One of the many things you will observe about human nature is that we tend to mock what we don't understand. Whether it's a new way of doing something, or anything out of the norm, or someone who looks out of place, the initial human reaction is to chide, mock, ridicule, etc.. . . mostly on the basis of a cursory look at the wrapper. It's rare that something unknown or out of place is accepted with any neutrality pending investigation; and that's only if there is one. Oddities are more easily dismissed than probed. We also tend to generalize and profile those different from us based on accepted stereotypes.
The 2009 NPC Nationals is in the bag and Cedric McMillan is going to Disney Land or wherever else it is a bodybuilder would go after emerging victorious from perhaps the most deeply stacked field of national level competitors in history. There was a lot of talk going into this weekend about the depth of the competition, but no one had any idea just how stacked the field would be until the curtain went up. It was insane to see how many guys brought their A game. I have never seen a Nationals competition with such a remarkable assemblage of high end physiques. Just about every bodybuilding insider I spoke with this weekend had the same opinion. To win the Nationals any year is a crowning moment to be sure, but to win this year, you had to be a freak of epic proportions, and that's just what Cedric McMillan is. Not only is he freak, but no one even saw him coming. The guy virtually came out of nowhere and stole the show. Check out the Rx Muscle Contest Photo Database to see for yourself!
With the conclusion of the 2009 NPC Nationals, the first year of NPC Bikini is officially in the books and it turned out to be a great addition to the NPC. This provides the less-muscled ladies with a place to compete and it helps the promoters build a bigger show. As the year progressed, the quality of the competitors has consistently improved with each contest and it's, now, safe to say that the bikini division is here to stay.
In about 72 hours, seven male and four female bodybuilders will have earned the right to carry a brand spanking new IFBB pro card in their wallet. This year's litter will be borne out of an arena of top national-level competitors, with physiques that continue a trend of bigger and better bodies. The weight classes will be deeper and more hotly contested than the previous year.
The 2009 Megalympia Championships seemed to be a big hit with Rx Muscle Forum Members. They read about, debated and voted on 174 of the best bodybuilders from the past seventy years. The discussion was sometimes heated, with those that posted sharing personal stories, expert critiques and strong opinions on the merits and weaknesses of the top bodybuilders of all time.
Once the contest concluded, the overwhelming popularity of the Megalympia made two things blatantly obvious: 1) We will DEFINITELY have a 2010 Megalympia, and 2) People DEMANDED a Ms. Megalympia to determine the top female bodybuilder of all time!
