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Post by Tim Wescott on Jun 3, 2007 6:21:30 GMT -5
 Kai Greene earns a stunning victory over Darrem Charles at the 2007 Colorado Pro Written by: Michael Berg Links to the galleries are at the bottom of this page After prejudging, three athletes had a legitimate claim to the 2007 Colorado Pro title June 2 in Denver. You had Darrem Charles, winner of seven pro shows since 2002 and supremely shredded; Ronny Rockel, the uber-symmetrical German; and Silvio Samuel, he of the impossibly tiny joints and impossibly full and round muscle bellies. Any one of them could have walked away with the trophy and $25,000 first-place check without much controversy. So it was a shock, to say the least, when emcee Bob Cicherillo uttered the name of Kai Greene as the winner. Greene, a masterful poser who hadn't done much on the on the pro circuit after earning pro status as the 2004 NPC Team Universe overall champ - his best showing before 2007 was 14th at the 2005 New York Pro and 2006 Colorado Pro - enjoyed a big breakthrough three weeks ago at the New York Pro. With a much improved physique and hype on his side after his impressive sixth-place finish there, he followed that up by taking third and qualifying for the Olympia at last week's Keystone Pro in Pennsylvania. None of that, however, could have foreshadowed this victory, as Greene lacks the proportion, muscle maturity and polish of the three men he finished directly ahead of. Even David Henry in fifth perhaps brought a better overall package to this contest. Perplexing as the result was, it should take nothing away from Greene, who has made a triumphant statement in '07 as a pro to be reckoned with. And he does have fan support on his side, as he also won the Bodybuilding.com Fan's Choice Award and the Best Presentation Award for his electric and showstopping posing routine - in the posing round, where athletes like Charles, King Kamali, Vince Taylor and Melvin Anthony have been upping the ante in competing for the unofficial title of best poser in the IFBB, Greene may arguably be the best of them all. He has a fluidity of motion and a command over every pop, lock and pose, talents that made him a one-man highlight reel of the night shows in New York, Pennsylvania and now Colorado over the past month. Perhaps it was those mesmerizing moves that put him over the top. Or maybe the judges see more to his physique than this reporter. But mark down June 2 in the annals of IFBB history, as it will either mark the coming of a bright new star on the circuit, or one of the most anomalous decisions ever rendered in a pro bodybuilding show. Colorado Pro Final Results June 2, 2007 Colorado Convention Center, Denver 1) Kai Greene 2) Darrem Charles 3) Silvio Samuel 4) Ronny Rockel 5) David Henry 6) George Farah 7) Branch Warren 8) Dennis James 9) Johnnie Jackson 10) Omar Deckard 11) Edward Van Amsterdam 12) Richard "Tricky" Jackson 13) Will Harris 14) Khalid Almohsinawi 15) Leo Ingram 16) Emmanuil Tzinidis 17) Jimmy Canyon and Vijic Zoran Colorado Pro Figure Final Results 1) Valerie Waugaman 2) Mary Jo Cook-Elliott 3) Nicole Pitcher-Scott 4) Elisha Archibald 5) Felicia Romero 6) Ines Jiminez 7) Zhanna Rotar 8) Pauline Nordine 9) Kristal Richardson 10) Chastity Slone 11) Kristi Tauti 12) Heather Mae French 13) Petra Mertl and Kristin Gomes 15) Liane Siewald * Top three qualify for the Figure Olympia |
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Post by Tim Wescott on Jun 3, 2007 6:40:18 GMT -5
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Post by Tim Wescott on Jun 3, 2007 6:42:06 GMT -5
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Post by Tim Wescott on Jun 3, 2007 6:44:20 GMT -5
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Post by Tim Wescott on Jun 3, 2007 6:46:03 GMT -5
I guess the writer above wasn`t a fan of Kais!!   |
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Post by Tim Wescott on Jun 3, 2007 6:53:32 GMT -5
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Post by EBA84 on Jun 3, 2007 6:55:26 GMT -5
Fantastic! It is about time that someone who actually looks like a bodybuilder won and not some chemical experiment gone wrong. The whole top 5 in this show actually had abs with no guts, well except Silvio.
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Post by fit on Jun 3, 2007 7:43:23 GMT -5
Fantastic! It is about time that someone who actually looks like a bodybuilder won and not some chemical experiment gone wrong. The whole top 5 in this show actually had abs with no guts, well except Silvio. Totally agree. I don't really get into BB as a sport but if I see more of the folks likethe top 5, I'd pay more attention. These guys are pleasing to see, great looks... and Kai's posing is something to watch. Charles looked great too. |
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Post by Sal Paradise on Jun 3, 2007 7:49:40 GMT -5
Maybe I'm seeing something different than that reporter but I don't see the lack of anything. The kid looks great.
He seems balanced and conditioned, etc, etc.
Again maybe I'm just not seeing it but "Greene lacks the proportion, muscle maturity and polish" I just don't get.
Of course I only have pictures to go by and the live deal is always different.
It seems like possibly some of the other guys were a bit crispier and I wouldn't have a had a problem with others taking the title but I have no problem with the decision either way.
Can someone explain who happens to agree or at least understand the comments made by the reporter???
