FLEXONLINE INTERVIEW: Second-year pro Desmond Miller is ready to do battle at the Ironman Pro

February 12th, 2008

FLEXONLINE.COM

It’s tough to make your mark as a rookie in the ultra-competitive IFBB. Yet that’s exactly what Desmond Miller did in 2007. A year after winning the overall at the NPC Nationals, Miller proved that he was ready to hang with the big boys by placing in the top four at his first two pro shows. First, he placed fourth amid a very competitive field at the New York Pro, earning an Olympia qualification in the process. Miller followed that up with a runner-up finish at the Keystone Classic — behind eventual winner Dennis Wolf — and served notice that, rookie or not, he was one to keep an eye one. Miller decided to bypass the Olympia, and will kick off his sophomore season in the IFBB at the Ironman Pro on February 16. Flexonline recently caught up with the 2007 National champ to see how he plans on improving on an impressive rookie campaign.

FLEXONLINE: HOW SATISFIED WERE YOU WITH YOUR FIRST TWO PROFESSIONAL OUTINGS?
DESMOND MILLER: My first two professional outings were an amazing learning experience for me. I tried changing my dieting style and although it maintained me hard I did not accomplish the striations I would have like to see. I do not dwell or regret anything I did; I simply took time off and began to recreate what works for me. Part of growth is experience and my rookie year to me was and will always be a phenomenal accomplishment for me as a person. As so as I know I did my best it does not matter what others may say.

FLEX: WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO SKIP THE 2007 OLYMPIA?
DM: I decided to skip the 2007 Olympia because my body was begging for rest. I had been training and dieting for almost 3 years consecutive. It was time I took a breather, spend some time regrouping and make the gains needed on my upper body to continue to grow as a bodybuilder and competitor.

FLEX: WHAT IMPROVEMENTS HAVE YOU MADE SINCE THE KEYSTONE CLASSIC?
DM: I have been focusing on my back while still developing and strengthening other areas of my body. My back has always been full, but because my legs are huge it takes away from my upper body.

FLEX: WHAT DID YOU WEIGH AT THE NEW YORK PRO? WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO WEIGH AT THE IRONMAN?
DM: At the New York Pro I weigh 252 and I am planning to weigh about the same at the Ironman but with the improvements I needed to make to be more of a competition for the Pro arena.

FLEX: YOU PLACED WELL IN BOTH OF THE SPRING SHOWS IN 2007 AND MAGANGED TO BUILD SOME MOMENTUM AS A ROOKIE. DO YOU FEEL LIKE PEOPLE HAVE FORGOTTEN ABOUT YOU LEADING UP TO THE IRONMAN?
DM: Honestly I’d rather be down low than have all that extra publicity. I am not in this for the fame, I see this as a business that supports my family and I maintain focus on my work. Media frenzies do not do it for me. I am a very down-low type of person and family time is the most important fact of my life. The one thing I have to say is my fans are my backbone. I have some amazing fans. I try to keep in touch with all of them and keep them posted. They write me as friends and I feel their love and energy. This is for them as well; they believe in me and tell me all the time. My fans are truly a blessing and I appreciate them with all my heart.

FLEX: MOST PEOPLE ARE LEAVING YOU OFF THEIR PRE-CONTEST PREDICTIONS WHEN LISTING THEIR TOP FIVE. WHY ARE THEY MAKING A MISTAKE BY LEAVING YOU OFF THIS LIST?
DM: In all honesty that is a question for the people not me. I can tell you that being off the pre-contest predictions list is quite all right with me. I have done my homework, prepare my package and am ready to bring it on. The predictors have a right to their opinions. It is like gambling, you bet on the one with the most hype and than like a snap of the finger you lose your money. People will talk whether you are doing good, great or bad so it does not affect me as a person. The bottom line is that I as a rookie accomplished placements that may sometimes take others years to accomplish. I mean, I qualified for the Olympia and to me that is big.

FLEX: WHICH COMPETITORS ARE YOU MOST CONCERNED WITH LEADING UP TO THE IRONMAN?
DM: I am really not concern about any competitor. I am going on stage and competing because I know I have a package that is competitive and I can roll with the pros. I am about going for mine. I give everything my all and at the end of the day my family and I sit back and are proud of what I accomplished to date. So it is not about, Oh I can beat him?, but about I am ready to bring it.

FLEX: HOW DOES THIS LINEUP COMPARE TO THE FIELD AT YOUR OTHER TWO PRO SHOWS?
DM: The lineup for the Ironman is competitive, but I spend little time dwelling on the lineup. The New York Pro had a great lineup as well. Steve Weinberger of Bev Francis Powerhouse Gym always draws an amazing crowd with his lineups and guest posers sell out his show.

FLEX: GIVE ME A PREDICTION. WHEN THE FINAL PLACINGS ARE ANNOUNCED, WHERE DOES DESMOND MILLER PLACE AT THE IRONMAN?
DM: To be honest I am not big on predictions. I do know I will give my competition a run for their money. I am prepared and will hold my own at the competition. I think talk is cheap so I am just going to hold my predictions and leave it up to the judges to do their thing.

NOTE: I would like to thank Flexonline, Teresa and crew from Met-Rx who has been phenomenal and my family and fans. God Bless