Archives for January 2008

I’m pleased to announce Hardbody.com will be a sponsor for the 2008 NPC JR. USA in Charleston, South Carolina. The two overall figure winners and overall fitness winner will be featured on hardbody.com and receive a photo shoot with LIFT Studios. This is a great opportunity for the female competitors to get some added exposure. I’m working on a couple more things to sweeten this deal for the winners.

We’re pleased to be part of the NPC Jr. USA and would encourage every nationally qualified NPC Figure competitor to consider competing in this show. Tres Bennett does a great job promoting this event and takes great care of all the competitors.

Stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks.

I spoke with Natalie Benson today and she tells me she is feeling good 6 weeks out from the Arnold Figure Classic. I’m working with her on launching her web site before the Arnold Classic. She tells me she is excited to be on stage and thanks all her fans for their support. Texas will be represented with with Ms. Natalie Benson rock’n the stage.

Rumors have been circulating about a number of American Gladiators sustaining injuries during the filming of the newly revived NBC show. IFBB Fitness Pro, Tanji Johnson (Stealth) was spotted hobbling with crutches on the set. Did she injure her knee and will she return for season two?

Tanji recently posted this on the GETBIG.com message boards:
Hello everyone,

1) I wanted to begin by saying THANK YOU SO MUCH for your kindness, support, encouragement and prayers. You are so appreciated and loved for this special gift that you give and it means a lot to me that people care.

2) I am choosing not to disclose details about my situation, but just know that I am healing up terrificly and it will be a great recovery. A great friend told me that this is not a set back but a set up for a come back! I love that!

3) I want to also let you know that it was completely worth it. I am an athlete, and there’s something incredibly rewarding about giving 100% without fear, without reservation, and a willingness to sacrifice for something most will never achieve. Example, in 2003 I tore my achilles training for the Arnold. Some would say, is it worth it to do fitness when you could get hurt and be out for 6 months or so. I say heck ya! Since then, I have won 3 Pro shows and am now ranked 4th in the world in fitness. It was worth it. It made my return better, and sweeter and I cherish my times of intense activity b/c I don’t take it for granted. Those 6 months gave me time to balance out my life, lose my obsession with competing in the IFBB, and grow as a person. As I result, I became a better competitor and a better Tanji.

4) So, here I am again, 2007 (4 years later) with another injury. Just know that I am embracing it, I am in great spirits, I am going to use this time very well (praise God b/c if I weren’t I’d be busy working out for 3 hours a day getting ready for the Arnold again) Just know that I will be strengthing my brain, my spirit, my personal life and all the other wonderful things that have nothing to do with working out. Its temporarily, as like being single, I will use it well. And again, it was absolutely worth it. This has been an incredible opportunity and I would gladly sit out (athletically) for a period of time to be able to walk thru the doors I am walking through now. Won’t go into detail, but just know that I am extremely grateful to have been chosen for this job and was fully aware of the potential of getting hurt. I was not afraid and am still not afraid. (So for you contenders, keep that in mind when I return Smiley I am relentless in pursuit Smiley

You guys know me, nothing stops me, nothing gets me down, not when you live a life of abundance and adventure. I am married to nothing and obsess over nothing, life has so much to offer. Again, I live for Christ and that changes everything.

So, please no sorrows for me. Just continue to send your love and I am sending you mine!!

Its all good!

Love
Tanji (STEALTH)

Alti Bautista shares her side of the Ronnie Coleman Marriage

Yesterday Flexonline.com broke the news regarding former Mr. Olympia, Ronnie Coleman’s wedding. When I saw the photo and headline on their homepage my first thought was, What the F**k, that’s not Alti. No, it most certainly wasn’t the IFBB fitness woman we’ve grown to know as Ronnie’s girlfriend over the years. Nearly seven years, well 6 years and 8 month to be exact.

