New Poll: top 4 IFOCE members

July 9, 2007 at 12:58 pm by ojrifkin · More posts about:Rankings, Site News

The new poll asks how you would rank the top 4 IFOCE members. All choices have Joey and Kobayashi 1-2 (or vice versa) and Pat #3. If you have an alternate ordering, please list it in the comments.

Comments (39)

39 Comments »

  1. Rhonda Evans said

    July 9, 2007 @ 2:31 pm

    One, two, three is very simple: Koby, Joey, Pat. That’s it. There’s a valid question at # 4, because you could make an argument for Tim because of the dogs, at which Tim performed magnificently.

    However, even though Sonya has a tough time with dogs, she still improved from 37 to 39 after being stuck at 37 for 2 years. If you look at the two contests prior to that she finished ahead of Tim on St Patty’s day and came in ahead of him by over 1/2 of a pound in Trip Rewards wings.

    Additionally, though Tim wasn’t in the recent SFP contest this year, although Sonya came in second to Pat, she broke Bob’s record from the previous year by eating 9.3 lbs in a food she probably had never eaten in her life, and judging from her expression in MM’s and SB’s pics, she abhored the food!

    I believe the IFOCE will have to see Tim finish ahead of Sonya in a couple of more back-to-back events before considering moving him ahead of her. Tim would admit that himself, without a doubt.

  2. Anonymous said

    July 9, 2007 @ 2:44 pm

    head to head Tim has a huge advantage over sonya. this year alone he beat her in cheese fries, pretzels, and hot dogs. she beat him in savannah and at trip rewards. Go back tothe majors too. Tim won at bratwursts, krystals, and hot dogs. she won at savannah.

  3. Anonymous said

    July 9, 2007 @ 3:01 pm

    I think an important question to ask is how can Joey suddenly be #1 considering that (a) he barely beat Kobayashi (b) Kobayashi was not 100% and (c) Kobayashi has only lost to him once? Changing the top 2 because of one contest seems knee-jerk.

  4. Steakbellie said (Registered August 11, 2006)

    July 9, 2007 @ 3:06 pm

    I didnt think it mattered to me, but I guess it does. I’m dreading this like Report Card day. Did I do enough to fool them or at least get by on a Sympathy Vote?

    Oi Vey…..

  5. Mega Munch said

    July 9, 2007 @ 3:27 pm

    Don’t sweat it Steak, you’ll do PA proud with a new ranking of…25. That’s my prediction. You’ll be a top 20 eater by year’s end. AND I predict they’ll finally use your nickname in your ranked name (“Steakbellie Livingston”? Or just “Steakbellie”…that’d be awesome!)

    As for one and two in the MLE rankings…that’s tough. Does one close victory over Koby give Joey the #1 spot? Maybe not. I think he has to take him in Krystals to earn that distinction. Pat is definitely #3 and I’d keep Sonya at #4 for all the reasons mentioned by Rhonda.

  6. carey poehlmann said

    July 9, 2007 @ 3:28 pm

    Why are you still putting TK on top, Rhonda? I am not asking this because of Nathan’s, I am asking this because looking at the IFOCE total winnings, and events, and placements, and basically everything this season dealing with IFOCE, TK is not above Joey anywhere, unless I am missing something. I would just have to assume that if the poll was for ranking top 4 IFOCE eaters, I would use this season’s IFOCE performances and results in determining the rankings. I don’t believe, IMHO, that what he did for the sport previously should put him on top forever. Is he going to be ranked after he retires also?

  7. I love Kevin Ross said

    July 9, 2007 @ 3:32 pm

    why was pat never ranked ahead of joey??????????? remember on the spike piece of crap show that the $hea$ were saying over and over that the winner would be #1 in the united states…………………………….. whatever and koby, joey, pat, tim

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

    July 9, 2007 @ 4:49 pm

    “#3” ..i’m honored! …oh, wait ..what?? ….NEVERMIND! 😀

  9. I love Kevin Ross said

    July 9, 2007 @ 4:58 pm

    so carey going with your thinking tiger woods should not be ranked #1 in golf but the number 1 should be kj choi who won the tournament over the weekend because he beat tiger by 7 shots lets see against joey koby has won 6 of 7 times he has joeys number and joey doesnt come close to koby yet when he beats him regularly ok but until then koby is top

