Rich Shea announces that Aaron Osthoff is expected to compete in Wednesday's Nathan's qualifier in Pittsburgh. Brian Subich is also expected to compete. update June 7 A video of Brian Subich's and Jaymi Wilson's appearance on KDKA this morning is available (via comment).

53 Comments »

  1. Someone who knows... said

    June 6, 2011 @ 10:03 pm

    STRANGE things happen to big time eaters in Pittsburgh !

  2. anonymous said

    June 6, 2011 @ 10:47 pm

    and what the hell is that supposed to mean that legends like Osthoff and Subich will fail ?

  3. anon 101 said

    June 7, 2011 @ 9:08 am

    This is starting to become a joke. I know two Pittsburgh eaters who tried to register. One was told they were full, but he entered a co worker a week later the co worker got accepted. The other one never even got a reply. So if the IFOCE is so great these two eaters should have atleast gotten a chance to qualify and then kicked out. Nothing against Brian Subich but I think he wouldn’t out eat these two. Once again it will be the same old faces on the 4th of July and the same outcome. I’m not saying these guys can hang with Chestnut but it would be nice to see different faces on the stage. You have theses qualifiers and put your favorites in it so they can qualify and as soon as another eater has a chance theres allways some reason that they’re not allowed to compete. Like I said before its starting to become a joke…….

  4. beautifulbrian said

    June 7, 2011 @ 9:47 am

    Its who you know and how long youve been on the circuit. When i showed up in AC last week i was there to cover the event and nothing more . George Shea asked me do i want to sign up and i said ill pass on it but thanks. Mind you registration had closed some time ago. . On another note i had this weird dream last night that the Pitts qualifier was held in a huge three story theatre and i was there sitting in the balcony with an obstructed view next to Brian Subich. They served a big buffet before hand and Brian wanted me to hold his cam to tape the contest. After a half hour or so im walking around the buffet table and my dead aunt appears out of nowhere to inform me that Brian didnt feel well and they called it off. Hundreds of people that showed to root Brian on as well as the competitiors were pissed as hell ! I was looking for Brian and suddenly the dream ended and i woke up .

  5. A. Nonymous said (Registered April 27, 2011)

    June 7, 2011 @ 10:08 am

    These two Pittsburgh eaters you speak of – have they been associated with another eating organization? If they were, of course they wouldn’t let them compete – especially if they were AICE members. Say they were allowed to compete, and somehow, won the qualifier. When presented with the contract, they would refuse to sign, and as you said, would be “then kicked out”. Now we have an empty seat at the finals, which they would have to scramble to fill, with another pop-up qualifier or a second wild card.

    From the scenario you detailed, that the co-worker was accepted, it sounds like the two Pittsburgh eaters are names that are on a list of AICE members, which I’m sure IFOCE has.

  6. anonymous said

    June 7, 2011 @ 10:12 am

    Unusual when former emcee like Ryan Nerz and Mike Castellano left the organization , they never mention one word about MLE. Almost like the organization never existed to them

  7. burgher said

    June 7, 2011 @ 10:55 am

    hey anon….. Didn’t know Ostoff was a legend. We’ll have 2 wait and see.

  8. Stallion Italian said (Registered August 27, 2010)

    June 7, 2011 @ 10:59 am

    Here we go……

  9. Rhonda Evans said (Registered March 6, 2008)

    June 7, 2011 @ 11:05 am

    Why should they mention it? Does MLE mention either of them?

  10. anonymous said

    June 7, 2011 @ 11:07 am

    Good point Rhonda. I assume they left with bitter feelings. Has it ever been any different ?

  11. rualkey said

    June 7, 2011 @ 11:22 am

    Hey burgher FYI Ostoff is more of a legend than Subich. How do you like that?

