Thoughts on Day One at the Arnold Sports Expo

This morning I told you I was going to Day One of the Arnold Sports Expo. This is my report back.

First impressions: Too damned crowded! There is a TON of stuff to do here. But everybody seemed to want to stand in line right where I entered Hall D, which coincidentally is where Bodybuilding.com and MuscleTech is. Jay Cutler spent a good portion of the day at MT so I get that. There was also a big line at Gaspari Nutrition.

Of course, wherever there were tanned women with very little clothing on in a booth, that booth had a bigass line!

I get that, too!
 

Some highlights

I met Frank Zane and even bought one of his courses. He graciously signed it. Zane was the epitome of the symmetrical and cerebral bodybuilder. Meeting him was the highlight of my day.

I also got to shake Magnus ver Magnusson's hand. He is my favorite strongman of all time. He is smaller than when he competed, but he looks fabulous. He hasn't let himself go like Svend Karlson. That guy used to have a great body; he's put on a few pounds in the gut.

The strongman competition was pretty cool, if a little cramped. They did their two events today on the little stage, which was okay because they were just lifting heavy things, not running with them. I think the competition would work better in Hall C, which is where the amateur strongmen competed.

There were a ton of plastic boobs walking around, accompanied by more fake tans than I care to estimate. Don't get me wrong, all of the women are in fantastic shape. I just wish they'd embrace a little more of their natural beauty. It's there. You don't need big breasts to be beautiful. And you shouldn't look like tanned leather, either.

It was fun cruising around the Expo. But the crowded atmosphere really took away from the overall event. Plus, the MC for both the fitness competitions and the strongman competitions (the same dork, I think) is horrible. I'm sure that Arnold and Jim Lorimer can find somebody who is a) polite (this guy is an ass) and b) who knows at least a little about the sport he's talking about.

The guy is a twit. And annoying. I hope one of the strongmen breaks him in half tomorrow.

Oh, before I forget, the USA powerlifting competition was fun to watch too.

Word is that Arnold will be there tomorrow and so might Sylvester Stallone.

It will be a freaking zoo again tomorrow. Only more freaking.