mmmmm....wings....*drool*
February 4, 2005 7:24 AM Subscribe
The 13th Annual Wing Bowl took place this morning in Philadelphia. Bill "El Wingador" Simmons took the crown in overtime. He defeated a diverse group of opponents including defending champion Sonya "The Black Widow" Thomas, a 5-foot-5 99 pound freak of nature who is widely regarded as one of the best in the sport of competitive eating. The event was preceded by an ugly scene in which thousands of fans were turned away from the arena which had reached capacity by 4:30am.
It was originaly conceived by a morning show host at local talk radio station, Angelo Cataldi. The first wingbowl was just 2 guys in a bar with 50 people watching.
As it grew over the years and moved up to 20,000 spectators the tradition of holding it in the morning with play by play by Cataldi just stuck.
The fans were already in line at midnight. They had to start letting people in around 3am because the line was ungodly long.
It's normaly not this bad, the original idea was to have an event to get fans of the Eagles to forget the team sucks and didn't make the Super Bowl. It became a Super Bowl pep rally this year instead.
posted by furiousxgeorge at 7:35 AM on February 4, 2005
As it grew over the years and moved up to 20,000 spectators the tradition of holding it in the morning with play by play by Cataldi just stuck.
The fans were already in line at midnight. They had to start letting people in around 3am because the line was ungodly long.
It's normaly not this bad, the original idea was to have an event to get fans of the Eagles to forget the team sucks and didn't make the Super Bowl. It became a Super Bowl pep rally this year instead.
posted by furiousxgeorge at 7:35 AM on February 4, 2005
I would pretty much kill a man for some wings right now.
I'm disappointed in Ed "Cookie" Jarvis' performance. I usually count on him for more.
posted by uncleozzy at 7:57 AM on February 4, 2005
I'm disappointed in Ed "Cookie" Jarvis' performance. I usually count on him for more.
posted by uncleozzy at 7:57 AM on February 4, 2005
I think Gluttony is the sin that applies here. :)
Jarvis came in 3rd, he gave a hell of a fight but Wingador and Sonya Thomas were on a whole different level today. No one in the world could have kept up with them.
posted by furiousxgeorge at 8:01 AM on February 4, 2005
Jarvis came in 3rd, he gave a hell of a fight but Wingador and Sonya Thomas were on a whole different level today. No one in the world could have kept up with them.
posted by furiousxgeorge at 8:01 AM on February 4, 2005
Damn. We have a Wings Night here (at the Maple Leaf, handy Canadian pub in Covent Garden) every month or so, but the most we managed to down was 300 in one sitting.
Between 8 people.
That's 37 wings per person. Suicide Wings and a special homebrew dipping sauce enhanced with Dave's Insanity Sauce. I remember the after-effects of that night quite vividly. Let's just say it was a total gastrointestinal clearance sale: everything must go. I will never forget having to interrupt the next morning's commute to make a dash for the Burger King restrooms. Not pretty.
I cannot, under any circumstances, imagine adding another 130 wings to that brew. Physically impossible. Aftereffects unthinkable.
Then again, I have a 33 inch waist. That could be the kicker.
posted by LondonYank at 8:04 AM on February 4, 2005
Between 8 people.
That's 37 wings per person. Suicide Wings and a special homebrew dipping sauce enhanced with Dave's Insanity Sauce. I remember the after-effects of that night quite vividly. Let's just say it was a total gastrointestinal clearance sale: everything must go. I will never forget having to interrupt the next morning's commute to make a dash for the Burger King restrooms. Not pretty.
I cannot, under any circumstances, imagine adding another 130 wings to that brew. Physically impossible. Aftereffects unthinkable.
Then again, I have a 33 inch waist. That could be the kicker.
posted by LondonYank at 8:04 AM on February 4, 2005
Waist size is not the issue, you need to be able to stretch your stomach. Thinner can actually be better.
posted by furiousxgeorge at 8:11 AM on February 4, 2005
I will marry any woman who can out-wing me*.
*Void where prohibited.
posted by uncleozzy at 8:19 AM on February 4, 2005
*Void where prohibited.
posted by uncleozzy at 8:19 AM on February 4, 2005
Even when I'm greatly distrubed by the actions of my government or my fellow citizens, it's stuff like this that reminds me why I love my country.
posted by casu marzu at 8:22 AM on February 4, 2005
posted by casu marzu at 8:22 AM on February 4, 2005
While it is a great event, there were many things not to be proud of today.
