by Jay Stern

Yesterday’s feature on University of Georgia cheerleader Anna Watson focused primarily on how easily the mainstream media routinely gives a pass to athletes on the steroid issue — even when the visual evidence is overwhelming.

Take for example, Mark McGwire. The dude went from a slim, freckle-faced boyish slugger to a jacked, Popeye-armed, acne-coated behemoth, and yet no one dared to question (or even bring up) the issue of steroids in the face of Mark’s tell-tale visual markers. No, a stray bottle of a legal supplement ‘accidentally’ left in public view in his locker was all the excuse anyone needed to overlook the obvious.

Or take Marion Jones, the muscular, Gold-medal winning, uber-athlete track star. She was married to and coached by a known steroid user, exhibited many of the physical traits (squared up jawline, enhanced muscularity, and extremely low bodyfat) of a steroid user, and most importantly, was running faster than any woman in the history of the world. And yet, not a single member of the mainstream media had the balls to mention what was so obvious in bodybuilding circles: The gal was juiced.

So while I’m not entirely surprised by the media’s reaction, I AM somewhat surprised by some of the public comments rolling in. After all, the media has an obligation to fact-check and must be wary of speculating on a negative sports angle too much, so as to avoid losing press passes, access to players or locker room privileges. But what’s the public’s excuse for being so stupid and naive? How is it that after having nearly EVERY single top baseball player of the 90’s (Bonds, McGwire, Canseco, Sosa, Rodriguez, Bagwell, Palmeiro, Clemens) admit to or get caught juicing, after the world’s fastest men (Ben Johnson, Carl Lewis, Tim Montgomery, Dwaine Chambers, Justin Gatlin, Kelli White) get caught juicing, after the best defensive player in the NFL(Merriweather) gets caught juicing, after the top cyclists admit to doping, after every muscular UFC fighter gets caught using steroids, there somehow remains MILLIONS of morons who refuse to accept that STEROIDS ARE EVERYWHERE. Has no one read the Mitchell Report? If not, here’s a link to the actual Mitchell Report. Or read the names of the 52 NFL Pro Bowlers popped for illegal substances here.

Common Sense > Drug Test

Do I have Anna Watson’s bloodwork to prove she’s a juicer? Of course not. Nor did I possess the blood results of UFC Female Fighter Christiana ‘Cyborg’ Santos when I referred to her obvious steroid use. But one positive drug test later, I was vindicated. This is a blog — not a court of law. We don’t need to PROVE Anna Watson is on steroids beyond a reasonable doubt. If that was the standard for reporting, no one would ever break ANY story. But when a fitness expert such as myself sees a young woman with certain physical traits that I have personally observed hundreds of times in my lifetime as being associated with the use of anabolic steroids, I’m going to call it as I see it.

Don’t believe me? I went ahead and questioned some of the world’s most esteemed and elite personal trainers at the Mecca of Bodybuilding — Gold’s Gym in Venice — by showing them a single photo of Anna flexing her biceps. Here are their responses:

IFBB Pro Bodybuilder and 4-time Ironman Winner turned Celebrity Personal Trainer Chris Cormier: (Laughs) “C’mon man. Of course she’s juiced. Look at her face.”

Former IFBB Pro Bodybuilder and Trainer to the Stars like 50 Cent, Charles Glass: “She’s not natural. You can tell by her face. She’s definitely using a little something extra.”

Elite Personal Trainer Rico McClinton: (Laughs) “Why would she even say that (she’s natural)? Of course she’s not.”

Elite Personal Trainer Sean K: “C’mon! Do you even need to ask? I’ve been training women for 20 years and they cannot build that level of muscle naturally.”

There is only one reason why people continue to believe that hyper muscularity can be achieved without the use of steroids: GULLIBILITY.

But take it from Muscleweek or the Experts: You, the general public, are being PUNKED!

Just because an athlete claims he or she is steroid-free doesn’t make it true. Athletes lie. Bodybuilders lie. Juicers lie.

Having oodles of muscles and claiming to be steroid-free is the inside joke of bodybuilders everywhere. And if you believe it, then the joke, my friend, is on YOU.

Somehow our Senior Editor Shane Ray was able to corral not just Craig Golias, but his incredibly hot and sexy girlfriend Gizel into sitting down for an interview. After leaving Prime Steakhouse and Goliath behind at the Bellagio, Shane hopped into his waiting limousine and headed straight for Spearmint Rhino, where he was ushered to a VIP table and served a complimentary bottle of Dom Perrignon. Minutes later, he was joined by Gizel, looking spectacularly smoking in a slinky gold dress that left little to the imagination.

