2000 NPC Nationals Bodybuilding, 
a -jabber review...




Preamble:

As The Rock would say, "Finally The NPC Nationals Has Come Back To New York
City (okay, so I used a variant on that opening line in my last review - I'm
runnin' out of ideas here, folks...).  NYC's a great place to visit, IMO,
lots of good local talent, good local audience, as well as from afar.
Except for the fact that I almost got into fisticuffs with the woman sitting
next to me at finals (I asked her if she was from New York when she was
being surly - that made matters worse :-) ), it was a great weekend.  I even
got a chance, during some "free" time, to see the -jabber birthplace in
Brooklyn.

For this review (and possibly upcoming ones if the scoresheets are
available), I'll also include the competitors's number.  Also, this was a
large show, with plenty of FBB entrants - very promising, to me, in these
days of supposedly dying FBB contests and so forth.  Not so.  While the
judging (unfortunately par for the course) got screwy at times (not only
because of the new criteria), I was VERY impressed with the FBB talent on
stage.

Partially because of the number of FBB's, I'm NOT doing any fitness review
whatsoever.  The supposedly toned down physiques of the fitness competitors
made a marginally boring portion of the show even moreso.  Very attractive
women though, but with routines that are getting worse, not better, plus the
supposedly talked about future ban on tumbling in the NPC and IFBB will
simply make a snoozer of an event a total sleep-inducer.

Let the fitness girls get their endorsements and such, the FBB's are SO much
more interesting to watch, time and time again...

Overall Atmosphere:

There was a prejudging supposedly to start at 5:30 pm the Friday before the
show, but it was to be the men's prejudging and the women's two-piece round.
Although in Manhattan that night, we saw a line outside as late as 6:10 pm
that evening, and wisely decided to pass on that event.  Plenty of time to
see the fitness competitors the next day anyway - wasn't missing much.

Prejudging (the routines/one-piece for the fitness competitors and the FBB
stuff) Saturday started a bit late, but they had fitness competitors warming
up on-stage in pseudo-street clothes/work-out attire, sort of as a pre-game
show.  Let me tell you, that was the most interesting part of the fitness
competition, IMO.  Snoozed through the rest.

That's why they save the FBB's for last, otherwise their audience would
probably leave.  I'm really sick of hearing this pabulum about FBB's not
being marketable and interesting when well, I'll get off my high horse here.

The booths (note this was not an expo, merely a collection of booths) at the
Hammerstein Ballroom in the Manhattan Center were strewn over 3 separate
floors (not really that many per floor).  I'm still waiting for a venue in a
big show that actually has enough room for folks to walk around yet isn't
desolate and inconvenient to the actual show.  Some smaller shows have
pulled this off well, but the Nationals?  Nah.

The drinks and so forth, were in the basement (as were the restrooms), but
so was a pseudo-public pump up room that others found more interesting than
I did.  BTW, there also were little-used restrooms on the upper level too.
Lots of the usual celebs were milling around such as Kim Chizevsky (who left
her muscles to Stargher in "The Cell" :-) ), the current tag-team Ms. O's,
Andrulla Blanchette and Valentina Chepiga, resident Columbus celebrity Signa
York, Tatianna Butler and Tami Fraser (who seem to travel almost as much as
I do), Jasmin Johnson, Lynn McCrossin, plus this was the first time I got a
chance to meet Peggy Schoolcraft.

Also, there was a sighting of Annie Lynn Klepacki and Lisa Ray (Saka),
neither of which I got a chance to speak with, unfortunately.  Perhaps the
most notable two who were absent at the Nationals were two who some folks
felt could've/should've been competitors (and curiously they look somewhat
similar to each other: Annie Rivieccio and Nursel Gurler.  I'd been told
earlier that unfortunately Nursel got a bit ill and that threw off her
training for this show.  Let's hope we see this impressive NYC/Turkey
resident in a future show.  And I hope Annie Rivieccio hasn't become the
amateur equivalent of pro Iris Kyle.  I maintain Ms. Rivieccio is perhaps
the best known, highest quality FBB who hasn't made it Pro (although similar
persuasive arguments could also be made for Debi Laszewski (who also
conspicuous by her absense) and Lora Ottenad (who was in the show and
remains an amateur)).

