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Day
2: Saturday, March 3 -- Da Main Event
3 PM -- We exit Vets Memorial with our new
prized possessions (Randy got his photo retaken twice, the lucky
bastahd) and wait in line for the shuttle back to the Convention
Center. It will not be a private coach this time, as everyone
else has now caught on to it, but it's a nice sunny day, so there's
no problemo waiting. Standing there we look around and notice
that Arnold himself seems to be standing in the very same line!
What, did Maria take off in the Hummer without him? No, it isn't
Arnold after all, but probably one of the most convincing look-alikes
in the world. Randy goes to chat with him, and finds out that
it's Niek Lauwers who was featured on The
Arnold Fan in an interview with Rene. He is from the Netherlands
and isn't fluent in English, but he is still eager to talk and
show us his photo album while we ride on the bus. This guy makes
a career out of appearing at various events as "Arnold,"
he shows us photos of him dressed like Arnold in Twins,
Eraser, and of course as the Terminator.
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Plus,
he has a couple photos
of him and Arnold together that make you think he is Arnold's
clone! Up close and without shades on, you can tell it's not,
and his voice is totally different, but from a side view,
the likeness is eerie. He tells us that over the weekend he's
been mistaken for Arnold many times-- even by Arnold's own
limo driver, who opened the door for him without a second
thought. He also got a free jacket from the booth selling
them, even though he tried explaining he wasn't Arnold. We
both want to get a picture with the faux Arnold when we get
off the bus, and sure enough, soon there are other people
gathering asking dumbfoundedly "Is that Arnold Schwarzenegger?"
Of course it is... and we're his best buddies! It sure was
surreal to walk around with him and see all the heads turn.
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3:30
-- We walk around the expo a bit, which is now a chore the
place is so crammed, and then realize we haven't eaten lunch.
I call my local friend Shaun to come pick us up and take us for
lunch somewhere else, as the food is very bad. As he pulls up
and we get in his car, he comments that he just heard Arnold giving
away a car on 99.7 The Blitz. Sonuvabitch, we were hanging around
with the lookalike and missed the REAL Arnold! But we did still
need food, so we hope Arnold still might be there when we return.
**Side note: My friend Shaun had joined me two years ago at
the Expo, but instead of videotaping ME getting Arnold's autograph,
he put down the camera and got an autograph on HIS T2 DVD,
and I got nothing! Ever since then I prayed to Crom, "Grant
me revenge!" More on this later.
4:30 -- We return from lunch (a cheesesteak place by OSU) and
walk around the expo some more, but Arnold seems long gone. I
pick out a couple t-shirts for souvenirs, one of which Randy kindly
pays for since I was housing him, and we watch a little Martial
Arts action.
6 PM -- We go out and wait for another shuttle to take
us back to Vets for the main event: Bodybiulding Finals! However,
the bus can't pull in because of all the damn taxis that keep
streaming in and sitting there. Preferring a free ride to paying,
we keep waiting, but the taxis keep blocking. Some of these guys
could have moved them single handedly, but eventually people take
the taxis out of frustration. Another bus comes through and we
get to Vets five minutes late.
7:05 -- THE FINALS! This was a completely sold out event
and throughout, the cheers from the crowd were like people at
a rock concert! What Arnold and Jim Lorimer have done for the
sport of bodybiulding is truly amazing. Each competitor got 3
minutes to do their posing routine on stage, and all were very
unique. At least three of them used a robotic Terminator style
in parts of their routines, which always got big cheers. To me,
it was fascinating to watch these guys with muscles so huge and
ones I didn't even know you could have, but I didn't really care
who the winner would be. This was all a warm up act for the real
main event... Arnold! After all the posing was done, they showcased
some gymnastics and martial arts acts that were impressive as
well, and then... the exclusive first look at the Collateral Damage
teaser! It's short, but looks promising. To see the footage for
yourself, although a little askew and camcorder quality, click
here.
