To see Bob Backlund return to Monday Night Raw has been a throwback to the character he portrayed early on during his return in the 1990s. Hes intense, driven and almost maniacal in his enthusiasm to Make Darren Young Great Again!In reality, Backlunds the same kind of person off-screen as he has been on-screen since his first WWF run in the 1970s and 80s -- intensely committed to physical fitness and clean living.Backlund is applying that same intensity to a new endeavor, touring the country doing motivational speaking events, where he touts the benefits of physical fitness and living right. Think of him as someone carrying on the tradition of legendary fitness guru Jack LaLanne, only with a bow tie, suspenders and a couple of WWE championships to go along with the presentation.Harvard Step TestBacklund is locked in to providing the highest levels of performance advice to Young on-screen, but hes also eager to spread the message to the youth of the world that being physically active and fit is a goal worth striving for.To really understand why Backlund is so uniquely qualified to preach the advantages of working out, look no further than the Harvard Step Test?and Backlunds continued excellence in performing it.The Step Test consists of stepping up and down on a single 12-inch step at 24 steps per minute for three minutes. It might sound easy, but this test was initially designed during World War II as a way to measure cardiovascular endurance. It can wear out even the most in-shape person in a hurry.This was not the case with Backlund, who was so adept at doing hour-long Step Test workouts that the WWE eventually used it as a promotional tool. Backlund would start doing the test at the beginning of a one-hour show and do it nonstop until the end of the show. The WWE also used the Step Test as an angle between Backlund and Sgt. Slaughter.Backlund recently noted that he actually received a legitimate Step Test challenge from an award-winning marathon runner who saw Backlund doing this exercise in a gym. When the marathoner indicated he thought he could keep up with or surpass Backlund in this type of workout, Backlund smiled and said, You better be ready, because youll actually have to work to do this.Backlund said the runner was able to do the test for about 20 minutes but finally ran out of gas, stopped stepping, turned around and walked out of the gym without saying a word to anyone.This wasnt the only conditioning challenge Backlund has won over the years. In the book The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: Heroes & Icons, authors Steven Johnson and Greg Oliver tell a story of a 62-year old Backlund attending a Massachusetts police academy as a guest instructor and proceeding to outwork every recruit in pushups, squats, pullups, situps and leg lifts.His feverish workout pace continues to this day. Backlund indicates he does the Harvard Step Test for 30 minutes a day and could still do it for an hour straight if need be.One-of-a-kind short-arm scissor high spotOne of the ways Backlunds elite constitution helped him in the ring during his days as WWE champion was with a short-arm scissor spot.Watch the clip embedded here on this page, and youll see it in all of its glory. Ivan Koloff put Backlund into a short-arm scissor armlock, Backlund tried to find a way to maneuver out of the hold, and his efforts were to no avail.Thats when his endurance came into play.When somebody gets you into the short-arm scissor, youve got to pick them up, Backlund said. You got to be able to last, too, because youve got to finish the match [once thats done]. Most people would have been gassed just picking [the other wrestler] up. When they have you in the short-arm scissor, they keep you in it for quite a while, and youre fighting to get out. And the more enthusiasm you can do when youre fighting to get out, the better. But if youre not in shape, youre not going to keep up with that rate.And then when you pick them up [to get out of the short-arm scissor], youve got to walk around with them [in the air] and leave them there for a while so the people all see it. Then you go set them on the top rope, give them a slap, then he comes running at you and you backdrop him. Then you give him a body slam and then small-package him or backslide him to try to pin him. Its important to be in shape so you can do the [high spot] at the right level of intensity.There is no such thing as a rest holdBacklunds approach to fitness even helped him take a different kind of position on so-called rest holds than most of the wrestling industry.Youre not resting when you get a hold on [another wrestler], he said. Youre getting the people emotionally involved. Its that guy thats trying to fight to get out of it. The other wrestler would do something to get me into a headlock, maybe by pulling my hair, and I was constantly fighting to get out [of the hold]. Its up to the guy thats in that hold to keep moving. I was trying to make it look like I was trying to figure out how Im going to get out of that hold. Id be always on the move.I dont want to lie around all day and take pills to stay aliveBacklund doesnt view staying in shape as an option -- its a necessity.I have to sleep to stay alive, he said. I have to eat to stay alive. I tell myself I have to work out to stay alive. Im not just staying alive to stay alive, I mean stay alive and live a quality life. One of my biggest things is I dont want to have to lie around all day and take pills to stay alive. And I think working out is a better alternative to some doctor giving me pills all day. I dont want that to happen. Its a big reason I work out.The driving forceBacklund said that his never-ending drive to work out began during a very difficult childhood. He describes in his autobiography?how drinking brought out his fathers violent temper, how it was so bad at one point that Backlunds older brother Norval had to jump in and save their mother from being beaten by their father.This difficult beginning could have driven Backlund in many negative directions, but he instead decided to never capitulate -- his favorite saying -- and chose a route that eventually led him to develop his 18 principles of healthy living. These guidelines include staying in shape, eating the proper foods, maintaining a positive mental attitude, being kind to other people and turning any negative into a positive.The best way to sum up Backlund and his path of positivity is that he decided to be a real-life babyface and not just play one inside of the ring. 