The facebook for Old Home Week reports that Russ Keeler won today's pierogi eating contest in Forest City, PA. Russ also won the 2008 pierogi contest. update The Scranton Times-Tribune has a contest report. 2009 winner Chris Smith was the runner up with 42. Larell Marie Mele was third with 37.

July 31, 2010 at 7:42 pm by ojrifkin · More posts about:Contest Results, Scranton, Unafilliated Contests | Permalink * Comments (47)

47 Comments »

  1. Good for you said

    July 31, 2010 @ 8:03 pm

    Wow! Keeler just told MLE to shove it practically laughing in they face with this one. Good job Russ . It is over for the pros someone just crossed the line and did it with class

  2. Anonymous said

    July 31, 2010 @ 9:00 pm

    FREE KOBY

  3. anonymous said

    July 31, 2010 @ 9:22 pm

    It looks like Keeler is disgusted with the stranglehold restrictions of the IFOCE. Another one bites the dust or they just might ignore it and let him compete as usual

  4. Anonymous said

    July 31, 2010 @ 9:55 pm

    I hear he is giving it up. And doing what ever he wants.

  5. anonymous said

    July 31, 2010 @ 10:35 pm

    ggod move

  6. anonymous said

    July 31, 2010 @ 10:50 pm

    What it boils down to is why should there be restrictions in belonging to an organization if you are not drawing a salary from that organization . I mean really think it over and realize how stupid this entire scenario is. They want you to keep the faith but what do you get in return? The priviledge of competing with ML eaters like Joey , Sonya and the rest of the legends? LOL / Like paying into one of those expensive baseball camps so you could rub elbows or play catch with old time players from yesteryear. When money is coming out of your pocket to travel all over the United States to compete and then have the audacity to tell you that you are not allowed to compete elsewhere if the MLE label is not attached to the event? I could see them enforcing with Joey Kobe and a few others because they are inadvertantly drawing a salary through appearance fees contest money and other perks but anyone else should be able to do what ever the hell they want and thats that .

  7. Truth Seeker said

    August 1, 2010 @ 11:21 am

    Will Larell Marie Mele be suspended from competing in the IFOCE?

  8. Blank slate said

    August 1, 2010 @ 11:40 am

    what’s the IFOCE going to do, suspend or get rid of everybody that does challenges? They may as well just post a top 5 ranking because everyone seems to do challenges throughout the year. Fire everyone!

    Great job Russell

  9. Anonymous said

    August 1, 2010 @ 12:03 pm

    Very nice write-up in the Scranton-Times. Congratulations all, kudos to Gentleman K.

  10. Anonymous said

    August 1, 2010 @ 12:38 pm

    http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/heart-of-gold-stomach-of-iron-equal-pierogi-victory-in-forest-city-1.914284

  11. BAN EATFECES said

    August 1, 2010 @ 2:22 pm

    Thats right OJ get the poor girl in trouble by advertising to the world that she came in 3rd. She is just getting her feet wet and you just cant wait for the opportunity to drown her

  12. Mega Munch said

    August 1, 2010 @ 2:51 pm

    Wow, I wonder who that “BAN EATFECES” comment is from. OJ’s job is to report all the news about competitive eating, not protect up-and-coming eaters who choose to eat in various contests. Good job to Russ and good job to OJ for reporting this story.

  13. we all know said

    August 1, 2010 @ 2:57 pm

    Everything is falling apart. MLE empire will be dust in the wind before the end of the year. I say go for the eating challenges. Allen Goldstein tell the world about your latest 6lb pizza triumph

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

    August 1, 2010 @ 3:15 pm

    I believe her being in the paper (let alone in a contest) is her own doing. OJ didn’t put her up to it.

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

    August 1, 2010 @ 3:22 pm

    And Brian, you’re “advertising to the world” too on your own damn site! So you are getting her in trouble just as much, if not more, than OJ is!

  16. Larellmarie said (Registered May 9, 2010)

    August 1, 2010 @ 3:24 pm

    Hey all. Just wanted to clarify that I’m not ranked with the IFOCE (though I sure hope to be one day, as that is my goal) so I really cannot be suspended. Had I been a ranked eater, I would not have been competing yesterday. I did, however, email the IFOCE as a courtesy to let them know of my intent to enter this contest and to be sure there was no objection. Thx for the support :)

  17. beautifulbrian said

    August 1, 2010 @ 4:00 pm

    where does it say on my site that Larell came in third or even competed?

  18. Anonymous said

    August 1, 2010 @ 5:04 pm

    Maybe in another couple of years there will be enough women in the ifoce to merit their own division.

