well first off im entering the Mr America .oct 23 masters divsion for sure and possably open if they let me cross over which i dont think will be a problem
as far as competition , never even consider or worry and really dont look in to that ,this is all about me being and presenting my best package i have ever been on stage with , every show since 1989 which was my first i have improved each and every show ,placing high is iceing on the cake , this is really the best way to enter shows bring it do your best and let the chips fall where they may , and i have never really been disapointed in any placing in any show i have done , this year has to be by far the best plan , best off-season ,and best preperation i think i have ever had and hope i can just keep improving these last 7 weeks i could not tell you if there will be 1 or 2 or 20 people in my class (heavys ) if im my best i truely feel im as good as any43 year old in the sport ,now bringing that to the stage is a whole other story
but this story hopefully will have a great ending .
as i said my conditioning is spot on for 7 weeks out (i will have 6 weeks out pics up in 2 weeks maybe less ) so to answer that question yes im ready and never have i been like this 7 weeks out ,that has to be mostly due to my off-season work , and Phils work with me since 11 weeks out
Now to compare me to rusty is really not fair , he went to natonals and won i can't say this or that cause i satthat show out this year ,so all i can and will say is he deserves the win the card and all the glory that brings , congradulations is my only thought on that .
i wll say this Phil knows me an Rusty and said if i was my best and was in that show ,well first i would have to beat John Cutri in the heavyweight's first ,which he is a great athlete and he would be a worthy competitor to go through ,and beat me last year so that would be first hurdle and a big one ,
then since rusty is a superheavy it would of been for overall and i do feel and Phil does too that i could give anyone a run for their money , he is way more experenced than me and spots a tremendous physique ,but you never know unless your side by side that day ,i feel at that level anyone can be beaten on any given day ,but that is just speculation and maybe wishful thinking ,he deserves it ,won hands down so i cant say i could ,all i can say is a battle with him would be interesting if we both nailed it on that day. like you said his hammys are great along with everything else and his stage presence was great , so until we see what i look like in 7 weeks ,and it will be fun just to compare pictures and etc ..rusty is a worthy athlete and i respect him and his accoplishments greatly ....