The drunkenness was off the scale and there was a near riot when people could not get in.
Inside the arena wasn't much better, beverages and food were tossed at various competitors, including Sonya Thomas (pictured in my last post with a giant hamburger).
The Philly natives were annoyed last year when she became the first out of towner to to win the Wing Bowl.
This was probably very unsettling for her, and may have contributed to her loss to El Wingador, the home town favorite by just one wing.
She stormed out of the arena directly after the event, stopping only to congratulate the winner.
I have a feeling she will be back next year with a vengeance.
(and better security)
It really was the best and absolute worst of Philadelphia on display.
posted by furiousxgeorge at 8:31 AM on February 4, 2005
The drunkenness was off the scale and there was a near riot when people could not get in.
Inside the arena wasn't much better, beverages and food were tossed at various competitors, including Sonya Thomas (pictured in my last post with a giant hamburger).
The Philly natives were annoyed last year when she became the first out of towner to to win the Wing Bowl.
This was probably very unsettling for her, and may have contributed to her loss to El Wingador, the home town favorite by just one wing.
She stormed out of the arena directly after the event, stopping only to congratulate the winner.
I have a feeling she will be back next year with a vengeance.
(and better security)
It really was the best and absolute worst of Philadelphia on display.
posted by furiousxgeorge at 8:31 AM on February 4, 2005
El Wingador has his own site selling wing-sauce. The site hurts my eyes and brain much as I would imagine 180 wings would hurt my stomach and intestines.
posted by tpl1212 at 8:50 AM on February 4, 2005
posted by tpl1212 at 8:50 AM on February 4, 2005
What does Houston host? Butter eating?
I'm just guessing that the fattest city wouldn't want to be out-done by a former champ.
posted by NinjaPirate at 8:51 AM on February 4, 2005
I'm just guessing that the fattest city wouldn't want to be out-done by a former champ.
posted by NinjaPirate at 8:51 AM on February 4, 2005
OHFG. Is that a real, actual hamburger in that picture? That she subsequently ate?
posted by The Card Cheat at 8:55 AM on February 4, 2005
posted by The Card Cheat at 8:55 AM on February 4, 2005
It is times like these that make me proud to be a Philadelphian. If you think this was bad, wait until we win the Superbowl Judge McCafferty will have to hod a special session of Eagle's court for all the buttheads who get arrested for having a little too much fun Sunday night.
posted by fixedgear at 8:55 AM on February 4, 2005
posted by fixedgear at 8:55 AM on February 4, 2005
The 9+ lbs. Barrick Burger came with no condiments to help "grease" its slide down the gullet. The 48 minutes that it took for me to eat it seemed like an eternity!
Yeah, she is for real ;)
posted by furiousxgeorge at 9:01 AM on February 4, 2005
Yeah, she is for real ;)
posted by furiousxgeorge at 9:01 AM on February 4, 2005
I had to grin at Sonya Thomas' FAQ where she says one of her dreams is to own a Burger King.
posted by MegoSteve at 9:25 AM on February 4, 2005
posted by MegoSteve at 9:25 AM on February 4, 2005
The truism, "Don't get high off your own supply" might apply to that venture.
posted by furiousxgeorge at 9:30 AM on February 4, 2005
posted by furiousxgeorge at 9:30 AM on February 4, 2005
Hmm, and other nations where people are starving don't like the US why? Oh yeah, because we make a game of gluttony and excess while others starve.
Sorry but competitive eating is another sign of the end of times.
posted by fenriq at 9:44 AM on February 4, 2005
Sorry but competitive eating is another sign of the end of times.
posted by fenriq at 9:44 AM on February 4, 2005
It really was the best and absolute worst of Philadelphia on display.
Ah, Philadelphia sports fans...
• Santa Claus welcoming committee
• Cheering a broken neck
• Fans love Free Battery Day
Sonya got off easy, it sounds like.
posted by AlexReynolds at 9:45 AM on February 4, 2005
Ah, Philadelphia sports fans...
• Santa Claus welcoming committee
• Cheering a broken neck
• Fans love Free Battery Day
Sonya got off easy, it sounds like.
posted by AlexReynolds at 9:45 AM on February 4, 2005
Oh don't start with the Santa Claus BS. That was like 3 stadiums ago.
Irving killed the eagles many a time, ripped their hearts out, can't really blame them for that. (But deion sanders also instigated them, plus they didn't know the guy had a broken neck)
And JD Drew deserved the batteries.