  12. ojrifkin said (Registered July 27, 2005)

    June 7, 2011 @ 1:31 pm

    Here’s the interview Ryan Nerz did for Salon.com in March 2010 just before he left the IFOCE.

    http://www.salon.com/food/feature/2010/03/25/competitive_eating_ryan_nerz/index.html

  13. anonymous said

    June 7, 2011 @ 1:50 pm

    I guess that was enough of a reason to get a pink slip from the Sheas. Spoiled Yale brat. He was making damn good money with them too

  14. anonymous said

    June 7, 2011 @ 1:55 pm

    Losing Castellano and Nerz was like like losing your best 3rd and 4th place hitters in the lineup. Have you noticed the turnover rate in emcee’s since they left? The guy that did fivespot cheesesteak contest in Brooklyn never came back. One hit wonder. The guy that did the Escondido contest is history. The Australia dude at corned beef fell off the face of the earth. They did manage to hold on to Dave. The Sheas had no choice but to come out of retirement

  15. Rhonda Evans said (Registered March 6, 2008)

    June 7, 2011 @ 1:57 pm

    I have nothing against Ryan; I like the guy. But there was nothing special about Ryan as an announcer. He was okay, ordinary. He was never a convincing salesman of CE. Ryan didn’t have the passion and excitement for CE that George Shea conveys.

    Regardless of how “boring” a contest might seem, George generated excitement! If you don’t get goosebumps about CE with George Shea as MC, you’re not much of a fan.

    George makes each event he MCs seem as prized as watching the Kentucky Derby. Had it not been for George Shea I would not be the fan I am today.

    The man’s got it goin’!

  16. Stallion Italian said (Registered August 27, 2010)

    June 7, 2011 @ 1:58 pm

    Oh, checking back in and just in time for journalistic information which is not heresay, smack talk, lies or innuendo. Just the facts, get them right here on eatfeats. Ryan’s interview speaks for itself. Castellano? Is he the one who left to start a restaurant in Florida?

  17. Everything Equal said (Registered April 28, 2011)

    June 7, 2011 @ 2:07 pm

    My rankings not to mess with Rhondank but to vote with spell check to make me seem smarterer

    George
    Rich
    Mike Castelano
    Ryan Nerz
    any of the other ones except below
    Mike Antoliny

  18. anonymous said

    June 7, 2011 @ 2:22 pm

    Ryan had other goals. He used CE as a stepping stone but still managed to make it work for him in some ways. His first contest at Morans in March 2004 in NYC he got all the names wrong and i thought he would be a disaster but he turned out ok George needs to cut that Die Die Die line of his.,.It is not of good taste.

  19. anonymous said

    June 7, 2011 @ 2:24 pm

    Castellano was the most vibrant and compelling out of all of them. When he gave you an intro it was nothing short of spectacular

  20. Rhonda Evans said (Registered March 6, 2008)

    June 7, 2011 @ 2:31 pm

    Yes, Mike Castellano was the one to start the restaurant … Key West, I think. I thought he was excellent. I really hated to see him leave MLE, but I wish him and his bro the best!

  21. anonymous said

    June 7, 2011 @ 2:31 pm

    EE Castellano was way better than Rich Please

  22. anonymous said

    June 7, 2011 @ 2:32 pm

    Its a pattern if they can let Kobayashi walk away they can let those guys walk away also

  23. ojrifkin said (Registered July 27, 2005)

    June 7, 2011 @ 3:06 pm

    I am not sure what “STRANGE things happen to big time eaters in Pittsburgh !” refers to. There has been one previous IFOCE contest in western PA, the 2008 Pittsburgh Nathan’s qualifier. Juliet Lee won easily.

    http://eatfeats.com/query.php?_table=contests&id=1248

  24. Nathan in Cali said

    June 7, 2011 @ 3:07 pm

    can anybody post a youtube clip of Mike Castellano MC’ing an event for those of us not in the know?

    thanks!

  25. Rhonda Evans said (Registered March 6, 2008)

    June 7, 2011 @ 3:32 pm

    I think Beautiful Brian probably has one.