Sal
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Post by masterschamp on Jun 3, 2007 8:30:04 GMT -5
Fantastic! It is about time that someone who actually looks like a bodybuilder won and not some chemical experiment gone wrong. The whole top 5 in this show actually had abs with no guts, well except Silvio. Couldn't agree more! I never quite understood how someone with a distended gut could place high in a bodybuilding contest....just seems ot go against the ideal. Full, proprtionate,ripped, symetrical, AND with a flat stomach and great abs....that's what a physique should be all about....AND it is NOT true that the big guys have been "forced" into that look...our own EBA84 ( Eric) is a great example of a BIG heavyweight with a flat, defined stomach. Let's hope the judging has now taken a turn for the better. Keith |
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Post by BigMikeReed on Jun 3, 2007 9:21:24 GMT -5
I am disgusted with the results. I have always been a Darrem fan but you can't tell me that he should be in top 3. I'd have Ronnie R. first and David H. second. If the IFBB is placing people lower due to distended guts and "chemical experiment" look then Silvio Samuel should not have placed where he did- anyone who doesn't think he has those problems just look around the net for some pics and you'll see what I mean.
Ok so the IFBB penalizes guys for distended mid-sections. By looking at who they chose to win it appears to me now that they look for the smalles waist they can find and place that person high regardless of wether they have a proportioned, aesthetic look or not. Kai Greene looks like a cartoon character.
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Post by Tim Wescott on Jun 3, 2007 9:33:22 GMT -5
I`m happy with the results ,but if it went a bit differently, as long as anyone else in the top 5 with the exception of Sylvio won it,I wouldn`t complain either. All top 6 guys had tight abs, and that is truly a revelation for an IFBB show in this day and age. Jeremy,the author of the article doesn`t have a clue about competitive bodybuilding....either that,or Kai wronged him in a previous life! Samuels looks great but is developing the distention and his arms are really overpowering his torso,especially his delts which look tiny by comparison. Very happy that DJ and Branch finished out of the running as they both looked bad, also thrilled to see Farah looking much better than he did in the last contest and beating out some really big names. |
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Post by Sal Paradise on Jun 3, 2007 9:41:54 GMT -5
I`m happy with the results ,but if it went a bit differently, as long as anyone else in the top 5 with the exception of Sylvio won it,I wouldn`t complain either. All top 6 guys had tight abs, and that is truly a revelation for an IFBB show in this day and age. Jeremy,the author of the article doesn`t have a clue about competitive bodybuilding....either that,or Kai wronged him in a previous life! Samuels looks great but is developing the distention and his arms are really overpowering his torso,especially his delts which look tiny by comparison. Very happy that DJ and Branch finished out of the running as they both looked bad, also thrilled to see Farah looking much better than he did in the last contest and beating out some really big names. Thanks Tim and you echoed my thoughts exactly - just said it much better!!!! The top 5 looked great but as I said in another thread I just can't get into Silvio's look and I don'tknow why. Maybe the arms/shoulders or the fact that the gut is getting out there but there's just something that rubs me wrong about it. |
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Post by beckie on Jun 3, 2007 18:04:35 GMT -5
Well,I'm going to talk about the figure... Much as I respect Val Waugaman as a competitor,she completely outsized ALL the other girls in the pro class by at least 15-20lb..she looked at least sizewise like she could have done physique. MaryJo Cook-Elliott: this girl has improved no end on her pro qualifying show last year,really tight conditioning and great presentation but I guess she now needs a bit more size to compete with the 'big' girls  |
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Post by Karrie on Jun 3, 2007 19:34:38 GMT -5
Well,I'm going to talk about the figure... Much as I respect Val Waugaman as a competitor,she completely outsized ALL the other girls in the pro class by at least 15-20lb..she looked at least sizewise like she could have done physique. I agree 100% with you on this on Beckie! I think Val definitely outsized the other girls by quite a bit! I have said this time and time again....figure is the toughest sport to compete in!!!! Now the men: I too am VERY HAPPY with the results! Eric said it the best, it IS about time someone took first place who "looks" like a bodybuilder!!! It is refreshing to see most of the top guys with the taper at the waist and NOT the bloated abdominal area! |
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Post by chanman83 on Jun 3, 2007 19:35:04 GMT -5
Besides Desmond Miller, the other "rookies" this year aren't doing so well. Guys like Omar Deckard and Leo Ingram. I'm with everyone that I sooo hate the AB/GUT. Reason I like the pros like Mark Dugdale, Ronnie Rockell, David Henry, etc.
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Post by 1705total on Jun 3, 2007 20:17:37 GMT -5
I think the slightly negative slant on Kai is due to the fact that he recently signed with MD. The same thing happened on their Arnold report. All the flex writers were very high on phil heath, and commenting that both victor and dexter were off.
Despite that, I am not totally convinced Kai is what the sport needs right now. He is on the verge of distorting his body. He reminds me a lot of the a younger colemen. He has openly admitted that he just recently started using steriods and other drugs. My fear is he will distort his body more and more.
Darrem looked great, but I prefer the balance of Ronny Rockel.
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Post by Sal Paradise on Jun 3, 2007 21:52:47 GMT -5
Despite that, I am not totally convinced Kai is what the sport needs right now. He is on the verge of distorting his body. He reminds me a lot of the a younger colemen. He has openly admitted that he just recently started using steriods and other drugs. My fear is he will distort his body more and more. Darrem looked great, but I prefer the balance of Ronny Rockel. Very, very good points - I also think Kai is close to upsetting his balance. Rockel has a great look, I would love to see him get some wins. If Kai goes much futher with his musclar growth, which he could probalby do so very easily, he'll be a train wreck. If he just let's his body mature and doesn't try to keep adding size he'll be just fine. Sal |
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Post by GerryT on Jun 4, 2007 10:23:44 GMT -5
Kai seems to have taken this transformation as far as he can, and should try to not cross to total freakdom. He looked incredible in NY.
I also liked Rockel and thought he should have placed higher. He has real balance.
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