My first full week back in the gym was a good one, as they always are. The joints feel good, but the muscles feel sore. Most importantly, I’m qualified for the 2015 Team U. Whether or not I do the show depends on several factors: work, school, life, whether or not the U.S is going to get ravaged by Ebola, if I do well in a couple of other shows to start off the year, and most importantly, whether or not I realistically can finish in the top 15. Baby steps, people. I don’t think I’m close to pro card potential (top two in each class) but I just want to see if I can hang. I also plan on competing in a national qualifier as well (non tested event) to qualify for the North Americans, which literally takes place up the road from my house, which is nice.
The contest pictures are in, here are a few, courtesy of J.M. Manion:
Although I managed to snag fifth place and qualify for the Team U, I believe I should have placed in the top three, and maybe second. I’m not one to lie to myself and say that I should have placed higher if I don’t believe that I should have, and no, this post is not a gripe. This was simply a case of the judges looking for a different look than what I had. I believe that the judges were looking for a softer, slightly more realistic look than what I presented, which is fair, each panel is different.
However, I’m an honest person, and if I want to improve on my winning ways, then I need to work on a good deal of things myself. Though I do have very adequate size for my height class (A or B) depending on the show, my presentation is way, way, way off. Even onstage at prejudging, I knew the presentation was what probably had cost me. So, what am I going to do about it?
I’m not going to sit there and make excuses to everyone saying that yeah, I could have done better had I just known how to present. Of course I’m going to seek out how to present better! I have to. I’m going to sit here and make excuses for myself. I know what I have to do in order to get better and I’m going to do just that. So, I’m investing some hard earned money, seeking the best posing instructors in the Ohio Valley and yes, the Valley does offer some of the best in the business. Hey, I don’t care about the investment, I don’t care if it’s triple digits per visit, if it’s worth it in the end then it’s worth the investment. In order to improve in anything, you have to invest in the best.
As for training and nutrition, if it isn’t broke, then don’t fix it. The only thing training wise that I need to work on is my consistency. If I can bring that to the table, then all is good. Keep training hard, eating right, cycling my carbs, which I am a huge advocate of, and continue off of that. Anymore, my entire fitness identity is built on competing, training, carb cycling, and throwing in both traditional and non-traditional movements in order to build my brand, my identity, and my fitness persona.
Also, I’ll be shooting on November 15th on Wheeling Island, before the prejudging of the final show of the year in the tri-state. Will I be competing in November? I’m not sure, but I definitely have something to look forward to at the venue. A shoot in the casino? That may look good. How about at Wheeling Island Stadium? I’ll do more than just play football on the field, which I did when my Edison Wildcats (same high school Muscle Pharm president Cory Gregory went to) played the Wheeling Park Patriots, and steal the show. Actually, fun fact here, my Wildcats played Park at the short lived Tri-State kickoff at Heinz Field back in 2005. If that’s not cool, then what is? I have to get a shoot in at Heinz Field someday.
Again, not sure if I will put the spray tan back on and compete. It really depends whether or not I get “talked into it” by a few other sources. I want to compete and if I get “talked into it” then I’m definitely putting the board shorts back on one more time this contest season. If I do, that’ll make five contests in 2014, more than doubling the total shows I did the last three years combined. Hey, if you love it and it’s worth it, then put everything into it.
As for my future plans, I want to compete as long as I can, but the fitness industry is more than just competition. I would love to start my own team one of these days that competes in the NPC and hey, maybe one day it’ll be the IFBB that we can wreak havoc in! I’d also love to rep a supplement company, and maybe an equipment manufacturer. Throw in some modeling gigs for a few clothing companies plus a training clientele base, then maybe that future will get bright. Right now, I’m just taking it one day at a time.
NFL Picks:
Already Played; New England: 38 over New York Jets: 13- This game was way closer than I had anticipated. I disagree with the majority about quarterback Geno Smith; I think the guy is a good talent. But the Patriots are just too talented and quite honestly, a little angry.