  19. Anonymous said

    August 1, 2010 @ 5:11 pm

    OJ is it possible to have an ongoing thread that addresses comments from, about, by, and toward Brian Seiken? As it is now the topic of most threads eventually reverts to him. I can only speak for myself, but I have no desire to read anything concerning him, because it is nearly always destructive and based on ill will. I don’t think I’m a pioneer in this perception.

  20. anonymoose said

    August 1, 2010 @ 5:12 pm

    And Larell, what was the IFOCE’s response to your kind and considerate warning? They may use this against you and never rank you, just because you do other events. Look at Dudzinski, he is toast with the IFOCE.

  21. Larellmarie said (Registered May 9, 2010)

    August 1, 2010 @ 6:05 pm

    BB – lol – isn’t that pic so funny? thx 4 postn it! :)

  22. Wrecking Ball said

    August 1, 2010 @ 6:43 pm

    Do you need to be ranked to be suspended? I am not a ranked eater either but I wouldnt do any outside competition or challenge because that paper that I signed said I wouldn’t. I didn’t have to sign the agreement but I did because I believe that IFOCE has the best eaters in the world and I would love to have my named mentioned in the same conversation. I know that I am new to competitive eating but I don’t understand why someone who gets the opportunity to compete with people like Joey, Sonya, Pat, Badlands and the rest of the IFOCE would risk it to do a smaller competition. I know that I can’t make every event IFOCE does but I try to do the ones that my budget will allow because I am dedicated to the way they do things and I do see them as the biggest and best group in competitive eating. I know making the comparison to pro sports is different because every pro athlete gets paid while every “pro” eater does not but if the NFL decided I could play in their league there is no way you would catch me making tackles in the Arena Football League!

  23. anonymous said

    August 1, 2010 @ 8:14 pm

    Wrecking ball , it seems as though you are content to join the expensive baseball camp as stated in a previous comment just to rub elbows with Chestnut and Pat. MLE hopes that is your thought process because that is the only selling point they can bank on with that 98 percent restricted contract they made you sign . And where will that get you by having your name mentioned in the same breath as Joey Sonya and Pat. Maybe a buy one get one free coipon for a Nathans hot dog ?

  24. Anonymous said

    August 1, 2010 @ 8:21 pm

    oh who cares except the eaters who think there good lol and compete under a so called league but only beat local people whos out for fun..anyways you go larell marie you can eat anywhere you want to im ok with it you hott sexy wilf:) think i might just try to hook up with you next time we see each other its all good we can have a eat feast togther…

  25. anonymous said

    August 1, 2010 @ 8:43 pm

    Larell is off limits . She is happily married and just because the husband isnt by her side most of the time he watches everything from a distance so no hanky panky. It is a shame because she is one hot sexy puerto rican mama or is she Italian? Delicious simply delicious . .

  26. Larellmarie said (Registered May 9, 2010)

    August 1, 2010 @ 8:57 pm

    Wrecking Ball – O crap – I never actually read the paper. Is that what it sez? OMG – never wld hv competed had I realized that. Damn, damn, damn!!! Well, I hope this doesn’t negatively affect any future eating in IFOCE contests! If it does, I’ve got no one to blame for my ignorance but myself. :(

  27. anonymous said

    August 1, 2010 @ 9:04 pm

    This is so pointless. Larell competed Russ competed. So what ? Are they not permitted to have a good filling lunch like every other normal human being in society. By acknowledging this nonsense you are feeding into the dictatorship MLE is trying to establish. Stop signing contracts and problem solved.

  28. Larellmarie said (Registered May 9, 2010)

    August 1, 2010 @ 9:04 pm

    Anon 843 & 857 – yes, very happily, blissfully married 15 years! Thanks for making me smile, tho! Italian! :)

  29. Wrecking Ball said

    August 1, 2010 @ 9:05 pm

    When did they make me sign a contract? I wanted to sign, I didnt have to. It was a choice that I made and when I made it I read it and decided that this was what I wanted to do with my eating “career”. I could have easily continued registering for events via the ifoce website while doing other eathing challenges as an “independant eater” but that wasn’t good enough for me. I am proud to be part IFOCE and wouldn’t want to risk that by winning a lesser event just because it was close to home. I have been to all those local events and those eaters do not compare to eaters like Joey Chestnut and etc..My point is if you don’t want to be a member of IFOCE then don’t sign the membership agreement but if you do sign it don’t do other eating challenges or events.

  30. anonymous said

    August 1, 2010 @ 9:06 pm

    I bet nothing happens to either of them . Eaters like Shoudt and Larue suffer because they are not well liked by the Sheas

  31. Wrecking Ball said

    August 1, 2010 @ 9:10 pm

    LarellMarie- I know that you read your agreement but you did it the right way, you asked for permission to enter, correct? So assuming they said “yeah” go ahead and do it I have no problem with what you did. My comments were more directed to the people who don’t do it right, its much more than your “eating career” its your word, your signature. You agreed and signed an agreement, when I enlisted in the Army I couldn’t just decide “Ah screw it, I just don’t want to do this anymore” I signed my name saying I AGREED to do this. That is the main point its a membership AGREEMENT, if you don’t agree don’t sign.