I hadn’t talked to Alti in awhile nor did I contact her about the wedding. I assumed, like many others who heard of the news, that they had ended things and Ronnie had moved on in another chapter in his life. It was none of my business. I’m friends with Alti and she’s one of the people you can go months without talking to but when you get on the phone, it’s like you never missed a beat.

This morning my phone rings and it’s Alti. Anyone who knows Alti would agree she is a spit-fire and goes 100mph all the time. We talked about numerous things but she wanted to clear the air on how she found about Ronnie’s wedding. Many things we discussed will remain off the record however this is Alti’s side of the story…

Alti and Ronnie had plans to spend New Year’s Eve 2007 together in Las Vegas. Alti has taken a liking to the UFC and they planned to attend the UFC event on December 29, 2007. According to Alti, she and Ronnie speak every day, at least once if not more on the phone. Keep in mind, Alti lives in New Jersey and Ronnie resides in Texas. As with any long distance relationship there are obstacles but it appeared they had found a balance that worked for them. On December 27, 2007 Alti received a call from Ronnie informing her of some news. The news wasn’t that he was getting married, no Alti had no clue about his upcoming wedding. Ronnie informed Alti that he was a father of not one but three children. A woman in California had given birth to triplets and he was the father. The triplets are now approximately 6 months old. Needless to say Alti was a little upset and they decided it would be best if she not go to Las Vegas for New Year’s Eve.

Fastforward to January 2008. Alti receives a call from a friend asking her about a rumor of Ronnie getting married. She confronts Ronnie about the rumor and he denies it. This wasn’t the first time rumors related to Ronnie had come up between the two. Rumors in the fitness industry? Get out. Alti chalked it up to yet another rumor and went on about her business.

When Flexonline.com broke the news yesterday, her phone blew up. Friends and associates wondered what had happened. It wasn’t until she saw the photos on Flexonline.com that it was confirmed and he had in fact gotten married. Think Alti was a little pissed? Not only was the man she’d been (at least in her mind) dating for nearly seven years a father of newborn triplets but he was also married! The woman he married however is not the mother of the triplets.

Alti is more than a little upset as you can imagine. She was told he has triplets on the December 27 and later finds out he was married on the 28th. There was no mention of any marriage taking place in that conversation nor later when confronted about the issue. Alti isn’t out to seek vengeance on the former Mr. Olympia. As would anyone, she feels betrayed, belittled and played for a fool. Ronnie has his side of the story which may or may not be the same as hers.

This story will continue to be discussed on the Getbig.com and the various message boards. Alti recently started a thread on getbig related to this story. I’m not here to proclaim Alti is right and Ronnie is wrong or visa versa. Do I feel bad for Alti? Yes. I wouldn’t wish this situation on anyone.

Ronnie Coleman and Alti Bautista at a 2007 Olympia after-party.

Disappointing. That’s how I’d best describe this situation. I’m disappointed that a strong, beautiful woman like Alti didn’t demand the respect she deserves. As we talked today I heard the hurt and pain in her voice. Her huge heart is a “gift and a curse” as she put it. We all make mistakes and no one is perfect. The fans of bodybuilding have heard time and time again from Ronnie on how he has Jesus Christ and God to thank for everything. He’s gone out of his way to let us know his stance with his faith and he is entitled to do so. I don’t judge nor fault him for his beliefs and how he presents it, that is his decision. I am disappointed as a fan. One of bodybuilding’s elite disappointed those of us who admired and respected his openness with his faith and how he carried himself. I’m disappointed he didn’t respect for himself and the woman who loved you when given the opportunity to come clean with his actions.

Again, I’m not here to judge Ronnie and his choices nor am I taking Alti’s side. She wanted to let people know how things went down from her point of view. As her friend I feel sorry for her and this is between her and Ronnie. Let them work it out and at the end of it all they only have to answer to themselves and well, maybe even God.

Valerie Waugaman has hung up her American Gladiator outfit while she trains for the Arnold Classic but it appears it won’t be for good. The bigger question to Val fans; will this be the last time fans see Val on the figure stage? Ohio.com recently interivewed Valerie they elluded to her decision ahead.

