Harlem workout facility will be worth the weight

I'll be the first to admit I'm not exactly a body-builder.

During my short but much-needed Christmas holiday, I was able to catch a few hours of ESPN2 (motto: anything is a sport). In the past, we've seen the ESPN offshoot feature everything from pool and figure skating to spelling bees and dogs catching discs.

I love every minute of it.

Perhaps the most entertaining for me is the World's Strongest Man Contest. No reality show could ever live up to the concept of massive men from Norway named Magnus pulling passenger buses around an obstacle course.

As a creative yet not-so-muscular child, I often attempted to replicate the amazing herculean efforts of the Scandinavian Supermen. As a helpful hint to all you weight-lifting hopefuls out there, don't try to lift a bike over your head unless the kick stand is in.

I especially direct those words of wisdom to the Harlem kids out there - not because you're more inclined to hurt yourselves, but because very soon you'll have even more incentive to hit the weights.

In less than a month, Harlem High School will open its brand new, state-of-the-art weight room facility.

The new facility, says Harlem Athletics Director Jimmie Lewis, will rival many college weight rooms.

It should. The final bill on the project: $112,000.

Yes, that is a six-figure number.

Lewis said single donations of $20,000 and $45,000, combined with a $35,000 government grant and $12,000 in donations from several alumni, made the school's dream facility a reality.

The entire project is more than just a weight room. It also includes batting cages, a cheerleading practice area and a multipurpose area.

It's great news for the Bulldog faithful. Now, every Harlem athlete will have the opportunity to properly train for his or her respective seasons.

Look for more information on the new facility, including photos, in the next few weeks.

So get ready, Harlem athletes. The facilities are now beyond high school standard.

I expect to see the Bulldog sports teams become beyond high school standard as well.

I'd also like to see a Harlem graduate in the World's Strongest Man Contest. And don't worry, I checked; there is a World's Strongest Woman Contest, too.