Wild card on the Olympia

[Intensity]

You maybe already seen this, but just in case (It was on http://www.flexonline.com)

Who do you thing should take it? Henry? Dugdale? Horvath? Cicherillo? Atwood? Titus? Farah? Richardson? Cook? Wood? Kamali?

I'm going with Dugdale!

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WILD FRIDAY


Woodland Hills, CA: July 27: At this year's Joe Weider's Olympia Weekend (October 13-16) the Friday night program of October 14 will showcase a unique evening of Beauty and Muscle. Beauty in the show-stopping shape of the Figure and Fitness Olympia events, and muscle in the rugged form of some of the world's top pro men bodybuilders battling for a place in the next day's Mr. Olympia finals.

The latter event will be called the Mr. Olympia Wildcard Showdown and is another exciting innovation by American Media Inc. (AMI) and the International Federation of Bodybuilders (IFBB), co-promoters of the Olympia Weekend.

The Wildcard Showdown constitutes a last-gasp qualifying contest for the Mr. O contest, in which the winner not only goes forward to compete against Ronnie, Jay, Gunter and company 24 hours later but also captures the winner-takes-all cash prize of $10,000.

This eleventh hour chance to qualify for the Mr. Olympia contest underlines the IFBB/AMI's combined commitment to grow the sport and to add even more excitement and thrills to an already packed Olympia program.

To see who will be the last man standing in the Wildcard Showdown book your ticket to the event now. Full Olympia Weekend ticket details are available at www.2005olympia.com. Continue to check that site and Muscle and Fitness and FLEX magazines for Olympia Weekend updates.

The Mr. Olympia Wildcard Showdown is open to IFBB pros who finished in the top ten of their last IFBB Pro contest. Applications must be received by August 15 at which time the promoters will announce the selected line-up.

Competitors finishing high at the Europa Super Show on September 17 and Charlotte Pro on October 1 will be considered for participation. All selections are open to the promoters' discretion and those wishing to enter the Mr. Olympia Wildcard Showdown should contact Robin Chang at Weider Publications, LLC, Tel. [phone]

[1705total]

dennis james

[youngblood]

I'm thinking Branch or Victor if they don't qualify at the show before the O, whichever one that may be.

[Intensity]

Denis, Victor and Branch…how have i forgot those names in my list?

Good prediction guys!

[BigMikeReed]

Branch has gotta get it. This guy is awesome and I'd really like to see him do it.

Mike

[hossjob]

Did Victor qualify at the NY Pro show? If nto, Victor. I'd LOVE to see Dugdale get it, but with the FREAK Factor they are always going for at the Olympia, I think his IDEAL structure, perfect frame and beautiful physique just aren't what they are looking for.

[GerryT]

Victor is already qualified by his 3rd place finish at the NY Pro.

If Branch or Art does not qualify at the Europa show, then I'll root for either of them for the wild card spot. Branch has to be on the O stage at some point.

And although Dugdale and Henry would get overlooked among the freaks in the O lineup, I'd be happy to see either of them get it.

[Intensity]

In the mass monster category, i would agree with Branch… as he has awsome proportions and symmetry … but what is the deal with Atwood? He was great at the Toronto show few years ago but now...

[hossjob]

Art is one of the nicest guys you could ever meet. I've met him 3 times and he's been very candid. He looked amazing when he won the Toronto pro show, but now he just hasn't been able to pull off that kind of package. I'm really rooting for Art and I hope he nails it and gets an Olympia bid!

That being said, I'm still more of a fan of David Henry and Mark Dugdale! WOW! Those guys aer amazing!

[Intensity]

hossjob said:

Art is one of the nicest guys you could ever meet. I've met him 3 times and he's been very candid. He looked amazing when he won the Toronto pro show, but now he just hasn't been able to pull off that kind of package. I'm really rooting for Art and I hope he nails it and gets an Olympia bid!

That being said, I'm still more of a fan of David Henry and Mark Dugdale! WOW! Those guys aer amazing!

It's not the first time i hear something like that about Art, he must be a really nice guy… and if it's the case, i'm also wishing him the best!

What are the next contests before the Olympia? Only the 3-4 contests of the Europa tour?

Mo

[hossjob]

Did they cancel the GNC? I haven't been keeping up enough lately. I think they have some of the Europe shows and then the GNC dont they?

[GerryT]

Last I heard, there will be a GNC before the Olympia.

Can back up Kyle here from personal experience. I've met Art several times and he is one of the nicest guys you'd want to know in or out of the sport.

Last saw him in May, 04 at NOC where he was 9th. We talked for a while and he was just a class act. We have kept in touch since when time permits. With his store and on line supp business and web site besides training and competing, he is one busy guy.

I hope he can duplicate his Toronto condition and come back strong.

[1705total]

I've spoken with Art on the phone and he is a great guy.

This wildcard thing could work for the some people, like Henry. First off who will take the chance of peaking the day before the Olympia? My guess alot of guys will try to hold their best for the olympia and may compete at this wildcard a little too depleted and flat, which could open the door for a guy like Henry or Branch.
We'll have to wait and see.

One thing I would really like to see is the challenge round used differantly. More like the home run derby during the all star game in baseball.

Have the top six go into the challenge round. make it the scoring be a portion of their total as opposed to the way they did it last year
Then when an athletes wins a pose (the one calling the challenge) the pose is worth say $5,000.00. If you win a pose that another athlete challenged you with you win nothing.
This could change the stragegy a bit.

[GerryT]

Sounds good to me, Steve. The O needs something to stir fan interest and also accommodate the athletes. You make a good point about athletes not wanting to peak for the wild card. We'll see what happens.