Articles Muscle Gossip Muscle Gossip #10: DJ's Tattoo, Figure Girls Year Off, and Minidi Smith's Latest Drama!
DJ's New Tattoo
IFBB Pro Dennis James recently retired from competitive bodybuilding. He made the announcement in quite a dramatic fashion on the 2010 Olympia stage, and it may just have proved to be one of the most emotional and moving moments of the weekend. Since then, he's been enjoying his retirement... Eating whatever, training at a somewhat lower intensity, and getting tattoos! Dennis' first tattoo was done by Justin Kramer at Gold Tooth Tattoo in Glendale, AZ . . . . It's a portrait of his daughter. No further explanation is necessary!
Arnold Figure MIA
If you inspected the Arnold invite list closely, you may have noticed that both Heather May French (HMF) and Kristal Richardson are nowhere to be seen. I've been speaking with their manager, J.M. Manion-- owner of the Fitness Management Group (FMG)-- over the last few days and he sent me quotes from the two beautiful ladies:
Richardson explains:
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| Kristal Richardson |
"I will be taking some time away from the stage next year to focus on my supplement company, Top Secret Nutrition, and the launch of the new product line.
Be assured that this is not a retirement...just a short sabbatical to focus on my career. I still plan to be involved in the industry and will most definitely hit the stage again in the future."
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| Heather Mae French |
Heather Mae was a little more emotional with her news:
"It's with very careful thought that I will be taking a leave of absence beginning with the 2011 season. I have endured many thoughts considering all factors involved with this decision and in my heart I know at this time it is what I feel will be very suitable for my life.
Recently I have been married and I am feeling a pull towards the direction of having another child. So I am graciously taking for a leave of absence with the goal of returning. I have and will always be in incredibly thankful on every level imaginable with regard to what I was able to achieve and experience within my sport."
Expect to hear from HMF on this week's Access Bodybuilding (following Heavy Muscle Radio)!
More Mindi Smith Drama!
Mindi Smith's career as an amateur competitor in the NPC and then as a pro in the IFBB has been nothing short of amazing. She started in the NPC in 2009 by winning the overall at the NPC Sacramento and then later in the year ended her extremely short amateur stint by winning the Figure Overall Title at NPC Nationals. In her pro debut, in 2010, she won the IFBB Phoenix Pro, making her one of very few IFBB Pros to win their first professional contest. In March she placed 4th at the Arnold (Ms Figure International), which established her as one of the best figure competitors on the planet.
In August of 2010 at Ed and Betty Pariso's IFBB Europa Super Show she placed a very disappointing 7th. I was watching from the front row, and Mindi didn't look like the same girl I'd seen at the Phoenix event. It was later revealed that she'd been experiencing some health problems and those same health issues kept her from competing at September's Ms. Figure Olympia, a title that many people thought she 
had a very good chance of winning (earlier in the year).
Fast forward to a few days ago. . . Mindi announced that she will no longer be competing in the IFBB, and has decided to switch to the WBFF (Paul Dillett's organization). Many of you are probably asking yourself, why would Mindi do something like that given her quick rise to stardom in the IFBB? I debated that very decision over and over in my mind, as well.
Let's examine the facts for a minute. Mindi's competitive career was on the fast track till her health problems sidelined her in September 2010. Since she's obviously planning on competing again, we can only deduce that these health problems have been addressed and resolved. So, why would she switch organizations when she's experienced so much success in the IFBB? Could it be because there's more opportunity in the WBFF? I checked that out... According to the WBFF website, there are 4 pro shows this coming year. In the IFBB there are 20 Pro Figure events. So much for more opportunity! Wait; maybe there's more money in the WBFF? I looked for prize money totals for the 4 shows, and I couldn't find them anywhere. That's a bad sign right there. According to the IFBB website, there's $206,500 available in prize money in the IFBB Pro Figure division, and I think it's safe to say that IFBB Pro athletes get a much bigger percentage of press, exposure, and sponsorship dollars. So it's not for more money or more exposure! According to the brief text messaging conversation we had, Mindi claims that:
"Within the past year of competing, I have experienced the good, bad, and the ugly. I have decided that making the switch to the WBFF is right for me. The WBFF truly cares about their athletes."
In final analysis, Mindi's statement that the WBFF cares more about their athletes seems as misinformed as her decision to leave the IFBB in the first place so I can only speculate that perhaps her supposed health problems were never physical in nature. She might, in fact, have gone meshuggeneh (crazy).
If you have any gossip you think is fit to print, email jewbacca@rxmuscle.com
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