  26. anon 101 said

    June 7, 2011 @ 8:18 pm

    A.Nonymous They are on AICE’s page but have not competed in over atleast a yr. I don’t know why. Wouldn’t you want the strongest field out there. I don’t know if anyone would sign with the IFOCE or not but atleast put the option out there. Let’s be real here Chestnut is the king in this event and the Shea’s run it well but I think it’s losing popularity. If you’re from Pittsburgh you should know who the two eaters are. Maybe they wouldn’t win the qualifier but they would be the favorites in it but I really think one of them would. All this contract shit is killing CE. And I agree with what BB said about its who you know.

  27. Someone who knows... said

    June 7, 2011 @ 9:01 pm

    I seem to remember The Denny Burger kid getting his arse handed to him a year or two ago in wings…….

  28. Paul from Pitt said

    June 7, 2011 @ 9:58 pm

    Can’t wait for tomorrow. Saw some of the guys on the news today talking about contest http://youtu.be/yGiWvwt5iOk

  29. A-Bomb said (Registered May 7, 2009)

    June 7, 2011 @ 10:44 pm

    One spot just opened up!

  30. Pat From Moonachie said (Registered December 10, 2005)

    June 7, 2011 @ 11:12 pm

    You got yourself one of them there “Viral” videos my friend ..that’s F’n hilarious! (as long as he’s alright now!)

  31. Anonymous said

    June 7, 2011 @ 11:14 pm

    Dude needed an emt for a dog & a half. lol

  32. Pat From Moonachie said (Registered December 10, 2005)

    June 7, 2011 @ 11:52 pm

    Well it only takes one to get stuck ..plus, it’s awkward being on tv ..it looked like maybe that wet bun went down the wrong way.

  33. Anonymous said

    June 7, 2011 @ 11:59 pm

    That’s actually kind of scary. I feel bad for the guy. I’m sure he was very scared. You can see it on his face.

  34. Pat From Moonachie said (Registered December 10, 2005)

    June 8, 2011 @ 12:35 am

    Most people know that feeling ..it’s usually just not while on tv ..Brian covered nicely re-emphasizing the safety spiel.

  35. Seiken fan said

    June 8, 2011 @ 1:46 am

    Here we go again Seiken reported the tv appearance this morning but you found some way to avoid crediting him as usual and as he predicted on bits and pieces. A comment my ass. OJ this is the very reason Seiken is giving you problems but you refuse to admit your faults.

  36. Cutter said (Registered November 9, 2010)

    June 8, 2011 @ 1:48 am

    MLE does a great job with getting press to the sponsors. And to eaters as well. Local guys that can eat a lb of spaghetti per minute deserve some sort of showing in this contest, I wish good luck to that Wilson kid. And i am a fan of the “double barrel shotgun”. An aggressive approach indeed. Brian did a great job with that interview.

  37. A. Nonymous said

    June 8, 2011 @ 6:11 am

    thanks for adding that video OJ. Big Brian did a great job representing MLE however when did he ever complete 28.5 dogs in a Nathans contest?

    The poor kid must of been embarassed choking on TV with his friends and family watching.

  38. Everything Equal said (Registered April 28, 2011)

    June 8, 2011 @ 7:49 am

    First I hope that this guy is alright. If yes then read following. That is hilairious. Can you hear him heaving in the background?

  39. Pat From Moonachie said (Registered December 10, 2005)

    June 8, 2011 @ 8:28 am

    I love the mic wire dragging off on the floor like a fishing line ..”We’ve caught a Chokerfish!!” 😉

  40. Rhonda Evans said (Registered March 6, 2008)

    June 8, 2011 @ 8:51 am

    I remember Big Brian Subich downing 28.5 HDBs in a qualifier. I can’t put my finger on the location, but he did it in 12 minutes several years ago.

  41. Anonymous said

    June 8, 2011 @ 8:52 am

    What about the slurping of the hotdogs picked up by the mic clips. Sounded like bad 80’s porn.