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Finally,
the chants begin "Ar-nold, Ar-nold" and the man
of the hour appears, looking better than ever in a suit and
purple tie. He thanks everyone for being here, says how great
Columbus is and how unbelievable it is how much The Classic
has grown in 13 years. He also thanks his wife Maria, noting
how great it is to have such a wonderful supportive partner,
and finally his fans! |
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Then
in the most memorable moment, Arnold presents the lifetime
achievement award to the man who inspired him to be the greatest
bodybuilder and be a movie star, Reg Park.
"I wouldn't be here today...if this man wouldn't have
inspired me the way he did. This man looked so huge, when
he did the lat spread I thought the curtains were closing.
I was so impressed with what I saw, I immediately went to
the gym and started working out. I trained exactly the way
he did... and of course the rest is history." |
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He goes on to say that besides being impressed by his size and
movie star status, he met Reg Park's family and saw that he
was the most loving husband and father, and today he is celebrating
his 50th wedding anniversary. Because of his lifetime committment
to bodybuilding and constant inspiration, Arnold gives him this
Lifetime Achievement award.
Accepting it, Reg says, "This is not a talk show, it is
a see show, so I'll let you get on with the show and thank you
for tolerating all the blurb that Arnold gave you about me."
After this he presents the men's bodybuilding awards, and first
place goes to the reigning Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman who is overcome
with tears of joy and proceeds with a rambling thank you speech.
Arnold eventually wrestles the microphone back and wraps things
up, giving his trademark ÒI'll be back!Ó before he leaves the
stage.
Sure.
Here is my invitation. |
10
PM -- See you at da pahty! The VIP dinner buffet, to be
exact, another exclusive you only get with the package. It
takes place at Vets in their convention hall. We enter it
only to discover that although we are ÒVIPÓs, there is an
inner square area roped off for the VVIPs, including The Mighty
Oak. To get in there, you needed a special invitation like
the one pictured (we managed to snatch a few from the collection
box while people were leaving). We could look over and watch
Arnold eat if we wanted to, but even for hardcore fans like
us, that is a little weird. The food is good: chicken parmigana,
pasta, and veggies, with a dessert tray at each table with
yummy chocolate brownies. We eat quickly and mingle around,
spotting our pal Niek again, who's getting his picture taken
by two young ladies who think he's Arnold. How great it would
be to be famous just because you look like a celebrity. I
doubt I'll ever be mistaken for Arnold, as scrawny as I am,
but I am close to Kevin Bacon. |
Anyway, the
advantage to the VVIP area is that it's in the middle of the room,
so Arnold has to walk through our area to get to the stage and
make his speech. When he does so, I get close enough to flash
a quick picture and give him a firm pat on the shoulder. After
his speech (nothing new is really said) he goes back to his table
to shake hands with all his friends before leaving. Then as he
leaves, I get close again and try following him while blabbing
out something like, "Hey Arnold, I'm the Gillinator, you're
the best, I hope you make Crusade!" Then someone trips
me. Understandably, he gives no response.
Thanks to Tony for this great pic! |
Arnold's
thoughts:
Oh no, here comes dat kid with da crappy pen! It doesn't
write really well! Get me da hell out of here!! Oh, good,
Christina tripped him. Very nice. Just like daddy taught
her.
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After that,
the party thins out fast, although the girly DJ is trying to keep
the dance floor occupied. Randy and I reconvene, eat more desserts,
and see if any minor celebrities are lingering, but we don't spot
any. Randy seems to think that any old guy with white hair is
Jim Lorimer.
11:45 -- We depart for the evening, taking the shuttle
back to the parking lot (with the same driver who took us in the
morning!). Instead of going back to my parents' house, we stay
at Shaun's new apartment which is only 15 minutes away. There
we stay up watching highlights of the Ultimate T2 DVD on Shaun's
bad ass surround system. The "smile" scene never fails
to crack me up.
1:30 AM (or so) -- Sleep at last. This day was incredible,
but little did I know that tomorrow would be even better. In the
next installment... Up close and personal with Arnold at the Training
Seminar and a pen that does write "really well"!
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