8
AM-- I wake up a little earlier today in anticipation of the biggest
day for the Classic, with the bodybuilding finals and VIP dinner
tonight, and lots of Arnold to see! I have to work a little to rouse
my brother, as he is not as pumped as I am, but after a short "breakfast
of champions"-- bananas and coffee-- we are on our way!
9 AM-- The expo opens and is actually less crowded than it was yesterday,
giving us more room to casually browse the booths and pick up more
free stuff. I stop by schwarzenegger.com to see if they have any
inside info on the big man's appearances, but all they know is that
he hasn't been by yet today. Gee, thanks guys! Just joking, they
were really cool and hooked me up with an excellent "Pumping
Iron" hat and water bottle. We also learned from the radio
station booth that Arnold would be by between 1 and 4 to give away
a car. I figured this would be the case, as he's busy doing the
VIP photos right now. So next stop- Vets Memorial!
You
be the judge: my first photo...
...and my second
yes, it's even blurrier! Well, that's what I get for sneaking
in. |
11
AM-- We take the free coach shuttle from the convention center
to vets (very nice cushy seats) and go into the lobby where
the line is for photos with Arnold. We look around for Randy
and Rene but do not see them- they must already be inside.
Now I do not have a ticket for the photo this year, because
while through various sources I was able to get tickets to
the finals, the VIP dinner, and the seminar, I did not secure
a photo ticket which only comes with the VIP package. However,
as I remember from last time, if your picture does not come
out well, you can show it and they'll let you in for another
one. Now I was never completely satisfied with my photo from
2 years ago which is slightly blurred, so I just happen to
bring it along! I nervously contemplate this tactic while
walking around the lobby. Will it work, or will they notice
that I am wearing a leather jacket instead of a blue blazer
and that my hair is several inches shorter?? I decide it is
worth a try, so I show it to the first security guy by the
hallway entrance. He stares at it for a few seconds, stares
back at me, and says in a doubting tone, "You might have
a problem with this, but go ahead and show it to the people
inside and explain." YES! Checkpoint 1 secured. Now I
enter the second room before THE room where they line you
up and take your tickets. Hmm.. this might be trickier, so
I decide to change my strategy to the ol' mom said, dad said
trick. I show the ticket lady my photo (flash it is more accurate),
and say "The guy out there said I could get this retaken
since it came out bad." Without a pause, she says "OK"
and I am in! Easy money! |
So I enter the photo room with plenty of security and helpers
who keep people moving and calming nerves. Then as a bonus,
who enters the room but Jim Lorimer, co-founder of the classic
and personal friend of Arnold! He's bringing in some people
who get a special professional photo that's mounted on a plaque
instead of a polaroid. I'm right next to him so I introduce
myself as the Gillinator, and ask if he's seen my website.
He smiles, shaking my hand, and says, "Oh yes, it's very
good." Not wanting to be a pest, I just tell him what
a great event this is and how it's a pleasure to meet him.
All I can say from this brief encounter is that he seems like
one of the nicest and most genuine men. I don't know if he
really recognized my name or website, but in that moment he
seemed very happy to see me. If you're reading this Jim, I'd
love to interview you before next year!
|
| 1
PM-- So we catch up with Randy and Rene who were done with
their photos, and decide to do some more stealth action. Rene
got a tip that Arnold would be leaving Vets Memorial briefly
(probably to give away that car at the expo) and then coming
back to finish the photos. Now, unlike Harry Tasker in True
Lies he doesn't just walk right out of the front door, his
entourage of cars always pulls around behind the building,
so we walk around the side to check it out. Just as we round
the corner-- get DOWN!-- here comes Arnold's car pulling into
the loading dock area. As we walk closer, we see Arnold getting
out and greeting some special people (sponsors, donors, or
something) and then go inside. As we walk closer and closer
we expect to encounter some kind of blockade of security,
but amazingly, no one seems to mind we're there, although
we are getting shifty glances from the guys standing around.
|
When
you see the black SUVs, Arnold is near! |
Randy nervously comments, "I feel like an Arnold stalker!"
