by Craig Titus
This column does not represent the opinions or views of IronMagazine, it’s advertisers or affiliates. Craig’s column is unedited and for entertainment purposes only, read at your own risk.
It was said by Bob Chick and many others that you had already decided that you wanted a fresh new fitness chick before you meet Kelly. That you wanted someone you could mold, and that was a star on the rise. I guess they say you were very calculated in choosing Kelly. Would you say that’s true?
Absolutely ridiculous and couldn’t be further from the truth. As a matter of fact, I had made a promise to not get involved with a fitness athlete or fitness model. Sure, date one because they’re obviously very beautiful, but get serious with a girl in the fitness industry was something I was intentionally avoiding. Problem is a person can’t control who they fall in love with and I fell in love with Kelly. A very calculated move in finding someone in the fitness industry I could mold? Sounds like just another example of more industry gossip to make me look scandalous. It doesn’t surprise me in the least to hear Bob Chick was one of the people behind this opinion. It’s no secret that I cannot stand Bob Click nor does he care for me. Personally I think he is a gossiping bitch! But that’s an entirely different story; let me get back to the question at hand. Before I was sentenced to 24 month in federal prison back in 97’, I dated more fitness girls then I can remember. Monica Brandt, Debbie Hale, April Moore, Theresa Hessler, Themis Cliderous, and many, many more. I use the word “dated”, but hooked up with would be a much more accurate way to describe my “relationships”. When I was released in 99’ and reentered the Bodybuilding and Fitness industry I made a decision not to settle down with a fitness athlete or fitness model. Reason being I knew it was a tremendous amount of work to prepare for a bodybuilding competition especially as a IFBB professional. Being in a relationship with a fitness athlete who also prepared for competitions was something I wanted no part of. Anyone in the industry knows two people preparing for shows under the same roof just doesn’t work. Anyway, when I was down serving my time, a friend of mine named Lori Grannis threw me a welcome home party. Kelly just happened to be in my limo that night and the rest is history. There wasn’t anything calculated about Kelly being present at my party, she was Lori’s girlfriend and I thought Kelly was a sweetheart but never thought of pursuing her at that point. As a matter of fact, I was dating a professional stunt woman named Diana when I realized I had some strong feelings for Kelly, you can’t control who you fall in love with. When I saw Kelly compete as a professional fitness event in Michigan, I was instantly smitten for real. The only thing calculated when it comes to woman was I wanted to “hook” up with 10’s, period. There was nothing calculated about developing feelings for any of them. And to say I wanted someone I could mold. I wanted someone I could be a friend to, someone I could protect, a girl I was in love with just the way she is. I never thought about molding or changing anyone, that’s fucking ridiculous! And if you think about it… to think I had this grand plan to meet and mold a fresh new fitness chick is giving me a whole lotta credit. The only plan I had for any fresh fitness girls was to hook up, period. I was single and planned on staying single for a long, long time. And let me get a few things straight for the record…For the record, I fell in love with and married Kelly just the way she was. Never once did I think I’ll change her or mold her after she’s my wife. If I wanted to be with someone different, I would’ve married someone different!! For the record, any changes Kelly made to her appearance were her decisions, not mine. She felt she needed to fit this mold for the IFBB Fitness judges. I was absolutely against anything Kelly had done to change her appearance!! I loved her just the way she was and God broke the mold when he made Kelly Ryan. Lastly, I was proud to be with Kelly and the mold she came from was flawless in my eyes! I negotiated and obtained her endorsement deals with both Biochem and Pinnacle Nutrition companies. I turned down a contract with Weider Nutrition to make less money with Pinnacle Nutrition, under the condition that Kelly was also signed to a deal, as a couple. Every business move I made was always geared to benefit my wife as well. So you see, I never tried to mold anyone, I tried to mold our careers.
What do you think of Bob Chick? Shawn Ray? Chris Comier? Any good stories about these guys?