  10. carey poehlmann said

    July 9, 2007 @ 5:46 pm

    ILKR, I think you have your punctuation lock turned off on your computer. It is hard to understand exactly what you mean, but I think you are trying to say that one competition is not enough to change the rankings. OK, you are right about that, however that wasn’t my point. As far as the IFOCE rankings go, how about the amount of competitions each person enters? How well they do in each one? To use your analogy is stupid, because no one is even close to Tiger in points average, or total points, or top placement, or money won this year…… But I will tell you this, he would not be ranked #1 if he only did three tournaments. Real sports rankings don’t work that way. So, Lets look at this year’s events so far. Kobay was in one? Did he win? How many was Chestnut in? How many did he win?

  11. mike landrich said (Registered July 4, 2007)

    July 9, 2007 @ 6:14 pm

    Number of events entered and won goes to Joey. Head to head at Nathan’s goes to Joey. I think its 1 Joey 2 Koby, as of now. If we weer ranking over the last couple of years, it would be different, but the old king has been deposed by the upstart. Koby has to regain his title.

    Anonymous said “I think an important question to ask is how can Joey suddenly be #1 considering that (a) he barely beat Kobayashi (b) Kobayashi was not 100% and (c) Kobayashi has only lost to him once? Changing the top 2 because of one contest seems knee-jerk.” I say “barely beat Kobayashi” my ass, Joey was winning, Koby reveresed twice and should’ve been DQed. It was close only because the Sheas decreed it so. Koby should’ve come in last. BTW, sign up and sign in. Anonymity is for wusses.

  12. shazam said (Registered June 27, 2007)

    July 9, 2007 @ 7:55 pm

    Does anyone have any ideas when IFOCE will revise the rankings?

  13. Mega Munch said

    July 9, 2007 @ 10:16 pm

    Last year they came out on July 25. Hopefully they can get them out a little sooner than that this year.

  14. Anonymous said

    July 9, 2007 @ 11:26 pm

    after kate gets over her hang over lol

  15. SuperPaul said

    July 9, 2007 @ 11:52 pm

    I have been told by my wife, and two old girlfriends, that I had an outstanding member.

    Is this question related to hot dogs and bratuwurst??

    Would this criteria indeed make Pat Philbin number 3??
    And who has done research to find out the answer to this question??

    Is it true that the more you can eat, the smaller the member?? This may mess up the voting that already occured….

    Why, if any of the above may be semi-correct, is Sonya included in the question??

    Will this reasoning result in my comments being censured?? If so, at least I ended with a thought-provoking comment……and a lesson in proper and more specific wording of poll questions

  16. anonymous said

    July 10, 2007 @ 2:30 am

    Nobody seems to care that Joey reveses himself at least 3-4 times during a contest and pushes back.Joey should have one 63-62.Look closly at the videos and watch him..His hands are so big nothing gets through..This to me is no longer about competative eating but how much water one can drink and retain thus streching the stomach.Dale Boone is wright…This is no longer competative eating…WHATS NEXT,SURGARY TO STRECH YOUR STOMACH

  17. carey poehlmann said

    July 10, 2007 @ 7:50 am

    Wow, Paul. That one got by me first time around. I don’t think I am going to touch it. The subject, I mean. 🙂

  18. Anonymous said

    July 10, 2007 @ 8:06 am

    There is absolutely no way in this civilized world that Joey Chestnut should be ranked ahead of Kobayashi after his one and only victory over him. It does not work that way folks. Evidently, there’s a learning curve here for some of you on rankings.

    ILKR, you are right on and so is your analogy. Carey and Mike, I respectfully, but vehemently disagree.
    If Joey defeats Koby in the next contest, then perhaps the ranking change might be warranted.

    As a matter of fact, as someone else mentioned, you will see exactly how great Koby is the next time he competes. He had never lost to an American in 6 years of competing until a week ago, and that loss was by the slimmest of margins and while Koby was not 100 percent.

