2006: The Year in Competitive Eating
Here are some of the top stories in the world of competitive eating from 2006 ranked in no particular order. The new poll asks what you think is the most significant event.
Joey Chestnut emerged as the top American eater, becoming the first American to scare Kobayashi and break the 50 HDB barrier.
Kobayashi continued his winning streak and competed in four contests in the United States in 2006, up from three last year.
Sonya Thomas had several disappointing contests in the second half of 2006, resulting in her dropping to the #4 ranking. Sonya’s frustrations resulted in her walking off the awards presentation at the meatball contest.
Pat Bertoletti, Chip Simpson, Bob Shoudt and Tim Janus improved to the level where they could challenge for first place in most contests on a good day.
Natsuko “Gal” Sone established herself as not only the top female Japanese eater, but also as a celebrity in general with numerous television appearances.
IFOCE stalwarts Badlands Booker, Cookie Jarvis and Don “Moses” Lerman retired (Lerman claims his retirement will be temporary) Dom Cardo and Scott Soiffer retired from AICE. “Theeta” Rappai, probably the world’s top non US/Japanese eater, retired and died several months afterwards.
IFOCE lost two major sponsors: GoldenPalace.net, when Congress passed a law banning transferring funds to online casino and Alka Seltzer when company’s German bosses cancelled the US Open of Competitive Eating II.
Tom “Goose” Gilbert was probably the top eater in AICE as 2006 closed despite competing in that organization for only half a year.
Pat Philbin was expelled from the IFOCE after appearing in a video which IFOCE management considered in bad taste. Philbin’s membership was restored after Opie & Anthony listeners voiced their disapproval.
Dale Boone returned from India and was suspended for undisclosed reasons soon afterward. After the suspension was lifted, he established himself as one of the top southern eaters.
Several notable non-IFOCE & non-AICE contests were held including Moe’s Southwest Grill’s Burritos for Life, a tournament in which every franchise held a contest.
Several IFOCE rookies, notably Seaver Miller, Arturo Rios Jr., Erik Denmark and Juliet Lee, established themselves as eaters to watch in 2007.
Three IFOCE contests were televised on ESPN. MTV’s True Life documentary was another notable progam about competitive eating.
Competitive eating appears to have started to take root in China. At least five contests were held in Chinese-speaking country in which a foreigner competed.
The Heart Attack Grill received loads of publicity, more for its waitresses nurses outfits than it Quadruple Bypass Burger eating challenge.
The rise of youtube greatly facilitated viewing eating contest and other competitive eating videos. Brian Seiken produced a lot of non-contest competitive eating programming.
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Rhonda Evans said
January 2, 2007 @ 9:42 am
You know it’s a crazy world (and a male-chauvinistic one) when a woman who routinely eats more than 95 % of all ranked male competitiors is perceived as having a “slump” because she can now only outeat 90 % of them and has “slipped” to # 4 in the World. And of those remaining 10 %, she does sometimes still beat them, with the exception of Kobayashi.
In my mind saying it like that (“Sonya Thomas’ slump”) is to discredit those who have beaten her, as if they only triumphed over her because she is slipping. Such is not the case. This fact will become even more obvious as 2007 events continue to play out.
I believe a more credible entry for voting would be the fact that as of year end 2006, a woman has achieved the most competitive eating world records of any eater in history. And they were all against men, unless it was an exhibition by herself. Even at that, show me other eaters who can eat 52 HB eggs in 5 minutes, or 65 eggs in 6 and change, or more than 250 Tater Tots in 5 minutes. You’ll be hard-pressed to find more than one or two other earthlings who can do that. And they will both outweigh Sonya by about (or at least) 50 % if not more.
Give me a break! Give her a break!
Rhonda Evans said
January 4, 2007 @ 8:37 am
In 2007 I believe we will see several talented females eat in IFOCE contests and by year end 2007 there will be at least three females in the top 20.
Rufus said
January 4, 2007 @ 9:36 am
Did anyone see the predictions for the pretzel contest later in the month by various IFOCE competitors and former competitors? Don Lerman picked Dale Boone to finish in second. I would agree with him if this were a 1 minute contest. I agree more with Crazy Legs’ prediction. It’s really hard to separate Joey and Sonya.
Rhonda Evans said
January 4, 2007 @ 9:59 am
Crazy Legs has a lot of what I call street smarts, when it comes to competitive eating. I have no way to really predict a winner here, because I have a difficult time envisioning soft pretzel eating. But I also agree that it will likely be very close between Joey and Sonya with Bob not far behind. LaRue should finish ahead of Boone, because, as I perceive it, he has a greater stomach capacity.
Rhonda Evans said
January 4, 2007 @ 10:02 am
I just came from IFOCE.com and want to congratulate Pat Bertoletti on eating 53 1/2 dozen oysters in only 48 minutes. That’s hard to even imagine, almost as hard as imagining Sonya eating 46 dozen in 10 minutes.
Luther said
January 4, 2007 @ 6:29 pm
All events of 2006 pail in comparing to the great spontaneous combustiun in Atlantic City. I loved it.
SuperPaul said
January 4, 2007 @ 7:14 pm
The most important event of 2006 is the way the Krystal folks have stepped up to the plate and treated the eaters like superstars. Everybody who has participated in a Krystal contest, qualifier or final, knows what I’m talking about. The amount of money they put up, a special website, the “ill-fated” but nice try webcam, the custom shirts for the finalists – even holiday presents for the finalists- the events they put on for the audience in Chattanooga – the post party for everyone involved…oh, yeah, an ESPN special, this is hopefully the beginning of the future of competitive eating. I’ve said it ten times already, Thank You Krystal!!!