One of my favorite mellow, low key artists, Donavon Frankenreiter sings “It Don’t Matter“. Good stuff.

Yesterday and what we could be
It don’t matter
Getting more of what we don’t need
It don’t matter
Everything unless I’m with you
It doesn’t matter to me, no

Things get rolling today for the Tampa Pro. Yesterday, the female bodybuilders checked in and had a press conference. Those in attendance had a chance to hear from some of their favorites. Betty Pariso shared that she is a grandma and found it ironic that her competitor number was #53 and she’s 53 years old. Nicole Ball said she had originally not planned on doing the show when she heard it had been canceled but once it was reinstated she got busy and is looking to defend her title. The rookie, Angela Salvagno shared that she took some time off. Why? She had a baby. That was news to me and pretty impressive that less than a year later she turns pro. Angela took top honors last month in Las Vegas at the NPC USAs.

Stay tuned for updates live via twitter @hardbodynews. Check FLEXonline.com for photos.

Chris Cornell does his rendition of “Hunger Strike”. Good Song.

Listen to Rev Theory’s version… I’m diggin their live acoustic version more, which is now available on iTunes.

Jamie Baird found a winning look in Vegas last month and in the process reached IFBB pro status. She narrowly missed a pro card at the NPC JR USA & NPC JR National contests but it’s all water under the bridge now. Look for this sexy Floridian to take the bikini pro stage next year. Here’s a look at Jamie offstage putting her modeling skills to work.

Jamie Baird – new IFBB Bikini Pro.

Rise Against sounds a bit like the group Offspring. I’m digg’n their song “Savior“.

IFBB Figure Pro Meriza Deguzman tells FLEX magazine, “I do the leg presses with my feet high to target the hams and glutes more, and I vary my foot width.” Check out more tips from Meriza and one of her workouts on FLEXonline.com.

Meriza work’n the wheels.

“Here I am, on the road again”. That seems to be my line this year. I’m heading to Tampa to cover the IFBB Pro show for FLEX magazine. Metallica’s version of Turn the Page seems like an appropriate song to get back on the road.

Here I am, On the road again
There I am, Up on the stage
Here I go, Playn’ star again
There I go, Turn the page

Whoa-oh
Out there in the spotlight, you’re a million miles away
Every ounce of energy, you try and give away
As the sweat pours out your body, like the music that you play

George Sodini, 48, kept an online diary and would often write how women disliked him and how lonely he was. It appeared he despised women ranging from his mother to his inability to get a date. Alll this hatred built up and came to a very ugly head when Sodini, identified as the gunman, walked into a Pittsburgh gym and killed three women while injuring nine others.

CNN reports:

On Tuesday night, the gunman walked into the fitness center, entered a “Latin impact” dance aerobics class and placed a duffel bag on the ground. After pausing a few moments, he took at least two guns out of the bag and started shooting.

Three women were killed and nine people were injured. Police say he may have fired as many as 52 shots before turning the gun on himself and committing suicide.

“He walked right into the room where the shootings occurred as if he knew exactly where he was going,” Allegheny County police Superintendent Charles Moffatt said. “I think he went in with the idea of doing what he did.”

Authorities on Wednesday identified the gunman as Sodini, of nearby Scott Township. The three women who died were Heidi Overmier, 46, of Carnegie; Elizabeth Gannon, 49, of Pittsburgh; and Jody Billingsley, 38, of Mount Lebanon.

It is troubling that something like this would happen in a place where people go to escape.

Most people in the fitness industry know Rich Luzzi as Jamie Eason’s boyfriend. Rich is often in attendance at the Arnold Classic or the Olympia weekend. The rest of the world knows him as the lead singer for the popular band Rev Theory. I had the chance to catch up with Rich for a few minutes after I filmed their acoustic version of Wanted Man. He tells me despite being on the road non-stop he makes time to go to the gym every day. Depending on their tour schedule he make an appearance at this year’s Olympia contest. Check out this live performance and then visit iTunes to grab their new acoustic songs that dropped yesterday. I purchased all of them and they are awesome.

It was fun to combine my love for acoustic music with photography/video. Get out there and do something you love today!

If you haven’t met Shelsea Montes you’re missing out. This little firecracker is quite the amusing lil lass. I had the chance to shoot with Shelsea in Las Vegas and it was a riot. Shelsea was the first IFBB Bikini Pro and is anxiously awaiting her pro debut. Shelsea tells me, “of course I work out” and that she used to compete in figure before the new division was created.

Shelsea Montes – IFBB Bikini Pro

This weekend in Tampa, Florida fourteen women will take the stage in hopes of qualifying for the Ms. Olympia. This show was dropped from the pro schedule earlier in the year but thanks to a few people, in large part folks from the Siouxcountry.com, it made its way back. I’d like to say I’m surprised by the number of women who are competing but I’m not. I’m disappointed in the pro female bodybuilders and they should be ashamed of themselves. There are a number of reasons why female bodybuilding is on the decline but one look at this competitor list and you see the biggest problem. What’s that? Support for themselves. Many times I read people complaining about how few shows there are for female bodybuilders and how the female bodybuilders don’t have the same opportunities as the figure or fitness women. Well, when they do get the opportunity and so few enter the contest what do you expect? It’s a slap in the face to promoter, Tim Gardner, and to those who went above and beyond to help ressurect this show. Shame on the female bodybuilders and their laundry list of excuses as to why they aren’t entering the show. If female bodybuilders want the support of fans, perhaps they start by entering the shows provided to them. I’d like to see less complaining and more competing.

IFBB TAMPA PRO BODYBUILDING WEEKLY CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Final Competitor List -

Nicole Acker
Irene Andersen
Nicole Ball
Myriam Bustamante
Tina Chandler
Beverly DiRenzo
Gale Frankie
Elizabeth Meza Gomez
Aurelia Grozajova
Carmen Knights
Klaudia Larson
Maryse Manios
Betty Pariso
Angela Salvagno

Props to Angela Salvagno for wasting no time in jumping into the pro ranks. She won the overall at the NPC USAs last month and has a solid chance at qualifying for the Olympia here. I’m also pleased to see the women’s bodybuilding rep, Betty Pariso, entering this show. Betty is promoting the Europa Super show which is held next weekend in Dallas.

Here’s one you may not have heard before… Onyx’s Slam Harder. Onyx was popular for their song Slam years ago but Slam Harder didn’t make it to the same level.

The third and final round of the FLEX Bikini Model Search is upon us. Make sure you vote for your favorite bikini model.

There are over 100 women in this month’s contest so it won’t be easy to take home top honors. The voting ends on August 15, 2009. Two more women will join previous monthly winners Katie Barnes, Mary Jarmalowich, Lindsie Renne and Amanda Latona. The finals will take place next month in Las Vegas at the Olympia Weekend.

The monthly winners receive:
• $250 gift voucher to Amazon.com
• $250 USD
• Swimwear from Ed Hardy
• Profile in FLEX Magazine
• Profile on FLEXonline.com
• A spot in the 16-woman finals

The overall winner will earn the chance to appear in the 2010 FLEX Swimsuit Issue and an exclusive contract with Weider Publications. Cast your vote today!

“C” may be over the hill after turning 40 but he still has good taste in music. This comes recommended by Mr. 40 and it’s a good one. Trik Turner’s Black Sheep is a tune I’d never heard before but it’s on my playlist now. Give it a listen.