Shawn Ray Reviews the 2010 PBW Championships IFBB and NPC Show
Shawn Ray talks about this weekends competition: The 2010 Pro Bodybuilding Weekly and the Tim Gardner NPC Tampa Bodybuilding Show.

Hidetada is looking to win another competition even though he's already qualified for the 2010 Mr Olympis. After a long hiatus, Darrem Charles is looking to stop what Hidetada is thinking. Mike Liberatore and other competitors are looking to upset the current competition and stake claim as the up and comers into the IFBB Pro Ranks.

Originally Posted by Shawn Ray View Post
IFBB Pro Bodybuilding Weekly Tampa Bay Championships


July 17th, 2010

presented by

DY Nutrition

In 2008 we witnessed an epic battle between Open Men’s Pro Champion, Toney Freeman and Dennis “The Menace” James in Tampa Bay, Florida. The close fought battle continued a week later in Dallas, Texas where Toney again defeated the hard charging challenger DJ at the Europa Pro for the win! A year later, we would see the return of King James at the 2009 version of the PBW Tampa Pro where he would claim victory and the $10,000 First Place Prize over Canadian IFBB Pro, Fouad Abiad! As history would have it, these two would both proceed to Texas for the Europa Pro and DJ would be victorious again just as his predecessor, Toney Freeman had been the year previous.

This year a whole new crop of contenders are vying for the title none of whom have the inside track to Victory! Let’s take a closer look at the Players looking to claim the 2010 title this year:


Darrem Charles: Florida Resident and winner of 9 IFBB Pro Titles. Last show placed out of the top 10 at the 2009 Mr. Olympia.

Hidetada Yamagishi: Japan’s first ever Mr. Olympia top 10 Finalist and IFBB Pro Champion by way of winning this year’s Europa Orlando Pro Championship in April. Hide has already qualified for this year’s Mr. Olympia in 3 different contests this year!

Brandon Curry: 2008 NPC USA Champion will be making his IFBB pro Debut in this contest. This BSN Sponsored Athlete and new Father has all the tools a Champion on this level needs but the verdict is still out on whether he can bring a similar package that won him a Pro Card after such a long layoff from Championship Training and Competing? Structurally the is no criticism however he will need to bring better conditioning at this level than his previous outing to become victorious!

Ben White: Former USA Champion who has yet to put it all together on the IFBB Pro Stage but had a few “near misses!” This Strongman/ Bodybuilder has been a promise not kept to date. Could this show be the one that puts him on the Map? He has all the tools but again, Conditioning will play a very important role if he is to see Victory once more.

Mark Antonek: This 40 yr old Pro is peaking at the right time. Former Police Officer and Tampa Bay Native, Mark earned his IFBB Pro Card barely a year ago after winning his class at the IFBB North America last September of 09’. A year ago, Mark competed in the amateur version of the “Tim Gardner Extravaganza” and returns home as a Professional. Mark missed his peak earlier this year at the Europa Orlando but with no traveling to do for this show he feels he will be right at home in his contest preparations to be better than ever!

Troy Alves: This 43 year old Grandfather saw victory for the first time as an IFBB Pro a year ago in 2009 at the Europa Pro Championships in Orlando, Florida. Another former NPC USA Winner, Troy is looking to get back in the winner’s circle with the help of training Guru, Chris Aceto in is camp. This contest for Troy was last minute, as he felt his timing was ahead of schedule and is looking for a Sponsorship Deal feeling that a good placing could bring him just that.

Paco Bautista: “The Spaniard” is bringing a ton of Muscle but not much Shape structurally. This guy is always very vascular and thick but he is noted for being “Bottom Heavy” with his big Tree trunk Legs! Paco has won the IFBB Santa Suzanna Pro and competed frequently in New York contests. He is looking to break out here and get to the Mr. Olympia by way of a top 3 finish by any means necessary!

Mike Liboratore: The former 2008 Hvy Wt Jr. National & 2008 NPC Hvy Wt National Champion competed earlier in the year at the IFBB Pro Arizona and found himself out of the top 10 and in 14th place for his Pro Debut. While he was cut and in great condition, he fell Flat and lack muscle Fullness. Apparently he now feels he has corrected his Rookie Mistakes and will be a Force to be reckoned with come Tampa! Stay tuned…….

Johnny O. Jackson: IFBB Pro Veteran, this Texas resident has revenge on his mind. Noted as the Strongest Pro Bodybuilder, Johnny also has the pedigree to win this show! Johnny has won Jr. Nationals, NPC USA Championships, Montreal Pro and the Atlantic City Pro Championships to his credit and his 5 Mr. Olympia Appearances to go along with it! Don’t count Johnny out, he has shown in the past if he nails it all bets are off!

