BuffaloWing.com has a roster of the expected entrants in the U.S. Chicken Wing Eating Championship. Three of the top 5 IFOCE are listed: Joey Chestnut, Sonya Thomas and Pat Bertoletti.

August 26, 2010 at 8:18 am by ojrifkin · More posts about:Buffalo, Contest Previews | Permalink * Comments (14)

14 Comments »

  1. Anonymous said

    August 26, 2010 @ 8:45 am

    Why isn’t US Male on the list? This may be his punishment for doing the Jake’s challange.

  2. Anonymous said

    August 26, 2010 @ 10:22 am

    There seem to be quite a few new contests listed, but not an overabundance or overlapping MLE ones. Chestnut and Bertoletti etc. are doing Pizza in Boston. Why not ask US Male? He seems quite willing to share.

  3. stephanie_wu said (Registered August 17, 2010)

    August 26, 2010 @ 10:30 am

    Do all MLE-ranked eaters (i.e., the top 50) have contracts with MLE? If so can they participate in non-MLE-sanctioned eating challenges, whether individual or head-to-head?

  4. Anonymous said

    August 26, 2010 @ 10:48 am

    Steph, any one can do what ever they want. As long as they don’t mind getting slapped on the wrist here and there with a stupid suspension or getting the old “the contest is closed but you’re on the stand-by list” speech. It’s the trouble makers that get dropped.

  5. A. Nonymous said

    August 26, 2010 @ 11:12 am

    Stephanie:

    No, not all of the top 50 IFOCE eaters are contracted.

    No, even without a contract, MLE still frowns upon doing restaurant challenges and non-sanctioned events. If you are contracted, restaurant challenges and non-sanctioned events are forbidden (even though it is not evenly enforced).

  6. Anonymous said

    August 26, 2010 @ 11:23 am

    Really Stephanie, as a new fan of yours I strongly suggest that you not receive your answers to questions from individual ranked eaters on this website. It isn’t like a “real” job with contracts. Things vary even if they are not supposed to. If you want to be considered to be in MLE, write directly to them. Perhaps MLE doesn’t keep up with the contracts for each and every eater but definitely does not look kindly on eaters who do non-sanctioned challenges or contests. Some of them have been banned from MLE afterwards. Get your information from the organization itself and absolutely do not listen to anyone else who tries, as many do, to bend the rules and complain. You are already positive and a talent. If you are happy doing whatever you wish in the way of challenges and contests, be independent. If you want to eat with MLE, contact them and follow their rules. Even anonymous commenters can give good advice. There are reasons to be anonymous sometimes.

  7. stephanie_wu said (Registered August 17, 2010)

    August 26, 2010 @ 1:18 pm

    Hi everyone, thanks for all the answers and kind words. I just asked because I was just curious as to how MLE operates. I applied for two of their contests recently, but never heard back from them, which is ok…I really didn’t expect to as I am new and just an amateur. I am sure you have to establish yourself first, and do something to get your first “big break” or get noticed. And honestly, I suppose I am not as marketable as most of the other eaters, haha (read: young, pretty, and slim), but I realize that’s just the way life is. Personally, my goal is not necessarily to be a ranked MLE eater (especially given my last two eating failures!), but just to document my eating challenges, help others where possible, and “enjoy the process” (my softball coach always told me that). Of course, I hope to improve, but I don’t need to be the best or in the top whatever.

  8. Dash For Long said

    August 26, 2010 @ 1:23 pm

    Gordon is a coward, I would seriously be surprised if he even shows?

  9. KevinRoss said

    August 26, 2010 @ 1:40 pm

    Hey Stephanie. Just a note on hearing back from IFOCE after registering for a contest. . .it can often take quite awhile to hear back with 100% confirmation after registration. Sometimes you hear back really quick. Sometimes not until really close to contest. I suppose a lot of this has to do with that each sponsor/contest is different. I wouldn’t take that personally, you probably will eventually get a reply even if it is that you are waitlisted.

  10. stephanie_wu said (Registered August 17, 2010)

    August 26, 2010 @ 2:26 pm

    Ok, that’s good to know Kevin. Nice to hear from a fellow Californian!

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

    August 26, 2010 @ 4:12 pm

    Stephanie,
    I am new to MLE but I can tell you exactly what I was told when I inquired about signing a membership agreement, not a contract. To be considered for ranking and to receive priority seating in IFOCE/MLE event you need to sign an agreement. You are not required to be a member to compete in events (I did sweet corn before I signed my agreement) but if its an event that a lot of members want to do, it would be pretty tough to get into. As far as all the other you can’t do this you cant do that, its is all in the membership agreement. If being a Major League Eater is a path you decide, because after all MLE has the BEST eaters in the world, I would recommend contacting them and just read the agrement first. After reading it you don’t have to sign if you don’t want to but please if you do just stay true to your word. Good luck with everything and keep us posted on how you do!

  12. Annoyamoose said

    August 26, 2010 @ 5:25 pm

    Not that it matters to me, but maybe US MALE did not get in, ever think of that? He is on the Buffet Bowl list

  13. stephanie_wu said (Registered August 17, 2010)

    August 26, 2010 @ 6:55 pm

    Hi Wrecking Ball, good to hear from an insider. Well, the least of my worries I have is joining MLE because all those people pretty much outclass me now anyway, but thanks for the tips. I guess I’ll just stick to the local circuits for now. Good luck to you and thanks for your support!

    And I didn’t intend to “hijack” this thread which was supposed to be about the US Chicken Wing Eating Championship, which looks like it’s going to be pretty exciting.

    Stephanie

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

    August 27, 2010 @ 8:21 am

    The total purse is only about $2,500 or there abouts, unless they unexpetedly raised it. For whatever reason that small contest is certainly getting lots of attention. Notorious Bob might as well show up (and have the IFOCE Top 4) and be done with it.

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