Fitness:

Let a lover of fitness competitions write this part of the review.  Oh wait,
silly, there is no such thing. :-)

Lightweight:

13) Sheila Harvey (no. 71)
12) Stacy DeFalco (no. 68)
11) Angela Sales (no. 64)
10) Danet Seely (no. 60)
9) Donna Karr (no. 65)
8) Amelia Silva (no. 72)
7) Annette Costa (no. 69)
6) Trish Hamashin (no. 62)
5) Deborah Barnes-Dorris (no. 61)
4) R. Tera Guzman (no. 66)
3) Mona Caravetta (no. 67)
2) Elena Seiple-Perticari (no. 70)
1) Jennifer Lupi

In 10th was someone who deserves special mention solely for her incredible
biceps (seen off-season, contest shape, and in-between): Danet Seely.
Unfortunately, unless she seems to be incredibly ripped and dieted down, she
came in a bit too loose n the glutes and hamstrings.  But of note, the #5
and #2 finishers are now sporting hypenated names.  I offer exhibit A to her
fiance'.  Don't lose her, man. :-)

In 4th was a VERY polished Tera Guzman.  Some felt she was reminiscent of
Andrulla Blanchette here, and deserved better than 4th.  In 3rd was who I
believed the best competitor, Mona Caravetta.  With short blonde hair, Ms.
Caravetta was the superb combination of definition, symmetry, with just
enough mass.  Showing "slightly" worse symmetry, but incredible size for a
lightweight, and really nice definition, Elena Seiple-Perticari looked great
(for lack of a better word).

I have a bald spot from scratching my head as to why Jennifer Lupi won.  Old
or new standards, something was amiss here.  Perhaps it has something to do
with the name Jennifer (McVicar and now Lupi).  Oh well...  Needless to say,
she didn't even threaten the other two class winners for the overall.  A
couple folks even said she had no business being on-stage at the Nationals.
That I disagree with, she just didn't deserve to be in the top 5.  If
judging will continue to be a farce, we just simply will not take the
placings seriously.

This is a shame and disservice to these fine athletes.  I love watching
women flexing on stage no matter WHAT the placings.  But there should be
some semblance shown as to the judges knowing what they are doing.  Pity...

Middleweight:

16) Dana Capobianco (no. 90)
16) Jennifer Doxey (no. 89)
16) Christine Bingham (no. 88)
16) Lore Shimamura (no. 87)
16) Jill M. Livoti (no. 79)
15) Sondra Faas (no. 78)
14) Tricia Travis (no. 80)
13) Gail Bowles (no. 76)
12) Rosemary Jennings (nee Cheeseman) (no. 74)
11) Kim Schuler Neal (no. 92)
10) Kerry Quinn (no. 86)
9) Wynne Hendry (no. 82)
8) Lora Maddox (no. 91)
7) Maribeth Rossi (no. 77)
6) Colette Nelson (no. 73)
5) Lisa Aukland (no. 75)
4) Beth Roberts (no. 81)
3) Lisa Winston (no. 83)
2) Mah-Ann Mendoza (no. 84)
1) Kim Harris (no. 85)

Well sheesh!  There were plenty of names and faces I didn't recognize here
(and that's a good thing).  Female BodyBuilding is hardly dead - yet another
chapter in the ongoing saga.  While a tie for 16th place may not seem
impressive, Lore Shimamura (half white, half Japanese), who I'd first met at
the '00 Emerald Cup in Seattle, where she got 3rd (but deserved 1st) in the
middleweights, certainly gathered her share of attention the next day (with
a couple photoshoots - one from yours truly).  Did I tell you, she has
biceps reminiscent of a smaller more ripped Michele Maroldo?  I don't say
that in jest...

