The real big picture: Dexter Jackson

Flex, April, 2004 by Jim Rosenthal

Personal

Full name: Dexter Tyrone Jackson.

Birthdate: November 25, 1969.

Birthplace: Jacksonville, Florida.

Present home: Jacksonville, Florida.

Marital status: Married to Carolyn.

Height: 5'6 1/2".

Offseason weight: 235 pounds.

Projected contest weight at 2004 Arnold Schwarzenegger

Classic: 227 pounds.

The Inner Man

Greatest fear: Suffering the loss of a family member.

Living people you most admire: My mother and father. I grew up in a very close-knit family. We stick together and support each other through good times and bad.

Greatest achievement outside of bodyhuilding: Raising my kids the right way, to the best of my ability as a loving and caring father. I'm blessed with four children, and they are all great kids: Maya, 9; Julian, 13 [stepson]; Lenard, 15 [stepson]; and Dexter Jr., 15.

Greatest regret: I made a big sacrifice by having a son while I was still in high school. I don't regret the decision to become a teenage father, but the responsibilities that went with parenthood meant I had limited time for playing high-school football. And, quite obviously, I could not develop my football skills enough to play college ball at Florida State or the University of Florida.

Main source of motivation and inspiration: The challenge of competing against the best bodybuilders in the world. The money is nice; the motivation of winning a Rolex and putting rims on a Hummer is very real for me. But I thrive on the pressure that goes with beating--or trying to beat--the top guys in our sport.

Greatest challenge: Trying to come into every contest in perfect condition. I want to prove to everyone, especially anyone who doubts me, that I'm 100% consistent.

Quality you most admire in yourself: Treating all people with respect.

Quality you most admire in other people: Honesty.

Qualities you most dislike in people: Jealousy and greed.

Combat Zone

Weight at first contest: I weighed 137 pounds at the 1991 Jack [Jacksonville] Physique in Jacksonville, Florida.

Early bodybuilding influences and role models: Lee Haney, Shawn Ray and Flex Wheeler. Haney is a Christian and I really look up to people who put God first in their lives. Lee treated bodybuilding as a business. He had a family and strict moral values. And he was the best bodybuilder in history, with eight Sandows to prove his point. Shawn was another athlete with a head for business and I admired his consistency. Flex had the genetics and an amazing V taper and tiny waist that give me something to shoot for in my own developing career.

Career choice other than bodybuilding: Playing pro football for the Dallas Cowboys.

Career highlight: Winning the 2003 GNC Show of Strength in Atlanta. I was surprised to place first--what with all the hype behind Jay Cutler and the fact that he's a great bodybuilder--and so I didn't get too excited until I heard my name called out as the winner.

Career low point: I was flat busted broke in 1997, the year before I won my pro card. I had no furniture in my apartment. My wife was working two jobs to support my career. It was a struggle to survive.

How bodybuilding has influenced your development as a person: It has made me humble. It keeps me grounded. I thank God every day for the gift He has given me. Thanks to bodybuilding, I'm finally making enough money to support my family without worrying about just getting by from one day to the next.

Rivals

Describe Dennis James: One of my best friends. I went to Thailand to see him, and he opened his house up to me as if it were my own. We go back and forth in the competitive arena: One year he's ahead of me and the next year I get the best of him. I'm sure it's going to be like that for our entire careers. We strive to beat each other and that's what keeps us going.

Describe Jay Cutler: A wonderful dude. Jay is a straightforward guy and I appreciate his candor.

Describe Stan McCrary: My main man! Stan is the funniest guy I've ever met. He's got my back when the s-t comes down. I always go to Stan when I need advice, and he is brutally honest.

Describe Flex Wheeler and Chris Cormier: My two senior advisers in bodybuilding. I think of Flex and Chris as brothers whom I can turn to for advice and guidance. If anything is going wrong, I ask Chris for help and he comes through for me.

Future Jackson

Current business projects: Working full-time in the real estate business. My focus will be on selling upscale properties in the Jacksonville area.

How would you describe your legacy: As the most consistent bodybuilder in history.

Words you hope to hear when you get to the pearly gates: Welcome home!

INTERVIEW BY JIM ROSENTHAL

SENIOR WRITER