    That loss will drive Koby to a level that we have never seen. Joey has not simply awakened a sleeping giant. He has given him a mission at which Koby will make his point with an exclamation mark!

    This takes nothing away from Joey. Joey’s talent is almost beyond comprehension. But as abundant as that talent is, he has neither the heart nor committment, nor strength of mind as the one they call the Tsunami. I’ll probably feel sorry for Joey after his next meeting with Koby. Let me think ….. naaa!

    I’ll save this post and post it again immediately before and after Krystals.

    I’m no soothsayer, but my momma didn’t raise a fool. I’m Rhonda Evans and I know what I’m talking about on this. You can bet both your farm and your momma’s!

  19. Rhonda Evans said

    July 10, 2007 @ 8:10 am

    Sorry for the “Anonymous” post earlier. As you know, it was me, Rhonda. I’m proud to say so, especially to a sure thing.

  20. Mr Wright said

    July 10, 2007 @ 9:20 am

    This to me is no longer about competative eating but how much water one can drink and retain thus streching the stomach.Dale Boone is wright…This is no longer competative eating…WHATS NEXT,SURGARY TO STRECH YOUR STOMACH

    AND THEY TALK ABOUT BRIAN’S GRAMMATICAL ERRORS?. GEEZ UNLESS THIS PERSON IS POSTING THESE SPELLING ERRORS AS A GOOF THE CRY FOR SPELL CHECK IS WELL JUSTIFIED

  21. carey poehlmann said

    July 10, 2007 @ 9:50 am

    Well that is your opinion and you are welcome to it, Rhonda. As far as the learning curve goes, I am able to follow rankings quite well. They are numbers, and I feel that I am pretty good at them. First of all, every ranking system is different, and if you don’t know what criteria is actually utilized in determining the rankings, you are just as speculative as the rest of us. Second, the one win Joey has over Kobay may seem small, but look at it this way, Kobay hasn’t beaten joey in any competitions in the past nine months. That is almost a year of not winning. My opinion is that Kobays numbers go down with each competition, because he isn’t participating in them. And then the one event he does participate in? Well, we know what happened there. Yeah, he had mouth troubles, but that is not verified, either.

  22. carey poehlmann said

    July 10, 2007 @ 9:55 am

    By the way, your hopes of Takeru beating Joey in the next competition is still conjecture, there is no matter of fact there.

  23. Rhonda Evans said

    July 10, 2007 @ 10:48 am

    Carey, and everyone else, here’s an additional morsel to digest: Joey lost big time lost to Pat Bertoletti on March 17, 2007 in jalapeno peppers and both Humble Bob and Sonya finished ahead of Joey in December 2006 in meatballs. So in the past 7 months Joey has succumbed to eaters ranked 3, 4, and 5. Koby has the one recent close loss only to the eater ranked immediately below him.

    Do you still honestly believe Joey is the best eater in the world? If anyone really believes that they’re living in a dream world.

  24. Rhonda Evans said

    July 10, 2007 @ 10:53 am

    Carey some people do call it conjecture. I’m in a smarter camp.

  25. Anonymous said

    July 10, 2007 @ 12:34 pm

    There are only two spots in the top ten that are crystal clear: #3 Pat Bertoletti and #8 Rich LeFevre. As for #1, I would leave Takeru there for now but would move him to #2 if he loses to Joey in Krystals. #4 is extremely close between Tim and Sonya and a good argument could be made for either one of them in that spot. The same goes for #6 between Bob and Chip. After the top eight, it will be a real dogfight between Hall, Juliet, Erik, Legs, Arturo and Pat Philbin.

  26. anonymous5 said

    July 10, 2007 @ 12:53 pm

    You are a good guy too Rhonda. BTW do you have anything else going on in your life ? Joey lost to this one and Joey lost to that one. Go to the beach catch some rays and enjoy the summer. I cant believe what i read somtimes

  27. carey poehlmann said

    July 10, 2007 @ 1:04 pm

    Well, best eater in the world, I don’t know if I would say that the leader in IFOCE rankings would be considered the best eater in the world, just the one on top at the moment. That (again) is where all the debate is. It is possible for two people on top of the rankings to trade places now and again, depending on what is going on. That is why most ranking systems don’t use eating history as a determinant. If you asked me who the best eater in the world is, I would say Kobayoshi. If you asked me who I thought the current IFOCE leader is, I would say Joey.

