Sep 11, 2007 by brian

Dreamers and Meatheads Converge for Gladiators Tryout

Sportsvite correspondent and boycottbarry.com founder/evangelist Dan Kramer repped Sportsvite at the first of five tryouts for the new American Gladiators television show that will air on NBC this winter. Dan wasn’t able to tryout due to a bum knee but he enjoyed the experience and described it as “hysterical, interesting and memorable”.A few other Sportsvite members did indeed tryout including Nathan Barnett who showed up in costume wearing a red and blue unitard. Nathan would like to add athletic hero to nicely compliment his career as a budding comedian.Check out the promo spot, and below that is the full scoop from Dan.

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Venice, CA - A timed 40-yard dash was the final test for American Gladiator wannabes. In his run, Michael Snellings crashed and burned - literally. Snellings, 52, looks like a less buff version of Dog the Bounty Hunter. He got up quickly to reveal shredded elbows, knees and hands. Then he smiled and said, “It’s about knowing how to land.” Asked about his chances, Snellings was a realist: “I only did six pull ups and then I ate concrete; what do you think?”NBC is bringing back American Gladiators and Snellings was one of thousands trying out to be either a gladiator or a contestant Sunday in Venice Beach. The scene was a motley collection of athletes like Ronald Carter III, twice an All-American in the triple jump; passersby like a shirtless James Sheller, 25, who confessed “I got no problem looking like an idiot;” and meatheads like WWE wrestler Masterpiece Chris Masters, who was offended that he wasn’t instantly recognized.

In the middle of the tryouts, a 200-person procession celebrating the anniversary of the birth of the Virgin Mary passed by the adjacent street. The marchers were dressed in the traditional vibrant garb native to the village of Chiquila, in Oaxaca, Mexico. On their way from the local Church of San Clemente to a local house, the procession didn’t stop to sprinkle holy water on the contestants - some of whom needed that and more.

Will Alaimo, 34, was sure of his future occupation as the target of tennis balls and angry muscle men in tights. “I’m here to show an average white guy in America can compete. You will not find a better athlete. I refuse to lose,” he said, shortly after falling flat on his face during the shuttle run test. For confirmation, Alaimo asked his son Nicky, who’d come along for the tryout: “Does Daddy allow you to lose?” “No!”Queen’s anthem “We Will Rock You” blared in the background. From the unglamorous beginnings of an asphalt parking lot in the rear of Gold’s Gym, these people hope to get on national TV.

There are additional tryouts around the country so the likelihood is slim.Still, people are fascinated by the return of the show (as well as with star gladiator Nitro who seems to be back in the spotlight). A woman who could’ve been a pro volleyball player was awestruck by a man across the parking lot. To no one in particular, she said “Did you see that guy? He totally looked like a gladiator. Steel blue eyes.”Masters, the WWE wrestler, was wearing baggy clothing and it was still plainly obvious he had enough bulging muscle to be an intimidating gladiator. But why go from WWE to American Gladiator? “It depends on the money,” he said.Others were clearly caught up in the moment as well. An Access Hollywood crew had no trouble getting contestants to growl, howl and scream for a segment.From this scene - occasional howling as a religious procession passes, while Dog the Bounty Hunter’s body double spurts blood onto pavement - do not expect an Emmy winner. Expect 15 million viewers per week.

Tryouts continue this week in Brooklyn, NY and Chicago and next weekend in Miami and Arlington.