Atlantic City Weekly lists Sonya Thomas, Crazy Legs Conti, Pat Philbin and Larell Marie Mele as expected entrants in the Nathan's qualifier at Trump Plaza on May 28. (George Shea claims that Conti will be the first person to compete in the Nathan's finals 10 years in a row if he qualifies, which might be incorrect. The eatfeats database lists Eric "Badlands" Booker as competing in the finals from 1997 to 2006.)

May 10, 2011 at 6:39 pm by ojrifkin · More posts about:2011 Nathan's Hot Dog Contest, Atlantic City, Contest Previews | Permalink * Comments (29)

29 Comments »

  1. A. Nonymous said (Registered April 27, 2011)

    May 10, 2011 @ 7:09 pm

    Legs also missed a year – he apparently did not make it to the finals in 2004:

    http://eatfeats.com/query.php?_table=contests&id=41

    Also:

    http://eatfeats.com/query.php?contest_comp=starts+with&contest_name=Nathan%27s+Famous&contest_city=&contest_state=&contest_start_date=&contest_end_date=&contest_org=type&eater_first_name=&eater_last_name=conti&eater_city=&eater_state=&eater_org=org.&eater_gender=gender&result_min_place=&result_max_place=&result_min_amount=&result_max_amount=&result_min_duration=&result_max_duration=&_button=Find+Results

  2. Anonymous said

    May 10, 2011 @ 9:01 pm

    He was there. The data just suck.

  3. This just in... said

    May 11, 2011 @ 9:29 am

    Shea is full of crap

  4. Nathan in Cali said

    May 11, 2011 @ 10:22 am

    Tough break for Larell, hopeully she’s signed up for another qualifier or they have a wild card for the womens division.

    Maybe it would be in her best interest to go to Atlanta this weekend, sounds like a freebie for a womens spot in that qualifier.

  5. Stallion Italian said (Registered August 27, 2010)

    May 11, 2011 @ 11:23 am

    Do not know how far Larell has to travel but it seems typical that lots of eaters have to go to three qualifiers to just try to make it to the table. Larell is going to make it for sure so eating beside Sonya could have lots of benefits, a practice run etc. Lots and lots of good reasons for Larell (cheering you on!) to go. Sonya sets the standard. Larell seems very friendly, bet she could easily make friends with Sonya and have a supporter and role model. GO LARELL! Biggest break for Larell, women’s division!!

  6. Nathan in Cali said

    May 11, 2011 @ 11:48 am

    Not that Philbin is some hack, but why is it that Legs seem to always find himself with the least amount of compeition year after year in his qualifiers?

    I’ll be rooting for Philbin on this one.

  7. Matt "Mega Toad" Stonie said (Registered June 22, 2010)

    May 11, 2011 @ 11:55 am

    I agree with SI, Larell even she she doesnt secure a spot at this qualifer due to Soyna will definitly walk out with good experience, everybody has been yellin at me why i didnt go to Vegas even though i would’ve lost, i lost the experience lol

    Eather way, her travel expencises are probably less then staying at home and buying Nathan’s for practice.
    Bit of an exaggeration… =]

  8. BAzaNGa! said

    May 11, 2011 @ 11:56 am

    WHAT ABOUT THE #1 RANKED EATER IN FLORIDA??? THE ALMIGHTY WRECKING BALL!!

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

    May 11, 2011 @ 12:03 pm

    I’ve never met Larell, but I’m a pretty good judge of character, based on writing style and substance.

    It’s hard for me to imagine how anyone could not embrace Larell’s personality. She’s sincere, very positive, fun-loving, and of very strong character. The woman has no identity crisis; she know who she is!

    Even more endearing is her abstaining from ridiculing others around her, even when she has good reason to. (Sonya and Juliet exhibit that same quality; Sonya can be more fiery at times.) If Larell hasn’t anything good to say about someone she opts to say nothing.

    I am sure we will see her at Coney, no doubt, and I wish her the very, very best.

  10. WB FAN said

    May 11, 2011 @ 12:08 pm

    THIS IS DEFINATELY THE YEAR OF THE WRECKING BALL! LOOK OUT JOEY CHESTNUT!

  11. Nathan in Cali said

    May 11, 2011 @ 12:09 pm

    for the record I wasn’t down talking Larell, she comes off to me the same way Rhonda just stated. I was merely saying that if her (Larell’s) main objective is to get to Coney, which I’m sure it is, Atlanta would be an ideal spot to try and get in. I also made note that if there isn’t a wild card and if she isn’t signed up for any other qualifier, then that would mean her trip to Coney would have to be beating Sonya, That’s all.

    no malice here for Larell I wish her the best of luck!

  12. nunonabun2 said (Registered November 10, 2009)

    May 11, 2011 @ 12:23 pm

    for the women it does seem like atlanta is best road. Grace Lee is the only one we have heard of and she is untested in a shorter timed event.

