The Guinness Book of World Records called Eddie “Bozo” Miller (born June 11, 1909) of Oakland, California the “world’s greatest trencherman” before the eating records section of that publication was excised in 1990. The 1981 edition of Guinness claims that Miller had been undefeated in eating contests since 1931, resulting in a fifty year winning streak. Despite a diet consisting of up to 25,000 calories a day (which was reflected in his former 5′ 7.5″ 280-300 pound physique), Miller turned 97 in June 2005. Miller has retired from competitive eating and currently weighs considerably less than he did during his gurgitating heyday.

Miller believes he received his nickname when his father, who travelled the country with Bozo’s mother in a vaudeville show, was performing as a clown. He married a former Princess of the Pasadena Rose Bowl. Miller worked as a restauranteur and then as a liquor distributor. Miller’s drinking ability was almost as impressive as his gastronomic feats. He once literally drank a lion under the table. Miller is an avid horse racing fan and witnessed many of the major races of the legendary horse Seabiscuit.

Eddie “Bozo” Miller’s eating records:

• 27 2 pound chickens Trader Vic’s, San Francisco, 1963
• 324 ravioli (first 250 in 70 minutes) Rendezvous Room, Oakland, 1963
• 63 Dutch apple pies in an hour, 1961

It is surprising that many of the country’s greatest eaters have hailed from Northern California (the LeFevres are originally from that area.) It would be interesting if Bozo Miller and Joey Chestnut could get together and possibly do a joint interview.

PermalinkComments (2)

The Village Voice has an interview with the first couple of competitive eating.

PermalinkComments

The website for Foreign Policy has an interview with IFOCE chairman George Shea that focuses on the international aspects of competitive eating. The European competitors for the 2006 finals will be from Sweden and the Czech republic.

PermalinkComments

The weather in Coney Island July 4 is currently predicted to be 85 degrees with a 40% chance of precipitation.

PermalinkComments (1)

The first Eats of Strength episode will be rerun 3 times next week:

• Eats of Strength
INHD, Tue Jul 04 06:00pm EDT
• Eats of Strength
INHD, Fri Jul 07 01:30am EDT
• Eats of Strength
INHD, Fri Jul 07 03:00pm EDT
• Eats of Strength
INHD, Sat Jul 08 06:00pm EDT

Don “Moses” Lerman is expecting big things from his Eats of Strength appearance.

PermalinkComments (4)

Eric Fields has a first person account of his participation in last month’s goldenpalace.net World Ice Cream eating championship.

PermalinkComments (1)

sportsnet.ca has a positive review of Eat This Book

PermalinkComments

The current edition of The Chicago Reader has an excellent (and long) profile of Pat Bertoletti. The article includes an account of the assault on the Rockford Corner Bar’s chili dog record and calls Dale Boone “sort of Larry the Cable Guy of competitive eating”

PermalinkComments (1)

Following the jump is a list of all known performances of 15 or more hot dogs by eaters eligible for the July 3 qualifier. Dale Boone and probably some other southerners will be attending the ribs contest in Memphis.

Read the rest of this entry »

PermalinkComments (2)

The onlinewire lists Nathan’s finals odds from pinnaclesports

The top 7 favorites are:
Takeru Kobayashi 1/4
Joey Chestnut 4/1
Sonya Thomas 13/1
Chip Simpson 36/1
Patrick Bertoletti 100/1
Bob Shoudt 100/1
Rich LeFevre 100/1

You can also bet on Cookie Jarvis at 150/1 if you think there is a chance that Cookie will compete despite his retirement and lack of qualification.

PermalinkComments (6)

The Daily Times of Pakistan reports that a mango peeling and eating competition will be held in Islamabad on Friday. The winner of that contest should probably have an asterix appended to the results since Dale Boone could not attend.

PermalinkComments

The WCBS website has an article about Joey Chestnut’s efforts to regain the mustard belt from Kobayashi.

PermalinkComments

A writer for the Herald News has an account of his participation in a Slyder eating contest for employees of the Chicago Sun Times newspaper family at White Castle. The winner ate 25 mini-burgers in a half hour.

PermalinkComments

Advertising Age has an article about the difficulties IFOCE has experienced obtaining mainstream sponsors like national fast-food chains.

PermalinkComments (1)

Bacci Pizza in Chicago will be holding its 4th annual jumbo slice eating contest on July 29. It is possible that Bacci Pizza has dropped IFOCE affiliation since this contest does not appear on the IFOCE calendar and children are allowed to enter with parental permission.

PermalinkComments (1)

justmyshow.com has a podcast of an interview with George Shea, chairman of IFOCE.

PermalinkComments (2)

The Wall Street Journal has an article about Sonya Thomas’ training techniques. A subscription is required to read the full article. I am not sure if this article will appear in Thursday’s print edition or if it is online only.

PermalinkComments (7)

LA Weekly’s calendar lists a hot dog eating contest in Chinatown on July 2 with a first place prize of $500.

PermalinkComments (1)

(Thanks Brian Subich) In Monday’s episode of Cheap Seats on ESPN Classic, at 7:30pm and 11:30 pm eastern, the Sklar brothers will offer commentary on the Alka Seltzer 2005 US Open of Competitive Eating.

PermalinkComments

Creative Loafing has an article about the corndogorama contest Dale Boone won by eating 10 corn dogs in 5 minutes just 4 hours after he took third place at the Atlanta Zoo Nathan’s qualifier. Boone said he would skip next year’s hot dog qualifier to focus on corndogorama.

Updated June 28, 1:30 pm – Loren “Bubba” Yarbrough has sent me some pictures of Boone at corndogorama. He believes that Boone’s Indian secret is wearing motion sickness wristbands.

PermalinkComments (5)

Jed Donahue says that Nathan’s representatives told him that qualifier winners must eat at least 18 HDB to reach the finals in Coney Island. The new poll question asks what you think the threshold should be, if any.

PermalinkComments (8)

from fastcasual.com: Each Moe’s Southwest Grill franchise will host a burrito eating contest and crown a local restaurant champion, who will compete in burrito eating regionals. Winners from the 5 regions will compete in a national burrito eating championship in Atlanta September 2. The winner of that contest will receive a weekly free burrito from Moe’s for the next 55 years in addition to other prizes.

PermalinkComments (7)

from IFOCE.com: a new Nathan’s qualifier will be held in Coney Island on July 3 to replace the Thailand qualifier that was cancelled due to storms. The contest will be open only to people who have competed in a qualifier in 2006 and Thai citizens.

PermalinkComments (22)

Thanks Brian Seiken

NYC Civil Service qualifier, South Street Seaport, Manhattan, NY
1. Eric “Badlands” Booker 30.5 HDB
2. John Sclafani 12.5 HDB (spelling updated 7/1)
3. Frank Fumanante 10 HDB

Booker turns in an impressive performance and indicates he is still a force to be reckoned with despite not having competed in many contests recently.

Updated June 28 12:53 pm – Digest has posted an interview with Badlands.

PermalinkComments (4)

NBC11 has a video clip, slideshow and article about Joey Chestnut’s preparation for the Nathan’s finals.

PermalinkComments