Damn - THANKS, GUYS!!!
Wow - I'm flattered (seriously) that you guys are paying this much attention. Really...
No, I don't think I should have won by far. I think Bekim deserved the win. Great guy - very laid back (at least not in the gym, where I think he's prob. an ANIMAL) and humble. Looked like he was WORN out from a serious prep, too (and running his restaurant).
Yeah, the 3rd place finisher was not able to finish the PJ, but his physique was deserving, I think. (TBH, I really can't tell shit and everyone looks good to me backstage... Also, we all know that online pics don't tell the truth 100%.)
I think Bekim's conditioning was very good and I got a lot of comment from fellow competitors, expeditors, folks from the audience, people in the parking lot,, a guy in the shitter, etc...(LOL) that I was well conditioned.
I do think Shawn Ray called me an older competitor - I'm cool with that. I'll be 40 in a couple weeks (missed being 40 for the NA's Master's by just 3 days or I'd have done that show), so I'll take it.
JOE THOMAS should have been higher, IMO. I told him before the night show (after looking at the Rx pics, TBH) that I think he won that 2nd call-out, and beat me (on size, although I think I outconditioned him JUST a tad, maybe). The guy who took 5th was VERY cool, but I don't know about that call. I'd have put Joe in 4th, me in 5th and the 5th place finisher in 6th (given that the 3rd place finisher was allowed to finish in 3rd even though he couldn't finish the pre-judging...).
I told Joe I was confused, too, so he knows that... He was a good sport about it, but was surprised when he wasn't held near the stage to do his routine along with the other top 5 guys... I dunno, but the judges certainly have their reasons and even though I was there... I WAS NOT sitting where the judges were and can't judge for shit when I'm backstage (prob. worse than trying to judge from online photos, which I think really are good just to get you within a place or two in MOST cases)...
Thanks, again, LATS for starting this thread and for the compliments. That means a lot. Again, thanks fellas.
-Scott