Ed Nunn: This Indianan native won his IFBB Pro Card by way of his Overall & Super Hvy Wt Victory at the NPC National Championships in 2008! He took his lumps his rookie year but is back bigger and fuller than ever his sophomore season and is looking to redeem himself here in Tampa! Standing 6ft tall and well over 250lbs, Ed won’t be hard to miss with his excellent “V” Shape and added Mass! If he were to ever make a splash on the Pro scene, this should be the time to do it!

Others looking to make a name for themselves include: Omar Deckard, DeShaun Grimez, Manuel Lomeli, Alexandre Nataf, Vonne Francis, Gregory Ulysse, Oleg Emelyanov, Constantino Demetriou and more.... !

* Not be out done, the IFBB PBW Tampa Pro will also play host to the 202 Pro, Women’s Pro Bodybuilding and Women’s Pro Bikini! These shows will no doubt bring a lot of interesting aspects to the weekend which is now in its 3rd year! Kudos to contest Promoter, Tim Gardner for tirelessly working to improve this contest and reward these athletes!

A Special “Life Time Achievement Award” will be presented to Hall of Fame Bodybuilder and 8 Time Mr. Olympia, Lee Haney as well!



For more Contest, Event & Hotel Information visit: http://www.ifbbtampapro.com/comp_vip.htm

Pro Bodybuilding Weekly 2010
Ben Weider
“Lifetime Achievement Award”
recipient

Totalee Awesome, Lee Haney
(8 Time Mr. Olympia Winner)




by Shawn Ray


In 1982, Lee Haney burst onto the National Bodybuilding scene by way of winning the NPC National Overall Championships and would go onto an illustrious career of winning a record tying 8 Mr. Olympia Titles securing him firmly into the IFBB Hall of Fame while retiring from the contest stage at the ripe old age of 31.
Lee, originally from Spartanburg, South Carolina grew up to marry his high school sweetheart, Shirley and eventually become the husband and father to their two children Joshua and Olympia whom they raised in Atlanta, Georgia. Lee was a Joe Weider sponsored athlete throughout his Pro career until his final Olympia Victory in Orlando, Florida back in 1991 at which time Steve Blechman signed him to a 5 year deal with Twinlabs Supplement Co. While Lee stood head and shoulders above his peers breaking into the Pro scene back in 1983 where he would finish his Mr. Olympia debut in a respectable 3rd place, he would go on to beat the defending champion, Samir Bannout in 1984 and never relinquish it again during the next seven consecutive years of defending the title!
A mile stone was achieved by Lee when he tied Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Mr. Olympia record of 7 wins at the 1990 Drug Tested Contest in Chicago, Illinois. Of course he would return to break the record the following year while being challenged by another IFBB Pro newcomer who would wind up in the IFBB Bodybuilding Hall of Fame after finishing runner up to Lee in 91’ by the name of Dorian Yates, an eventual 6 Time Mr. Olympia title holder himself. It was at this time that Lee felt his work was done and decided to walk away from competition and change directions, as there was nothing more to accomplish with a lot to lose should he stick around as they reward for “Bigger is Better” was eeking into the Judging criteria.
Lee spent the next few year representing Twinlabs, doing Seminars, Signing Autographs and the like until he was signed to the Presidents Counsel of Physical Fitness during President Bill Clinton’s term. Lee was also the owner of Animal Kingdom Gym in Atlanta during his contest days but would give that venture up moving toward his growing interest in the Wellness Program he headed up and is still active in down south. Not one to rest on his laurels, Lee began the Harvest House which helps develop wayward kids and teenagers in search of mentoring with direction both physically, mentally and spiritually as Lee has always recognized Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savoir spreading the Gospel when and where he could by planting Seeds of Hope and Love being used by God in ways that only the gifts he was provided could.
Lee is now age 50 still living in Atlanta, Ga. with his wife and daughter who at 19 is aJunior in College and son who graduated from Citadel College two years ago, is actively promoting his own line of Supplements with a focus on “Wellness” which he is all to familiar with and enjoying much success in helping others achieve health and fitness. His latest venture is a Training Certification Business helping people get Professional Certification to Personal Train others and help them the Totalee Awesome Way! This Saturday night July 17th, Lee will be recognized for his body of work and thanked for the memories of inspiration and motivation by contest promoter, Tim Gardner on behalf of the late IFBB President & Co-Founder, Ben Weider. Previous recipients of this award were Mr. Olympia 1982, Chris Dickerson in 2008 and Lee’s old nemesis, “The Dragon Slayer” Rich Gaspari last year.
During Lee’s competitive career he had to beat a treasure trove of now “Hall of Fame Bodybuilders” like: Mike Christian, Lee Labrada, Rich Gaspari, Dorian Yates, Vince Taylor, Berry DeMey, Samir Bannout, Bob Paris, Albert Beckels, Mohammad Makaway, Robby Robinson and of course yours truly! Lee’s record number of wins at the Mr. Olympia of 8 has since been tied by one, Ronnie Coleman who has hinted of a Comeback but odds are this is one record that will remain intact and probably never broken!

