The Gloucester County Times reports that Bill "El Wingador" Simmons' bail was reportedly posted earlier today. update Shamrock Bail claims to have posted "El Wingador's" bail. update #2 NJ.com has an article about Simmons' release from jail. update June 26 Philly.com has a column about the release of "El Wingador" which says that family and friends paid the $10,000 bail bond and that his lawyer said he was a drug delivery man.
El Wingador court appearance Friday
update Jun 22 NJ.com reports that Bill Simmons’ bail was not reduced from $100,000. His sentence is estimated at 10-20 years if found guilty.
NJ.com reports that Bill “El Wingador” Simmons will have a court appearance tomorrow to seek a lowering of his $100,000 bail which has yet to be paid and that public defender Richard O’Brien will serve as his attorney. Patch.com has quotes from Angelo Cataldi saying he would be willing to act as a character witness if the case is tried. Philly.com has an article with quotes from Rick “The Manager” Russo and Jon Squibb. More “El Wingador” links:
- Bill “El Wingador” Simmons facebook fan page
- America’s Biggest Eater, Bill Simmons’ reality TV project facebook page
- Jason Fagone’s 2004 profile for Philly Magazine which would lead to Horsemen of the Esophagus
- A Sports Illustrated article about plans for a Wing Bowl movie based on Bill “El Wingador” Simmons. (The producer of the project, Mike Tollin, shares Los Angeles Clippers season tickets with Bill “Sportsguy” Simmons)
- Errol Morris mini-documentary, hosted on NYTimes.com
- “Furious” Pete video about “El Wingador” calls him a “fraud”
NJ.com reports that five time Wing Bowl champion Bill "El Wingador" Simmons was arrested for cocaine distribution in Harrison Township, NJ Friday night. His bail has been set at $100,000.
The grand opening of Tony Luke's new location in Sicklerville, NJ on June 9 will feature a sandwich eating contest awarding $500 to the winner. Bill "El Wingador" Simmons will serve as judge.
Philly.com has an article about Bill "El Wingador" Simmons plans after retiring from competitive eating. He hopes to open a chain of El Wingador Challenge Grills. The restaurants would hold weekly eating challenges that would culminate in an annual chain-wide eat-off.
MyFoxPhilly has an article about Bill "El Wingador" Simmons retirement announcement on WIP earlier today. Simmons also said he thought Takeru Kobayashi would beat Joey Chestnut in a wing eating contest due to superior technique.
The New York Times has mini-documentary about Bill "El Wingador" Simmons produced when famed filmmaker Errol Morris recorded a commercial for Kentucky Fried Chicken. Winagador says he ate 23 hot dogs in six minutes in a Nathan's final (via jskoff)
The Atlantic has a good article about Takeru Kobayashi facing off against Bill "El Wingador" Simmons in Wing Bowl 20. The article incorrectly says it will be their first meeting; they both competed in the Glutton Bowl and the 2004 Nathan's finals.
CBS Philly has a preview of the Wing Bowl focusing on Takeru Kobayashi, Bill "El Wingador" Simmons and Jon Squibb describing the three "in tremendous physical shape, like highly tuned athletes". The falsehood that Kobayashi has never competed in a wing eating contest is repeated.
Bill "El Wingador" Simmons was the first person to complete the "American Voyage" 4 sandwich challenge at America's Pie in West Chester, PA.
In a philly.com article, Bill "El Wingador" Simmons claims he ate 26 hot dogs in the 2003 Nathan's finals and stopped eating before the end of the contest to watch Kobayshi. (According to the eatfeats database, Simmons' personal best in Nathan's is 18 in a 2004 qualifier.
Dave "US Male" Goldstein had the following to say about Bill "El Wingador" Simmons on WIP this morning: "He’s a dinosaur. He needs to retire and stay retired, and not embarrass himself anymore."
“America’s Biggest Eater” aims to be “American Idol” of eating
The facebook page for America’s Biggest Eater is accepting videos from amateur competitive eaters. Bill “El Wingador” Simmons will serve as host for the reality TV show, which has the following description:
Billed as “American Idol meets the Contender “, the show will feature “eat-offs” to narrow down a field of over 100 amateur eaters to ten finalists. The finalists will then compete in surprise elimination-style eating competitions for significant prizes, and the chance to be crowned by Elwingador as America’s Biggest Eater.
The Wing Bowl website has a gallery of Stephanie "Chilita" Torres' successful sausage eating qualification stunt this morning. (I think this is the first successful qualification stunt by a woman since Melissa "White Widow" Perzin competed in Wing Bowl 14; Sonya Thomas received byes.) Bill "El Wingador" Simmons also announced he will compete in wing Bowl 20, which has been announced as a sell out. (via Joe LaRue email).
27 months after Jose Canseco dropped out of a celebrity boxing match versus Bill "El Wingador" Simmons, Philly.com reports former New York Met / Philadelphia Phillie Lenny Dykstra was a no show for a a match against Canseco Saturday night. (via Yahoo! blogs)
Philly2Philly has a report on yesterday's wing eating contest at Buckeye Tavern in Macungie Borough. Martin "The Rooster" Russo won the contest with a total of 178 wings in 30 minutes. Bill "El Wingador" Simmons ate 32 meatballs in a minute at the event, reportedly a world record.
Joey Chestnut's victory at Dorney Park was not the only cheesesteak news this weekend. Takeru Kobayashi went to Tony Luke's and dined with Bill "El Wingador" Simmons. Another Philadelphia cheesesteak pilgrimage was made when Paul Wozniak went to Jim's Steaks to pay homage to his mother in law Lynda Kuerth eating 11 sandwiches in 1978 to set the house record, since broken by Bob Shoudt. He wore Lynda's 30+ year old Jim's Steaks T-shirt to the restaurant. (An article from 1978 mentioning the feat)
Philly2Philly has an interview with Bill "El Wingador" Simmons, who has the following comments on the Wing Bowl field: "I could care less who is in it. I know what I have to go in there and do. I compete against myself."
The Gloucester County Times has an article about a hoagie eating contest for charity that Bill "El Wingador" Simmons and wrestler King Kong Bundy competed in at Orchard Valley Middle School.
The Trentonian has an article about Bill "El Wingador" Simmon's return to Wing Bowl competition.
The Wing Bowl website has a video of Bill "El Wingador" Simmons doing a timed cheesesteak eating challenge and asking Kobayashi if he can beat his time.
JerseyMan Magazine has an article about Garden State "Food Pounders" (starting page 38) featuring Jon Squibb, Bill "El Wingador" Simmons, Dave "US Male" Goldstein and Elliot Maruffi-Cowley (Dale Boone makes a cameo). (via Jon Squibb facebook).
NJ.com has an article about Bill "El Wingador" Simmons' return to the Wing Bowl which claims that professional eaters are boycotting the event due to an internal dispute.
Bill "El Wingador" Simmons unretirement announcement is available on youtube. El Wingador hopes to eat 280-300 wings in Wing Bowl and invites Takeru Kobayashi to be a member of his entourage.
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