and so do I! Rene seems pretty calm, though, and he breaks the tension
by sparking a conversation with Arnold's driver. This guy is really
cool and talks freely about what it's like driving Arnold around
when he's in town. What an awesome job that is! He welcomes us to
wait until Arnold comes back out and proceeds to have a smoke. Randy
and Rene even leave a little present for Arnold with the driver--
a footlong stogie and the online King Conan petition! By Crom, Arnold
must see it! Then they get brave and decide that their press passes
should enable them to stroll around in the backstage area. Evidently
it works because they don't come back out, so they are either smoking
stogies with Arnold and the bodybuilders or else they're being given
a brutal pummelling. In any case, Corey and I are left outside in
the cold for a while.
Jim
Lorimer and Mr. Earpiece styling the T3 jacket. |
1:30
PM-- A whilte limo pulls up; in fact, it almost runs us over
so I dodge out of the way. This time it's none other than
Jim Lorimer with another group of people with kids that are
thanking him and schmoozing. Not wanting to interrupt or make
him think I'm stalking him, I stay off to the side with my
camera like a good boy. After he goes in, we stand around
a little longer getting colder, and then it starts to rain!
We move closer to the door under the overhang, still waiting
for Arnold. |
|
2 PM-- The backstage door finally opens! But no, it's just
Randy and Rene coming out. They're all excited about how
they got to see the stage for tonight's event, the guys
in there gave them a tour, they got a special photo with
Arnold, "Weah cool, weah bad-asses, blah blah blah"--
while Corey and I are just wet and cold. Then they go back
in so they can ask Jim Lorimer where to pick up their photos
once developed. OK, great, we'll just hang! That's OK, it'll
all be worth it when Arnold emerges, right? Cue Mr. Bouncer:
"Who are you waiting for?" (Mr. Stallone
of course! This is the Sly Convention right?!)
"Arnold."
"You guys supposed to be here?"
"Well, uh, yes, because I'm the Gillinator."
"The what?"
"I run one of the best Arnold websites, Arnold himself
approved it. Twice."
"Uh-huh. You have any credentials?"
"Sure, here is my invitation" BOOOOOM! (alright
just fantasizing)
"Well, no not really."
"Then you can't stay here."
|
| "And
so we slink back to the stairway that goes up to the front
side, and just as we get halfway up, we see Randy and Rene
emerge, looking around for us. I wave and am about to say
we were removed involuntarily, but their attention is averted
because Arnold is coming out! I wanted to burst out in a primal
yell like Arnold in Predator to get him to notice me, but
that would most likely grab the attention of Mr. Bouncer first.
The entourage speeds away, and R+R come up to gloat some more.
When Arnold came out he shook their hands as they asked in
unison "How's the shoulder?" to which he responded
"It's great, fine, thank you!" and gave Rene a mock
punch in the shoulder. Now I've got to tell you, it's great
to see the two of them aglow with this excellent Oak Encounter
they had, but part of me also wants to backfist them like
Arnold imagined doing to Bill Paxton in True Lies. We are
the ones who withstood Mr. Freeze-like climate for an hour
only to be booted at the last minute! Oh well, I'm happy for
them...bastahds! |
|
Arnold's
driver- what a jolly guy! |
For
the remainder of the afternoon, I head back to the expo with R+R.
Corey cuts out to go practice his drums (he's a music major at Capital
University). So now I can move even more efficiently through thick
crowds. As soon as we get in and start checking out a booth, the
familiar sounds of bodyguards saying "Get back!" begin
and Arnold walks right into the booth we're at! I unfortunately
am on the wrong side and get blocked from direct contact, but R+R
seem to be pretty close-- again! Arnold goes up on stage to give
his usual speech thanking everyone for being there and then heads
off on the other side. R+R rely on their passes to let them cut
behind the stage, and this time I slip in right behind them, moving
briskly and we make it! But alas, Arnold has already left the building.
So there's 2 hours until the finals with little chance of another
Arnold sighting-- time to eat! The wolves climbing the hill are
very hungry!
|
|
Part II - Day 2
