R.I.P. Mike Rinaldi

Mike loved weightlifting and sumo. He also loved people, even though he sometimes went to great lengths to disabuse people of that notion. The name of my blog is a sanitized version of the back of Rinaldi's famous Mr. Snatchural T-Shirt. When he was alive, it was an homage to his delightfully warped and wicked sense of humor. ( I still laugh until I cry every time I think of his Go Heavy post with the link to the East Coast Gold Secret Handshake. ) With his passing it will become a way for me to remember him, a memorial of sorts. Even though I didn't know Mike for all that long...maybe six years...I always sensed in Mike a kindred spirit.

Here is a nice tribute to Mike his step daughter Jamie put together and posted on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gl4rZLS1YOU

See ya, you mean old man. KATA.

Timbersport Athlete Update

Nice write up on Jamie here.

After a great show in Webster Springs, WV, the next big event for my guys was the Stihl Timbersport Series in Utah. Jamie had an awesome day, crushing the opposition. Mike had an off day and ended up in a tiebreaker event for the last qualifying slot to move on to GA but it just wasn't his day and wasn't to be.

I'm really proud of how hard Mike and Jamie worked in the offseason this year. They both appear to be significantly faster, stronger and fitter than they did this time last year. Kettlebells, Olympic lifts and a more athletic nutrition plan are paying off for them. Lots of shows left.