And I'm amazed it took this long for the starving people BS. Guess what, eating is fun. There is not a country in the world that does not celebrate with feasts. It's not massive gluttony to go all out and eat a lot ONE DAY A YEAR to have fun and entertain thousands of people.
Most of the people in Wing Bowl are just average blue collar slobs who get a chance to have their 15 minutes and a bit of fun.
Get off the Internet and give the money you spend on it to starving people, thanks.
posted by furiousxgeorge at 9:55 AM on February 4, 2005
Irving killed the eagles many a time, ripped their hearts out, can't really blame them for that. (But deion sanders also instigated them, plus they didn't know the guy had a broken neck)
And JD Drew deserved the batteries.
And I'm amazed it took this long for the starving people BS. Guess what, eating is fun. There is not a country in the world that does not celebrate with feasts. It's not massive gluttony to go all out and eat a lot ONE DAY A YEAR to have fun and entertain thousands of people.
Most of the people in Wing Bowl are just average blue collar slobs who get a chance to have their 15 minutes and a bit of fun.
Get off the Internet and give the money you spend on it to starving people, thanks.
posted by furiousxgeorge at 9:55 AM on February 4, 2005
And JD Drew deserved the batteries... Get off the Internet and give the money you spend on it to starving people, thanks.
I love this city. *sigh*
posted by AlexReynolds at 10:02 AM on February 4, 2005
I love this city. *sigh*
posted by AlexReynolds at 10:02 AM on February 4, 2005
brotherly love man, brotherly love.
posted by furiousxgeorge at 10:10 AM on February 4, 2005
posted by furiousxgeorge at 10:10 AM on February 4, 2005
I heard Sonya in an interview on a local radio station. She's a hoot, she sounds just like a fun down to earth person. Her website seemed to echo that part of her personality.
On preview ...
Fenriq, I'm confused.
The US provides over 50% of the budget (over $900 million) to the World Food Program. The WFP seems to cover the vast majority of countries where famine is an issue.
So it would seem odd that someone would hate the US for being gluttonous, when at the same time it is the largest contributor of food aid.
posted by forforf at 10:14 AM on February 4, 2005
On preview ...
Fenriq, I'm confused.
The US provides over 50% of the budget (over $900 million) to the World Food Program. The WFP seems to cover the vast majority of countries where famine is an issue.
So it would seem odd that someone would hate the US for being gluttonous, when at the same time it is the largest contributor of food aid.
posted by forforf at 10:14 AM on February 4, 2005
Let's also mention that competitive eating is not an American only thing.
The Japanese have a long tradition in this area, for one; and they are not known as a gluttonous culture.
And let's not forget Sonya, Growing up in South Korea without a refrigerator makes a girl famished.
We should also mention that these Asian superstars of the sport are almost universally thin. It's controlled gluttony, which isn't really gluttony at all.
posted by furiousxgeorge at 10:28 AM on February 4, 2005
The Japanese have a long tradition in this area, for one; and they are not known as a gluttonous culture.
And let's not forget Sonya, Growing up in South Korea without a refrigerator makes a girl famished.
We should also mention that these Asian superstars of the sport are almost universally thin. It's controlled gluttony, which isn't really gluttony at all.
posted by furiousxgeorge at 10:28 AM on February 4, 2005
I'm a big fan of wings. Unbreaded, of course. The breaded wings that some chain stores (which shall remain nameless) sell are a sacrilege.
But I have one issue with how they're sold and served: that what is properly a wing segment is referred to as a "wing." Oh, I know every place that sells "wings" does this, and I grudgingly take it into account when deciding how many to order, so please understand I'm not complaining that I'm being ripped off. It just irks me that what is advertised as, say, a dozen "wings" is actually a dozen wing segments, say six of those drumstick-like pieces which are closest to the body of the chicken, and six of those middle segments having two bones where it's hard to get the meat out from in between the bones. If they're going to call them "wings," they really oughtta sell the whole friggin' wing, comprising three segments. You know, like you get when you buy a whole chicken. Counting each segment as a wing leads to the bizarre conclusion that a chicken has six wings (though typically only four of the six are served as wings).
Back to the FPP, if this were truly a wing-eating contest, rather than a wing-segment-eating contest, you wouldn't have issues like this: "My game was to get through the drumsticks. They're quicker." In a wing-eating contest, contestants should be scored on how many complete wings they eat, not how many segments.
