The spo
rt of bodybuilding is quite possibly one of the most demanding sports known to man. Unlike sports based on numbers or knockouts, a bodybuilder has to achieve a look that's impressive to a panel of judges, meanwhile respected by the audience. In addition to a contest prep that can take anywhere from 12 weeks to 16 weeks, some of today's best athletes are also preparing others for competition; this adds to an already overwhelming workload. But the champions always make time to get it all done; there's no room for procrastination- and even less for whining! Everything gets done, everything as planned.
In addition to hardcore training, rigid dieting, and strategic supplementation, there's tanning and posing practice. It's like a never ending "to do list!" But on top of it all, as if the athlete didn't have enough already,there's promotion. Thanks to the Internet and the gradual decline of the print media, athletes must do their due diligence and ensure that self-promotion ranks very high on their priority list. In all honesty, a person could build a flawless physique, be a wonderful poser, but if no one knows who that person is, that could potentially hurt him on the scorecards. Although the scorecards don't reward fan support, it would be very nai
ve to think that an athlete's popularity wouldn't have some influence over the judges.
One bodybuilder that I think has incredible potential and who could potentially be among the Top 10 on the Olympia stage is Ohio's Mike Ely. Just one look at this guy's physique, and you know he has diet and training down to a science. His resume speaks for itself; he's been instrumental in the journeys of many top ranked NPC athletes, including IFBB Figure Pro Nicole Phinney. But in all honesty Mike is not a media darling like some of his contemporaries on stage. Fortunately, we've seen a lot more coverage thanks to RxMuscle, but it's still pales in comparison to what the "favorites" have received from the more mainstream bodybuilding press. This is why this article is so important! I'm not here to tell you Mike's the best; I'm simply saying take a look at him.
When I first met Mike, I was thoroughly impressed. He had a very grainy look about him, with tons of muscle. As many of you know, I'm a huge fan of the physiques of Dorian Yates. and Rich Gaspari; I see a very real value in shredded, dry, dense muscle. A lot of guys nowadays can either nail the size or the condition, but they have a very difficult time reaching both goals simultaneously. This is also why so many people call the 1990's the Second Golden Era of bodybuilding. Most guys today would drop dead if they had to prep like Dorian, Wheeler, & Ray had to. In Mike's case, he's both the teacher & the student. His extensive contest prep expertise and his thorough understanding of his own physique, give him a very real leg-up on the competition. It's almost like photos don't do him the justice he deserves; you have to see this guy up close. His look is pretty incredible.
Originally, we had planned to tape an interview last week, Sadly, those plans didn't pan out, but fortunately, we've maintained pretty good contact throughout the week. He flew out for California on Tuesday and by Wednesday night/Thursday morning we were working on this article. You can tell from the photos and the video, that Mike has been doing his homework. When asked what his mindset was for the show, Mike had this to say:
"Don't ever give up!!!
! If you have a dream, you want it bad enough, you're willing to work and suffer if need be, you can make your dreams a reality. Work hard, work smart, persevere !!!!! I've had the privilege of helping people's dreams come true, including my own!!! Far from done, more dreams to live!!!!!"
The Ferrigno Legacy is also a very important contest. Alongside Arnold, Lou Ferrigno truly helped put the sport of bodybuilding on the map. As a Mr. Universe and world famous Olympia, Lou has starred in a variety of roles in movies & television. His role in The Incredible Hulk brought him into millions of homes throughout America - each and every week. As with anything that bears the Ferrgino name, this contest has been promoted zealously throughout the year. It will be held at a first class venue, with generous prize money, and vast media coverage. This much anticipated contest will be a very important day for every athlete involved, and placing well here, is the absolute best way to close out 2014.
For Mike, he's already won; he's living and pursuing his dreams, but this isn't to say he's not gunning for the win. With friends & fans from all around the country, especially Ohio, rooting for him, there's no limit to what he can accomplish on stage. Good luck to all the athletes tomorrow!!
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