So it appears likely that Waugaman will be putting on the Siren suit again. And that may take her out of bodybuilding. She admitted that it’s not good to go back and forth between her figure-competition regimen and American Gladiators, so ”I’m going to have to make some choices.”

— Read The Full Interview Here.

She rocked the competitive stage in 2007 and now she’s doing the same online. IFBB Figure Pro Jenn Gates has launched her web site, fresh with more info, photos, fan club and more. Fans who join the site will see exclusive photos and her personal blog. Despite being a nurse, don’t expect her to save you from an increased heart rate.

Jenn is currently training for her Arnold Figure Classic debut, where she is considered one of the favorites to win it all. Visit jenngates.com and tell her HARDBODY.com sent ya.

The Motor City Pro Figure how has a couple of changes to note. Originally slated for August 2, 2008 the show will now be called the “IFBB Powerhouse Pro Figure Classic” and move to August 9, 2008. There will still be a $6,000 total prize for competitors and held in Detroit, Michigan.

I just received word that Sandra Wickham is getting married to long time boyfriend Ross Webb. Ross and Sandra are fixtures in the IFBB and Amateur Fitness and Figure world. They both promote the CBBF Canadian National Figure and Fitness Championships

Sandra shared…

“One of the most common questions I get asked when we see people at our show and the IFBB shows is, “when are you guys getting married??!!”

We’ve booked a unique wedding in Las Vegas…we are going to get married in a HELICOPTER flying over the Vegas strip at night!!

Feb 14th of this year is the date…like 5 weeks away!!! I’ve changed my training journal thread to “Gotta fit into a wedding dress!”

Congratulations to both of you. We look forward catching up with Sandra and Ross at a show later this year.

Those of you that follow the NPC scene may have recognized last night’s female winner on American Gladiators. It was the 2007 NPC Nationals runner-up in the fitness B class, Siene Silva. Siene qualified for IFBB Pro Status by placing second behind the eventual overall winner, Tina Durkin. Two of the three finalists thus far are part of the IFBB/NPC – Venus Ramos a NPC competitor (who will be competing at the NPC IRONMAN Figure competition) and Siene, IFBB Pro Fitness competitor. Add that to NPC competitor Jamie Reed and IFBB Pros Valerie Waugaman, Tanji Johnson and Beth Horn, who are all Gladiators, you’ve got total domination.

Siene’s bio on the contender list reads:
Siene Silva is a 34-year-old gymnastics Instructor and life coach from Fairfax, Virginia. She was a powerlifting champ in high school and owes all her success to her mom who taught her to always keep pushing no matter how hard life gets.

Competitor list to date for NPC IRONMAN FIGURE:
Kristina Perez
Laurie Eldredge
Lucinda Witte
Brianne Shaw
Soumaya Wilmore
Holly Humphreys
Kathryn Payten
Debbie Bell
Hanna Fox
Alma Ramirez
Ana Tigre
Dore Madere
Delinia Lewis
Lisa Lynn-Calhoun
Lynette Brooks
Danitza Freigher
Jennifer Kline
MaryAnn Pangelinan
Venus Ramos

Props to IFBB Pro and American Gladiator Tanji Johnson aka “Stealth” for her recent interview on Maxim.com. Check out her interview on their site.

I was stoked to see the new American Gladiator TV show debut last night. The original show was a tremendous success and we were promised the new show would not be like our “Grandma’s American Gladiators” by the new host Hulk Hogan. Hulk was right, it’s not and that’s a disappointment – it should be more like granny’s gladiators.

The two hour premiere was horrific at best, in my opinion. Why would the creators not spend the first hour explaining why the show came back, what’s new, what’s improved and take a chapter out of the American Idol book? Show the tryouts, the people who didn’t make it and why. Take the first hour to develop the characters of the new Gladiators – who they are, why they were chosen and what makes them worthy of gladiator status. Did they do anything in regards to character development? No. What a waste.

