Scene & Heard

* Every year, the first NPC national contest of the season is the NPC Wheelchair National Bodybuilding Championships. Held on March 15, 2003, in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, this contest was created by promoter Frank Dalto and has been sponsored by major supplement and fitness companies since its inception.

Weider has always been a faithful sponsor, never failing to supply a high-profile guest poser or two. This year saw the return of IFBB pro Mike Matarazzo. Mike made a point to come early so he could hang out backstage with the competitors. The 2003 NPC Sunshine Classic Bodybuilding and Figure Championships was taking place as well, which meant that a lot of figure competitors were also backstage. More than one figure contestant eagerly had her picture taken with Mad Mazz. From the accompanying photo, you can tell he was clearly enjoying himself.

Two more sponsors who never miss a chance to support this event are GNC and MET-Rx. IFBB pro Bob Cicherillo held court at the GNC booth; IFBB pro Stacy Hylton and NPC national-level figure competitor Zena Collins signed autographs all day at the MET-Rx booth.

Fitness pro Anna Level, who was still nursing an ankle injury that she suffered before the 2003 IFBB Fitness International, kept busy at the Labrada Nutrition booth. Figure pro Davana Medina spent the day helping Dalto pass out awards and acting as a host of the contest. At one point, Medina took to the stage with co-emcee Debbie Kruck to speak to the crowd about NPC amateur and new IFBB pro figure events. Kruck announced that she'd be making a competitive comeback at the IFBB Pittsburgh Pro Figure.

Another former IFBB pro spotted backstage was Laura Binetti. She had trained competitor Jack McCann, who won the overall in the masters division for the second consecutive year.

A highlight of this event is the postcontest banquet held at the host hotel. All the IFBB pros in attendance come to the banquet, which provides an excellent opportunity for competitors to hang out with IFBB stars and grab a few photos with them.

* On March 29, 2003, Steve Weinberger, NPC district chairman for the New York metro area, brought some heat to the chilly northeast by promoting the combined IFBB New York City Pro Fitness and NPC New York Metropolitan Bodybuilding, Fitness and Figure Championships. The guest poser was Weider athlete Gunter Schlierkamp, who whipped the New York crowd into a frenzy by wending his way through the cheering audience.

In addition to Schlierkamp, IFBB pros Bob Cicherillo and Davana Medina appeared at the GNC and MET-Rx booths, respectively. There were also local pros Victor Martinez and Jason Arntz--who had been missing in action for some time. Arntz reported he'd be back onstage this year, after winding up divorce proceedings. Even more noticeable was IFBB pro Mike Morris, who must have seen one too many repeats of The A-Team. He was proudly sporting the classic Mr. T haircut and beard. The only things he forgot were the dangling feather earrings and a plethora of gold chains to go around his neck. Being in New York, though, no one gave him a second look.

* On April 5, it was time for the NPC Natural Ohio Bodybuilding and Figure Championships in Cleveland. This contest is copromoted by former NPC Collegiate National overall bodybuilding champion Dave Liberman and his partner Todd Pember.

This drug-tested event always draws 100 or more competitors. The guest poser was multiple NPC Team Universe lightweight-class winner and 2002 NPC National lightweight champion Derik Farnsworth. Also making an appearance was IFBB pro figure competitor Jaime Franklin--the 2002 figure overall winner was coming off her pro debut at the IFBB Arnold International Figure Championships, where she placed seventh. She was joined by local pro Man Kudla, who placed fourth in her pro debut at the Figure International. Both Franklin and Kudla are trained by Columbus' Fitness Factory owner Mike Davies. Figures! Here's wishing the two competitors much luck the rest of the season. I have a feeling we'll be seeing both of them onstage in Las Vegas competing for the IFBB Figure Olympia title.