</rant number-of-people-who-care-other-than-DA=0>
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 11:23 AM on February 4, 2005
But I have one issue with how they're sold and served: that what is properly a wing segment is referred to as a "wing." Oh, I know every place that sells "wings" does this, and I grudgingly take it into account when deciding how many to order, so please understand I'm not complaining that I'm being ripped off. It just irks me that what is advertised as, say, a dozen "wings" is actually a dozen wing segments, say six of those drumstick-like pieces which are closest to the body of the chicken, and six of those middle segments having two bones where it's hard to get the meat out from in between the bones. If they're going to call them "wings," they really oughtta sell the whole friggin' wing, comprising three segments. You know, like you get when you buy a whole chicken. Counting each segment as a wing leads to the bizarre conclusion that a chicken has six wings (though typically only four of the six are served as wings).
Back to the FPP, if this were truly a wing-eating contest, rather than a wing-segment-eating contest, you wouldn't have issues like this: "My game was to get through the drumsticks. They're quicker." In a wing-eating contest, contestants should be scored on how many complete wings they eat, not how many segments.
</rant number-of-people-who-care-other-than-DA=0>
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 11:23 AM on February 4, 2005
if you're interested in this type of stuff, check out the international federation of championship eaters site..
posted by Igor XA at 11:27 AM on February 4, 2005
posted by Igor XA at 11:27 AM on February 4, 2005
Yes, but the segment issues, and the annoying difficulty of 100% clearing the 'wing' of meat, is what comprises the strategy and intricacy that makes the wing bowl so much fun compared to simple, 'how many hot dogs can i inhale' contests.
That said, if you just want to have good eatin', follow devilsadvocates wing advice.
posted by furiousxgeorge at 11:28 AM on February 4, 2005
That said, if you just want to have good eatin', follow devilsadvocates wing advice.
posted by furiousxgeorge at 11:28 AM on February 4, 2005
Now is a good time to mention I just googled, and too my infinite suprise, metafilter has discussed Wing Bowl before, last year even.
I'm shocked, I wanted something tottaly original for my first blue link, and I thought I had it. I got pwned by stupidsexyFlanders
posted by furiousxgeorge at 11:37 AM on February 4, 2005
I'm shocked, I wanted something tottaly original for my first blue link, and I thought I had it. I got pwned by stupidsexyFlanders
posted by furiousxgeorge at 11:37 AM on February 4, 2005
Slightly blurry, but it looks like they're passing around more than a few wings among friends.
posted by grateful at 12:03 PM on February 4, 2005
posted by grateful at 12:03 PM on February 4, 2005
it looks like they're passing around more than a few wings among friends.
Well that'll sure help you work up an appetite for 150 wings...
posted by uncleozzy at 12:07 PM on February 4, 2005
Well that'll sure help you work up an appetite for 150 wings...
posted by uncleozzy at 12:07 PM on February 4, 2005
If any wing loving former east coasters have relocated to (the now sunny) Portland, Orygun area and have a hankering for some wings... Fire on The Mountain is the name of a new wing joint in the area of Skidmore and Interstate. Skads of different sauces but they use Frank's for their original wings. Good eatin', but a Beef On Weck would complete the experience. No web site yet. No Genny Cream Ale available.
It was quite funny to read how the failure of the Buffalo Bills was an impetus for this competition. I lived in Buffalo at the time of their first loss, and no amount of wings (not even the crappy excuse for wings served at The Anchor Bar) has ever been able to fill that gaping hole. Wide right, and then the tears begin to fall...
posted by TomSophieIvy at 11:15 PM on February 4, 2005
It was quite funny to read how the failure of the Buffalo Bills was an impetus for this competition. I lived in Buffalo at the time of their first loss, and no amount of wings (not even the crappy excuse for wings served at The Anchor Bar) has ever been able to fill that gaping hole. Wide right, and then the tears begin to fall...
posted by TomSophieIvy at 11:15 PM on February 4, 2005
from sonya thomas aka the black widow
9. WHAT DOES YOUR DAILY DIET CONSIST OF? I eat lots of healthy foods--lots of fruits, vegetables, rice, seafood, and chicken--not too much fried food. I sometimes enjoy sweets, but only in moderation.
posted by sophist at 11:46 PM on February 4, 2005
9. WHAT DOES YOUR DAILY DIET CONSIST OF? I eat lots of healthy foods--lots of fruits, vegetables, rice, seafood, and chicken--not too much fried food. I sometimes enjoy sweets, but only in moderation.
posted by sophist at 11:46 PM on February 4, 2005
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posted by The Card Cheat at 7:30 AM on February 4, 2005