  42. Anonymous said

    June 8, 2011 @ 9:00 am

    For Brian Subich’s number of 28.5, it was thought that a plate error had been made. If OJ will please look at Subich’s totals over time, I do not think he ever again came close to that number but I would like to see the statistics. I thought that before and after that his totals stayed in the 18 range.

  43. Anonymous said

    June 8, 2011 @ 9:02 am

    Seiken fan and others, I think OJ no longer says who sent an e-mail giving information. It isn’t only Seiken who does not get “credit.”

  44. Anonymous said

    June 8, 2011 @ 9:56 am

    OJ should not have to do all of the work. Going from most recent 2010, Subich totals are 18 and 17, 2009 are 20 and 20, 2008 is 17, 2007 is 19, 19, and 27 on May 26th in Philadelphia. Hope I read this correctly.

  45. Nathan in Cali said

    June 8, 2011 @ 9:57 am

    I don’t mean to laugh because any who has ever choked on food knows how scary it is but, that video gets 1,879,873,77,867,875,764 internet points for being so full of win!

    They Show a Krystals contest to promote Nathans – SCORE
    The Host says “I hope you don’t choke”… then the kid chokes – SCORE
    The look on Brian Sub’s face as he looks off stage to see what’s going on with the choker – SCORE
    You can actually hear him heaving as they cut to yet another Krystal’s video clip – DOUBLE SCORE

    As for Subich doing 28.5 in 10mins, yes can we please get a ruling on that? Didn’t he alwo originally report he did 22 last year somewhere when in fact he only did like 17?

    Pat thanks for sharing that video… or BB for posting it and Pat sourcing it, who ever found
    it should get the proper credit.

  46. seiken fan said

    June 8, 2011 @ 10:05 am

    In this case someone did post a comment with a link so oj is in the clear. But he could have checked out bb.com earlier and given him the credit

  47. anonymous said

    June 8, 2011 @ 10:07 am

    Subich never ate anything close to 28 .20 maybe but nothing past it

  48. anonymous said

    June 8, 2011 @ 10:34 am

    I think wild bill will runaway with it all

  49. ... said

    June 8, 2011 @ 11:27 am

    Are these two secret lovers or something? Collins and J. Lee will also be in Pitt…

    http://twitter.com/#!/eatingcontest

  50. The rest of the story said

    June 8, 2011 @ 1:42 pm

    In reference to Subich 28.5 , Crazy Legs emailed Brian after the contest and mentioned that he or someone else videotaped it and after reviewing the footage it showed that Brian was accidently credited with an extra plate. Crazy legs then asked Brian if its not to much trouble to call George Shea and report the miscalculation. What sane person in their right mind would want to do something like that ? Would Crazy Legs take part in such a kind noble gesture for his co eater , if his plate was mistakenly miscalculated? Crazy Legs realized Subich would have the high wildcard which would certainly blow his chances of getting in with a wildcard berth.

  51. Cutter said (Registered November 9, 2010)

    June 8, 2011 @ 2:54 pm

    How could an eater not know how many they ate? I view this thang like a golf scorecard. We have honor and integrity and we report our scores correctly. If you have 4 empty plates and another plate with 2 dogs that is 23. (5×4)+(5-2)=23. In my case nobody cared what i ate since i was in another zipcode holding down the table cloth. But when George came by at the end to see if he had mistakenly given the trophy to the wrong person, I had 1 empty plate, a full dog with bun on the plate that remained and about a quarter of a dog and a small chunk of bread that looked like 3/4’s of a bun. I said to him, 8 and a half, and he nodded and repeated what i said in a tone like, “8 and a half” it is what it is.

    So the lesson us table enders here are getting is it is only worth cheating when you get to the level that it matters! Is winning that important?

  52. Anonymous said

    June 8, 2011 @ 3:32 pm

    Actually it was Micah Collins who got scrod in 2007. He is back and so much better now so it is old history.

  53. Anonymous said

    June 16, 2011 @ 1:39 pm

    How did Micah get screwed in 2007?

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