It’s no secret that Chick and Shawn are not friends of mine. It would be more accurate to say these two guys are definite enemies of mine. Now Chris, we were best friends and training partners in the day. We trained together for the 2001 San Fran Pro Show where Chris placed 1st with me taking 2nd. I still got love for Chris and often wonder how he’s doing. Bob Chick… let me start by saying Bob is a two face gossiping bitch!! He’s one of those people that walk into a room and you can just see how uncomfortable and insecure he is. I suppose he’s uncomfortable because of all the energy he burns worrying if someone is going to smack the taste out of his mouth for something he’s said. I’m not disclosing anything about Bob Chick that people in the bodybuilding and fitness community don’t already know. Bob always has something negative to say about everyone, or I should say anyone he feels threatened by…everyone. It’s also no secret that I’m not politically correct and I refuse to hold my tongue when someone makes a derogatory remark about me. When I say something or confront someone it’s in a response…hence Bob Chick. Back in the day King Kamali and I had a public feud played out in the industry magazines, guest posing at bodybuilding competitions, at actual IFBB Pro shows, Arnold Classic (Australia) and then at the 2001 Olympia Press Conference. Good or bad, our feud was something fans always wanted to see and it caused some much needed excitement in the sport even though King and I made critical and negative remarks towards each other, I always maintained a level of respect for him. I respected him because if he had something to say, he had no problem saying it to my face. And I respected his work ethic as an IFBB Pro. Chick didn’t have the same balls to confront me or anyone else for that matter. Anyway, Chick and Kamali were close friends and for some reason I never did understand, Chick thought he would disrespect me in Muscle & Fitness magazine by drawing an amusing character of me clowning my physique. Now this would’ve been fine if we were friends or had a mutual respect for each other neither of which existed. Fact was, I couldn’t stand him for not only his mouth but the way he kissed the asses of the east coast IFBB judges made me sick as well. A few months after the drawing of me was published in M&F magazine, I ran into Bobby at the USA Championships in my home town of Vegas. I discreetly pulled Chick outside to have a man to man talk. He should have thanked his lucky starts I was married to Kelly Ryan at the time. It was because of her reasoning and kindness he didn’t suck meals thru a straw for the next two months. The talk was simple, I informed him that if he ever disrespected me again in anyway, we would have a serious problem. That was it and that was the last time Chick and I ever spoke again. Kamali and I continued our feud; King came to my IFBB after parties but never showed up with his buddy Bob. Point is, even King knew the meaning of respect despite a beef with someone. Low and behold, I catch a case and go to prison. Who’s one of the first people to say something foul and destroying… Bob Chick. He was more then ready to be interviewed by vultures writing books about my charges trying to make a buck!! I can’t specifically quote what Chris said but it was along the lines of he’s not surprised I was charged with 2nd degree murder and that I certainly committed the crime. That’s pretty foul even knowing the circumstances. I don’t Like Chick, I’ve never respected him and pretty sure not many people do. Now, Shawn Ray is an entirely different nat at this picnic. I use the word nat because he’s like one of those annoying flies at the picnic you keep swatting at but he refuses to go away. Shawn was another one of those people all too eager to be interviewed about my case. Needless to say he had nothing nice to say and tore my character apart with no hesitation. Oh, I have more then a few stories in regard to Ray with the short man complex. Shawn absolutely loved to get behind his computer using fake screen names and tear people apart on the bodybuilding and fitness forums. I’m pretty sure this was one of his favorite past times. What he didn’t know is that my buddy Ron Aviden at Getbig.com would let me know whenever Shawn was posting nasty comments about me or anything I was involved with or even my physique. I certainly wasn’t the only target of Shawn’s mean spirited comments. He didn’t discriminate when it came to his opinionated rants. Truth is, the negative posting he put on the forums actually hurt my feelings, and then pissed me off!!! His words hurt because we’d hung out a few times and I thought we were friends… I was wrong. After several months of Shawn hiding behind his computer screen like the weasel he is, we ran into each other at the athletes meeting of the IFBB Florida Pro Show. Shawn attended the athletes meeting and began to whine like a school girl to Wayne DeMelir in regard to posts I put on Getbig.com in response to his initial posts. While complaining to the President of the IFBB, Shawn wouldn’t use my name but rather came up with some colorful adjectives obviously directed at me. After a few minutes of Shawn crying like a bitch, my patience wore thin and enough was enough. I stood up, turned around and told him I would break his jaw if he didn’t shut his mouth!! It’s no secret, there were 20 IFBB Pro Bodybuilders sitting in the room. Shawn of course scampered like a field mouse out of sight and I was never to speak to him again. What I found rather amusing is how many IFBB judges, NPC judges, including Jim Manion himself, the IFBB President along with countless athletes commented on how they wished I actually would’ve creased his chin. I was never at any point going to smack Shawn that would’ve been bulling; I just wanted to humiliate him which is exactly what happened. Like I said, Shawn and I were friends at one point in time. When I traveled to a Fitness Pro Show in Michigan to watch Kelly Ryan perform, Shawn was on the same flight and offered a ride to the contest hotel. The one thing we had in common is that we both we’re player and in the true fashion, a beautiful brunette arrived to pick up Shawn with me in tow. Come to find out this lady was married and Shawn was hooking up with he before the husband was due to arrive later that evening. We have lunch and Shawn takes the car pool girl up to his room to bump uglies. A few hours go by and my phone rings with ray informing me he has a huge problem with another blonde woman in his room, and a fitness athlete from Washington St. sitting down in the lobby waiting for him. Of course the solution was to bring the fitness athlete to my room while Shawn took care of business in his room. Still with me? Long story short, Shawn shags the brunette, exit brunette, shags the blonde, exit blonde then shag this sexy ass Asian girl in my room, all within 5 hours!! Problem is, Kelly called my room and this fitness bimbo answered the phone!! It took a lot of explaining but of course I was the bad guy again taking the brunt of suspicion and not snitching on Ray. I wasn’t mad at him, I was a little impressed actually.