  13. Jamminjoe said

    May 11, 2011 @ 12:38 pm

    with all due respect WB is # 2 in fl, you forget Hall? and Larell if there is ANY way for you to get to GA ,,,GO it looks like thats your contest to take

  14. Larell Marie Mele said

    May 11, 2011 @ 12:55 pm

    WOW everyone….thank you so very much for all the positive comments!!!! Nathan in Cali – no, u are absolutely correct, it won’t be a win for me for sure in A/C – so no offense taken whatsoever!!! I didn’t think for a moment u were trying to put me down lol. The way I’m going to look at it is as a gr8 practice run/opportunity since it’s my 1st NF qualifier since last June. AND…. am VERY excited to FINALLY eat at the same table as Sonya. I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting her and have been looking forward to it for quite some time. In fact, this past winter in Biloxi, all 3 of us were supposed to be at the same table for the 1st time ever but Sonya was not able to make it, which was a major downer for me that weekend. I’ve had the extreme pleasure of meeting Juliet and eating with her so this qualifier will mean a lot to me!!! Well, of course my goal is to make it to Coney and I sure hope that happens this year. But, realistically with the amazing talents of women like Stephanie Torres coming about, that may not happen. Regardless of the outcome, I’m guaranteed to have a blast competing and getting to meet a bunch more fabulous eaters! Rhonda, you are so right….to me there’s no sense in me fueling any negative comments said about me by responding to them. Lol, my mom always told me “if you don’t have something nice to say, say nothing at all”. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’ll kid around with people, teasing and egging em on, but nothing serious or malicious. Lol, if Atlanta was just closer, I’d so be there this weekend hahaha!

  15. Anonymous said

    May 11, 2011 @ 1:06 pm

    You guys are fools who have learned nothing about how this business works. If Larell eats ten hot dogs and loses to Sonya in this sham of a ladies’ qualifier for this sham of a ladies’ final, she won’t need to go anywhere else to qualify. MLE is desperate for women to compete on the Fourth of July. The bar will lowered and the rules will be bent to make sure that at least a handful of women qualify. They won’t make difficult on Larell or any other women. She won’t have to travel somewhere else.

  16. nunonabun2 said (Registered November 10, 2009)

    May 11, 2011 @ 1:29 pm

    Well that is lucky for her then.

  17. My Brain Hurts said

    May 11, 2011 @ 2:50 pm

    I posted this on Grace Lee post by mistake.

    Okay, let’s say Sonya wins. Pat or Legs comes in second. Are Pat and Legs considered wild cards? Or, are they the winner of the men’s division for that qualifier? And, if Pat or Legs are considered the winner for the men’s division, would the third place be eligible for consideration as a wild card?

  18. anonymous said

    May 11, 2011 @ 11:02 pm

    That is so cold. Why would Sonya want to mess it up for Larell ? She could qualify anywhere so why of all places she had to pick Atlantic City?

  19. anonymous said

    May 12, 2011 @ 6:22 am

    Legs is not going to beat Philbin.

  20. A. Nonymous said (Registered April 27, 2011)

    May 12, 2011 @ 8:23 am

    Yes, if a woman wins a qualifier outright, the male with the highest total at that qualifier is the men’s winner. ANYBODY who competes is eligible for wild card, but right now, it’s set pretty high by Adrian Morgan. Unless he competes somewhere else and wins, the wild card is 27.

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

    May 12, 2011 @ 8:35 am

    Thanks, mom! 😉

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

    May 12, 2011 @ 9:00 am

    A-11:02: Why blame Sonya for this? We don’t know her or anyone else’s schedule, availability or anything else. I’m sure MLE tries to fit people into contests as best they can.

    However, regardless of how hard people try to work things, someone/some people are always going to be disgruntled.

    This is earth, not heaven, so get real.

    Negative angles and perceptions are available for all situations in life. Why start trouble?

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

    May 12, 2011 @ 9:03 am

    In HDBs I think Legs and Pat are about equal. It’s all about which one wants it more. That battle should prove to be most entertaining.

    I wish them both good luck.

  24. Stallion Italian said (Registered August 27, 2010)

    May 12, 2011 @ 9:19 am

    That’s funny Pat! Two characters (in a good way) battling it out, I agree with Rhonda, on any given day and all that. About Sonya or any other of the match-ups and schedules, people here grant far too much thinking by MLE to who goes where. Same applies for where eaters apply to go. Silly to blame Sonya for anything. Larell is going to be at Coney because she has already proved herself by eating over 10 and will only get better. Every eater has to pick and choose their qualifiers based on schedule and distance since they all pay their own way and everything else most of the time. Let the eating begin.

  25. Everything Equal said (Registered April 28, 2011)

    May 12, 2011 @ 9:23 am

    Rondank we all thought you knew Sonyas shedule. j/k Sonya should crush easily like she would in any qualifier. She must have the altime longest qualifier winning streak of any eater. I dont think she has ever lost one. Keep it going lady

    I heard that Bob was doing this why isnt he listed? Maybe another omission like the nathans’ wall? If this is the real lineup I would go with Pat on this. Their is a lot of cameras at that event so I dont think anyone is gettin away with anything there not that their are any eaters out there that would try too pad their numbers Why isnt Dudinsky doing this, he drove to florida yet wont drive to ac?

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

    May 12, 2011 @ 9:45 am

    That’s very true Rhonda..I have somewhat of a “Natural” talent and probably had a bit of an edge a couple years ago but Crazy Legs has worked his ass off and continues to get better ..my last contest was last year’s qualifiers..yikes!

  27. A. Nonymous said (Registered April 27, 2011)

    May 12, 2011 @ 10:14 am

    Larell will get in with a woman’s qualifier win. There are only three known women that can beat her, and one has already qualified. Even if by bad luck she has to compete against both Sonya and Juliet, she will be holding the wild card until she wins her qualifier. Grace Lee may win the Newnan women’s division, but there’s a good chance she won’t hit 10 HDBs.

  28. ojrifkin said (Registered July 27, 2005)

    May 12, 2011 @ 1:32 pm

    Sonya Thomas’ sole qualifier loss was at the 2008 Jacksonville Krystal qualifier to Hall Hunt

    http://eatfeats.com/jacksonville-krystal-qualifier-results-thread.html

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

    May 12, 2011 @ 1:45 pm

    Hall was awesome that day! When they went to nondunking you saw Sonya’s talent ascend.

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