Indianapolis: 28 over Cincinnati: 24- The Colts love to give their fans heart attacks these days but in reality, Andy Dalton and co. just can never win a big game. Facing Andrew Luck and co. in a game that will mean a lot down the stretch means another struggle for the suddenly dysfunctional Bengals.
Seattle: 41 over St. Louis: 24- The Seahawks, like the Patriots, are a little angry. Losing to the Cowboys of all teams……wait, that’s so 1996 to 2013……losing to the suddenly dynamic Cowboys means that the team is bound to take their anger out on someone.
Washington: 20 over Tennessee: 17- The Redskins quarterback situation is one of the worst in the NFL somehow. But the Titans situation is even worse. All things equal, and I mean equal, with these two, the better situation at quarterback wins here.
Green Bay: 34 over Carolina: 17- Remember when the Panthers boasted one of the best defenses in the league? Also, remember 1997? 2004? 2006? 2009? The Panthers love to do this to their fans. Win one year then fall flat on their faces for three to four years. This. defines. the. franchise. As for the Pack, they have Aaron Rodgers. Nuff said.
Cleveland: 28 over Jacksonville: 17- Okay, so the Browns are on the verge of a three game winning streak. Let that sink in for a while………the Jags are on the verge of starting 0-7 for a second consecutive year. The Browns have all the momentum after beating Pittsburgh by their largest margin since the 1980’s. Browns win this one.
Baltimore: 38 over Atlanta: 28- Joe Flacco is currently on a hot streak this year. So we have the Cowboys winning, the Browns winning, the Patriots dynasty still sort of in jeopardy, and now Joe Flacco is on a hot streak…..oh, and the Arizona Cardinals may be off to their best start since like the 1960’s if they win this week. 2014 is getting weird.
Buffalo: 20 over Minnesota: 10- Did I just say 2014 is getting weird? The Bills may have a winning record by the halfway point of the season for the first time since I think the Doug Flutie era. Okay, 2014 is really weird.
Chicago: 31 over Miami: 20- I picked the Bears to win a lot of times this year and they usually lose when I pick them, so Bears fans, don’t kill me. But hey, they’re playing Miami. Okay, so something is normal this year.
Detroit: 24 over New Orleans: 23- The Lions may very well be 5-2 and at the top of their division…….that’s it, 2014 is the weirdest season I have ever witnessed. The Saints just ain’t got it this year. Sean Payton ain’t got it. Drew Brees ain’t got it. Rob Ryan has never gotten it. Any team that has hired Rob Ryan in the past got it because of the fact that they gave up on their mistake.
San Diego: 28 over Kansas City: 24- The Chargers are charging to the top of the AFC. Honestly, they are younger than the Broncos. That may be a deciding factor later on in the year, especially if they play them in the playoffs. Peyton Manning does his best impression of Peyton Manning in January. They roll over the Chiefs here.
Dallas: 30 over New York Giants: 27- The Giants always play the ‘boys tough, but DeMarco Murray is currently on pace to break Eric Dickerson’s single season rushing record. Dickerson always roots against these guys threatening to break the record. He is the only athlete ever to openly admit that. Thank God there’s still some honest people in sports today.
Arizona: 31 over Oakland: 14- Because I so want 2014 to get even weirder. Those newer to football must learn a history lesson. Once upon a time, the Cardinals were a laughing stock. Once upon a time the Raiders were one of the proudest franchises in the NFL.
Denver: 41 over San Francisco: 27- Do you seriously think Peyton Manning loses games at home in October? Sorry, 49ers fans, but things just got a lot harder in the NFC West.
Houston: 23 over Pittsburgh: 14- Do you seriously think that the Steelers are going to lose at Heinz Field after getting thrashed by their oldest (no longer biggest) rivals? If I said it before, I’ll say it again, 2014 is just one of those years. Pittsburgh won’t beat Houston. If Houston can’t score on offense, then J.J. Watt is going to score a few on defense.
Todd Matthews 