By: Nancy Marchbanks
Competitive bodybuilding is not for the faint of heart. This sport takes unwavering dedication, guts and determination in order to even have a prayer of being a contestant. This a world that most people know little about…I certainly knew nothing about when I began working on this assignment. Did I have preconceived notions? Yes. Was I wrong about most of them? Most definitely. I think that when most people have had the occasion to be channel surfing, and come upon a station featuring gleaming, expertly tanned, muscle bound men and women posing and parading around on a stage, it can be a little disconcerting. You can’t help but linger awhile and watch…and you wonder. How could a human being transform him or herself into a living, breathing statue of a Greek or Roman god? What does it take to create a physique of such magnificence and jaw dropping awe? Why do they put themselves into those bizarre configurations that make every single muscle ripple, bulge and pop. Viewing these men and women bring to mind comic book heroes who can (and often do) crush their enemies like a grape! It will be my pleasure to take you inside this much misunderstood sport and I urge you to take the opportunity to see these splendid examples of supreme musculature and strength right here at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Coliseum and Convention Center on July 31st, courtesy of POWER SHACK in Biloxi. (more…)