On behalf of Steve Blechman and the entire Team MD Family, it is with respect and honor that we recognize the World’s Greatest Bodybuilder this weekend in Tampa Bay, Florida, Lee Haney!

Here is a crappy cell phone Photo of Lee and I at dinner tonight in the host hotel where Dan Solomon graciously hosted a Private Dinner with Bob Cicherillo, Robin Chang and Issac Hinds!

Shawn Ray Interviews Mark Antonek at the PBW Pro Before Stage


Mark Antonek is not just a Pro Bodybuilder but he's also a Tampa City Policeman. So you know he will have rounded up family, friends and those on probation to come cheer for him this weekend.
Mark used to help at this show, competed as an amateur here and is now returning on stage as a pro. He no longer has o lug wights for Tim Gardner! Can Mark take it?

Shawn Ray Interviews Ed Nunn for the 2010 PBW Tampa Pro - Uden posing


Shawn Ray interviews Ed Nunn minutes before the 230 pm Competitors meeting for the 2010 Pro Bodybuilding Weekly Championships here in Tampa, FL.

Ed is Huge. Well, he was huge. Now he's HUGER! Ed's been working with Hany Rambod and for this year they decided to double up on the upper body workouts to bring up some thickness.

Shawn Ray Interview Naor Ziv at the PBW Championships
Naor Ziv just turned pro by winning the Mr. Israel this year. He wanted to/anticipated to compete in the PBW Championships 202 but his card finally came in. Naor and his wife then bought a last minute ticket to Florida and will be competing Saturday morning.

Shawn Ray Interview Clarence Devis at the PBW Championships


Shawn Ray interviewed Clarence Devis Thursday night. I remember Clarence from the 2009 Atlantic City and he was OK up on stage but when he took his shirt off last night, Shawn Ray and I looked at each other and said: Holy Shitte!
Clarence is/was at 209lbs so between when we interviewed him and when he weighs in in 4 hours he will have to have shed 7lbs. Hope he makes it. He is going to be a friggin TANK up on stage.

It's Thursday night, 36 hours before the professionals go on stage so in the interim, pros like Mike Liberatore pass the time by posing, eating and sleeping.

We've followed Mike a few times leading up to this show by filming a two week and a one week out workout tape. Now we have Shawn Ray in Mike Liberatore's room for an interview and for a few mandatories to see how he's looking and feeling before Saturday's pre-judging.

Tricky Jackson before the 2010 PBW Tampa Pro

Ricky "Tricky" Jackson is one strong mo'fo and today he friggin' looks it. Huge quads, great seperation in the shoulder/bicep and glute/hamstring tie-in. He's going to give a Jose Raymond a run for his money and I will bet you a dolla fitty it's going to be a super close one.

Jose Raymond Interviewed by Shawn Ray at the 2010 Pro Bodybuilding Weekly
Jose Raymond is da man! Shawn Ray claims Jose is one of the most decorated bodybuilders starting by winning at the Team Universe and as a pro bodybuilder has been trucking along and giving people a run for their money.

Today Jose did not make weight. He was over by half a pound so on stage in front of the crowd he had to take everything off down to his undies and then just made weight. Look for Jose to be number one or two fighting it out with none other than Tricky Jackson.

Hidetada Yamagishi had to pull out of the PBW Tampa Pro due to a Leg Injury sustained earlier in the week while training in Los Angeles.

Hide felt he had put in so much work he would try to give it a go, by end of Prejudging the pain would not allow this Iron Warrior to continue.
There was speculation at Prejudging that Hide looked to be hobbled by something and now we know why.
His upper body was near "Peak" but his lower body was considerably Softer leaving him somewhere around 5th to 7th place from where I sat.

With this injury, Hide will also NOT be competing next week at the Europa Connecticut.

Shawn Ray and Debi Laszeweski Wrap-Up the 2010 PBW Pro Show
Shawn Ray and Debi Laszeweski Wrap-Up the 2010 PBW Pro Show after a long and grueling two day weekend show. It started with the Meet the Pros, an amateur pre-judging and then the next morning we rolled into the Pro Bikini and Bodybuilding prejudging.

Off the bat the competition was stiff in all classes but fortunately for Nicole Nagrani eked out her win at the ripe age of 18 years old followed by Brigeta Brezovac beating out Cathy LeFrancois and Tina Chandler for the bodybuilding win. Jose Raymond stomped his competition with a clear win in the Men's 202 and what looked to be a very tight race Ben White walked away with the ultimate goal of winning his very first professional bodybuilding show.