NPC Nationals 1998
by -jabber
Heavyweights...


In the heavyweights, I was lured into a false sense of security.  Why?
Well, except for Maureen Davidson, these judges were unreal!  Absolutely
incredibly on target, right?  Up until now that is...  Again, I'll comment
from 5th through 1st.  In 5th place was someone favored to win by many,
Robin Parker.  I would've placed her 2nd.  Her conditioning was unreal, so
much so, that I thought her small structural deficiencies (somehow her arms
don't quite mesh with her torso quite as well as other competitors) weren't
a big deal.  Hard as nails, perfect skin color, I thought if it wasn't for
the 4th place finisher (who I thought should've been 1st), it would've been
her show (of course, Brenda Raganot would immediately trash her for the
overall though).  -jabber was jumping with glee at the prejudging.  Why? 
Well, with both Denise Gerard and Brenda Raganot (the winners in their
weight class), they were the first called out for comparisons.  Thus I felt
the same would be true of the heavyweight?  An underdog (and blast from the
past) named Giselle Sass was called out first.  I thought, how could that
be?  She was so incredibly muscled, thick, dark skin, ultra cute in a
massive sense, with incredible definition, I was jumping for joy that 'my'
choice in the heavyweight would win too!  No such luck as evidently the
judges had a stupid attack. Just seeing her thickly muscled torso and
incredible muscles from head to toe shocked the -jabber (and I'm not easily
shocked).  Okay, judges botched it with Robin, but the -jabber let out the
second biggest boo of the evening when Giselle was announced only 4th. 
Ah...  In 3rd (which I agreed with) was an ultra classy physique in Annie
Rivieccio.  You could almost hear the audience melt when she peaked her
left bicep many times during her routine.  One of the classiest looking
amateurs out there, bar none.  In 2nd was a physique I personally like
(massive and blocky) but I realize shouldn't place too well (certainly not
above the intense physiques I'd just mentioned).  But remember, the judges
were out to piss me off in this class.  The very thick (years ago she was
very skinny - amazing) Sharon Robelle got the runner-up position. 
Interestingly, a couple folks thought Sharon should've won the class.  Uh,
although I place aesthetics and symmetry above condition, come on.  70% of
the heavyweights were in harder condition than Sharon, I just shook my head
at this placing.  So, in 1st, the gentlemanly -jabber refrained from booing
(that wouldn't have been nice) when Christy Wolf (back to a blonde) was
announced winner.  If anything, I DON'T feel politics should have anything
to do with winning (oh she should be a pro, would make a good pro, etc.).
It is the best physique, IMO that should win.  Doesn't matter if she's been
dormant like Giselle for years or been kicked around for many, like
Ann-Marie Crooks - no politics please...  Christy's a very attractive and
I'm sure quite popular female.  I wish her well, but...  Come on, I stood
next to her the next day.  She wasn't big at all.  Really nothing to her,
her torso and chest had some mass but that was about it.  I hope she sells
plenty of tapes for uh that tape company :-), but gag me here...

No matter, Brenda Raganot blew her off the stage in the overall posedown
beyond a shadow of a doubt. :-)  And although there is no second in the
overall, it was clear that Denise Gerard was a close second.  The posedown
was curiously tame.  The -jabber would've liked to have seen Brenda grab
Christy in a headlock and give her a bulldog in front of everyone. :-) But
I digress...

Of note outside of the top five were plenty of popular folks like Heather
Foster (who's mass takes a back seat to no one), Ann-Marie Crooks, and
Th'resa Bostick (who finished 7th, 8th, and 9th, respectively).  Th'resa
had an exceptionally impressive looking back.  Being only 5'3", her back
appeared to be at least as big as the 5'10" Ann-Marie Crooks!  I personally
feel Th'resa's large breasts screw up her symmetry but... Ann-Marie came in
in reasonably good condition, IMO.  The competition was intense though, and
the judging isn't on the size of one's thighs (otherwise Ann-Marie would
win).  Plus I don't feel Ann-Marie Crook's symmetry was anywhere near the
symmetry of the top 5 folks (including Christy Wolf - even though I
previously trashed her :-) ).  Of note was the 6th place finisher, who bore
a startling resemblance to Annie Rivieccio.  Her name was Nursel Gurler. 
In retrospect, I thought she easily was better than Christy and should've
thrown Christy out of the top five.  But then again, that's just me.