Good vibrations - Hard Times - Tom Prince - Brief Article

TOM PRINCE is picking up good vibrations.

"I'm looking forward to going to Dallas in May to compete at the Southwest USA Men's Pro Cup. Dallas is where I won Nationals in '97. I get good vibes about places. I also get bad vibes about places, which Is why I don't like to go to certain places. I love Dallas. I love New York. But I haven't had a good experience in Vegas yet. [At the '97 USA staged in Las Vegas, despite being a favorite, he bombed into ninth place, and at the 2001 Mr. Olympia, also in Vegas, he placed 16th.] I'm going to have to get over that." Tom also said that in Canada, they hardly treat him like the Prince he is. "Every time I've ever gone to Canada, they've torn my suitcase apart. They reach in your socks and look in your shoes. Their customs check is brutal."

Prince continues to battle the perception that he's been slow to live up to his potential. "People think it took me a long time to win my pro card, but my first pro qualifier was the '95 NPC Nationals, and I won my pro card at the '97 NPC Nationals. That's only two years."

When asked how he feels heading into the May shows, Prince said, "I don't want to be too cocky and say I expect to win, but after getting third at the Night Of Champions last year, I'm going there to win. That's no disrespect to anyone else in the show. In the past, I have tended to worry myself to death, but my confidence has improved, and that helps. Some people are confident no matter what, but I actually have to do well to build my confidence. Last year's placing at the Night Of Champions helped me with that a lot."

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