It’s not just the buff biceps, taut cheeks and frequently structurally-enhanced body parts on trainers that can catch your eye at a fitness trade event like the IHRSA club show. It's the celebrities, such as Clint Eastwood and Steve Young, who move about the show somewhat under the radar, and others, who, simply on the merits of the size of their entourage as well as, ummm, other attributes, demand attention.

Which brings us to Fabio. It's quite difficult not to notice the long-haired model with the famous bedroom eyes. Turns out he has an investment interest in a new health club business. And loves to workout. (He better to maintain that body and therefore his marketability!) Dressed in jeans and a simple blue shirt, Fabio and a hovering entourage of about six perused equipment throughout the show. We were in the Star Trac booth when our host suddenly gushed, “There’s Fabio!” and made a bee-line across the floor, leaving us in the dust. Thinking he meant one of the company's international distributors or something we raced after him while asking, “Fabio who?” OK, so we experienced a clueless moment. In short order, there we were too, gawking as Fabio slid from piece to piece (that would be the fitness equipment … sheesh!), gathering fawning attendees in his wake – one woman had her picture taken with him looking as if she were going to faint from joy when he wrapped his arm around her. But the kicker was a man from a tennis club in Michigan who handed Fabio his cell phone so Fabio could chat it up with his wife back home, which Fabio graciously did. No doubt the Michigan man's welcome home is going to be Fabiolous!

Edited by herd at 04/09/2007 13:58:36 MDT.