In the first event a female competitor is taken out by gladiator Tanji Johnson. A bit of foreshadowing of what was to come… Busted and broken would best describe how the show flowed. NPC competitor, Venus Ramos comes in as the replacement and goes onto victory. Along the way viewers are forced to listen to a boring announcer, a howling “wolf”, cheesy smack talking and pathetic editing.

Jamie Reed’s character “Fury” was the only one who showed us much from a gladiator status. At one point the announcer says, “Fury’s signature move” as she clamps her legs around a competitor on the rings. How can it be her signature move when we’ve never seen it before or been told about it before? If there was some character development to begin with – ie each gladiator’s strength, signature move, etc. perhaps it would be relevant.

I wanted to like the show but it was more painful to watch then the beating some of the competitors endured. My hope is for the women to make the most of this mainstream opportunity and do what they can with the exposure now. The door is closing fast on this show and I don’t see it lasting on the air for a second season.

When the Arnold competitor lists were published the buzz in the figure world is where was Amanda Jo Savell and where will she compete next. I don’t know who is on the Arnold committee but they voted note to invite Amanda to the show. So now the question everyone keeps asking is, where will Amanda Jo compete next? Amanda’s first show of the year will be the Jacksonville Pro Figure. AJ will then look to reclaim the Europa Figure title for a record third time. The plan is to then make the trip to the Big Apple where she will compete in the New York Pro Figure. If she qualifies for the Olympia we’ll see her back on stage in Las Vegas for the Figure Olympia.

What about Mary Elizabeth Lado? Well, kids you will see her doing a similar run as Amanda Jo. Mary plans to compete the three August figure contests. She’ll begin with the Jacksonville Pro, then the Motor City Pro Figure and end the run at the Europa Super show. This will be Mary’s first time competing in all of these shows and hopes to qualify for the Figure Olympia. If Mary qualifies she’ll return to the Figure Olympia stage where she hopes to find herself in the top five, where she once reigned.

This is a match up to keep an eye on, as these two have only competed against each other on the Arnold and Olympia stages. Who will prevail between the two Mary Elizabeth or Amanda Jo? We’ll see in Jacksonville, Florida later this year.

Another 2007 Figure Olympia competitor looking to qualify for the big dance this year is Felicia Romero. The California Pro Figure will be her 2008 debut and plans to follow it up with a trip to the Houston Pro Figure. Depending on how she places there will determine if she competes in any other shows.

One competitor you will see at the Arnold is IFBB rookie, Nicole Wilkins. Many thought we’d see Nicole competing in fitness at the Arnold but not so, she will debut in figure and will hold off on her fitness debut until the New York Pro Fitness. Nicole won both the figure and fitness overall titles last year in New York qualifying her for pro status. Nicole has a promising future and look for her to do well in both figure and fitness this year.

The debut of American Gladiators on NBC is just a day away, and the mainstream magazines are helping out the cause by displaying and promoting the show. In Entertainment Weekly, Issue #973, they featured Fury with a contestant, in which they called the competitor Venus Ramos? Venus Ramos, the California NPC Figure and Fitness competitor, who just competed in the fall shows? We didn’t see her on the competitor list? So is this just a stock photo, or the tryouts with competitors before the actually chose them, or a mistake?

Either way, it is great to see such national attention on NPC and IFBB competitors.

Ron Avidan takes you behind the scenes of the American Gladiators set. Interviews, videos, photos and more are available here. Don’t forget to tune in this Sunday for the premiere of the new show.

“Fury” shows off one of her guns.

Beth Horn on the set of the show.

This is one after party you don’t want to miss. This fifth anniversary charity after bash will take place on March 1, 2008 in Columbus, Ohio. Jason Dhir’s productions are always top-notch and not to be missed.

Interested in being a sponsor for this event? Email Us for more details on how you can be part of this charity after-bash.

The “Who’s Who” in the industry attends this event.
Super Star Kevin Levrone at last year’s event. Check out more on getbig.com.

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