In 15th was Sondra Faas from Poughkeepsie, at 5'0", her upper body mass was
way more impressive than her finish at the Nationals that NYC Saturday
evening.  Speaking of mass (and massively screwed in the placings) was 12th
place finisher Rosemary Jennings (formerly Cheeseman).  Lots of folks did a
collective what the f*ck over this one.  Although she appeared a bit blocky
(thus I wouldn't have placed her 1st), her not being in the top 5 was a
crime, pure and simple.

In 9th was Wynne Hendry from one of my favorite cities, Albuquerque, who I'd
first seen at the '99 Emerald Cup.  Looking a bit more streamlined and
dieted down this time, this was a good finish for her.  Hopefully we'll see
more from this competitor in the future.

In 6th was Colette Nelson, a current hometown Manhattan girl (who someone
told me was originally from Michigan - could've fooled me, NYC attitude -
and I mean that in a complimentary sense :-) ).  A great showing for the
highest amateur contest in the land, this woman with the amazingly thick
pecs, if her streamlined but well-defined legs were brought up just a bit,
could've easily cracked into the top 5.

In 5th was Lisa Aukland, a pleasingly proportioned muscular blonde who
someone I wanna think she's from New Zealand (wonder why?) but she's not.
If judging only muscular ripped torso's, 4th place Beth Roberts (who won the
Heavyweights at the Jr. USA - moving down a weight class I see here)
would've been tops.  In 3rd place was who I would've pegged to win this
class, the winner of the Middleweights at the Jr. USA, Lisa Winston from
Greensboro, North Carolina.  A great competitor who hopefully we'll be
seeing lots more of in the future.

In 2nd was Mah-Ann Mendoza, yes, the one that should've won the '99 USA
Middleweights but didn't show up for the finals.  Shame because she nailed
her condition SO much so then and has yet to duplicate that feat.  This was
a great placing for her though here.  Slightly softer, Mah-Ann actually came
in with a very pleasing artful display of mass in mystically good
proportions here.

In 1st was Kim Harris, a very attractive female with perhaps the biggest
"nutrition" contract of all the competitors in the show (was anyone else
"working" a booth during the times they weren't needed backstage?).
Interesting indeed.  A couple folks were pleased with this decision, but I
wasn't one of them.  She lacked a bit too much mass, IMO, at this show.
Plus I was curious, seems she's developed that second upper belly button
thingie that Michelle Ivers had popularized - wonder if it's a trend now...

My top 3 pics?  3) Mah-Ann Mendoza, 2) Rosemary Jennings, 1) Lisa Winston.
Oh well...

Heavyweight:
16) Sherri L'Orange (no. 96)
15) Margaret Taylor (no. 103)
14) Maya Stone (no. 108)
13) Betty Dale Moore (no. 106)
12) Monica Auvenshine (no. 104)
11) Renee O'Neill (no. 101)
10) Fran Ferraro (no. 94)
9) Carla Haug (no. 95)
8) Robin Parker (no. 93)
7) Stacy Garonzik (no. 99)
6) Michelle Ivers (no. 109)
5) Jayne Trcka (no. 97)
4) Sheilahe Brown (no. 105)
3) Sylvia Cowan (no. 102)
2) Lora Ottenad (no. 100)
1) Heather Foster (no. 107)

To me, of note, total unknown, Maya Stone, in 14th place, a young black FBB
with incredible looks, had a great upper body, but legs that weren't in the
same league - hopefully we'll see more of this young lady in the future.
Perhaps, however, that is due to the fact that I don't see any of the local
Tri-state shows (NY, NJ, and whatever that 3rd state is :-) ).

