in 1968. But I feel entitled tothis liberty, having knownhim personally for the betterpart of two decades; RobertKennedy’s the one who gaveme my first breakin writing whenno one elsewould. And evenas I lambastedhim and other dignitariesin my articles,he was unfailinglyencouraging,even leaving phonemessages at myhome waxing rhapsodicover pieces I’ddone for him:“Chawwwles, youare indeed awrrritah.” His praisecarries freight, as hedoesn’t dispense it easily. In the manner of many Brits, he canbe outright blunt. But rarely.Of course I’m a fan of Robert Kennedy… why wouldn’t I be?And I’m in good company, because his admirer list’s been aWho’s-Who of bodybuilding, going back to legends like JohnGrimek, Steve Reeves, that big Austrian guy(whom Bob hadknown since 1967 and touted as Presidential material a decadebefore the Governator took over the Left Coast) and nearly anyoneelse who ever appeared in a bodybuilding or fitness magazine.He’s lived the life he espouses, having missed no more thana handful of workouts in the past 55 years. A serious scholar of“Iron Game” history he’s assembled what amounts to a museumdevoted to feats of strength and physical accomplishment. It hasn’talways been an easy ride either; born in Europe and living inEngland until he was 27, Bob started MUSCLEMAG INTER-NATIONAL in 1974, hocking most of his possessions (includinghis prized Jaguar) to get the first issues out. And this was at atime when bodybuilding (and Arnold) hadn’t yet registered on thepublic mind; as the book PUMPING IRON noted, muscles werecheaper than dirt --- you couldn’t give them away. Out of nothing,Bob created something. Much like bodybuilding itself, which tomany has no tangible justification compared to the pragmaticdrills of strength-training for football or track, his whole enterprisedepended on his being a conjurer of sorts, expanding thatimagination and excitement which comes of seeing and beingsomething beyond mind-blowing, drawing in no small way on thesensation Arnold created. <strong>The</strong> acolytes of bodybuilding may bedismissed as living in a quasi-comic-book world, a perpetual,self-indulgent adolescence replete with its own virtues andextremes (who could ever take those hysterically disingenuoussupplement ads seriously?), but in harming no one, enjoying theirversion of the “runner’s high” (aka “the pump”), and generallysetting an admirable example of nutrition and exercise-discipline,who’s qualified to fault them?kin0309Close Spaces • Straighten Crooked TeethBond Chipped Teeth • <strong>White</strong>n TeethKING of PRUSSIA DENTAL ASSOCIATESBrad G. Jacobson, D.D.S., P.C.491 Allendale Rd., Suite 306Call for FREE CONSULTATION - 610.337.2989 or 610.265.4142March/April I 215-396-0268 I www.phillyfit.com <strong>PhillyFIT</strong> I 39
Hand & stoneto comeVOTED BEST OF PHILLYSPRAY TAN 2008215.545.5010209 S. 20th St, Philadelphiasunmyst@verizon.netwww.sunmysttanningstudios.com✹ Stand-up & Lay down Units ✹ No Contract✹ Mystic Spray Tan ✹ Unsurpassed Prices✹ Customized Airbrushing1 Free Tan ✹ 50% off Customized Airbrush TanWith MMI, Bob catered to their excitement, offering hard-coretraining instruction and photos mixed with personalities, gossip,over-the-top inspiration and a willingness to dig in places (likedrug issues) his staid competitors wouldn’t. He received deaththreats for featuring a blonde female bodybuilder with a blackmale one on an early 90s cover. Ditto for Bob Paris and RodJackson, two bodybuilding Adonises who’d recently unclosetedthemselves. Through relentless effort, showmanship (hype?),bluff and personal charisma, Bob Kennedy grew his dream intosomething big. And he carried many others along with him.Which brings us back to Jami. You can’t miss the parallels: thedreams, the struggles, cheerleading in a sometimes cold, emptyroom, waking others to a sense of happening through the sheerforce of will, creating something out of nothing. Bob certainlyrecognized those parallels right away, looking beyond the sexycharismatic blonde (of whom he’s seen so many!) to a daring,imaginative entrepreneur who’s really got her head together. He’sa PHILLYFIT reader and a Jami-fan like the rest of us. It feelsgood to be in such company, because when you get down to it,they’re both pumping us up about our own amazing possibilities.NOT YOUR USUAL MEDIA MOGUL OR MUSCLEHEADSomething few know about Bob Kennedy: An art college graduate, he’s been oilpainting for 50 years. He paints under his father’s name, Wolfgang Kals, to avoidconfusion with his role as a publisher. Currently he’s being encouraged by <strong>North</strong>American gallery owners to agree to a one-man exhibition, something he’s onlydone in Europe until now. “It’s funny that all of a sudden there is an interest in my(Wolfgang’s) work. Maybe collectors are figuring that I might die soon and mypaintings would quadruple in value. I could have done with this attention when Iwas trying to make a living as a starving artist in England 45 years ago.” Enquiringminds can visit www.wolfgangkals.com.Charles Peeples, NSCA-PT, NCTMB, whose articles have appeared innumerous fitness and bodybuilding magazines, is a regular columnist forPHILLYFIT and a well-known activist for female strength training and physicaladvancement. (www.teamvalkyries.org). A graduate of thePennsylvania School of Muscle <strong>The</strong>rapy, Charles is nationally-certifiedboth as massage therapist and a personal trainer (www.chesterspringsmassage.com).Contact Charles at charles@phillyfitmagazine.comTAKE CHARGE OFYOUR PAIN RELIEFWITH THIS SUPERIORSTRETCHING METHODUNDER THE WEIGHT OFTHE COACH'S FOOT!40 I <strong>PhillyFIT</strong>PAIN RELIEF IS MINUTES (Not Weeks) AWAY!MAXIMUM EFFORT YIELDS MAXIMUM RELIEF!Rossiter System Stretches Are Quick, Powerful AndEffective In Relieving All Types Of Chronic Pain -Headaches, Neck, Shoulders, Upper And Lower Back,Herniated Discs, Sciatica, Tendinitis, Carpal TunnelSyndrome, Knee Pain, Plantar fasciitis, And More.GUARANTEED TO LEAVE YOUFEELING LOOSER IN JUST 1 SESSION!SAVE $10ON A ROSSITER SYSTEM WORKOUT!EXPIRES 4/15/09March/April I 215-396-0268 I www.phillyfit.comben309BENSALEMMUSCLETHERAPYJANICE E. MALLOY,RN, MS, CMTMUSCLE AND SOFT TISSUEPAIN SPECIALIST1950 Street Road, Suite 318Bensalem, PA 19020215-244-1999bensalemmuscletherapy.qpg.com