gustavo Badell Here.

Toney Freeman:


The X-Man is off; everyone was expecting the top 4 or 5 even.

Click To Enlarge.
Toney Freeman At The 2007 Olympia Pre-Judging.
View More Pics Of Toney Freeman Here.

Vince Taylor:


Age is showing, but he is still better then 99.99% of the competitors on earth.

Click To Enlarge.
Vince Taylor At The 2007 Olympia Pre-Judging.
View More Pics Of Vince Taylor Here.

Markus Ruhl:


Liked his hard music.

Click To Enlarge.
Markus Ruhl At The 2007 Olympia Pre-Judging.
View More Pics Of Markus Ruhl Here.

Paco Bautista:


So far Mr. O from his thighs down.

Click To Enlarge.
Paco Bautista At The 2007 Olympia Pre-Judging.
View More Pics Of Paco Bautista Here.

Ronnie Coleman:


Came out to his "Raise the roof" pose. He is hard, but he doesn't have the same dominant look. His legs looked a little to lean from behind and a slightly small left Lat.

Click To Enlarge.
Ronnie Coleman At The 2007 Olympia Pre-Judging.
View More Pics Of Ronnie Coleman Here.

Will Harris:


I liked this guy's look very thick, small waist, and almost grainy texture.

Click To Enlarge.
Will Harris At The 2007 Olympia Pre-Judging.
View More Pics Of Will Harris Here.

Jay Cutler:


He comes out way off. It looks like a water problem.

Click To Enlarge.
Jay Cutler At The 2007 Olympia Pre-Judging.
View More Pics Of Jay Cutler Here.

After the first round I have it! It will be Victor, Ron, Dex, Jay, Wolf, and Badell.

2nd Round Comparisons:

1st call out by judges (in no order); Victor, Ron, Dexter, & Jay. I thought Victor won every pose. Jay is starting to look much better.

Click To Enlarge.
Jay, Ronnie, Victor & Dexter.
View More Pics From The 2007 Olympia Here.

2nd call out (in no order); Wolf, David Henry, Melvin Anthony, but no Badell?

Click To Enlarge.
Dennis Wolf, David Henry, Melvin Anthony & Gustavo Badell.
View More Pics From The 2007 Olympia Here.

Ab shot to Silvo and most muscular to Melvin.

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Silvio & Melvin.
View More Pics From The 2007 Olympia Here.

Markus Ruhl is being called in at the later call outs. What's up with body building when Markus can't Ruhl?

Click To Enlarge.
Markus Ruhl At The 2007 Olympia Pre-Judging.
View More Pics Of Markus Ruhl Here.

Another Poll:

Dr. Carlton Coulker, doctor to pro-athletes and Body Building author and Triple H (WWE super star) has it, Vic, Jay, Dex, Ron, Dennis. Most of the audience has it pretty much the same.

Last Judge Call out of this round (in no order), Vic, Jay, Ron, Dex, & Melvin Anthony. End of round 2 and a very exciting and surprising Pre-Judging.

About The Author:

Bob Bonham is the owner of Strong & Shapely Gym in East Rutherford, NJ. 201-896-1360 or www.strong-and-shapely.com

Bob Bonham

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