In a world of figure, fitness and bikini girls spending their lives on Facebook, trying to get their protein shakes in and their bowel movements out, Gizel is a breath of fresh air — living the high life in both Vegas and NYC — unworried about her protein intake and insisting that she hasn’t pooped in nearly a decade. In short, Gizel Rodriguez is just our kind of girl. So much so, that if you read between the lines here, it actually looks like our dear Shane is trying to run some game on her. See for yourself!

MW:  Would you consider yourself a Sin City Las Vegas Girl or a Big Apple NYC Girl?

Gizel: I’m definitely a Big Apple girl .You can take the  girl out of NYC but you cant take NYC out of the girl!

MW: NY Mets fans or NY Yankees fan?

Gizel: I don’t watch sports.

MW: Have you ever gone out with Alex Rodriguez?

Gizel: Who? (Laughs)

MW: Alex Rodriguez? A-Rod? The dude who dates all the supermodels? Is he of any relation to you?

Gizel: No, but I wish he was!

MW:  Speaking of, you’re nickname is G-Rod. Did Alex steal that moniker from you?

Gizel: I dont think so.  My family calls me Gigi.

MW: That’s not so bad, Gigi.  Try having your family call you ‘Blockhead’.

Gizel: (Laughs) (Reaches out and strokes interviewer’s bald head) I think it’s cute.

MW: (Blushing) How long have you been modeling?

Gizel: Seven years.

MW: Is it something you always wanted to do?

Gizel: Not really…it was something that i just tried and it took a life of it own.

MW: Some of your pics out there are a little risque. Have you ever wanted to model for Playboy?

Gizel: I  think I’m too curvy for Playboy so no, I’ve never really thought seriously about trying out.

MW: Have you ever been to Hugh Hefner’s Playboy Mansion?

Gizel: Yes, I have been there twice.

MW: Any Scott Baio or Pauly Shore stories?

Gizel: (Giggles) I promise to tell a story about one of them in my next interview!

MW: MuscleWeek is a bodybuilding-themed website. Do you normally find yourself attracted to bodybuilders or regular civilians?

Gizel: I like guys that take care of themselves and bodybuilders tend to do that.

MW: Do you mean a dude with some guns and a six pack or a massive muscle douche?

Gizel:  (Laughs) Well, I seem attract monsters! (Giggles) Maybe because my body is so over the top as well!

MW: I wouldn’t call it ‘over the top’ — but then again I’m used to dating strippers. So tell me, does anybody on MuscleWeek have ANY shot with you and if so who?

Gizel: I’m not so sure because you guys are always joking and none of you guys seem to take anything seriously. I want a man that knows when to make me laugh and knows when to get real.

MW:  Okay, I’m serious as a heart attack. Look into my eyes and tell me if you had to pick one of us, it would be me, right?

Gizel: (Blushing)

MW: What is the cheesiest pick-up line you have ever heard in a bar or club?

Gizel: Probably the one you just used! (Laughs)

MW: I can tell you’re falling for me, but I’m still on the fence about you. So tell me something about Gizel that not many people know about?

Gizel: I am very shy and quiet. People always think am this crazy girl because of my shoot and picture  and the way I carry myself when I am out but that’s just for work. It’s a persona  and not who I am when I’m home.

MW: Outside of glamour and the glamorous nightlife, tell us what else interests you?

Gizel: Spending time with my family and friends. Shopping, traveling, dinner, movies…I just love being home and playing with my three puppies.

MW: Do you have any obscure hobbies?

Gizel: I know this will sound weird but I love cleaning. I’m a clean freak!

MW: Then it’s definitely not gonna work out between us because I’m a dirty freak!

Gizel: (Laughs) You’re funny!

 MW: If you found a magic lamp and out came a Genie and he gave you ONE wish. What would that ONE WISH be?

Gizel: I would wish for a billion more wishes to make!

 MW: That’s pretty sneaky. I see what you did there. What was your highlight of 2011?

Gizel: Buying a house in New York.

 MW: Do you have any plans or goals for 2012?

Gizel: To take more time out to relax. 2011 was a very busy year for me.

 MW: You seem to travel a lot. Any places in the world you absolutely love to visit?

Gizel: Paris and Hawaii.

 MW: Are you coming to Chicago anytime soon?

Gizel: I haven’t been to Chicago in a long time but I’ll let you know when I’m coming back so you can take me out!

MW: Well I’m flattered,  but I’m engaged to be married so I’ll have to take a rain check on that.

Gizel: Engaged? What does she look like? Show me a photo!

MW: (Pulls up photo on Blackberry)

Gizel: Ohhhhh my. She’s so sexy!

MW: So tell me, if you were stranded on a desert island and had to bring with you only THREE ITEMS. Which items would they be?

Gizel: My iPhone. My puppies. And some Mint Creme Oreos!