  28. Rhonda Evans said

    July 10, 2007 @ 1:29 pm

    Yes anonymous5, I am working on a book and I teach English grammar classes online. Thanks for asking. Please do share your current list of activities with us.

  29. Rhonda Evans said

    July 10, 2007 @ 1:37 pm

    Carey in my mind the # 1 ranking represents a snapshot of the best eater in the world at a given time. Sure, rankings change. A list of rankings is a living document, and the rankings change to reflect who is the best, and next best, and so on, in the IFOCE/AICE/or whatever at the time.

    If you say that an eater deserves to be ranked # 1, that tells me and everyone else that you believe that particular eater is the best in the world at that given time. If you can’t say that, then that person should not be ranked # 1.

    (Okay, that’s only my opinion.)

  30. WyattEarp said

    July 10, 2007 @ 2:50 pm

    This “sleeping giant” thing is a joke. I’d be shocked to see Kobayashi ever compete again.

    His injury was a joke! He supposedly was injured and yet still beat his own record by 10 HDBs and pushed himself hard enough to throw up!

    He’s been beaten badly and he won’t recover.

  31. carey poehlmann said

    July 10, 2007 @ 3:15 pm

    Sure, that whole paragraph is correct, but the placement of IFOCE into the title seems to give me more than just a “best eater in the world who happens to eat in the IFOCE” feeling. The few contests that Kobay does causes me to think less of him, not as an eater, but as a participant in the IFOCE. maybe this shouldn’t be factored in. It actually is in many other popular sports, especially golf, which is why I said before about the comparison being stupid. I didn’t mean that ILKR is stupid, btw. Kobay would get the MVP in my book, but not the season leader award.
    Teaching online, huh? What college?

  32. Rhonda Evans said

    July 11, 2007 @ 8:11 am

    Earp, you’re shooting blanks. If you don’t want to be shocked, don’t watch Krystals or any other contest that Koby competes in, because Joey will be the main entree.

    Stick that in your Colt Peacemaker.

  33. carey poehlmann said

    July 11, 2007 @ 10:32 am

    Wow, when she doesn’t have any real arguement she attacks the manhood. 🙂

  34. Rhonda Evans said

    July 11, 2007 @ 11:53 am

    Carey I did not mean too attack anyone’s manhood. For what it’s worth, based on most of Wyatt’s comments, it’s my overall perception that he’s a real upstanding guy. Perhaps in more ways than one. 🙂

    However, being the emotionally charged woman that I am, I just abhor people badmouthing Koby, Sonya, Juliet, Crazy Legs, or Eater X.

    Yes, I’m biased. They’re my very, very favorite current eaters and I will go out of my way to defend them (even if I do think Ms Haggerty’s a bit “slutty” and unbalanced).

    Nevertheless, she certainly can get down on those dogs! I’ll give her that.

  35. Anonymous said

    July 11, 2007 @ 12:16 pm

    Wyatt,

    Why do talk about Kobayashi that way? He’s been nice to you and to you brothers and sisters.

  36. carey poehlmann said

    July 11, 2007 @ 12:33 pm

    I was joking about you saying he is shooting blanks. I got the western reference, but thought you would catch the double entendre

  37. anonymous said

    July 11, 2007 @ 2:31 pm

    I agree with anonymous Kobe is a great guy. He would be even more sociable if he spoke English but he is fine the way he is. Chestnut is another story. Kobe makes a much better role model

  38. Mega Munch said

    July 11, 2007 @ 3:05 pm

    he-he…Rhonda said Helen gets down on dogs.

  39. Rhonda Evans said

    July 11, 2007 @ 3:47 pm

    Anonymous from July 10, 12:34 A.M.: I agree with pretty much everything you said. My own opinion for positions 9 – 12, would be: 9. Hall Hunt, 10. Juliet, 11. Crazy Legs, 12. Dale Boone. From there I really get stuck trying to separate Arturo, Pat, and Eric the Red.

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