Who I DID recognize was Texas' own Monica Auvenshine in 12th place.  Perhaps
a big step for her here, she can easily get very lean and ripped...  if
that's what the judges are looking for.  Okay, she wins the title for the
most screwed over at this show, beating out Rosemary Jennings, and that is
Renee O'Neill.  11th place?  Give me a break!  There wasn't 3 heavyweights
better than her, let alone 10!  If the judges want to be taken seriously,
this sh*t won't happen.  I read Tre's commentary that the judges may have
confused her number, 101, with Ms. Foster's number, 107, but who cares?
Anyone who has a mind of their own, would've said something, no we mean
so-and-so.

Interesting how the criteria to be a good judge is if you judge similarly to
an existing judge.  Is that the criteria for a Supreme Court Judge?  I think
not.  Perhaps that line of thinking needs to be re-thought.  I notice John
Tuman was one of the judges.  When I saw that, I told a friend of mine, you
KNOW there's gonna be some shitty judging in this class.  Definitely so.  He
was the head judge out at the Emerald Cup when Ms. Shimamura got 3rd instead
of 1st.  Oh well.

Carla Haug, looking like she obediently tried to follow the judges orders to
soften up (something very difficult for her to do), got rewarded with a
whopping 9th place.  No wonder these women are confused here.  Looking way
less impressive than usual, IMO, she still had somewhat formidable looking
abs here.  But in pristine condition, Carla could've been in the top 2 here
(if it was legitimately judged).  Also going for the softer look, Robin
Parker got rewarded with 8th place.

In 4th place was a lanky looking Sheilahe Brown.  With great biceps and abs,
and a mondo-entertaining funky dance routine, this was a great showing for
her.  Not sure why Sylvia Cowan got 3rd here.  Can someone help me out here?

In a tough decision for 2nd and 1st place here, Lora Ottenad got 2nd,
Heather Foster got 1st.  What made this decision tough?  Heather Foster's
lacking in the calves department.  If that wasn't the case, it would've been
a no-brainer here, Ms. Foster, from the knees up, was one of the best FBB
seen in a long time, power-packed looking upper body, nailed the combo of
conditioning with "slight" softness the judges are currently looking for,
with a great amount of mass, especially in her arms and back.  Lora was
great, too, but I felt she was overshadowed here.

She'll wreak havoc on the Iron Maiden no doubt (much to the chagrin of
someone I'll talk about below).  Lora's got much less to gripe about here
than Renee O'Neill (that 11th place dealie was beyond wrong).

Overall Observations:

Again, regardless of the judging, I was pleased, very pleased, with the
sheer number of FBB competitors, as well as their decent to very good
quality muscle shown on stage.  One thing I'd talked about to Stacy
Garonzik, her husband, and a couple others about, was that it seems the
media (whether it be the BBC, Louie Theroux, FHM, The Ed Tyll Show, etc.)
likes to make fun of FBB's.  They think it's cool to poke fun of them.  Yet,
the more and more time I spend watching folks reactions (non-FBB fans), the
more I realize this is over-hyped.  They are not received nearly as poorly
in real life as the media would lead one to believe.

Sure, they are not everyone's cup of tea (but neither is leather fetishes,
huge breasts, or the blue-eyed blonde), but so what?  I see much more
tolerance given to FBB's than the media tries to portray.  Of course a good
question is why do they do this?  Ratings?  There's lots of things they can
do for ratings.  But I guess FBB's are attention-getting, to say the least.

Speaking of attention-getting, before I close here, let me just mention one
other attention-getting "unknown" in the audience: Karina Nascimento, from
Brazil but living in Ft. Worth.  I'd had the pleasure of doing some work
with her in July (in 100 degree heat!) of this year, when she was
off-season.  But she was eager to show me what a little dieting (no, make
that quite a lot) had done for her abs.  Hmm, she'll be at the Iron Maiden
in Southern California comin' up shortly - along with a big bad Lora Ottenad
we presume who will be out for vengeance. :-)

Until next time, I remain...

-jabber