MW: What is your favorite website?

Gizel: Gizel.net (laughs) and of course MuscleWeek!

________________________________________

So here’s the scoop — the interview was supposed to continue for another 15-20 minutes, but Shane being the PUA he is, chose to drop an Artificial Time Constraint (ATC) on Gizel and tell her that he had to interview Tera Patrick at the Venetian, so the interview was cut short in the name of Seduction. Regardless, Gizel is the exclusive Bikini Model of MuscleWeek and we’re happy to be able to spend quality time with such a quality woman.

Rather than stick around Venice and continue to try to eke out a living by training fatsos and doing the ‘Venice Hustle’, Paul returned to his native Ontario and quietly launched the WBFF. While the IFBB initially expressed some concern about a new organization, Paul provided assurances to the powers-that-be that the WBFF was no threat to the IFBB — that Paul had zero interest or ambition to bring his contests to the United States and that he was simply filling a void that neither the NPC nor the IFBB could fill. Convinced that Paul was a good soldier, the power-brokers accepted him at his word and made no efforts to sabotage Paul’s new WBFF organization.

Paul’s sense of showmanship and experience as a bodybuilder led to several successful promotions and even brought aboard mainstream sponsors. With Paul bringing in entertainment to provide lively performances for the fans, his shows were reminiscent of the old IFBB Night of Champions or Olympia events, replete with mainstream news coverage, widely seen advertising, and sellout crowds.

It seemed to be just a matter of time before Paul’s ambitions to grow his organization locked horns with the NPC/IFBB. When Paul launched the Male Fitness Model division in 2009, it seemed that he had stumbled upon something golden. What if the majority of the attendees and consumers — men — had another option to display their physique without having to take years off their health and lives by mass consuming growth hormone, steroids, diuretics, insulin, and painkillers?

The WBFF’s Male Fitness Model competition was an immediate hit with both competitors and the fans.

And the NPC/IFBB took notice. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then Dillett must have been incredibly flattered when in 2010, the NPC launched their own version of the WBFF’s Male Fitness Model competition — renaming it Men’s Physique Division (MPD).

Except that Paul Dillett wasn’t flattered. He was incensed. Just like he was nearly ten years earlier when some of those same NPC/IFBB decision-makers placed Paul a ridiculous 6th behind a mutant of messy mass known as Paco Bautista and a man half his width in Darrem Charles. And just as he had done ten years earlier, Paul didn’t sit around moping about it — he ACTED upon it.

Paul announced the WBFF’s invasion of the United States by launching his first state-wide show in Boston in July, 2011. Although turnout for the show was less than expected (only 4 men competed in the Male Fitness Model division), the message was clear.  The WBFF had declared war on the NPC.

So it wasn’t that much of a surprise that Dillett followed up his initial foray into NPC-territory by launching an attack on the IFBB front as well. By signing longtime IFBB-nuisance Lee Priest, the WBFF communicated their intent to bring both a highly-organized and well-funded alternative to both the NPC and the IFBB to the United States. And after some questionable judging at the recent IFBB Europa and Tijuana shows, many IFBB competitors were quick to call Paul and make more than just a passing inquiry or two.

Sure, we’ve seen all of this before. Wayne DeMilia’s PDI (also starring Lee Priest) launch was a dismal failure, in part because of Wayne’s failing health and in part because of the NPC/IFBB’s desperate attempts to sabotage it in every way. For a small example of that, just see NPC/IFBB Shill and Getbig Owner Ron Avidan’s absurd interview with DeMilia.

But give the NPC/IFBB credit. They are no fools. They’ve been down this road before and know precisely how to control the ‘bodybuilding media’. Using a combination of a carrot-and-stick approach and an iron fist, they will do everything in their power to prevent Paul from getting word out about his show. They will offer rewards to prominent and dissatisfied Pros like King Kamali (such as an Olympia commentating spot), hand out Pro Cards to undeserving candidates who burn the new organization (see Vinny Galanti), and be forced to finally hand over pro cards to former dissidents like Sean Allan (another former PDI Pro who returned to the NPC on his knees and begging forgiveness).

Wayne DeMilia’s biggest mistake with the PDI was his own failure to aggressively recruit IFBB Pros. His ‘sit back and wait for the phone to ring’ approach doesn’t cut the mustard in a business as cutthroat as the fitness and physique business. No, I expect Paul Dillett to be spending several hours a day over the next few weeks reaching out to those guys who for one reason or another have gotten the shaft from the NPC/IFBB. And speaking of elevators and shafts, I fully expect world-renowned bodybuilding MC Robert Cicherillo to be doing the exact same on behalf of his unofficial bosses at the NPC/IFBB.

Make no mistake. The WBFF isn’t playing.

This is WAR.