Chris Cormier…I still got love for Chris. Man, I have so many stories in regard to my adventures with the “Real Deal”. It breaks my heart to have seen him not reach his full potential because of partying. Fact is, Chris Cormier should’ve been Mr. Olympia many times over by now. He possessed every trait necessary to be the best bodybuilder in the world. Chris had full bellied muscles, exaggerated muscle insertion, beautiful lines and symmetry, excellent muscle separation, a thin waist and height, and not to mention, he was huge!! When Chris was in shape, it was if you were looking at an anatomy chart with his onion skin. And when Chris wasn’t partying, we trained like beast together!! I can’t remember the exact year (year 2001?), but this particular Arnold’s Classic, Comier was so severely ripped off by being placed second behind Jay Cutler, from that day on, he was never the same. I took 6th place that year and I’ll never forget the look on Chris’s face after taking 2nd…it was pitiful. He was utterly devastated!! Jay was off, way off. Cutler looked as if he went a little over board with the diuretics and severely depleted his muscles. Problem is, there was a rumor floating around the show in reference to Chris’s constant partying and how he would be a poor representative to be the Arnold classic winner. Rumors were nothing new at Pro Bodybuilding shows, just ask Bob Chick. Well, the final outcome was Cormier was in 2nd place, like I said; he was never ever able to focus on his career after that show. Comier was really hurt because it was just one of those contests where the winner stuck out like a sore thumb and when he wasn’t rewarded, it destroyed him. I know, I was training partners and I felt terrible for my friend. Not to long after that contest, we parted ways as training partners but remained friends for awhile. Soon after that I broke off with Chris because honestly, I just couldn’t keep up with all the partying and drug use. Don’t get me wrong, I was no saint or stranger to partying with Chris, but after the show, he brought the highs to an entirely different level. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the genetics Comier possessed so my partying had to be less and occasional. Apparently the diamonds never left Chris because he never fulfilled his potential to be Mr. Olympia and Chris had so much more potential then anyone in the sport at that time, period. What upsets me the most about Chris is the stories he writes in regard to our adventures are never truly accurate. I’m not sure why he just doesn’t state the truth; it’s not that hard and that much different. For example, Comier writes that we partied our asses off before and after the 2001 San Fran Pro Show…simple not true. I don’t have good enough genetics let alone having the ability to party prior to a show and look good!! Truth is, I was in my room, eating 2 ½ hours, sitting in front of a fan and filling out for a competition. Chris was in his room using cocaine as part of his drying out phase of preparation. Now he could get away with that type of prep, I certainly could not. Not to mention it wasn’t really contest preparation, he knew the show was his even if he parties the night before because the depth of athletes were weak in comparison. Now after the show is a different story. We celebrated our 1st and 2nd places, and we celebrated hard as hell!! Sad thing is, I’m not exposing anything about Chris that everyone in the industry doesn’t already know. Thing is, I sincerely feel bad in regard to Chris and his demons and wish him nothing but the best in life. I’m not sure if he feel sad for me and my current situation or not, he doesn’t write to me, but sure writes a lot about me, and never seems to get the adventures accurate. I intend to straighten out and correct my stories written about me. It seems that my perspective of facts greatly differ from Chris Cormier’s perception.
If you have a question for Craig Titus please send an email via our contact form.
Craig Michael Titus was born in Wyandotte, Michigan on Jan 14, 1967. The eldest of Michael and Sandra Titus’ three children. In high school, Craig wrestled for his school team at 132lbs. After graduation, decided to put on some muscle via weight training. When Craig graduated from high school he was 5’6″ and 140lbs. By the age of 21, he was 5’9″ and 185lbs. Once he started weight training and seeing results, he was hooked. Craig’s first bodybuilding show was the 1988 Houston Bodybuilding Championships in which he won the Men’s Open middleweight class and the overall title.
Competitive Record
2002 Mr. Olympia – 11th
2002 Night of Champions XIV – 5th
2002 Southwest Pro – 7th
2001 British Grand Prix – 9th
2001 Mr. Olympia – 12th
2001 Arnold Classic – 6th
2001 SAN FRANCISCO GRAND PRIX – 2nd
2001 IRONMAN PRO INVITATIONAL – 5th
2000 Toronto Pro – 1st
2000 Arnold Classic – 10th
2000 Night of Champions – 11th
2000 Ironman Pro Invitational – 8th
1996 NPC USA Championships — 1st Heavyweight and Overall
1995 NPC USA Championships — 2nd Heavyweight
1994 NPC National Championships — 2nd Heavyweight
1994 NPC USA Championships — 2nd Heavyweight
1993 NPC USA Championships — 4th Heavyweight
1991 NPC Ironman/Ironmaiden — Overall
1990 NPC Tournament of Champions — 3rd Heavyweight
1990 NPC Western Cup — Overall
1989 NPC Houston Bodybuilding Championships — Overall
1988 NPC Houston Bodybuilding Championships — 1st, Middleweight and Overall