  32. Dedicated said

    August 1, 2010 @ 9:31 pm

    Wreck ball i know people that joined the army and defected to the marines or the navy while still enlisted in the army. First off how can you compare the armed forces to major league eating? . I expect you to salute everytime Joey Sonya and Pat are introduced. and go down on both knees in honor of Ed Jarvis as he makes a guest appearance with his infamous title trenchcoat

  33. anonymous said

    August 1, 2010 @ 9:35 pm

    Jammin Joe Larue must be foaming at the mouth right about now, An outrage do you hear me an outrage

  34. Larellmarie said (Registered May 9, 2010)

    August 1, 2010 @ 9:41 pm

    Wrecking Ball – thx for understanding what I was sayn! I feel terrible tho realizing that I may have signed something that sed I couldn’t do stuff like this. That’ll teach me to ever sign something again w/o thoroughly readn thru it!

  35. Anonymous said

    August 1, 2010 @ 10:48 pm

    Wrecking ball has the right attitude!

  36. Scoop Eatwell said

    August 2, 2010 @ 11:54 am

    UPDATE: Both Russ Keeler and Larell Marie deducted two hot dogs off their 2010 best totals for unauthorized contest participation. To compensate, four hot dogs have been added to Lazylegs Monty’s totals.

  37. wrecking ball said

    August 2, 2010 @ 12:46 pm

    the only comparison between the military and MLE I was making is that you sign your name inn order to be a member and if you say that you are going to do something follow through or else your word is worthless!

  38. wrecking ball said

    August 2, 2010 @ 12:52 pm

    and if MLE was the military, i would assume you would salute the o’sheas and not joey, pat or sonya they would be more like nco’s where i would respect what they have done before i ccame around and treat them with respect but they are still “eaters” (or in the army sake soldiers). so treating people with respect for their ability to do something i want to excel in, dosent seem that crazy to me.

  39. Wrecking Ball said (Registered May 6, 2010)

    August 2, 2010 @ 2:25 pm

    My fault I mean to type Shea’s not o”shea’s…but you get the idea.

  40. RussK said (Registered February 3, 2007)

    August 2, 2010 @ 4:17 pm

    The way I see is like this. The number 1. Line on the I.F.O.C.E. contract states: The term of this agreement shall commence as of the date hereof and shall continue for a period of thirty-six (36) months thereafter.

    So if I sign a contract in July 2006 and it is now August 2010, how am I still under a contract.

  41. Sweet Gherkin said

    August 2, 2010 @ 4:24 pm

    U aren’t.

  42. nunonabun2 said (Registered November 10, 2009)

    August 2, 2010 @ 5:28 pm

    Larellmarie is far hotter than Russ first off. Second no one is getting dumped for challenages unless they are making a big deal out of it any more. Third Joe knew that if he ran off and did other events he was going to get black listed. He is no tadpole who doesnt know. Fourth you can be ranked and not sign the contract. Unless of course you think that wavier you do before each event is the mystery contract. I bet Russ signed one that was more than a page. He is a free agent. Congrats on the win.

  43. Anonymous said

    August 2, 2010 @ 5:38 pm

    Fifth, that’s what I need, a fifth of Jack Daniels.

  44. Larellmarie said (Registered May 9, 2010)

    August 2, 2010 @ 8:23 pm

    Nunonabun – lol; thx, I think? :)

  45. What a coincidence said

    August 2, 2010 @ 9:50 pm

    Russ i think Seiken told me that his last signed contract was Dec 2006 at Carmines Meatballs when sore loser Sonya refused to shake Bob Shoudt hand. Hey Brian if you are out there dont feel guilty about doing future challenges in PA. Go for it !

  46. Anonymous said

    August 2, 2010 @ 10:47 pm

    Bob Shoudt is probably the best eater of all time. Koby continues to dodge him. Bob will wipe the floor up with all competitors in Buffalo.

  47. anonymous said

    August 2, 2010 @ 10:51 pm

    Sheas win no matter what. How does a void contract enable you to compete with MLE in the future? Your only hope is that sheas are unaware of it and allow you to do the double dip. For argument sake lets say your contract expires and you compete in non MLE contests. Now that you have no bind with them they have no bind with you either so they have the option of dropping you from the rankings and ban you from future contests. The only advantage to the eater in not having a signed contract is that sheas cannot take you to court.

RSS feed for comments on this post · TrackBack URI

Leave a Comment

Log in | Register | Comments by users who have not logged in will be held for approval