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PHILADELPHIA -- Ryan Howard and Chase Utley homering in the same game brought back memories for Phillies fans.This time, though, Utley went deep twice as an opponent and got curtain calls after each of his two home runs -- including a grand slam -- in his first game at Citizens Bank Park since last seasons trade to the Los Angeles Dodgers.Those cheers came after fans greeted him with a 1 1/2-minute ovation before he struck out leading off the Dodgers 15-5 rout of the Phillies on Tuesday night.Howard marveled at the reaction to one of Philadelphias most beloved athletes.It just goes to show the body of work hes done here, the respect that the fans have had for what he was able to accomplish here and help us to be able to accomplish, Howard said. I thought it was very classy by the fans.Utley acknowledged the fans reaction.Its completely overwhelming, Utley said. The standing ovation my first at-bat is something Ill never forget. It was truly special.Utley was a six-time All-Star in 13 seasons as Philadelphias second baseman, helping the team win five straight NL East titles and the 2008 World Series. Fans showed their appreciation with four standing ovations.Its something you cant really describe in words, Utley said. Its a special feeling to see the fans show that much support.In the fifth, Utley hit a two-out solo homer off Vince Velasquez (8-5) and raced around the bases in customary fashion. Fans clamored for a rare curtain call by a visiting player, and Utley obliged to another standing ovation.In the seventh, Utley hit a grand slam off Michael Mariot, and fans again cheered him back out of the dugout. It was Utleys seventh career grand slam. His first career hit was a grand slam at Veterans Stadium.Its just good to be back, he said. I tried to downplay it as much as possible, but its been something Ive been looking forward to for a long time.Howard launched his 375th career homer with a blast to center in the seventh. It brought back memories of when he and Utley used to produce monstrous numbers batting third and fourth for the Phillies.It was against us, so it was a little bittersweet, Utley said. But anytime Ryan hits a home run Im definitely happy when Ryan is successful. Hes one of my better friends. Im happy hes playing well.Likewise, Howard was glad to see Utley have success in his return. And even though Utleys cap was blue, Howard always will consider him a teammate.Hes always going to be a Phillie at heart, and I think hes always going to be a Phillie to everybody here, Howard said.WELCOMING UTLEYUtleys presence put a buzz in Philadelphias ballpark during whats been a lackluster season. Fans applauded when he jogged to the outfield for warmups, and he twice stopped to sign autographs beetween conversations with former teammate Ryan Howard in center field.dddddddddddd There were signs throughout the ballpark welcoming Utley back.We had a lot of great times here at this stadium, Utley said prior to the game. I spent so much time here, so many great memories. I cant really say enough about the support I received. Obviously we had some great players and great coaches, but the fans kind of took us to the next level.As Utley hit leadoff wearing his familiar No. 26, public address announcer Dan Baker introduced him to shouts and applause, including from players on both teams. Utley doffed his helmet and waved to the crowd, and when he tried to step to the plate, fans continued their ovation. Plate umpire Ron Kulpa moved to clean home plate while Utley stepped out again, touching his heart and raising his fist in appreciation.I truly believe without their support and without them pushing us to be better, we would not have had the team that we had, Utley said of the fans.Utley was traded last Aug. 19 and never got a chance to acknowledge the fans because the trade wasnt finalized until after the game that night.I didnt really have an opportunity to say goodbye, Utley said. If I were to write up a script (last year), it would have gone a bit differently.He departed the Phillies after playing 1,551 games, compiling 1,623 hits, 142 homers and 916 RBI. Utley remains one of the most beloved Philadelphia athletes ever for his talent, hustle and grit.There are so many times Id meet a father with his son, or even a mother, who would praise the way I played and would tell me they want their son to play that way, Utley said. To me, thats a true compliment.VELASQUEZ LOSES AGAINVelasquez gave up five runs on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings to fall to 0-3 with a 6.03 ERA in his last six starts.MAEDA WINS AGAINKenta Maeda (12-7) allowed two runs and three hits in six innings with nine strikeouts and one walk for the Dodgers, who began Tuesday a half-game back of the Giants in the NL West and leading the NL wild-card race by 3 1/2 games.KENDRICK, GRANDAL HOMERHowie Kendrick had four hits, including a home run and a triple, and drove in three runs and Yasmani Grandal homered and had three hits for Los Angeles.TRAINERS ROOMPhillies: Velasquez appeared to be favoring his left side in his final inning. He limped off the field when manager Pete Mackanin removed him from the game. Velasquez had a stint on the DL from June 10-27 for a right biceps injury.UP NEXTDodgers LHP Scott Kazmir (9-6, 4.44) faces Phillies RHP Jake Thompson (1-1, 8.68) in the second matchup of the three-game series. ' ' '